Coyote Gulch Loop — Grand Staircase-Escalante Slickrock and Canyon Circuit

Red Canyon trailhead off Hole-in-the-Rock Road is where the pavement ends and the real Utah starts. Coyote Gulch is justifiably famous among canyon country travelers — this loop links the Hurricane Wash, Red Well, and Fortymile Ridge access tracks to put you in striking distance of Jacob Hamblin Arch, Coyote Natural Bridge, and the Escalante River confluence. The driving itself is a mix of packed sand, soft wash bottoms, and stretches of bare Navajo sandstone that demand you read the terrain before you commit. One wrong line on the slickrock and you’re high-centered with nobody coming past for days.

Sand is the primary enemy here — aired-down tires (18–20 psi) are non-negotiable, and a good set of recovery boards lives on your rack, not buried under your gear. Stock 4WD with decent clearance gets most of it done; a locker earns its keep in the wash crossings after rain. Best season is March–May and September–November; summer heat is genuinely dangerous and flash flood risk in the washes is real. Fuel in Escalante — the last town with a pump before a very long tow. No permit required for vehicle travel, but the area is managed by BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.