A GRAND Upgrade
Coyote Gulch backpacking trip renamed and revamped as Grand Staircase Adventure!
Without a doubt, backpacking in Coyote Gulch is one of our most thrilling adventures. With breathtaking sights and exhilarating challenges around every corner, it has become a big hit with guests and a favorite trip to lead for our guides. It has also just received a major upgrade!
Our backpacking program launched with a trip to Coyote Gulch in 2020. At that time, we did not have a vehicle suitable for transporting guests and all our equipment to Utah. We rented a large vehicle just to haul the equipment, and our guests had to travel to the remote town of Escalante, Utah, on their own.
Our situation changed last year, however, with the addition of a four-wheel drive, 15-passenger van to our fleet. We can now transport everyone and all the necessary equipment directly from our headquarters in Flagstaff, creating two very important advantages for our hiking guests.
First, meeting in Flagstaff is much easier and considerably more affordable than meeting in Escalante. We are accessible from both the Flagstaff and the Phoenix airports, and it is possible to reach us without renting a vehicle if desired.
Second, and more importantly, the drive time from Flagstaff to Escalante provides many opportunities to visit other area attractions as a group. For example, on day one we will make a stop at the historic Navajo Bridge as it crosses the Colorado River near the beginning of the Grand Canyon. This is where many of our river trips launch. Maybe we will see some rafts as we peer down to the river nearly 500’ below.
Farther along, we will stop at Le Fevre overlook on the north end of the Kaibab Plateau. The views here are stunning, and they provide the perfect view of the Grand Staircase that we will be exploring and studying throughout the rest of the journey.
On day six we will take an alternate route for the drive back, allowing for stops at the impressive Glen Canyon Dam holding back Lake Powell, and a must-see visit to the iconic Horseshoe Bend outside of Page, Arizona. There are many other potential stops that could be added if time permits.
The title for the trip has been changed from Coyote Gulch to Grand Staircase Adventure. Though backpacking through Coyote Gulch is still the highlight, the name change reflects the purpose for the trip and the perspective gained through the additional sites visited. If you have been on a tour of the Grand Canyon with us, your guide may have mentioned the nearby Grand Staircase and its relationship to the Grand Canyon.
This trip is not disconnected from the Grand Canyon. Rather, it is an extension of the work we are doing in the canyon, providing exploration of the broader landscape and a more complete discussion of the effects of the flood so abundantly evident here in the southwest.
These additions make only a relatively minor impact on our costs. As a result, we have been able to add all this extra value without raising the price for 2023. Turning a 4-day backpacking trip into a 6-day southwest adventure at no additional cost is something we are pretty excited about!
For the full itinerary, photos, and booking information, visit Grand Staircase Adventure.
