Coyote Gulch: Crown Jewel of Escalante
Fully Guided Trip
Beginner-friendly
Classic photography destination
We go out of our way to open the wonders of the West to EVERYONE.
We are permitted, licensed, and insured.
Dreamland Safari Tours holds Special Use Permits from the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument/Paria Wilderness, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Kanab Bureau of Land Management, Kaibab National Forest, and Arizona Strip Bureau of Land Management.
Don't see your preferred departure date or time available via online booking? Give us a call.
For sunset or sunrise at our more remote locations, we recommend a scheduled or custom overnight or multi-day tour - and we are happy to work with you to develop an itinerary that meets your needs.
All listed tour durations and pickup times are approximate. Please allow 10-20 minutes of pickup time flexibility for unforeseen circumstances and varying pickup logistics. Water and snacks are provided on all tours. A lunch meal is included on all tours of 6+ hours. Vegetarian option available.
We reserve the right to fill all empty seats on non-private tours. Cancellation / Reschedule / Weather policy applies.
Please familiarize yourself with our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS before contacting us.
Contact us
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If there was a hall of fame for desert backpacking adventures, Coyote Gulch would be at its center. A visit to this lush oasis hidden deep in the canyons of the Escalante will replenish your soul.
Price
Private Tour Upgrade Available?
Tour Length
Departure Times
Difficulty (1-10)
Recommended abilities
Permits
Location
Attractions
Special Interests
What is included on your backpacking trips?
Backpacking trips include overnight permits, lightweight tents, team cooking equipment, main meals, trailhead transport from the closest town, water purification, team first aid and emergency communication, and of course experienced backpacking guides. Almost all of our backpacking trips also include a hotel night (double occupancy) before and after the hike, as well as a team dinner pre- and post-hike.
What gear do I need to bring?
Dreamland Safari Tours provides tents, team cooking gear, water purification, team first aid & emergency communications. You need to bring (or rent) a backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cup/bowl/spoon, and your hiking attire including a waterproof jacket and down jacket. Rentals for backpacks, sleeping bags & sleeping pads are available through Dreamland Safari Tours.
What type of food should I expect?
Dreamland Safari Tours provides breakfasts, dinners, and light lunches while we are on the trail (as well as water, coffee and tea). You can expect both fresh meals and the occasional backpacker's freeze-dried meal. We can accommodate many dietary restrictions with prior notice.
What is the bathroom situation?
Except for the Grand Canyon itineraries, there are no outhouses to be found on our backpacking itineraries. On most backpacking trips, expect to bury solid human waste by digging cat holes. For some itineraries such as the Paria and Buckskin Gulch, the use of wag bags is mandatory.
How much weight will I have to carry?
Standard pack weights for most of our itineraries vary between 35 to 40 lbs, which includes a ~5 lbs team gear allocation in addition to your personal gear. Your gear choices, trip duration, and water availability on your itinerary are the main determinants of final pack weight.
Is it possible to hire porters?
Most of our itineraries are subject to strict group size limits, which makes it difficult to impossible to offer porter services. That said: if you are booking a private backpacking adventure and would like to explore the possibility of adding on porter services, please give us a call or send us an email to discuss.
How do I get to Kanab or Escalante or... ?
Most of our backpacking programs start and finish in small desert towns which can be admittedly hard to reach. Public transport options are very limited, which makes travel by (rental) car advisable. If you are flying in and would like to avoid renting a car, please give us a call - we may be able to assist with car pools with other backpackers or airport pick ups.
Is there a place to leave my vehicle?
There is a safe spot to park your vehicle for the duration of the backpack on each of our itineraries.
Is tipping the guide customary?
Yes! A typical gratuity is $20-$40 per person per day -- so for a 5-day trip, the suggested tip would be between $100 and $200 total. You can read more about guide tipping from the perspective of one of our guides on our blog here.
About Backpacking in Grand Staircase Escalante
Grand Staircase Escalante lies at the heart of the Colorado Plateau in Southern Utah. The National Monument encompasses a vast area of 1.87 million acres, most of which are accessible solely via dirt roads, on horseback or on foot. The Grand Staircase is characterized by five massive rock layers spanning ~160-175 million years of geologic history, and there is no better way to experience Grand Staircase Escalante’s impressive scenery than by backpacking along its expansive plateaus and through its deep canyons.
About Coyote Gulch
The terrain in Coyote Gulch is the stuff of legends: arches, alcoves, bridges and waterfalls, all framed by sky-high red cliffs that soar towards the sky and the lush foliage of Cottonwood trees which thrive amongst the canyon’s shade and water. Coyote Gulch is a desert paradise, which is why it has become a popular backpacking destination in recent years. Unless you decide to brave the climate vagaries of off-season travel, don’t expect to have Coyote Gulch to yourself – but with mile after mile of breathtaking terrain, even busy season in Coyote Gulch (spring and fall) usually comes with plenty of scenic campsites to choose from, and lots of space to breathe freely and let the stresses of everyday life fall away from you.
About Dreamland’s Guided Coyote Gulch Backpack
The Dreamland Safari Tours Coyote Gulch Backpack starts and finishes in the town of Escalante. As is standard on our guided backpacking adventures, your trip fee includes a hotel night and team welcome & closing dinners in Escalante before and after the trail portion so as to minimize the logistical stress of your arrival and departure. The trail portion of this adventure entails four days and three nights in Coyote Gulch with 5 to 8 miles of hiking per day.
With moderate daily mileage and minimal elevation change, the Coyote Gulch backpack is suitable for motivated first-timers as well as seasoned backpackers who enjoy the peace of mind of having a guide direct the planning and logistics for an adventure like this. Please note though that Coyote Gulch entails numerous shallow river crossings and stretches of mandatory wading (we have footwear recommendations to help you prepare); in addition, some sections of Coyote Gulch involve mild scrambling – good mobility is a must for this backpack.
We are proud to utilize our decades of experience in desert adventures, backcountry risk management and expedition planning to share with you an unforgettable time exploring Grand Staircase Escalante from the immersive perspective of a backpacker. You bring your personal backpacking gear & camera; we take care of the team gear logistics. Rental options for select gear such as backpacks and sleeping bags are available.
Our 6-day guided Coyote Gulch Backpacking Adventure includes:
- 4 days of backpacking in Coyote Gulch, plus two nights in Escalante (one before the backpack, and one afterwards)
- Main meals & lodging in Escalante pre- and post-trail, double occupancy; contact us to inquire about the possibility of a single supplement
- Trailhead transport from and to Escalante
- Experienced backpacking guides at a 1:4 guide-to-guest ratio
- Lightweight backpacking tents (unless you prefer to bring your own)
- Team cooking equipment
- Breakfasts and dinners while on the trail
- Water purification and/or water resupply
- Team first-aid kit and Wilderness First Responder certified guides
- Satellite messenger communication in case of emergency
- Human waste bags where required
- Pre-trip gear & training advice as desired
- Overnight permits for GSENM / GCRNA
You will receive a detailed trip handbook & gear list once you reserve your spot on this adventure. Meanwhile, the below rough gear list provides guidance on what backpacking equipment to bring or rent:
- Backpack (55 – 65 liters)
- Sleeping bag, rated to 30 degrees or warmer
- Sleeping pad/s
- 3 liters of water capacity
- Personal bowl, cup and spoon
- Synthetic, non-GoreTex hiking boots or trail shoes
- Down jacket
- Rain jacket
- Hiking attire
- Personal snacks
Gear provided by Dreamland Safari Tours:
- Tents
- Trekking poles
- Team cooking gear & meals
- Water purification
- Team first aid kit
- GPS communication
Permits & Group Size
Please note that there is a 3 person minimum for this itinerary. The maximum group size is 10 guests + 2 guides. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument & the Escalante District of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area require overnight permits; we take care of all permitting requirements on your behalf.
2023 DATES
September 24 – 29 2023
2024 DATES
October 9 -14 2024
Check back as we intermittently add new dates to our schedule.
Private Departures
Interested in a private Coyote Gulch backpacking trip just for your group? Call us at 435.644.5506 or email hello@dreamlandtours.net.
Fully Guided Tour
Photography Paradise!
Interesting Geology!
Other Paria / Vermillion Cliffs Tours
Day 1
5pm – Hotel check-in, team meet & great and trip briefing
~7pm – Team welcome dinner
Dinner & double occupancy lodging are included in the price of this adventure
Day 2
Breakfast & gear check, followed by the drive towards Hurricane Wash Trailhead along historic Hole In The Rock Road.
Commence backpacking (~5 miles); establish camp for the night.
Day 3 & 4
Backpack the length of Coyote Gulch, past Jacob Hamblin Arch, Coyote Natural Bridge, Cliff Arch towards the Escalante River. We then reverse our steps to return along the same route that we followed on the way in. The views are spectacular in both directions!
Day 5
Return to Hurricane Wash trailhead, followed by drive back to Escalante & hotel check-in. Team celebration dinner.
Dinner & lodging are included in the price.
Day 5 – Depart
Guest Experiences with Dreamland Safari Tours
What to Expect on this Coyote Gulch Guided Backpacking Trip
The Coyote Gulch Trip is a moderate desert backpacking adventure, similar in physical difficulty to our Reflection Canyon or Boulder Mail Trail adventures. You need to be ready for four consecutive days with 5-8 miles of hiking while carrying a ~35 lbs pack. The terrain in Coyote Gulch involves numerous shallow water crossings as well as sections of mandatory wading. You will be hiking in wet shoes at times; if that is a new experience to you, don’t fret – it’s not as bad as it sounds, and we’ll help you get ready). There is not a lot of elevation change on this out-and-back Coyote Gulch Route, nor does our route involve any exposed climbing or hardcore scrambling. (There are other routes in and out of Coyote Gulch that do involve climbing/scrambling – if this is what you are interested in, please contact us to discuss options for a private trip.) While our Coyote Gulch Backpack is a fully guided adventure and Dreamland Safari Tours will take care of group logistics, you have to be prepared to carry your own overnight gear as well as up to three liters of water, snacks, and your share of the food required for the entire time on the trail.
If you are at all concerned about your physical ability to complete and enjoy this backpacking adventure, please give us a call at 435-644-5506 to discuss the feasibility of your participation.
What Gear Should I Bring for Coyote Gulch?
All participants will receive a comprehensive gear check list as well as recommendations for gear to buy or rent for this trip. We provide tents, cooking gear & meals but ask that participants bring their own overnight gear (i.e. backpack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag etc.). Dreamland Safari Tours has rentals available for select gear items such as backpacks, sleeping bags, and trekking poles, which may be reserved on a first-come-first-serve basis.
