Coyote Buttes South

[IntrepidXJ]

Saturday, February 11, 2012

The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO (http://adventr.co/2012/02/coyote-buttes-south/)

A few months back I scored another set of permits to Coyote Buttes North and The Wave. Since I was going to be down here for that, I decided to grab a pair of permits to Coyote Buttes South and make a weekend out of it. This was my first trip to Coyote Buttes South, and I know it definitely won't be my last!

My friend Jackson and I got an early start on Saturday morning and started driving south to the Paria Plateau. Once we were over the border in Utah I noticed that there was probably going to be a great sunrise. I pulled off the highway just before the sun came up and took this photo of my Jeep with a very colorful sky.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/6931890459_2bfa863d79_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6931890459/)
Cisco Desert Sunrise (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6931890459/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

We eventually reached the trailhead at Cottonwood Cove and started exploring the area.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/6787160540_dc611a6c34_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6787160540/)
Cottonwood Cove (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6787160540/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

There is plenty of colorful sandstone around here. We had some nice skies early in the afternoon.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/6796447502_b87e81e4de_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6796447502/)
Lines & Clouds (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6796447502/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6778694010_8b64e7cb19_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6778694010/)
Sandstone Bowl (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6778694010/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/6794081290_a694d7ef81_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6794081290/)
Leading Lines (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6794081290/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7210/6794064152_29d96a2fa2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6794064152/)
Sandstone View (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6794064152/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Jackson explores the many sandstone formations in the area.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/6793991060_4bd8a85f88_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6793991060/)
Jackson in CBS (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6793991060/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

There seemed to be subtle stripes everywhere we looked.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6932112831_21bc0753b2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6932112831/)
Stripes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6932112831/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Great views all around.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6954234453_cb6d825ffa_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6954234453/)
Coyote Buttes South (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6954234453/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Interesting formations everywhere we looked, including this small arch.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6929362771_17849d85c7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6929362771/)
Small Arch (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6929362771/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6942578615_3c1c6c7421_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6942578615/)
On Top (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6942578615/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Jackson taking photos from above.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/6954258737_798a1f8aca_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6954258737/)
Photographer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6954258737/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

We eventually found our way over to the formation known as the Control Tower.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6930417709_7aa18be613_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6930417709/)
Control Tower (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6930417709/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Jackson hangs over the edge of a cliff for a shot.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7068/6796489576_b353562f0f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6796489576/)
Over the Edge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6796489576/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6796508520_da75cb9271_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6796508520/)
View (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6796508520/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/6784261924_946b2caa8d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6784261924/)
Racetrack (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6784261924/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/6933759241_6f272d6103_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6933759241/)
Lines & Buttes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6933759241/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

We ended the day at a very unique and interesting boulder known as the Half & Half. It's pretty cool.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6783388032_f9a284dabc_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6783388032/)
Half & Half (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6783388032/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

We stuck around the area hoping for a colorful sunset, but the clouds had become thicker throughout the day and it never happened.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/6942669253_af8db3c4d4_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6942669253/)
Half Scene (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/6942669253/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

We hiked back to the Jeep and drove out in the dark. We made our way to Page for the night and met up with our friend Stan for dinner before getting back to our hotel and getting some sleep. It was a fun day exploring a new area.

>> Coyote Buttes South Photo Gallery (http://flic.kr/s/aHsjynhFtj)

[accadacca]

:hail2thechief::hail2thechief::hail2thechief:

Good to see you getting out again Randy. This is an epic report. The first picture with the Jeep is awesome....wicked sky man! :eek2:

Dig the clouds and sky in several of the pictures. :cool2:

[Magic_Hour]

Great shots Randy! I'm jealous!
I'll be heading down to the area in a couple of days, I scored a North Coyote Buttes Permit through the Lottery for Friday. I don't have a permit for the South Buttes though so I might have to stop in to the ranger station and try to pull a permit for the South Buttes, we'll see.

Thanks again for the trip report and beautiful shots!

Any tips on visiting the North or South Buttes?

Ryan

[Sandstone Addiction]

Thanks once again for sharing your beautiful photos and adventures. I always look forward to them.

:2thumbs:

[justincbro]

By far the best photo collection I've seen of the Buttes!! :lol8:

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of camera do you use and have all of these photos been extensively edited on your computer?

-j

[IntrepidXJ]

Thanks!

I use a 5D mark II and process the RAW files in Photoshop CS5


By far the best photo collection I've seen of the Buttes!! :lol8:

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of camera do you use and have all of these photos been extensively edited on your computer?

-j

[ROKTAXI]

Really cool pix Randy. Got my sights to head there this fall.

[zzyzx]

N

[powderglut]

Love the south buttes!! Nice job!

[JFstego]

Great shots. The cloudy sky seems to have made the colors stand out more.

The CBS is an awesome place!

[JFstego]

Forgot to ask, how were the roads in February? Is the sand more compact?

[stefan]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6783388032_f9a284dabc_z.jpg

i love this

[dreamlandsafari]

For those of you wanting to visit the Vermillion Cliffs (http://www.dreamlandtours.net/day-tours/tours-of-the-paria-canyon-vermillion-cliffs-national-monument/) or looking for great alternatives to the Wave, consider a guided tour to South Coyote Buttes (http://www.dreamlandtours.net/multi-day-tours-utah-safari-photo-tours/overnight-toroweap-photography-tour/) with Dreamland Safari Tours (http://www.dreamlandtours.net/). We keep you safe in our 4x4s through the deep sand that trap so many, guide hikes to the coolest spot within each place (many that you wont find on your own), teach you about the flora, fauna, and unique geology, and give photographic tips.

Don't forget about White Pocket (http://www.dreamlandtours.net/day-tours/tours-of-the-paria-canyon-vermillion-cliffs-national-monument/white-pocket-photography-tour/). It isn't too far from Cottonwood Cove and is an absolute must. In my opinion it is on par with the Wave Photographically with no exaggeration. It also requires no permit to enter. Or do both on our White Pocket and South Coyote Buttes Combination Tour (http://www.dreamlandtours.net/day-tours/tours-of-the-paria-canyon-vermillion-cliffs-national-monument/white-pocket-coyote-buttes-south-combination-tour/).

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