Coyote Buttes South
While Coyote Buttes South does not have the superb photgrpahic opportunities of the North there are many good photos to be had, and you are far less likely to see other people. A $5 permit is necessary to day hike in the area. As of 2010 permits were readily obtainable online provided you apply within a few days of when they become available. See the permit section of this site for more details. Walk in permits area also available the day before you wish to hike.
Directions
There are two entry for the South Buttes, Pawhole and Cottonwood Cove. It is about 11.5 miles on jeep roads to the Cottonwood Cove trailhead, versus 2.5 miles to Pawhole. 4WD is pretty much required. If you do not have 4WD you can also park at the Lone Tree reservoir and walk the 2.5 miles to the Pawhole trailhead on the road. The walk is uninteresting and would make for a very long day for most so I recommend you only go to the area with 4WD. If you have permits for two consecutive days you could start at either trailhead the first day and drive directly to the other next morning, see the red line in the map below. There is a steep sandy hill going from Pawhole to Cottonwood Cove so if you are going to take this road I suggest you only take it going from Cottonwood Cove to Pawhole. Thisn road is 2.9 miles long. If you are only going to Cottonwood Cove I strongly suggest you take the longer green road below and not the combination of the Blue and Red Roads.
Pawhole
Blue Line in the below map. House rock road turnoff is betwen mile posts 25 and 26 on Highway 89 in Utah and is normally passable by passenger cars. Do not take this road if it is wet. Take House Rock Road 16.1 miles to the Lone Tree Reservoir - Pawhole junction. It is .1 miles to the Lone Tree Reservoir, park here if you do not have 4WD. If you have 4WD continue 2.5 miles further to the trailhead. Mark you location with your GPS. I know of one person who got separated from his group and spent the night here in the cold. Once at the trailhead walk due East down the faded two track to Pawhole. Late in the day the red rock in the area lights up and you can get good pictures right from here, including shots of the rock reflected in pawhole. Is is worth exploring the rocks further east, also there are many photo opportunities in the "Yellow Stripe" area, this is a morning shot.
Cottonwood Cove
Green line in the below. Take House Rock Road 19.9 miles to the intersection with "Pine Tree Pockets Road" (BLM 1017). There is a corral at the turnoff. Reset your odometer, all mileages now are given from the reset of the odomoeter. Take BLM 1017 2.8 miles and bear left. At 3.1 miles turn left on Red Pockets road. At 6.2 miles you will come to a cattle gate, leave it in the same condition as you found it (open or closed). At 6.4 miles you come to the area on the topo map called Red Pocket. Continue straight. At 8.3 miles bear right. At 8.7 miles turn left onto Upper Pawhole Road. This area is called Poverty Flat. There is a corral and some old buildings, there used to be a windmill here but it is gone. At 9.1 miles miles turn right so that you are going due North. The road that goes West here is the road to Pawhole so make sure you are going due North. At 10.9 miles you will reach a closed gate with a Coyote Buttes Fee Area sign. At 11.4 miles you have arrived. Park on the left hand side of the road. The road is closed just a little further on before a steep downgrade.
A good way to begin your hike is to head west to the teepees, about .6 miles away. "Half and Half" and the "Control Tower" are good destinations to start with.