Paria Canyon, Arizona, United States

Location and Description

The 112,500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness lies approximately 10 miles west of Page, Arizona in Coconino County, Arizona and Kane County, Utah.

Nationally known for its beauty, the Paria Canyon has towering walls streaked with desert varnish, huge red rock amphitheaters, sandstone arches, wooded terraces, and hanging gardens. The 3,000-foot escarpment known as the Vermilion Cliffs dominates the remainder of the wilderness with its thick Navajo sandstone face, steep, boulder-strewn slopes, rugged arroyos and stark overall appearance. Some of the best slot canyon hiking opportunities on the Colorado Plateau are found here. Deer and desert bighorn sheep inhabit the area.

The wilderness also provides opportunities for backpacking, photography, and solitude. In the northwest portion of the wilderness lies Coyote Buttes, an area of spectacular scenery displaying domes, aprons, fins, corridors, and a variety of small fragile rock sculptures carved in colorful swirling cross bedded sandstone. The variety of colors and textures in the rock formations within the wilderness constantly change with variations in light and weather. This colorful sandstone area creates a feeling of wonder and amazement. 

The Paria River is subject to periodic and seasonal flooding. The US Geological Survey collects Paria River streamflow data at their gaging station on the Paria River at Lees Ferry, Arizona.

Access

Access to the northern portion of the wilderness is via U.S. Highway 89, which passes within three miles of the area. U.S. 89A skirts the base of the Vermilion Cliffs on the south while access to the eastern portion is the road to Lee's Ferry. Access on the west is the House Rock/Coyote Valley Road (BLM Road 1065).

Visitor Use Regulations and Permits

Three Bureau of Land Management offices manage the Paria Permits area within the wilderness; the Kanab Field Office, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.  The Kanab Field Office, Paria Contact Station and the St. George BLM Interagency information Center provide visitor use information for Paria Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass, and Coyote Buttes and administer the permit system for these portions of the wilderness area.  A brief summary of visitor use regulations is provided below.

Paria Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, and Wire Pass

• Advance permits are required for overnight use.  There is a limit on overnight use in the canyon to 20 persons per day.
• Paria Canyon day use permits are available via self-serve envelopes at each trailhead. There are no visitor use limits for day use for the Paria Canyon. This does not include Coyote Buttes North or Coyote Buttes South day use areas.
• Day users must display the permit on their vehicle windshield.  Overnight users must display the permit on the otuside of their backpack and on the dashboard of their vehicle.
• Campfires are prohibited.
• Dogs are allowed but require permits.  They must be kept under control at all times.
• The use of human waste bags is mandatory on Paria Canyon overnight trips. Their cost is covered in the permit fee, and they are available at the Paria Contact Station, the Grand Staircase-Escalante Visitor Center in Kanab, Utah, and the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument Office in St. George, Utah.
• Use existing campsites at least 200 feet from a water source.
• No camping on or adjacent to any archaeological site.
• Wrather Canyon is closed to camping.
• Group size cannot exceed ten people.
• All trash must be packed out, including toilet paper and human waste bags.
• Use of public land for business or financial gain requires a special permit.
• Wilderness is closed to motor vehicles, mechanical transport, and motorized equipment.

Coyote Buttes

• Advance permits are required for day use.  There is no overnight camping allowed in the Coyote Buttes permit area.
• Day use permits are available online and through a walk-in lottery conducted at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab, Utah.
• Day users must display half their permit on their vehicle windshield and the other half must be visible on the outside of their backpack.
• Campfires are prohibited.
• Dogs are allowed, provided they have permits.  They must be kept under control at all times.
• A map and route description to the “Wave” formation is provided along with the Coyote Buttes North permit.
• Group size cannot exceed six.
• All trash must be packed out, including toilet paper.
• Use of public land for business or financial gain requires a special permit.
• Wilderness is closed to motor vehicles, mechanical transport, and motorized equipment.

White House Campground

• Open year-round
• Patrolled, but no campground host
• $5 per night fee
• Elevation above sea level:  4,300 feet (1,311 meters)
• Five walk-in tent sites
• Adjacent to White House Trailhead
• Restrooms
• Picnic Tables
• Fire Pites
• No trash collection
• No Water
• No Telephone (poor cell phone coverage)

Nonfederal Lands

Some lands around and within the wilderness are not federally administered. Please respect the property of the owners and do not cross or use these lands without their permission.

Related Maps

• 7.5 minute Topographic: House Rock Emmett Hill, Emmett Wash, Bitter Springs, Lees Ferry, Navajo Bridge, The Big Knoll, One Toe Ridge, House Rock Spring, Coyote Buttes, Poverty Flat, Wrather Arch, Water Pockets, Ferry Swale, Arizona; Glen Canyon City, Bridger Point, West Clark Bench, Pine Hollow Canyon, Utah. 
• Also, Arizona Strip District Visitor Map and Hikers Guide to the Paria Canyon
• 1:100,000 BLM Surface Management:  Fredonia, Glen Canyon Dam
• Game and Fish Management Unit 12B

For more information contact:

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Monument Manager:  Kevin Wright
345 E. Riverside Drive
St. George, UT 84790-6714
(435) 688-3200
Hours: 7:45 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Saturday
Closed Sunday

Source: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/wildareas/paria_vermilion.html