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Itinerary:
Day 1 - Carpooling - 7:00am (6 hr drive from Salt Lake area)
Drive to Trailheads
1:00 pm- Set-Up Shuttle - Water Tank Trailhead/Coyote Gulch
2:00 pm - Trailhead (Coyote Gulch Access Point)
2:00 - 6:00 pm - Hike to Camp (around Cliff Arch area)
6:00 pm - Set Up Camp
6:30 pm - Dinner
Day 2 -
7 am - Wake up
8:00 am - 12:00 pm - Hike along river/Coyote Bridge/Jacob Hamblins Arch and Lunch
1:00 pm - Hike Out
2-3:00 pm - Back at Vehicles (WAS VERY HOT IN JUNE - recommend NOT DOING THIS HIKE FROM JUNE-AUG)
5:00 pm - Dinner in Boulder
10:00 - 11:00 pm - Home - (4.5 hr drive)
Directions: Entrance Trailhead - Coyote Gulch Access point (Entrance)
Exit Trailhead - Water Tanks - Coyote Gulch Trailhead - Sneaker Route (Exit)
 (36 miles down Hole in the Rock Rd, turn left onto Fourty Mile Ridge Rd, 5
miles to Water Tank Trailhead, 2.5 miles DEEP SANDY rd to Coyote Gulch Access - 4WD with high clearance ONLY)
Cost: Permit it FREE - Fill out at the trailhead. Max group size 12
Activity:Â Backpacking Coyote Gulch - 14 mile loop from Crack in the wall (Coyote Gulch access point trail), into the canyon and then out the next day, to Water Tank trailhead.
Day 1 - 6.5 miles. Start at Coyote Gulch Access Point Trailhead. Hike 2.5 miles across flat desert to Crack in the Wall. Descend about 1 mile through crack and down huge sandy hill to riverbottom. Hike upstream about 3 miles to Cliff Arch area to camp. Multiple stream crossings 13+. Several waterfall springs on rt. Bushwacking trail at times.
(Note on Camping - there are MANY camping spots all along the entire river trail from 1-10 tents)
Day 2 - Hike upstream another 4.5 miles through Coyote Arch to Jacob Hamblins Arch (about 2-3 hr). 15 min Swiss Cheese Falls - don't miss it on the right, need to hike below for best photos.
Cairn on left before Jacob Hamblin's Arch to mark climb out. Don't miss hiking around and behind the arch. Ascend 150 ft sandstone slope (guide will bring handline/rope to assist) to the canyon rim. About 15 ft scramble, then flat area and then another about 100 ft 30-40 degree scramble - rope is great with heavy packs. Anchor is off a hole in a rock about 3 in wide. Hike 2 miles across flat desert/rock to Water Tank Trailhead. About 2/3 uphill sandstone, then 1/3 flat sand.
Tips:
Driving Hole in the Rock Road - mostly washboard with several sandy river bottom crossings. Speed limit is 35 mph. We found driving 35-40 mph was best on washboard - too slow it will kill your vehicle, too fast and you can slide off on the turns. River crossings have 1-2ft drops in and then out of them, so have a vehicle that has good clearance or take at an angle. Turn off from Fourty Mile Rd to Water Tank Trailhead is moderate washboard. From Water Tank to Coyote Gulch Access is SAND. 4WD with high clearance ONLY! (a subaru of ours got stuck and a large pickup also stuck in the sand trying to pull it out)
Water - The river is super silty, not fun to filter and will quickly clog your water filter. However, there are a few running springs coming out of the rock along the way. These are more towards the first half of the hike once you get down to the river area.
You only need to carry 2L of water as there is plenty to filter in the canyon, Just make sure you fill up before leaving the canyon as the exit hike is long and hot and there is no water to filter.
Shoes – Chacos or equivalent are essential especially for the second day as a good amount of the hike is through water. These are nice to have anyways to double as camp shoes.
Don’t do trip after mid May - too hot for the hike through the desert at the end of the hike.
Bring rope - not always one there to help you get out at Jacob Hamblin. Also nice to have extra rope to help scramble up parts and to lower bags at crack in the wall.
If there has been a recent flood I would recommend postponing trip - Trail was very washed out and water crossings were difficult because ground was sludgy and feet would sink in.
Bring a bandana to put over water filters. Filters will clog very easily with silty water.
Meet up with entire crew in Boulder before you go on washboard road and lose service.
Black Lagoon is worth the detour if your crew has the energy! Maybe adds another 20- 30 minutes tops
Tow trucks are available in Esclante but will take over 2 hours to come and cost up to $2000
Bathrooms - Last bathroom is at trailhead for Spooky slot canyon
Cell Reception - Good at trailheads generally, none in canyon
Dogs - not recommended
Gear:Â 45+ liter backpack with waistbelt, 3 L water in water bottles, water filter, stove and fuel (if cooking food), spoon or fork, camping knife or multitool, tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag rated to 30 degrees (down preferred), synthetic T-shirt, thin long-sleeve synthetic shirt, fleece, thin puffy coat, rain jacket, shorts or thin hiking pants, thin synthetic pant for sleeping, running shoes, neoprene socks (optional), sandals with a back strap, 2 pairs of socks, 8-10 snacks, dinner, breakfast, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, first aid kit, headlamp, toiletries, WAG bag (2 gallon ziplock bags with kitty litter for pooping), 100-150 ft rope (brought by guide) for Jacob Hamblins Arch climb out and lowering packs down Crack in the Wall, Gaia map app - download area Fri morning
For Fall/Winter Camping - Beanie, layered with a hooded jacket of some kind or a buff to keep beanie in place while you sleep, thick gloves, wool socks for sleeping in don’t sleep in socks that you hike in, warm dry comfy clothes to change into in the car
Rentals (for 2 days):
Tents (2 man - $13, 4 man - $22 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; 2 man - $14, 4 man - $18 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)
Sleeping bags (0 degree - $22, 30 degree - $22 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; 0 degree - $14, 30 degree - $10 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)
Sleeping pads (thermarest - $9 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; thermarest - $8 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)
Backpacks (85 liter - $12 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; 65 liter - $14 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)
Stove with fuel ($8 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; $8 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)
Mess kit ($8 BYU Outdoors Unlimited; $10 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)
Water Filter ($6 UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)
Hike in and Crack in the Wall
Hiking the canyon
Camping and Jacob Hamblins Arch
Climb out
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