Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
Most of Escalante is dry. Coyote Gulch is not, and that one fact changes everything, because a perennial stream means water at your feet the whole way, waterfalls, two arches and a natural bridge strung along a canyon you walk down the middle of. It is Glen Canyon National Recreation Area rather than BLM, so overnight trips need a Park Service backcountry permit and groups are capped at twelve people. Dogs are not allowed, fires are not allowed, and human waste gets packed out.
The Trail
Arches, natural bridges, and a creek you walk in for miles. Overnight it.
Heat note: desert country - in summer start at dawn and carry more water than feels reasonable.
Pack Loadout (Strenuous)
3+ liters water, broken-in boots, layers for weather swings, headlamp, real food (jerky, trail mix), trekking poles, first-aid kit, and an early start.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Lake Powell (Fishing, 23 mi) · Calf Creek Campground (Camping, 30 mi) · Wide Hollow Reservoir (Fishing, 38 mi) · Singletree Campground (Camping, 47 mi)
More hikes nearby: Peek-a-Boo & Spooky Gulch (Hike, 7 mi) · Zebra Slot Canyon (Hike, 21 mi) · Lower Calf Creek Falls (Hike, 30 mi) · Toadstool Hoodoos (Hike, 47 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Coyote Gulch hike?
- 12.7 miles round trip with 1246 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Coyote Gulch?
- Strenuous. Kid rating: 1 out of 5.
- When should I hike Coyote Gulch?
- Best season: Spring & Fall.
- Why hike Coyote Gulch?
- Because you walk in running water past two arches, a natural bridge and waterfalls, a combination that is rare even by southern Utah standards. Day hikers only sign the trail register, but anyone camping needs a Park Service backcountry permit. Pick your entry carefully, since Crack in the Wall is short but drops 700 feet of sand dune.