Paria Canyon Wilderness - Final Designated Campsite Before Lee's Ferry

Please note that you need a permit in order to overnight in Paria Canyon. This is the last designated backcountry campsite available if you're hiking via Buckskin Gulch toward Lee's Ferry. There is no camping allowed in the slot canyon without a permit. this campsite is high on a ridge above the water, and water is a challenge to access so gather it ahead of time before you have to go back. Also note there are NO facilities and you must pack out everything including human waste.

If you are traveling toward Lee's Ferry, this site is the last designated site before you get there.  This leaves you about 8 miles of "in the sun" hiking once you leave here to finish the hike.  That said, getting here is no easy chore.  Several miles (yes miles) of the hike prior to arrival here is boulder scrambling.  Not just any boulders, but giant ones - super human sized.  Most of them block the river, so there is no easy "around".  You must go up and over. Water is plentiful here, as it's around every turn, but you need to be prepared to get wet (there is no way around much of the water - you have to go through it) and to climb.

Once you make it the last stretch to the site (it's uphill, sandy and seems steeper - maybe I was just exhausted) it is a bit of a walk (1/4 mile maybe) from the river, so if you don't want to have to traverse the last 1/4 mile back and forth again to gather water, you'd be best off to gather it while you can before you turn away from the river. There are actually two spots to drop a tent (about 100 yards apart).  The latter is actually closer to water, but we stayed at the first one we saw.  Plenty of space for more than one tent, but watch for all the spiney things on the ground that might compromise your bathtub tent bottom (and feet).

This location, once again on this trip, meant solitude and peace.  No noise except the birds and breeze.  It was a bit breezy at night. Not enough to blow us away but I was glad it wasn't stronger - this time of year there is not really an easy way to get a stake in the ground for your tent. Wide open sky for star watching and we didn't need our rain flys. 

There were some great rocks for sitting on and fixing breakfast.  The sky was open enough here that I was able to connect to a cell signal, but quite frankly, it was super nice to not have signal deeper in the canyon. Peaceful. ***Do not rely on accessing a signal.  It was pure luck to get it at all - so please don't rely on this spot to do that***

While the critters are few (we only saw mountain goats, birds and lizards) I know snakes and scorpions are out there.  There was no need to hang food bags - just take them in the tent (even rangers will agree).

It is about 8 miles to Lee's Ferry the next day - straight up in the sun with almost zero shade. Start early, finish strong! You are along the river the entire time, so easy access to water.  Just remember to hydrate and filter.