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Beautiful photos! It was great to experience them all.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Melanie.
Hi Thomas,
Those are all great trips worth doing. Here’s what I’d do:
1. Apply for The Needles District permit for two nights asap. It’s a popular place and hard to get a permit for prime spring or fall dates. If you get the permit, take the trip. Never know when you’ll get it again.
2. If you don’t get the Needles permit, decide between Coyote Gulch and Spring Canyon based on travel logistics and your schedule. Both are fabulous. Permits aren’t an obstacle; arrive and get one for either (last I checked). Read my stories about both and how to do them and minor issues to be aware of. If the Escalante River isn’t too high when you do Coyote, walk upstream to Stevens Arch. If the Fremont River at Capitol Reef isn’t too high, you can hike Spring Canyon top to bottom and ford the Fremont, and probably catch a ride from other hikers without having to worry about the car shuttle (although I prefer to get that done at the start of the trip and leave your car at the finish).
When you have time for a 5-day hike in the Southwest, look at Paria Canyon. I’ll post a feature story in early spring about our trip last spring. Awesome canyon.
Good luck.
Michael,
Hope the new year is shaping up to be a good one for hiking and adventure. Logged 120 miles last year in backcountry here and starting to brainstorm trips in the months ahead. One region I have my sights on is southern Utah in late-April, probably a two-nighter (although three would be ideal). I know you have written extensively on this part of the world — if you had to pick one of the following, which would you go for: two-nighter in Coyote Gulch (Escalante) (although such a haul to get to); a two-nighter along Spring Canyon (Capitol Reef); or the Big Needles (Canyonlands) (a little more accessible via Grand Junction)? Decisions, decisions. Welcome any thoughts you might have though.
I imagine you have some big trips in the works, too. Look forward to those trip reports.
Best in ’16,
Thomas
Thanks, John, and a happy new year to you.
Michael,
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2016.
these images are beautiful and extremely enticing, wow!
Thank you. The places are even better!