We started this hike from the Water Tank trailhead at around 8am. I'm a little iffy about heights, so I was pretty nervous leading up about the portion that you have to scramble down a rock face to get into the gulch. We brought a 250 ft rope that was not climbing grade due to pack space. However, there was already a climbing grade rope there, which was probably about 200 ft as it did not go all the way for the last part. I did not find this part to be too bad with the security of the rope. It could be done without, but not for my comfort level. Once down into the gulch, Jacob Hamblin arch was right to the left. This hike criss-crosses constantly throughout the creek, so make sure to wear waterproof shoes or hiking sandals. After Jacob Hamblin, we headed East and walked all the way to Cliff Arch before deciding to turn around for the day. Cliff Arch was a great area with many overlooks and spots to eat lunch and take pictures. I've never seen anything quite like the mix of colors on this hike...between the red cliff walls, the lush green trees and the blue sky. We didn't run into very many hikers, which was very nice after spending several days amongst the crowds in Zion and Bryce. With stopping for about an hour for lunch, we returned to the car around 5:30.

Top notch experience, challenging going down the crack-in-the-wall the first time, but wouldn't be doing it again. also, a bit scary coming up the rock climbing/scramble coming out on the Jacob Hamblin trail. So much to see - Jacob Hamblin arch, Coyote Natural Bridge, Black Lagoon, walking the gulch and seeing the towering red walls around us. Beautiful! So glad we learned about it from our much-experienced outdoorsy friends!

6 of us hiked from Red Well to “Crack in the Wall” over 2 days. It was 22 miles and we did a car shuttle. This was a very long hike and strenuous.

The road into Red Well is deep sand and a 4 x 4 is recommended. The hike from Red Well to Jacob Hamblin arch is about 11 miles and took 5 hours; we didn’t see anyone....at all. The groves of cottonwoods were amazing. There were many stream crossings and bush whacking. There is a spring at the arch (Jacob Hamblin) where you can get water...and you should get water.

From Jacob Hamblin arch to “Crack in the Wall” was so beautiful it’s hard to explain. There is another large spring about a mile or 2 before you start to head up and out. Fill up your water...you’re going to need it.

The hike out is about 1000’ vertical over 2 miles in brutal deep sand. It’s slow going and very hard work with a pack. At the top of this massive sand dune you come to “Crack in the Wall”. This is an extremely narrow slot in the cliff wall you have to shimmy through. Be sure to bring rope to pull your pack over the cliff face...it won’t fit through the Crack.

Once you clear Crack in the Wall you only have one and a half miles to go over open slick rock and more sand to get back to your car. Oh, the drive out from this point is in deep sand...if you don’t have a 4 x 4 you will get stuck.

This was a tuff hike but worth every step.