We snagged permits for Coyote Buttes South in January and headed to the Page area for a weekend of awesome rocks and views. We arrived Friday evening and stayed in a motel in Page. We were up early for sunrise at New Wave and after enjoying the beautiful morning continued on 89A to House Rock Valley Road. The road conditions to White Pocket were a mixed bag. We were early enough that the mud and snow were still frozen and the sand was hard. Parts of the road were deeply rutted and there was also packed snow and ice in sections. We made it to White Pocket in the late morning, arriving at the same time as another guided group (that's the only people we saw that day). There was a layer of snow on the lower, flat areas, but it was not a problem to hike around. The snow really added to the scenery in spots - I especially loved the cross bedded snow!

We spent a good part of the day exploring White Pocket. The temperatures were cooler, but with a sunny day it felt great to be out. After hours of wandering around, we decided to drive over to Coyote Buttes South and camp there for the night (we had a permit for both days). There is deep sand going through Paw Hole, but manageable as it is downhill from White Pocket (also, with the moisture and temperatures the sand was firmer). We found deeper snow at Coyote Buttes South and managed to find a bare spot to pitch our tent (outside the designated wilderness area). We had a little time to explore before sunset. Once the sun went down we didn't dilly dally - it got cold quickly - and we were in the tent early for bed.

It was cloudy in the morning and it took us a little bit to get moving (brrrr!). We knew the road would be a hot mess as the day warmed up, so we decided to spend a few hours exploring, then head out before the roads got too bad. This was our second visit to Coyote Buttes South, so we felt a few hours would do the trick for this visit. We did some short scrambles to get to good vantage points and had to patiently wait for a break in the clouds for some light. When the sun did make an appearance, the views were terrific. So many cool colors, textures, and formations. Truly a special place.

It was a messy ride back to the highway and we were happy to set wheels on pavement. The day had cleared up and we decided to make one more quick stop at New Wave so we could see it with sunlight. This little spot is a delight; especially nice that it is easily accessible. After a meal in Page we were off for the canyon. It was a fantastic weekend!