|
East
Zion Lodge
Vacation House
East Zion Cabins
Budget Lodging
Group
Lodging
East
Zion Golf
East
Zion RV Park
Vacation
Packages
Zion
Bus Tours
Business
Retreat
Southwest Parks
Zion National Park
Bryce
Canyon
Grand
Canyon
Grand
Staircase
Cedar
Breaks
Dixie
National Forest
Red
Canyon
Coral
Pink Sand Dunes
Slot
Canyons
Coyote Buttes
Tuweep
Resource
Exchange
Southern Utah
Hiking Forum
The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument!
Stay in Mt. Carmel Jct., the heart of the parks, and visit
the treasures of the Southwest.
Mileage: Mt. Carmel Jct.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument vacation
with our Utah and Arizona maps.
In these pages you will find insiders information on the best
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument hikes. This detailed
guide includes road maps, park maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history,
fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information
on the Grand Staircase hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in Utah's national monuments. |
|
Directions: East Zion to Staircase
From
Salt Lake City, travel south on I15 to U-20. Exit on U-20. Turn south on U-89
and follow U-89 to Glendale.
From Las Vegas: Travel I15 to exit 16. Follow U-9 to the south
entrance of Zion and through to the east entrance. Take U-9 for 12 miles to
Mt. Carmel Jct, where U-89 and U-9 meet. Drive north on U-89 to Glendale.
From Glendale, turn right on 300 N. (Bench Road) Follow the
graded dirt road, Skutumpah, into the Grand Staircase. Remember the Grand Staircase
is a wild and remote place. The dirt roads may be impassible when wet and there
is usually no water, services or cell phone access. Skutumpah is a backway and
should only be traveled in dry conditions. Call for road and weather information
before travel: 435.644.4680
The Wave is a multi colored wonderland of carved stone that
fascinates the mind and the eye.
Suggested Gear : A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike many of the
SW Trails. Quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced
hikers and canyoneers like the Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great for hiking,
bouldering and canyoneering.
|
|
|
North Coyote Buttes "The Wave"
The Coyote Buttes Special Management Area
is in Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Arizona's Paria
Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness.
Photo Album: The
Wave Pictures
Day hike: Yes. No overnight camping inside the hiking route.
Trail Distance: 5.76 miles to the wave and back.
7.2 miles/11.6km round trip from the Wire Pass parking lot to "The Wave,"
the Arch, the Grotto and back.
Average hiking time: 5 hours
Accessible Trail: No.
Trail Usage: Limited to 10 people per day
Bike Trail: No and no Pets
Difficulty: Moderate to the Wave. Difficult slickrock scrambling to the Arch
and Grotto. Excellent navigation skills are a must. Do not attempt this hike
without a map from the BLM or a GPS.
Sun Exposure: Full sun. There is no shade and the dark red rock and sand will
reflect the sun and amplify the effects of heat, Carry at least 1 gallon of water
per person in the summer.
Permits: Required. Limited to 6 in a group. Day use only. Apply for an online
permit or pick them up in person. Choose Coyote Butte North. Cost is $5 per person.
Kanab BLM Office: 318 N 100 E 435.644.4600 Paria BLM office is 4 miles east of
the Wire Pass turn-off.
Trail Conditions: Good. The start of the hike is uphill through the sand, but
most of the hike is over rock.
Trailhead: Wire Pass - Located 35 miles west of Page, Arizona 40 miles east of
Kanab, Utah.
Trailend: Same as trailhead
Best Season: Spring and Fall. Hot in the summer, when the weather cooperates
this is a good winter hike.
Off the beaten path: Yes
Elevation gain to the Wave: 661'/201m
Starting Elevation: 4877'/1487m
Wave Elevation: 5219'/1286m
Restrooms: Vault toilet at the Wire Pass Trailhead
North Coyote Buttes "The Wave"
The Wave: Located on the Colorado Plateau near the Utah
and Arizona border is a gallery of gruesomely twisted formations of sandstone
resembling deformed pillars, cones, mushrooms and other odd creations. Deposits
of iron claim some of the responsibility for the unique blending of color twisted in
the rock, creating a dramatic rainbow of pastel yellows, pinks and reds.
Wire Pass Trailhead: To find the Wire Pass Trailhead, drive
about 35 miles west from Page, Arizona or 40 miles east of Kanab, Utah. The turn-off
is located on the south (right side coming from Kanab) side of highway 89 between
mile markers 25 and 26 at a curve in the road at the end of a guard rail. Turn
at the un-marked dirt road. This is House Rock Road. It is 8.3 miles on the dirt
road to the parking area. Park near the vault toilet on the right side of the
road and display your parking permit in your window. Cross the road and start
hiking east on the path of
use past the register box for Buckskin Gulch. Pass through the hikers gate and
follow the foot prints through the sandy, dry Wire Pass river bed. Follow the
obvious path out of the wash and up hill and to the right over the crossbedded
sandstone. Sign in at the Coyote Butte register box. This was Wire Pass.
The Wave Beta: From the register box there is not a formal
trail to "The
Wave," but landmarks or GPS coordinates can be used. Continue the uphill
trek southeast over the slickrock and sand to where the ground levels out. Watch
for foot prints in the sand. The route turns south - southeast. Stay close to
the rock formations to your right for the next mile, keeping away from the lower
ground. The smaller domes will be to your left.
Keep your eyes peeled in the distance among the buttes, for
a large, dark notch in a tall butte ahead. This notch is your landmark to find
the Wave. The Wave is directly below the notch. Rock formations will become more
interesting when approaching "The Wave." Drop into the wash heading
toward the multicolored sandstone.
The Wave: The area called Top Rock is a collection of white
Navajo sandstone formations. The south end of Top Rock divides north and south
Coyote Buttes. "The
Wave" is a chasm located on the northeast edge of Top Rock. If there
is too much water in the chasm to pass through safely it is easy to go around.
When you arrive at "The Wave," you are about .04 miles south of the
Arizona and Utah state line.
Natural Arch: To find the arch continue up the sandstone and to the right.
Look for the arch at the very top of the mountain. Find the easiest way up the
steep slickrock. The arch is approached from the back side of the mountain. Only
those experienced in slickrock climbing should attempt to go to the arch. From
the arch the red cones of South Coyote Butte is a nice scene.
The Grotto: To locate the Grotto return back to the way you approached the
arch but stay to your left hiking over the crossbedded sandstone. The Grotto
is a fun alcove with a wonderful pile of sand in its bowels.
Best Trail Features: The Wave is not just a simple end to a hike, but a place
in itself to be explored. There are various rock formations to explore in addition
to the striated sandstone.
GPS Beta: Coordinates and other trail information by Kane County search and
rescue vice commander and training officer Dean
Kurtz and Zion Park search and
rescue team member Bo
Beck.
UTM: WGS 84 Datum
Parking lot at Wire Pass
12s 408723mE 4097394mN
Elevation: 4877'/1487m
The Wave
12s 410461mE 4094916mN
Elevation: 5219'/1286m
Distance from parking lot: 2.88 miles/4.63km
The Arch
12s 410562mE 4094731mN
Elevation: 5538'/1688m
Distance from "The Wave" 0.5 miles/.08km
|
