Join us for our ASDT southern Utah backpacking retreat under the permit of Arizona Outback Adventures! We will be backpacking with an awesome group of women through the magical and awe-inspiring Escalante Grand-Staircase Monument in the southern Utah desert. The beautiful Navajo sandstone canyon walls, the sparkling streams, exquisite arches, natural bridges, Fremont Indian pictographs, and several waterfalls will make this hike a favorite. Each day we will teach new outdoor skills, cook incredible healthy meals from scratch, physically challenge ourselves exploring a new area, and take time to relax and enjoy the beautiful environment while creating lifelong memories with a community of new friends! This is one of the best hikes in southern Utah.
Classic Backpacking Escalante, UT Retreat
Coyote Gulch
Escalante, UT
Choose a date to join!
What to Expect
Coyote Gulch via Hurricane Wash
This Escalante backpacking route covers up to 26 miles with very minimal elevation gain. The trail crosses water often, so water shoes are highly recommended! Participants must be physically capable of carrying a 30 to 40 pound backpack while hiking 5 to 7 miles each day.
Day 1
Meet us at our announced destination for your ASDT Escalante backpacking orientation. We go over gear and have a short demo on the most efficient ways to pack our bags. We’ll also teach principles of Leave No Trace (LNT) that we use throughout the retreat. Then, we head out to our Hole in the Rock campsite and enjoy our first night under the stars.
- Meet up/Distribute gear
- Pack bags
- LNT lesson
- Hike to first campsite
- Dinner
Day 2
Wake up to a filling breakfast before you pack up camp and begin the next hike. We make our way to Crack in the Wall, the entrance to Coyote Gulch. Descend into the gulch and walk upstream on this southern Utah hike. Pass cliff walls and beautiful waterfalls as we head to our first location, set up camp, make dinner, and enjoy our fireside chats.
- Hot breakfast
- Pack up camp
- Hike to Crack in the Wall
- Cliff walls and waterfalls
- Set up camp/Dinner
Day 3
Waking up to the sunrise pouring in over the high cliff walls is often the highlight of the morning. A hot breakfast and drinks are ready when you wake up. Enjoy a morning stretch as we pack up camp and make our way through the gulch to Coyote Natural Bridge, Black Lagoon, and Native American Ruins. Hike around several waterfalls, with the final destination being the famous Jacob Hamblin Arch. We’ll set up camp and have plenty of evening downtime to explore, relax, and reflect before dinner. Our evening ends with our campfire fireside chat and a majestic night sky.
- Hot breakfast/Pack up camp
- Coyote Natural Bridge, Black Lagoon, and Native American Ruins
- Waterfalls/Jacob Hamblin Arch
- Set up camp/Downtime/Dinner
Day 4
Waking up near Jacob Hamblin arch calls for a relaxing morning with yoga and breakfast. Pack your day bag to explore several canyon washes and multiple natural springs in the area. We’ll practice navigational skills as we finish the day relaxing back at camp, making dinner, and enjoying the last evening together in the gulch.
- Hot breakfast/Yoga
- Day hikes to canyon washes and natural springs
- Practice navigational skills
- Downtime/Dinner
Day 5
Wake up in the quiet, early morning, eat breakfast, and pack up camp. We’ll prepare for our ascent out of the gulch. Once we come together at our end point, we sort gear, and reflect on the adventure we just had. For those who want to join, we’ll eat lunch together at Escalante Outfitters where we’ll say our goodbyes.
- Breakfast
- Pack up camp
- Hike out of Coyote Gulch
- Hand in gear
- Optional: Lunch
"The trail was like walking through National Geographic the whole way. My mind was blown. The other women felt like kindred spirits and were an absolute joy to spend time with. For me personally, it was quite an expensive trip relatively given what I make, but it was totally worth it!!
I felt challenged physically and rejuvenated emotionally and spiritually. Double thumbs up.”
-Mary Mox, Escalante Participant
We are very fortunate to partner with Arizona Outback Adventures of Scottsdale, AZ. They align with our mission. In business since 1997, Arizona Outback Adventures specializes in multi-day guided adventure tours throughout the Southwest, single-day guided tours in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Phoenix metro area, bicycle rentals, and team building and other events for corporate groups.
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FAQs
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Refund Policy
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Packing list
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Couples Retreat
Which airport should I fly into?
Grand Staircase Airports - The closest major airport to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Salt Lake city is a close second. Cedar City, Utah is a little over 1.5 hours away and has Delta connection flights. St George, Utah, at about 2.5 hours away, has daily flights from Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.
Will someone be there to pick me up or do I need to arrange my own transportation to our meeting point?
You will need to make your own arrangements. Participants are encouraged to carpool. You will receive a link with information and tools to communicate with other participants when the retreat gets closer.
RETREAT CANCELLATIONS
It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policy before making a reservation.
Naturally, no one books with the intention of cancelling or postponing their retreat, but unexpected things do happen, so please purchase travel cancellation insurance once you have made your reservation.
GUEST CANCELLATION POLICY
If you cancel your trip, AndShesDopeToo does not offer refunds for any reason. A portion of your payment may be used as credit for another retreat to be taken the next calendar year.
Depending on when you cancel, cancellation penalties may apply.
Fees are determined by the following schedule:
- If you cancel more than 90 days before your retreat start date, 100% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat.
- If you cancel 89 – 60 days before your retreat start date, 75% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat. You will forfeit 25% of the price of your retreat.
- If you cancel 59 – 30 days before your retreat start date, 40% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat. You will forfeit 60% of the price of your retreat.
- If you cancel 30 days or less before your retreat start date, you will forfeit your entire payment.
Exceptions to our policy cannot be made for any reason. We do not offer credit for a guest arriving late or leaving early.
ASDT RETREAT CANCELLATION POLICY
If AndShesDopeToo must cancel a booked retreat date for any reason, you may transfer your full retreat payment to another retreat, or you may request a refund of your payment to us.
AndShesDopeToo is not responsible for your expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled retreat, such as airline tickets, loss of work, and/or other costs associated with preparing for your trip.
Here is a list of personal essentials we encourage all participants to bring on this retreat:
- 32 oz Water bottle to keep your filtered water stored
- Hiking shoes/boots that are already broken in
- Water shoes (Chaco type that have a strap)
- Toiletries/keep it simple
- Sun cover: sunglasses, hat with brim
- lip balm
- lightweight waterproof jacket/pants
- quick drying shorts/shirt
- long thermals( synthetic, no cotton)
- insulated layer (light puffy or fleece)
- lightweight gloves
- 2/3 pairs of hiking socks (no cotton)
- quick drying underwear/sports bra
Optional Items for comfort:
- swimsuit
- lightweight pack-able camp pillow
- journal/notebook
- camera
What to Expect
AndShesDopeToo focuses primarily on women’s only events. However, the founders wanted to experience these beautiful locations together and once they did, they knew immediately they wanted to add one couples retreat to the calendar. There really is something special about going into the backcountry with your significant other. You leave all of the noise behind, noise that typically distracts you from spending quality time together. These new retreats are the perfect time to unplug and connect in the most beautiful locations we could imagine. We limit each retreat to five couples and two guides. This allows for numbers to be large enough for a good time, but small enough where we each can have space around our individual camping areas.
Who can attend
We welcome couples who are over the age of 21 years old and who are in physical shape to carry a 30 to 45 lb pack while hiking up to seven miles a day. Since ASDT is an outdoor women’s collective, we do have a policy for our couples to have at least one participant who is female. If you have any questions about this policy, please send us a message.
What gear is provided?
For our couples retreats, we will provide backpacking packs, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. The gear listed above is available for use on the couples backpacking retreats. If you would like to use your gear from home, you absolutely can.