Hiking Advice -Best Route into Coyote Gulch

[Chris**]

Hi All, this will be my 2nd time to CG. Going mid-June with 3 non-experienced backpacking campers. Planning 2 nights and 3 days. (For info: my first trek in was via Sneaker Route -long day hike, lighter pack).
Question- with heavier packs, considering some of group are older (but fairly fit) was thinking Hurricane Wash?!?. But has anyone accessed Hurricane Wash from Chimney Rock? Is that recommended? What’s your experience? Not a lot of information on that route out there….Thanks for any shared insights!

Also mid-June biting flies and mosquitoes? Issue or non-issue?

 

[b.stark]

Hurricane wash would work, Red Well would also work well for beginners. If I recall, going in from Red Well was a bit less brushy, I went out via Hurricane this week and there was a lot of brush in lower Hurricane. June is going to be hot and buggy, I think.

No experience with the Chimney Rock route. I did a loop from the water tank to crack in the rock, up coyote, partway up hurricane, then followed a side wash cross country back to the water tank. That last bit is not recommended for beginners, took a lot of route finding in very broken slickrock country. I more or less followed Steve Allen's route, though I spent most of that part along rather than in the wash.

 

[Chris**]

Hurricane wash would work, Red Well would also work well for beginners. If I recall, going in from Red Well was a bit less brushy, I went out via Hurricane this week and there was a lot of brush in lower Hurricane. June is going to be hot and buggy, I think.

No experience with the Chimney Rock route. I did a loop from the water tank to crack in the rock, up coyote, partway up hurricane, then followed a side wash cross country back to the water tank. That last bit is not recommended for beginners, took a lot of route finding in very broken slickrock country. I more or less followed Steve Allen's route, though I spent most of that part along rather than in the wash.

I agree that it will probably be an easier trek into CG via Hurricane Wash. I hadn’t thought about Red Well but will check it out. I have been before and went in the Sneaker /Water Tank route. Although fairly quick it would be a lot especially with heavier packs. I think I was just trying to limit time in the June sun! Of course we will start early. Appreciate the tip about it being buggy. I’ve warned the group…at this point it’s up to them to pack for that possibility. As far as the brush along the Hurricane route thinking long pants might help if we go that way?!? And I think the Crack in the Rock might be a little intimidating for the group too. We are working out the details and have a little time. It may just be a hot trek in- that’s June for ya. Thanks again for responding.