The Gulch
Twelve miles of canyon running south from the Burr Trail trailhead to the Escalante River, designated a National Outstanding Natural Area, with one short slot near the midpoint as the only real obstacle.
This is a backpack, not a technical descent. The full loop is about 29.7 miles over three to four days and returns on an old cattle trail that demands real navigation; without those skills, walk down to the Escalante River and come back the same way. The slot crux around halfway is what turns parties around: bypassing it takes roughly 33 feet of fourth to easy fifth class climbing, and dogs and beginners will want a rope on it. Water is intermittent, needs filtering, and the canyon can be dry into early fall, so call the Escalante BLM office at (435) 679-8980 before committing to a multi day trip. Deer flies are genuinely bad in season; long sleeves and repellent are the difference between a good trip and a wretched one. Summer is out, between the heat, the lack of water, and the flies. The loop crosses the Escalante repeatedly and the USGS gauge at 09337500 understates it, because a lot of water enters below the gauge: parties report thigh deep crossings at four to five CFS on the reading.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
|---|---|
| Permit | Free backcountry permit required for overnight camping; self-issue at the trailhead or the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center. No fee. Day hikes do not require a permit. Crossed by the paved Burr Trail with a BLM maintained trailhead. |
| Season | Spring;Fall |
| Coordinates | 37.8598, -111.3114 |
Sources
- permit: https://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/grand_staircase_escalante/the-gulch.html
- manager: https://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/grand_staircase_escalante/the-gulch.html
- desc: https://www.roadtripryan.com/go/t/utah/escalante/the-gulch
- notes: https://www.roadtripryan.com/go/t/utah/escalante/the-gulch
- heroPhoto: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Gulch_(27406898544).jpg