Coyote Gulch
Grand Staircase-Escalante, UT
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Excellent conditions window for Coyote Gulch. Warm, sunny days with light winds, no fires, and stream flows running at normal levels — this is a great three days to be out there. Go.
75°/46°F · Sunny
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31" depth
Normal flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
14h 20m daylight · Sunrise 6:13 AM · Sunset 8:34 PM
Full Briefing
Weather is the main story and it's a good one. Highs in the 72–77°F range all three days with lows in the mid-to-upper 40s, mostly sunny skies, and winds staying light — 5 to 16 mph out of the SW/WSW during the day, backing off at night. No precipitation in the forecast. You'll want to start moving by mid-morning to avoid peak heat in the canyon slots, and plan camp setup before the warmest part of the afternoon if you're hauling a full pack.
Stream crossings are non-issues. The USGS gauges across the broader region are all running at or below median — the Salinas near Bradley is the only one above 100% at 109%, and the others are at or well below median and falling. Nothing in the data suggests any crossing in Coyote Gulch will give you trouble. Expect normal late-spring flows in Coyote Creek itself — passable without hesitation.
No active fires within 50 miles, so air quality should be clean throughout. With WSW and SW winds during the day, there's nothing upwind to carry smoke into the canyon anyway. You'll have 14+ hours of daylight with sunset at 8:34 PM, so you have plenty of margin for distance — no need to rush. The SNOTEL data attached to this briefing reflects California Central Coast stations and is not relevant to Coyote Gulch; snowpack is a non-factor at this canyon country location in late May.
Plan your miles for morning, take a shady midday break during peak heat, and enjoy the long golden-hour light in the evening. Conditions don't get much cleaner than this for canyon backpacking.
Waypoints
Red Well Trailhead
Remote trailhead. Long washboard road access. High clearance recommended.
5,499 ft
Jacob Hamblin Arch
Massive freestanding arch—one of the largest in Utah. Camping nearby.
5,200 ft
Coyote Natural Bridge
Water carved bridge. The stream runs under it during high water.
5,000 ft
Escalante River Confluence
Meet the Escalante River. Some parties do a longer loop from here.
4,501 ft
Return via Hurricane Wash
Loop back via Hurricane Wash or retrace the gulch.
5,499 ft
Route Details
Distance
33.0 mi
Elevation Gain
2,500 ft
Elevation Loss
2,500 ft
Max Elevation
5,499 ft
Estimated Days
3
Trailhead
Red Well Trailhead
Best Season
Spring and fall. Flash flood risk in summer—avoid when storms threaten. No rescues for days in emergency.
Permit Required
GSENM permit required for camping. Quota limits. Apply through recreation.gov.
About This Route
Coyote Gulch is a remote canyon system in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah, featuring natural arches, waterfalls, and ancient ruins in a landscape of red and orange sandstone carved by the Coyote Gulch stream. The 30-35 mile loop is one of the finest canyon backpacking trips in the American Southwest. The gulch contains Jacob Hamblin Arch (one of the largest natural arches in Utah), Coyote Natural Bridge, Cliff Arch, and several Ancestral Puebloan granaries tucked in alcoves. The route follows the canyon floor much of the way, requiring occasional wading and scrambling over pour-offs. The Escalante River canyon is the downstream terminus, requiring either a long shuttle or a return upstream. Water is available in the creek through most seasons, but pothole water should be treated. The remoteness means no cell service, no rescues without significant helicopter time, and complete self-reliance. Spring and fall are the sweet spots. Summer thunderstorms bring flash floods—the canyon walls make escape impossible. Winter offers solitude but cold nights. The permit requirement was implemented to reduce impacts on the cryptobiotic soil crust and cultural sites.
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