South Coyote Buttes is chocked full of enchanting sandstone shapes, fragile fins, undulating terrain, teepees, colorful buttes and solitude. The arduous four wheel drive track to the trailheads, Pawhole and Cottonwood Cove, is coated with a thick layer of sugar sand. The intimidating drive and limited number of access permits help cut down the sightseeing traffic, making the Southern Buttes a more enjoyable hike.
   Here in the Paria Canyon Wilderness, the harsh desert sun bakes everything. It takes a hardy native plant to survive in this climate. The wide varieties of desert plant-life are protected by law from theft, vandalism and unnecessary destruction. But in this seldom policed wilderness land, public awareness is truly the only key to their survival. Visitors are asked to stay on established trails, avoid the delicate sandstone fins and to be mindful of the fragile ecosystem. This striking photograph offers a familiar-looking yucca and it spikes of showy flowers aid to its beauty. The contrasting, rich colored South Coyote Buttes sandstone creates the perfect backdrop for this desert scene.

     Area Map