Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness · Arizona
38-mile point-to-point slot canyon traverse from White House Trailhead (Utah) to Lees Ferry (Arizona).
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70% of the openings our scanner caught on Paria Canyon were gone within 10 minutes.
2,300 ft of descent · 0.6% average grade
White House Trailhead
Starting point with ranger station and parking. Enter the Paria River.
As of September 2026, Paria Canyon in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona requires a permit issued via reservation. Paria Canyon is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Paria Canyon permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Paria Canyon route covers 38 miles with 1,200 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous.
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More on Paria Canyon: Live availability activityWhen Paria Canyon permits open upChance of an openingParia Canyon Through-Hike permit itineraryDo I need a Paria Canyon Through-Hike permit?
Paria Canyon permit fee: $6/day.
Walk through one of the longest and deepest slot canyon systems on Earth, where thousand-foot Navajo sandstone walls glow in colors no photograph can capture.
Paria Canyon is one of the most immersive slot canyon experiences anywhere: a point-to-point backpack from Utah to Arizona down the Paria River, through what BLM describes as a 2,500-foot-deep canyon whose narrows run only a few feet wide in places and several hundred feet deep.
The canyon demands constant river crossings. BLM says to expect to be in and out of the water continuously, over miles of cobbled streambed that make footing difficult, past boulder jams as tall as 20 feet, quicksand, deep mud, and pools cold and deep enough to require swimming.
Overnight entry is capped at 20 people a day, counted cumulatively across all four trailheads, so solitude comes standard. BLM does not limit the number of groups, only the head count, and group size, which tops out at 10.
From White House Trailhead, the river immediately claims your feet as you enter the Paria Narrows. The walls grow steadily taller. BLM puts the canyon at 2,500 feet deep. Buckskin Gulch joins from the north, part of what Recreation.gov calls one of the longest slot canyon systems in the United States. Boulder jams, mud pits, and constant river crossings define the middle miles before the canyon opens near Big Water and Wrather Canyon. The final stretch to Lee's Ferry passes ancient petroglyphs and cottonwood groves as the Colorado River draws near.
Paria Canyon represents slot canyon wilderness at its most raw and expansive. The confluence with Buckskin Gulch creates the longest slot canyon system in the world, a geologic marvel that takes days, not hours, to traverse.
The canyon walls climb higher with each mile until they block the sky itself, leaving only a ribbon of blue far above. You wade the Paria River dozens of times daily, the silty water swirling around your legs as ancient petroglyphs watch from alcoves. At night, the canyon amplifies every sound: the river's murmur becomes a symphony.
Best for: Experienced desert backpackers comfortable with uncertainty, route-finding, and constant wet feet. Those who understand flash flood risk and can make weather-dependent decisions.
Recommended experience: Should have desert canyon experience. Multi-day backpacking required. Comfort with wet conditions essential. Understanding of flash flood safety critical.
Not recommended for: Beginners, those uncomfortable in water, anyone unable to handle 10+ miles of river walking daily, claustrophobic individuals, those who can't exit quickly in emergency.
Trailhead information
4,300 ft elevation
Primary starting point for the through-hike, most direct canyon access
Reached by a sand and gravel access road.
Dirt road from Highway 89 between Page and Kanab. Passenger cars OK when dry.
Kanab (43 miles) or Page (30 miles from the Paria Contact Station): full services
Trailhead information
3,150 ft elevation
Exit point at Colorado River, a historic ferry crossing site
Large parking area. Day use fee required.
Off Highway 89A near Marble Canyon, Arizona. Paved access.
Marble Canyon (5 miles): gas station, store and post office. Page (42 miles) for full services
Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) offer ideal temperatures. Summer brings flash flood risk from monsoons and extreme heat. Winter is possible but very cold water makes extended immersion dangerous.
Trailhead (3,150 ft)
Today
69°
54°
35%
Wed
84°
57°
27%
Thu
83°
62°
Fri
85°
66°
Sat
86°
68°
Sun
84°
67°
Mon
79°
67°
Midday offers the best light in slot canyons when sun beams penetrate to the canyon floor. The Narrows section around mile 5-7 catches light beams around noon.
Slot canyons are actually best photographed at midday for light shafts. Wider sections at camps photograph well at golden hour.
Overnight entry is capped at 20 people a day across all four trailheads, so the canyon stays quiet. BLM does not cap the number of groups, only the head count. Weekday starts see even fewer hikers.
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Paria Canyon.
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Paria Canyon · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Paria Canyon cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Paria Canyon permits use a reservation system.
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
This permit has a demand score of 8/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
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Day hike into Buckskin Gulch from Wire Pass. BLM measures 1.7 miles one-way to the Buckskin confluence and 13 miles one-way to the Paria confluence.
Day-use permit only ($6). Experiences the most dramatic slot canyon sections without multi-day commitment.
Add Buckskin Gulch to the traverse by starting at Wire Pass, which is significantly more technical.
Adds the most spectacular slot canyon scenery but also the most challenging obstacles including potential swimming.
Iconic sandstone formation in the same wilderness area, with a separate permit lottery.
Day hike only. Even more competitive permits. Different experience (formation vs canyon).
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