Trails / Arizona / Northern Arizona Canyons

Paria Canyon (White House to Lees Ferry)

Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Bureau of Land Management (Arizona-Utah border, near Page and Kanab)

Paria Canyon is one of the great desert canyon backpacking trips in the Southwest. The classic route follows the Paria River about 38 miles from the White House Trailhead in Utah to Lees Ferry on the Colorado River in Arizona, walking in and out of the river between sandstone walls. Treeline Review, describing the longer version through Buckskin Gulch, calls it one of the best desert canyon hikes in the world.

Overnight permits are limited, and flash floods are a real danger. Both shape every trip here.

The hike

The BLM says overnight use is limited to 20 people per day across all trailheads. Most people, according to Bearfoot Theory, hike from White House to Lees Ferry. The Transient Trekker describes a 38-mile point-to-point trip through winding canyons carved by the Paria River.

From White House, the canyon narrows as you walk downstream, often in the river itself. The Transient Trekker reaches the confluence with Buckskin Gulch after about 7 miles and warns not to turn hard right up Buckskin by mistake. Bearfoot Theory calls the campsite just below the confluence great but popular.

Buckskin Gulch is its own trip. The BLM describes Wire Pass as a short slot to a petroglyph panel and the narrows of Buckskin Gulch, and Treeline Review describes Buckskin’s slot running for more than ten miles. Several guides say there is no camping in Buckskin until the confluence, so starting at Wire Pass means a long first day. Wine Hiking Society describes a rock jam with a roughly 15-foot drop, which some hikers pass through a “rabbit hole” and which sometimes has a rope in place.

Below the confluence, springs mark the rhythm of the trip. Guides agree on three: Big Spring, Shower Spring, and the Last Reliable Spring. Bearfoot Theory puts Big Spring at mile 12 from White House, on the right side of the river across from a large campsite, and the Last Reliable Spring at mile 25, on the left side and somewhat hidden among large boulders, also across from a big campsite. The Transient Trekker warns that Shower Spring and the Last Reliable Spring are easy to miss.

Wrather Canyon is the main side trip. Bearfoot Theory describes a 25-minute side trail up the canyon to Wrather Arch, and a guide service calls the arch one of the largest natural arches in the Southwest. The BLM prohibits camping up Wrather Canyon. Wine Hiking Society notes petroglyph panels along the way. Treeline Review points out that Wrather Canyon and Bushhead Canyon, about 13.5 and 19.5 miles below the confluence, offer steep exits out of the Paria River if you need one.

Bearfoot Theory notes that camping at the Last Reliable Spring leaves about 13.5 miles for the final day. The route ends at Lees Ferry, which the Treeline guide puts at about 3,885 feet, roughly 1,000 feet below the Wire Pass trailhead.

The BLM’s rules are strict. You must pick up permits in person and use human waste bags throughout Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon. All trash, toilet paper, and waste bags must be packed out, and all fires are prohibited.

Tips

Reserve your permit early. The BLM says overnight permits must be reserved in advance and picked up in person.
Pack out your waste. Human waste bags are required throughout the canyon and are given out at permit pickup.
No campfires. The BLM prohibits all fires.
Watch the weather. Flash floods are a serious risk in these canyons. Check the forecast and talk to the BLM before entering.
Plan your water around the springs. Fill up at Big Spring and the Last Reliable Spring, and treat all water.
Bring shoes that can get wet. You’ll be walking in the river much of the time.

Camping

Camping is dispersed on benches above the river, with an overnight permit. The BLM says camping is not allowed in Wrather Canyon, and several guides say there’s no camping in Buckskin Gulch above the confluence. Everyone must be listed on the permit. Groups larger than 10 must split and enter on separate days, according to a permit listing. Dogs are allowed but must be included on the permit.

Inside Intel: Bearfoot Theory’s night-by-night plan is a good starting point. For night one, it suggests the popular campsite just below the Buckskin confluence, or pushing to Big Spring for unlimited fresh water and a shorter second day. For night two, it recommends camping across from the mouth of Wrather Canyon, where the writer stayed on a first trip. Another hiker camped across from Shower Spring and called it a very large site that was excellent for stargazing.

Trail facts

Distance: About 38 miles, White House to Lees Ferry (longer via Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch)
Route type: Point to point with a shuttle
Difficulty: Strenuous. River walking, sand, and long days.
Elevation: About 4,883 feet at Wire Pass to 3,885 feet at Lees Ferry (Treeline Review)
Campsites: Dispersed benches above the river. No camping in Buckskin above the confluence or in Wrather Canyon.
Water: Springs (Big Spring, Shower Spring, Last Reliable Spring) and the river. Treat all water.
Permits: Overnight permit required year-round; 20 people per day (BLM)
Fires: Prohibited
Human waste: Waste bags required
Trailheads: White House or Wire Pass (Utah); Lees Ferry (Arizona)
Season: Spring and fall, per one guide service’s schedule
Last verified: September 28, 2026

The Lowdown

No fires in Paria Canyon:

Campfires are banned throughout the canyon, so a dependable stove is essential. See which stoves testers trust.

Read the full guide →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.