Coyotes Butte North/South

[JKJenn]

I just entered the lottery for the Wave for September. I have though as a back-up we could go to Coyotes Butte South, which is now lottery also. Should I enter the South Lottery as well as a back-up plan or can I hold off on that?

I know our chances are not real high, but as we used to say in NY, "all it takes is a dollar and a dream."

[BretEdge]

If I were you, I'd make sure to spend some time at White Pocket. That place is amazing, especially if you're into photography. No permit needed, either. From what I've heard it's much easier to get a permit for South CB. Another option, if you can't get permits, is to hike Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch. Not necessarily what you asked but maybe this gives you some other ideas. Hope it's helpful.

[JKJenn]

If I were you, I'd make sure to spend some time at White Pocket. That place is amazing, especially if you're into photography. No permit needed, either. From what I've heard it's much easier to get a permit for South CB. Another option, if you can't get permits, is to hike Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch. Not necessarily what you asked but maybe this gives you some other ideas. Hope it's helpful.

Thanks for the suggestion. I am saving this entire are for another trip. I realized we were just a bit too tight with our itinerary, so cutting this destination slowed us down enough to enjoy the other stuff more. You could easily spend a lifetime exploring this region. I get 1-2 weeks per year.

[BretEdge]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am saving this entire are for another trip. I realized we were just a bit too tight with our itinerary, so cutting this destination slowed us down enough to enjoy the other stuff more. You could easily spend a lifetime exploring this region. I get 1-2 weeks per year.

Oh yeah, that area literally features awesome-ness around every bend in the road or trail. I had really hoped to spend a few days at White Pocket this summer during the monsoons but other projects conspired to keep me away. If you ever make it to Moab, please don't hesitate to contact me with questions. Enjoy your trip!

[JKJenn]

Oh yeah, that area literally features awesome-ness around every bend in the road or trail. I had really hoped to spend a few days at White Pocket this summer during the monsoons but other projects conspired to keep me away. If you ever make it to Moab, please don't hesitate to contact me with questions. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks, so much, Bret! We will hit Moab, briefly. We are going to spend an afternoon At CO NM before heading down to Gateway and then to Moab via Gateway-Castleton Rd. This is my third trip to Moab but first with a Jeep.

Day 1	Aspen to Moab via Gateway Castleton Rd.	Sleep in Moab
Day 2	Moab Area - Shafer Trail, Long Canyon, Potash Rd. (Some combination) Arches	Sleep in Moab
Day 3	Moab to Cathedral Valley	Camp Cathedral Valley
Day 4	Cathedral valley to Bryce Canyon via UT 12 f	Spend the night in Bryce
Day 5	Sunrise at Bryce Canyon, drive to Toroweap	Toroweap
Day 6	Toroweap to Alstrom Pt.	Alstrom Pt.
Day 7	Drive to Monument Valley	Mittens Campground
Day 8	Drive to San Juan Mtns.	Ridway/Ouray
Day 9	Drive to Marble/Crystal Mill	Spend night in Aspen
Day 10	Maroon Bells, Independence Pass to Co Springs	CO Springs

I wish we had more time to explore the Escalante area, too. Really, I just need to hurry up and move to the Southwest.

I would love feedback for sunrise sunset spots. I have hit Mesa Arch, DHPSP, The Windows, Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock at sunset, and the Green River Overlook, so I need some fresh ideas for location. I am toying with hiking to Delicate Arch for sunrise, but to the rock that jets out to the SW of the arch instead of towards the bowl area. I think I will get decent morning light on the arch and perhaps a decent shadow in mid-late September. I would also like to spend a sunset in Castle Valley. I hit it after shooting Fisher Towers last year and wished that I would have planned to get to Castle Valley earlier. My friend and travelling partner is not a photographer but is willing to get up at the insane hours necessary to get the shots. I think I will let her sleep in at Maroon Bells, though and come back to get her. Maroon Bells is completely insane. Last year I found the other photographers so uptight and grumpy it almost makes me not want to go back.

I tend to pack my trips full to get the most out of them. I catch a lot of flack for it, but I when you are driving across the country, you want to really get the most out of it you can.

[BretEdge]

Castle Valley is great for sunrise and sunset depending on where you are in the valley. Fisher Towers is amazing at sunset. Hike out to the Klondike Bluffs area in Arches NP for sunset to photograph the Marching Men and I can almost guarantee you won't find anyone else out there. Broken Arch at sunrise is also quite nice. Dead Horse Point at the main overlook is great at sunrise and if you hike out a mile or so on the Intrepid Trail there are some very scenic views back toward the La Sals at sunset. You could also hike into False Kiva for late afternoon light, which is in Canyonlands. A lovely but little known spot is Faux Falls, south of town. Dramatic sandstone ridge behind a rushing waterfall. It's out by Ken's Lake. Delicate Arch does get nice sunrise light on the other side. If we're thinking of the same ridge I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Hope this is useful information. Enjoy your trip and share some images upon your return!

[JKJenn]

Thanks, Bret! I was actually thinking of trying Klondike Bluffs. I have read it is a good challenging beginner Jeep trail. Ken's Lake has also been on the list. I will be sure to post a trip report when I am done.

I have False Kiva as an option. I hiked it last and loved it. It was the most solitude I had ever experienced in ym entire life. I didn't meet another person until I was getting back to the road. I would have stayed later, but their were storms starting, which could have been cool, but I was a little hesitant to end up walking back in the dark my first time out and alone. I got a little disoriented, but didn't have any trouble. I just stopped. Looked around, looked at the direction of the sun, and within a couple of minutes I was back on track. My results last year were OK, nothing special, really, though. I love the experience just as much as I love making the shots.


Colorado River Canyons Sunrise by Jenn Grover, on Flickr

False-Kiva-Single.jpg


The Windows.jpg by Jenn Grover, on Flickr

[JKJenn]

Wait, I see Klondike Bluffs is rate as moderate. I don't think I am there yet, especially with a rookie driver and rookie spotter.

[BretEdge]

Klondike Bluffs is moderate. But, the 4WD road that starts near the end of the main road in Arches, enters Salt Valley and then turns southeast, eventually ending at Balanced Rock, is pretty easy. The hardest part is right at the beginning when you turn off the Salt Valley Road toward Klondike Bluffs. There's a steep, rutted out hill that is a bit of a challenge but it's short. From there, the rest of the trail is easy. About 1/2 way through there's a very steep descent on slickrock that feels and looks much worse than it actually is.

If you aren't comfortable doing the 4WD road you can drive out Salt Valley, which is a graded dirt road, and park at the trailhead for Klondike Bluffs. Hike in a mile or so to shoot the Marching Men at sunset. All the details on this and 18 other locations in Arches are available in my e-book, The Essential Guide to Photographing Arches NP (see the link in my signature).

BTW - Great photos in your previous post! Fabulous light on all of them and a killer sky at False Kiva. I've yet to get a good sky there. Maybe this month. :-)

[Scott C]

I thought it was funny all the photographers at Maroon Bells. They all take the SAME shot we've seen a thousand times. The real pictures to be had are much further up the trail to places no one gets to see.

Thanks, so much, Bret! We will hit Moab, briefly. We are going to spend an afternoon At CO NM before heading down to Gateway and then to Moab via Gateway-Castleton Rd. This is my third trip to Moab but first with a Jeep.

Day 1	Aspen to Moab via Gateway Castleton Rd.	Sleep in Moab
Day 2	Moab Area - Shafer Trail, Long Canyon, Potash Rd. (Some combination) Arches	Sleep in Moab
Day 3	Moab to Cathedral Valley	Camp Cathedral Valley
Day 4	Cathedral valley to Bryce Canyon via UT 12 f	Spend the night in Bryce
Day 5	Sunrise at Bryce Canyon, drive to Toroweap	Toroweap
Day 6	Toroweap to Alstrom Pt.	Alstrom Pt.
Day 7	Drive to Monument Valley	Mittens Campground
Day 8	Drive to San Juan Mtns.	Ridway/Ouray
Day 9	Drive to Marble/Crystal Mill	Spend night in Aspen
Day 10	Maroon Bells, Independence Pass to Co Springs	CO Springs

I wish we had more time to explore the Escalante area, too. Really, I just need to hurry up and move to the Southwest.

I would love feedback for sunrise sunset spots. I have hit Mesa Arch, DHPSP, The Windows, Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock at sunset, and the Green River Overlook, so I need some fresh ideas for location. I am toying with hiking to Delicate Arch for sunrise, but to the rock that jets out to the SW of the arch instead of towards the bowl area. I think I will get decent morning light on the arch and perhaps a decent shadow in mid-late September. I would also like to spend a sunset in Castle Valley. I hit it after shooting Fisher Towers last year and wished that I would have planned to get to Castle Valley earlier. My friend and travelling partner is not a photographer but is willing to get up at the insane hours necessary to get the shots. I think I will let her sleep in at Maroon Bells, though and come back to get her. Maroon Bells is completely insane. Last year I found the other photographers so uptight and grumpy it almost makes me not want to go back.

I tend to pack my trips full to get the most out of them. I catch a lot of flack for it, but I when you are driving across the country, you want to really get the most out of it you can.