Established Camping

Paria Canyon Backcountry - Confluence Site

1 Review

About

Bureau of Land Management

You must have a permit to visit Paria Canyon. All permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. Permit Details here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/arizona/paria-canyon

Overnight Use Permits

You must reserve a permit in advance for overnight use. There is a limit on overnight use in the canyon to 20 people per day. Overnight users must display the permit on the outside of their backpack, and on the dashboard of their vehicle. Regulations

Campfires are prohibited. Dogs are allowed, but they must be included on the permit. They must be kept under control at all times and be leashed within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Dog waste and dog waste bags must be packed out. You must use human waste bags throughout Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon. You must pack out all trash, including toilet paper and human waste bags. Group size cannot exceed 10 people in the same permit area on the same day. Use existing campsites at least 200 feet from a water source.

Fee Info

$5 per person and/or dog, per night.

Reservation Info

Permit Information

Permits are non-refundable. No Rainchecks. A valid government issued I.D. is required upon permit pick-up. Your trip must begin only on the reserved entry date; overnight trips that begin on a day other than the permit entry date are considered invalid, even if you begin on a day that would have been covered by the permit dates. Permits MUST be picked up in-person no sooner than 10 days before your trip begins. You can pick up your permit year-round at either the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in St. George, UT or seasonally at the Paria Contact Station or the BLM Kanab Field Office. Check pickup location hours under the "Getting Here" tab so you can plan accordingly. Upon permit pick-up, you will receive human waste bags (required within the entire canyon), a permit, a brochure, and a condition update.

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Kristin S.

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 13, 2022

Preparation & Endurance are key

Please note that you need a permit in order to overnight in Paria Canyon. This is the first designated backcountry campsite available if you're hiking via Buckskin Gulch. There is no camping allowed in the slot canyon. You must first reach the confluence before setting-up camp. Also note there are NO facilities and you must pack out everything including human waste.

There are a few ways to reach this backcountry spot. The first would be from the White House trailhead. This is the shortest and easiest route. The second is from Wire Pass trailhead while picks up Buckskin Gulch a couple miles in (completing 11.5 miles of Buckskin, 13 miles total). The last is from Buckskin Gulch trailhead (taking on the entire 15-16 miles of Buckskin). We hiked this in June and the slot canyon was completely dry. We each carried 2 gallons of water per person to be absolutely safe (per the advice of the Ranger).

Closer to the confluence we saw water on the ground and the hiking got mucky. After reaching the confluence, we noticed several campsites set up and occupied by other backpackers. We set-up at the first spot we saw. Access and finding a flat spot for our tents was easy. There are pests, so you will want to protect your food in your tent.

At this point, depending on flow, water can possibly be collected and filtered from the Paria River. You may also want to treat the water depending on advice from the Contact Station.

This is a long and difficult hike from any trailhead, but take special precaution if going through Buckskin as there is no signal and PLBs have difficulty transmitting anything at all.

The reward of the beauty and solitude of this hike is well worth the effort. Be prepared and it's a beautiful journey!

Month of VisitJuly