Coyote Gulch

IntrepidXJ

ADVENTR
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
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Southern Utah Wanderings | Canyons of the Escalante
Wednesday & Thursday, October 8-9, 2014


Wednesday morning arrived with another beautiful sunrise from our campsite on Fortymile Ridge. Today we would be starting an overnight backpacking trip into Coyote Gulch. This is a popular backpacking destination in the area, and for good reason since it's a beautiful hike. I had planned to do this hike in the middle of the week so it hopefully wouldn't be as crowded as a weekend, and I think it ended up working well for us.

The clouds above begin to change color as the sun nears the horizon.


Dawn
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Straight Cliffs in the distance light up nicely with a magenta glow.


Straight Cliffs Sunrise
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After a quick breakfast, we packed up camp and checked to make sure we had everything in our backpacks that we would need for the next two days. I dropped Jared and our packs off at the Crack in the Wall trailhead and drove my Jeep back down the road to park it near the trailhead next to the water tank where we would return the following day. Then I hiked back about two and a half miles to meet Jared and we started our journey into Coyote Gulch.

A nice view of Navajo Mountain as I drove down the road.


Navajo Mountain
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Hiking along the road back to the trailhead after dropping my Jeep off.


Road Walking
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The clouds in the sky were pretty nice this morning, but unfortunately that wouldn't last very long. As soon as we reached the Crack in the Wall at the rim of the canyon the sky was overcast and would stay that way for the remainder of the day. The conditions were not the best for photography, but I did the best I could. I also had decided to save weight and leave my tripod in the Jeep for this trip, and there were times I wish I had had it with me. I guess that means I'll have to return again in the future so I can take some better photos. That's not a bad thing!

Hiking along the wide trail towards the Crack in the Wall.


To the Crack
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Nice clouds above the desert landscape.


Desert Clouds
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Overcast skies as we reached the rim of the canyon.


Above the Escalante
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The descent down the Crack in the Wall was easy enough, but I think it would have been more difficult for me coming up this way. We managed to drag our backpacks through the first two narrow sections but had to lower them down before the third. Luckily, I had just enough rope with me to do that. After squeezing through the narrow slots, we continued down the large sand dune to the bottom of the canyon. I certainly wouldn't enjoy hiking back up this soft sand dune in the heat of the day and was glad that we decided to come down this way instead.

That's the beginning of the Crack in the Wall below, and the large sand dune we would be descending.


Crack & Dune
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Jared in the crack.


In the Crack
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Looking through one of the narrow slots.


Crack in the Wall
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Crack Path
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The exit.


Crack Exit
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We took a short side hike to get a different view of Stevens Arch. While we were here the sun peeked out briefly from behind the clouds before disappearing again for the rest of the day.


Brief Light
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

When we reached the bottom of Coyote Gulch, we took off our boots and put on our sandals since we would be mostly hiking through the creek. We passed a few waterfalls and arches along the way. It really was a beautiful and pleasant hike. I can see why so many people like this area.


Lower Coyote Gulch
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


First Waterfall
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Second Waterfall
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Alcoves
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Jared stops to take a photo of Cliff Arch.


Photographing Cliff Arch
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Tree Falls
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Colors
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We climbed up to a large alcove to visit these pictographs along the way.


Coyote Gulch Pictographs
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The creek flowing through Coyote Natural Bridge was a cool sight.


Coyote Natural Bridge
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Jared walking through the Choke Point. The deepest water we would walk through on the hike. Please excuse the water drops in this photo, I had apparently splashed some water onto my lens when I hiked through...


Choke Point
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Closeup
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We decided to setup camp in a very large alcove just upstream from Swiss Cheese Falls. We still had plenty of daylight left after camp was setup, so we continued on to Jacob Hamblin Arch so we could get some water from the nearby spring and check out the possible exit route. The steep exit at this point was just too sketchy for me, so we decided not to leave that way and that we would find a way out of Hurricane Wash instead.

Swiss Cheese Falls. Our campsite was up in the large alcove hidden behind the cottonwood trees in this photo.


Swiss Cheese Falls
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Our tents in the huge alcove.


Alcove Camp
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After returning back to camp we had some dinner and then watched the sky slightly change color at sunset.


Slight Sunset
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I slept well that night and was surprised that it didn't really get cold overnight. I was worried about hiking in the water in colder temperatures in the morning, but that turned out not to be an issue since the air temperature was pleasant.

The clouds starting to finally dissipate at sunrise


Sunrise Near Camp
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Sunrise over the Choke Point.


Choke Point Sunrise
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We packed up camp and started hiking back up the canyon past Jacob Hamblin Arch and then through the large alcove towards Hurricane Wash. I was kind of glad that we went this way instead of exiting near Jacob Hamblin Arch since this part of the canyon was still very beautiful and we would have missed it.

A view of the impressive Jacob Hamblin Arch.


Jacob Hamblin Arch
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Looking out from the massive alcove past the arch. While it's not as deep as the Mee Canyon Alcove, it's certainly much higher!


Big Alcove
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We finally started to see some blue sky as we neared the confluence with Hurricane Wash.


Blue Sky
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Along the Wall
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After hiking up Hurricane Wash for a little over a mile we traded our sandals for our boots again and found a way out of the canyon so we could hike cross-country back to my Jeep.

View of the Straight Cliffs as we climbed out of Hurricane Wash.


Back to the Top
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A vast expanse of slickrock in this area.


Sandstoneland
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We reached my Jeep at the water tank in the early afternoon and were happy to take our packs off. The round trip loop was about 18 miles according to my GPS, which includes my hike down the road the previous morning. After having some cold drinks from the cooler I realized that we were going to have to head back to town for more ice since the cooler wouldn't make it another night. We drove back down the Hole-in-the-Rock Road to Escalante for fuel, supplies and dinner. We had no other plans for the rest of the day, so we drove around and visited a few spots until we found a campsite near Harris Wash for the night.

We visited the Circle of Life pictographs...


Circle of Life
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Stopped at the Head of the Rocks Overlook....


Head of the Rocks
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

...and drove a short distance down Old Sheffield Road.


Spire
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We found a nice campsite high on a ridge above Harris Wash and were treated to another nice sunset.

Great clouds over the Straight Cliffs.


Nice Clouds
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Jared had a great view from his tent towards the Henry Mountains.


View from Camp
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I always like warm evening light on sandstone.


Golden Light
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Couldn't get enough of the clouds overhead.


Cloudscape
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Long lens pointed at the Henry Mountains at sunset.


Camp Sunset
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Crepuscular rays as the sun set behind the Kaiparowits Plateau.


Clouds & Rays
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Getting a little abstract with the clouds.


Twisted Sky
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The view from my tent wasn't half bad, either!


Harris Wash Camp
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


What a Sky!
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


ADVENTR Sunset
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

>> Coyote Gulch Photo Gallery
>> The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO

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Great pictures! We did Coyote a couple of times. The best was in very late October. The cottonwoods were all a gorgeous yellow and the weather was amazing. Did it once in spring using the trail in from Hurricane Wash but the trail was very deep sand (was fine in October).
 
Love the muted light with the overcast skies.

I realize you're super freaking awesome photographer so your pictures are always cool, but I love the muted light on the red rock.

Curious how far up Hurriacne did you go? I went with a group who had done it a few times before and it was thanks to them I made it out at Lobo Arch. My girls want to do it and there's no way I'm going out the rock with just them and me.@Nick showed me a place on Google Earth, but it was a few miles up. Yours seems as though it may be closer?
 
I just checked my GPS track and it looks like we left about 1.2 miles up Hurricane Wash.....there was a little side canyon we climbed up and then picked our way up the sandstone domes to the top.

Curious how far up Hurriacne did you go? I went with a group who had done it a few times before and it was thanks to them I made it out at Lobo Arch. My girls want to do it and there's no way I'm going out the rock with just them and me.@Nick showed me a place on Google Earth, but it was a few miles up. Yours seems as though it may be closer?
 
Wow, I love all the pics, but my favorites here "Big Alcove" and "Clouds and Rays".. simply awesome. I've been meaning to ask what that green thing is? I'm guessing it's just a waterproof storage thing for your camera gear?
 
Are you talking about my tentcot? http://backcountrypost.com/forum/threads/kamp-rite-oversize-tentcot.364/

If so, that's usually what I sleep in when I'm out alone (and near my Jeep)...very comfortable and quick/easy to setup.

Ahh yes that's the thing. Very cool. I didn't think it was for sleeping in because I see the MSR Hubba in most of your reports and assumed you always slept in that. Makes sense to use that instead of the tent if your camping out near the jeep. That thing would be perfect for sleeping at trailheads to get early starts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
AI didn't think it was for sleeping in because I see the MSR Hubba in most of your reports and assumed you always slept in that.

I don't own an MSR Hubba...I have a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 for backpacking (Going to pick up the UL3 for next season since I'm doing more trips with Diane now).
 
Great shots Randy!! Especially the waterfalls shots without a tripod!!!
 
Your telephoto shots are always excellent. If I might ask, what's your go-to set-up for those style shots?
 
Your telephoto shots are always excellent. If I might ask, what's your go-to set-up for those style shots?

The only telephoto lens I have is the Canon 100-400mm. Since I don't carry this lens when hiking or backpacking, I usually keep it on my 5DIII since I don't carry that camera hiking, either.
 
The only telephoto lens I have is the Canon 100-400mm. Since I don't carry this lens when hiking or backpacking, I usually keep it on my 5DIII since I don't carry that camera hiking, either.

I've carried that boat anchor hiking before and understand why you wouldn't want to do so. :moses:
 
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