Established Camping

Paria Canyon Wilderness - The Hole Backcountry Campsite

1 Review

About

Bureau of Land Management

You must have a permit to visit Paria Canyon. All permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Paria Canyon's outstanding scenery, desert wildlife, colorful history, and opportunities for primitive recreation are protected for future generations. Its 112,500 acres beckon adventurers who enjoy experiencing the scenic splendor of wilderness and the chance to explore one of the longest and deepest slot canyons in the world. To protect these areas, in 1984 Congress created the Paria Canyon – Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness.

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.

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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Amy G.

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 24, 2022

No climbing to get to this one - flat sand very close to water

We reached this campsite on our second day of hiking (and yes - you need a permit here too). While the day was long - this was relatively flat hiking, but you are going to get your feet wet (we went in June).

Note: When we were here in June, from here toward Lee's Ferry we had access to water (to filter and/or pull from a spring). It was only on day 1 we had to carry 2 gallons of water where it was "dry".

To get here from the confluence, you are going to have to hike 11ish miles. This is the day we put on our water shoes and just knew it was part of the experience to get our feet wet. The hike is along the river (most of the time you are just following the river - there is no real "path" to follow). The Paria River widens the farther you go, so the water is plentiful (at least it was this June - check with the Ranger Station before you go). Lots of ops to stop and rest, grab some water and enjoy the beauty. There was a great spring mid day that allowed us the chance to grab and drink without filtering (verified and suggested by the Ranger at the Contact Station - it is spring water). The trek was long, but not overly difficult compared to the other days of hiking on this adventure.

The campground (or camping spot) was not clearly marked on the paper map we received from the Ranger Contact Station. It was listed on the map, but it appeared to be in a slightly different spot in real life than it was noted on the map.

Note: This camp spot is on the RIGHT side of the river if you have come from the confluence. It's also a bit farther than the map makes it seem.

It's at a bend in the river that goes to the left, and the spot to camp was up on the right at that same location. It's sandy with a few prickly bits of green stuff - so watch where you set the tent and if you take your shoes off to massage your toes, make sure not to step on them. The softer sand made a nice base for the tent and water is right at your fingertips, so no need to trek far after a long day.

My only complaint, and this has nothing to do with the location or site, is that (as is standard in the canyon) there aren't many places that make it easy to hang a gravity bag, so keep that in mind anyplace in the canyon, really. You'll have to be creative.

Great little spot for a second night of adventuring in Paria.

Month of VisitJuly