Buckskin Gulch to Paria Canyon 45M Run - Utah/Arizona or Whitehouse TH to Lees Ferry TH 38M Run
May 2, 2017 - This is a famous and iconic run in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness. Buckskin Gulch is a superlative narrows hike/run that ends in a confluence with Paria Canyon in 16 miles. It has been called the premiere narrows hike on the Colorado Plateau, while another guide book claims it is the longest continually narrow canyon hike in the world. We will be running the length of this route on Tuesday, May 2, beginning at 0600 from the Whitehouse TH to Lee's Ferry TH.
Things to know: Stop by the Paria Contact Station before beginning the hike. Personnel at the Contact Station will have the latest information on conditions in Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch. Paria Canyon day use permits are available via self-serve envelopes at each trailhead. The parking permit you receive will get you through the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area entrance. Then you just leave your car in the 14-day parking lot, with the permit visible on the dashboard. There are no visitor use limits for day use for the Paria Canyon. Dogs are allowed. They must be kept under control at all times. Human waste bags will be provided free of charge at the Paria Ranger Station, Kanab Field Office and Arizona Strip District Office. Their use is not mandatory, but helps to preserve the pristine canyon environment. Their use is mandatory. There is no established trail through much of the canyon bottom. Since this is a wilderness area, the minimum amount of signs are used in order to preserve the area's wild and remote character.
Hiking in Paria Canyon means having wet feet. There is no trail and the route generally follows the river bed. Crossing from bank to bank dozens of times per day is to be expected. Bring sturdy, quick-drying shoes that are appropriate for hiking in water, sand, mud, and over rough, rocky terrain. High quality synthetic or wool-blend socks will protect your feet from becoming tender due to the sand and gravel that accumulates in your shoes. Running from Buckskin Gulch is classed as difficult. Rocky drop-offs and obstacles exist in Buckskin Gulch and conditions can change with each rainfall. The lack of a trail means you will spend a lot of time walking in water. Extremes in temperatures also impact hiking conditions. This is a desert environment, so plan on at least one gallon of drinking water per person, per day to avoid dehydration. There are numerous springs in Paria Canyon between miles 10 and 25. These springs are marked on the Paria Hikers Guide. All water, even from springs, should be filtered or treated. There are no water sources in Buckskin Gulch. The Paria River flows year round below the confluence with Buckskin Gulch but is often very silty and can easily clog water filters.
Prepare for extreme weather. Flash floods occur in the summer rainy season, but are not likely in October. If flash floods are forecast the adventure is off. It is difficult to predict exactly when a flash flood might occur. If you find yourself in a flash flood situation, get to the highest point you can. The Paria Contact Station will have the latest condition reports-stop there before beginning your hike. The current USGS river discharge figures are at this link. BLM Paria Website
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Driving Directions: The Paria Contact Station and the Lee's Ferry trailhead can be accessed in all weather conditions. The Buckskin Gulch trailhead is on dirt roads that can be impassable when wet. The latest conditions can be obtained by visiting the Paria Contact Station or by calling the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab, at (435) 644-1300.
Buckskin Trailhead: From Page, AZ, drive west on Highway 89 for 34 miles (55 kilometers). Drive past the BLM Contact Station and the road to the White House trailhead. Turn left onto House Rock Valley Road. This road is compacted dirt. The Buckskin trailhead is 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) down this dirt road.
From Kanab, UT, drive east on Highway 89 for 38 miles (61 kilometers). Turn right onto House Rock Valley Road. This road is compacted dirt. The Buckskin trailhead is 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) down this dirt road.
Wire Pass Trailhead: From Page, AZ, drive west on Highway 89 for 34 miles (55 kilometers). Drive past the BLM Contact Station and the road to the White House trailhead. Turn left onto House Rock Valley Road. This road is compacted dirt. The Wire Pass trailhead is 8.3 miles (13.4 kilometers) down this dirt road.
From Kanab, UT, drive east on Highway 89 for 38 miles (61 kilometers). Turn right onto House Rock Valley Road. This road is compacted dirt. The Wire Pass trailhead is 8.3 miles (13.4 kilometers) down this dirt road. Wire Pass is also the main trailhead for Coyote Buttes North.
White House Trailhead: From Page, AZ, drive west on Highway 89 for 30 miles (48 kilometers). Look for the BLM Contact Station sign on the left (south). The Paria Contact Station is two hundred yards off Highway 89. The White House trailhead is two miles down a dirt road that begins at the Contact Station.
From Kanab, UT, drive east on Highway 89 for 43 miles (62 kilometers). Look for the BLM Contact Station sign on the right. The White House trailhead is two miles (3.2 kilometers) down a dirt road that begins at the Contact Station.
Lee's Ferry Trailhead: From Page, AZ, drive south on Highway 89 for 25 miles. Turn right (north) onto Highway 89A and continue for 14 miles. Cross over the Colorado River and pass the Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center on your right. Watch for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area entrance on your right.
From
Kanab, UT, drive east on Highway 89 for 73 miles to Page, AZ.
Follow the above directions from Page.
Paria Information Station: From Page, AZ, drive west on Highway 89 for 30 miles (48 kilometers). Look for the BLM Contact Station sign on the left (south). The Paria Contact Station is two hundred yards (meters) off Highway 89.
From Kanab, UT, drive east on Highway 89 for 43 miles (62 kilometers). Look for the BLM Contact Station sign on the right. The Paria Contact Station is 200 yards (218 meters) off Highway 89.
The Paria Contact Station is open seven days a week, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (MST/MDT) from March 15 to November 15.
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START 0600 on Tuesday, May 2, at Whitehouse TH, after staging a vehicle at Lee's Ferry TH. After meeting in Page Saturday evening for dinner, we'll stage a vehicle at the finish. From a motel to be decided we'll drive to the start early Monday morning.
Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon Confluence
