Cliff (Jug Handle) Arch – Coyote Gulch – Utah
This shot of Cliff Arch (also called Jug Handle Arch) was taken fairly early in the morning upstream from our first camp site, just as the sun was rising over the high cliffs. The vegetation in Coyote Gulch is at its most dense along this section of the creek, making things seem at times almost more like a jungle than a dry desert.
Downstream is Stevens Arch, while ahead are Coyote Natural Bridge and the spectacular sandstone alcoves around Jacob Hamblin Arch.
Coyote Gulch, part of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, can be accessed via four different trailheads. The first trailhead is located off a small spur road that branches east from Hole-in-the-Rock Road at milepost 30. South of that at milepost 33, a side branch of Coyote Gulch, known as Hurricane Wash can be accessed directly from the road. Farther south at mile 35 is another road that leads 7 miles to the Fortymile Ridge (also known as Crack in the Wall) trailhead. About half way down this road is the Hamblin Arch Trailhead, which is generally used as a exit point because of the steep nature of the climb out. If you intend to drive all the way to Fortymile Ridge keep in mind there are sections of deep sand that are not suitable for low clearance vehicles.
National Park Service: Website
Canyons of the Escalante Hiking Guide (NPS)
Suggested Reading:
Non-Technical Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau – Mike Kelsey
Canyons of the Escalante – Trails Illustrated Map – National Geographic
Hiking Grand Staircase-Escalante & the Glen Canyon Region – Ron Adkison