4/23/2013 – 4/26/2013: Buckskin Gulch is a minor tributary of the Paria River, and the
Paria River is a minor tributary of the Colorado River. The Paria River enters the Colorado at Lee’s
Ferry, which is also an entry point for rafters shooting the Colorado River. Buckskin Gulch is a slot canyon
and
is the longest and deepest in the United States and is a candidate for being the longest in the world. The
trip
from Wire Pass to Lee’s Ferry is about 45 miles. We did it in four days but should have taken longer
to
explore; we couldn’t get permits for more than four days. Each day of the trip presents a new and
different landscape, from a narrow shoulder-width slot to wide-open desert. This is one of the best backpack
trips I have taken; it is right up there with the High Sierra.
This trip requires a lot of preparation, from setting up a ride to the trailhead, getting permits and,
getting poop bags (yes, you have to carry your poop out). Make sure to carry your poop out because burying
it
doesn’t work in a canyon that floods wall to wall. The flood will unearth your poop and carry it
downstream. Yuck! Not fun to carry out (but not really that big of a deal), but no fisherman or rafter on
down
in the Colorado River wants to see you poop floating by. Pack it out.
For the big writeup of our full Utah & Arizona trip, see the pdf file: Buckskin Gulch & Paria River Canyon with Zion’s Angels Landing
& Vermillion
Cliffs Toadstools.
- 45 Miles one way – Backpack 4 to 5 days
- Difficulty: Hard – distance, wading through some deep pools in Buckskin Gulch, hiking in
water in Paria River, exposure, and being out there with no one around in case of trouble.
Experienced backpackers only.
- Elevation range: 3123' to 4872' gross: +6110' -7859'
- Traffic: Light – permits required
- Getting There: Hire someone to take you to the trailhead and leave your car at Lee’s Ferry. Rain
can quickly make the roads muddy and impassable.
- Trail Obstacles: Wading through some deep pools in Buckskin Gulch, hiking in water in Paria River,
exposure, and being out there with no one around in case of trouble. Experienced backpackers only.
- Fees: Per the BLM:
You need a permit for day hiking and overnight trips in Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch. The fee is
$6
per person per day for day hiking and $5 per person per day for overnight trips. If you take your dog,
fee
is $6 per dog per day for day hiking and $5 per dog per day for overnight trips.
For overnight trips into Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch, you must apply for, get, and purchase a permit
online, before your hike. Overnight entry into the canyons is limited to 20 people per day (dogs do not
count against this total). This is a cumulative total from all four trailheads. This system helps
to reduce the potential impacts to the environment and allows visitors to enjoy a true wilderness
experience. You can apply for and purchase overnight permits online using the calendar option.
- Trailhead Coordinates: 37.01917, -112.02517
- Driving Directions
- Trail Map
- Search
this Trail
- Photos – See Buckskin Gulch & Paria River
Canyon with Zion’s Angels Landing & Vermillion Cliffs Toadstools
- Management: BLM
– Paria
Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area
- Alltrails
Info
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