Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

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It has taken nature millions of years to sculpt the Paria Canyon Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. Some places are an absolute privilege to see. This is one of them. Internationally known for its beauty and remoteness, this wilderness is here for you to enjoy. You'll witness some of the most stunning geological features found anywhere on earth. In prehistoric times, the area was inhabited by the ancient Pueblo people and later by the Paiute. In Paiute, the word paria means waters that taste salty or as muddy. Due to its rugged terrain, this region has remained much the same as when the first explorers, pioneers, and miners visited the area. In 1984, Congress designated Paria Canyon Vermilion Cliffs as wilderness. Now contain some 112,000 acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management, most of this wilderness lies in Arizona with approximately 22,000 acres in Utah. This area is so remote, there are few designated trails, signs or facilities; therefore, it is up to you, the hiker to familiarize yourself with this pristine wilderness. Before entering certain areas in this vast wilderness, it is your responsibility to first obtain a hiker's permit. Every good policy has a good reason. Here, protecting the wilderness resource, preserving the wilderness experience, and ensuring your own safety, are our major concerns. Permits are the best way for us to properly manage this beautiful, remote, primitive area. Overnight permits are available on the Internet, and are required for trips into Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch. These permits must be obtained before you leave for your overnight trip and are currently restricted to 20 visitors per day. Day use permits for Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch are available through self-serve envelopes at each trailhead. Group size is limited to ten persons; visitors will also need advance permits for any travel in Coyote Buttes north and south. These permits are available online or through a walking lottery at the BLM visitors center in Kanab, Utah. By limiting the number of hikers, we hope to maintain the pristine nature of this area for you and other visitors well into the future. Due to its desolation, this region can become very unforgiving for the uninformed visitor. Remote and unmarked roads pose many hazards such as deep sands, hazardous water crossings, and steep inclines. These roads are often impassable when wet. The Buckskin Crossing on House Rock Valley Road can be especially treacherous during and immediately after severe storms. It's suggested that visitors travel in high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles. A shovel and tire mats are excellent items to carry with you as well. Don't get caught in a bad situation. Hikers should also be prepared for extreme weather conditions. The temperature can drop to below freezing during the winter months. The summer months can be blisteringly hot. Severe summer sunburns, dehydration heat stroke, and exhaustion, winter hypothermia, and even death are all real possibilities. Watch for summer lightning and rain storms. These are dangerous especially on the ridgetops. Flash floods can occur anytime of the year, but are most common during the months of July, August, and September. These unpredictable events can radically change hiking conditions. Life threatening water can flow as high as 50 feet above stream levels. The most dangerous areas are the Paria Narrows, Buckskin Gulch and parts of Wire Pass, due to high cliffs and the lack of escape routes. If you encounter a flash flood, quickly move to the highest ground possible. Flash floods usually subside in 8-12 hours; however, many times a flood can leave you stranded for days. These conditions can create treacherous footing and hazardous travel. Heat difficulties are most common in the hot summer months when temperatures are above 90 degrees. Exhaustion, fatigue, and heat cramps are among the first stages of dehydration and over exertion. Hikers should rest often, seek out shade, and drink plenty of water. Heat stroke and exhaustion can quickly become life-threatening. Overexposure to heat, medical conditions, age, and physical fitness level can all effect your health and hiking ability. By the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. When traveling in this region, it's essential you bring plenty of water. In hot weather, it is suggested you drink about one gallon of water per day. Know the locations of reliable springs along your hiking routes. Remember, there are no dependable springs in the lower 12 miles of Paria Canyon Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass, or Coyote Buttes. You need to be cautious and treat or filler any water you drink. It's always a good idea to bring extra food, water, sunscreen, bug spray and seasonally appropriate clothing. Wear sturdy footwear that can be used in and out of water and carry an extra pair. Since you may be hiking in the river and crossing it, quite often trekking poles also helped when traversing pools and muddy shorelines. While hiking, watch for poisonous animals, rattlesnakes, black widows, and scorpions which may be encountered in this region. If bitten or stung, stay calm, rest with your feet elevated, and send for help, if possible. When camping, it's wise to shake out your boots and clothing before dressing. Scorpions and spiders can hide anywhere. Bees, biting ants, and rodents can also create problems. Rats and mice are associated with the hantavirus and are worth your attention. Be alert while backpacking or hiking in this remote wilderness. Be sure to watch for unstable sandstone ledges, sheer cliffs, and occasional quicksand pools in canyons. Most of the area is made up of sandstone which is very fragile and breaks easily. Falling rocks are also unpredictable and can be a real danger due to the steep terrain. It is prohibited to throw or drop rocks near cliffs or in canyons. Backpackers or hikers could be traveling directly below you. More often than not there will be no cell phone GPS or satellite coverage in the canyons. There is also little to no cell phone service in the Coyote Buttes area It's best to take a good set of maps with you and study your roots before you go. Visitors hiking to the wave should know there is no official rock cairns and very few trail markers along the route-- this can make navigation difficult. Visitors commonly have a harder time finding the route on the way back out. The terrain can appear completely different when going out than it appeared on the way in. Be sure to follow the photo guide sent with your permit, Stop and note the landscape and route features as you hike in. Once you've arrived at the wave, please be courteous to your fellow hikers. Share the space and respect others' desires to get those ultimate photographs. If you should find yourself lost or leaving the wave at a late hour, it's best to stay put and don't attempt to travel at night. Missteps in the dark of night can lead to injuries or even death. In the morning light, you can usually locate the route out or see other hikers. Coyote Butte South also has no established trails. There are no obvious markers after entering the permit area. Make note of major features because it is easy to lose yourself in this stunning maze of formations and striated buttes. Hiking Buckskin Gulch can be challenging and is recommended for only experienced and well-prepared hikers. Many people miss the middle route portal to Buckskin Gulch. Hikers also have a tendency to miss the Paria-Buckskin confluence connecting these two canyons. Especially when hiking down Buckskin into Paria Canyon, have your maps handy. Watch for key features along your hiking route. Periodic canyon floods can alter or create drop offs as high as ten to twenty feet, especially in BuckSkin Gulch. Backpacking or hiking in this wilderness can involve high levels of risk and challenge. For your safety, please register at trail heads. This will help any search and rescue personnel locate you should there be the need. Keep in mind that search and rescue efforts may take hours or even days. Before you hike, inform your friends and family of your destination. Be aware of the hazards of hiking solo as this could compound any dangers encountered. Before starting your hike, stop by a local BLM visitor center or the Paria Contact Station. We will have the latest information on the road conditions and weather forecasts. Always check for flash flood warnings and advisories before traveling in the canyons. Keeping this wilderness truly wild is your responsibility. When hiking in this area, be careful where you step, especially around fragile sandstone surfaces like rock fins, ridges, and hoodoos. These formations are especially vulnerable when wet. Step on durable surfaces and minimize damage to fragile crypto biotic soils and delicate vegetation. You are entering a living geological classroom. Seven major formations are exposed here, like the pages of a book. You can discover evidence of prehistoric life. Be sure to avoid stepping directly on fossils or dinosaur tracks. Avoid touching rock art or ancient structures, it's best to just take pictures or look at pottery shards and arrowheads. Remember, it's unlawful to deface disturbed, or remove any, cultural items. Some cliff walls have become marred from careless visitors. Please don't spoil the canyons further with senseless destruction. Leave the canyons the same as you find them so others can experience this beautiful and remarkable wilderness at its best. Some visitors like to hike with their dogs. It's essential that owners clean up after their pets and pack out their waste. Pet owners should also be aware that sandstone is extremely hard on a dog's footpads--acting like coarse sandpaper. Be sure to take the necessary precautions when hiking with a pet. When appropriate, dogs should be leashed and not allowed to harass wildlife or other hikers. Human waste is a big problem in Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch. Each camper is required to pack out their own waste. Your overnight permit includes human waste bags for each member of your party. You can pick them up at the Paria Contract Station, the BLM Kanab Field Office, or the BLM Arizona Strip District Office. They are easy to use, secure, airtight, and contain chemicals that neutralize odors. Burning or burying toilet paper is not permitted. Any food scraps and all litter should also be packed out so we can keep this wilderness clean in this region. Water is a limited resource-- take care to protect and conservative it. Camp at least 200 feet from any water source. Wildlife visit these water supplies at night and they need open access to survive. Hikers should never pollute pools or springs by bathing or washing in them. Also, keep pets away from springs. Remember, campfires are prohibited in Coyote Buttes Paria Canyon and BuckSkin Gulch. There is also a "no camping policy" in the Coyote Buttes Special Management Area. Respecting these simple rules allows everyone to enjoy a quality backcountry experience, solitude, silence, and spectacular scenery. Await the hiker or backpacker who wishes to leave the modern world behind. Paria Canyon is one of the most celebrated backpacking adventures in the United States. Buckskin Gulch is noted as the longest slot canyon in the world. The Coyote Buttes Special Management Area is at once stunning, isolated, and sought after by people from all over the world. Be safe and enjoy the unparalleled wonderous beauty found throughout the Paria Canyon Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. It is the responsibility of us all to leave no trace so that we preserve the pristine quality of this area. Our descendants for generations to come will benefit from the care we show this region. This will become our lasting legacy