Skip to content
Buckskin Gulch Day Permit wilderness permit area in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness - backcountry hiking destination
ReservationDay UseModerate Demand

Buckskin Gulch Day Permit

Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

World's longest slot canyon. The day-use permit is sold as a pass with no daily cap, so it never sells out.

Other permits in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness we can watch

Paria Canyon

How to get Buckskin Gulch

The Buckskin Gulch day-use permit is a Recreation.gov Activity Pass, not a dated reservation. It has no cap — Recreation.gov sells it with no maximum number of people and no blackout dates — so it cannot sell out and there is nothing for us to watch. Buy it on Recreation.gov whenever you are ready, or pay at the trailhead: $6 per person and $6 per dog, and no interagency pass gets you out of it. Overnight trips in Paria Canyon, The Wave and Coyote Buttes South are separate permits, and those ARE limited.

Official permit page

Planning another trip? See the permits we watch.

Plan the full trip, not just the permit

Build your full itinerary start to finish

Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.

Start a plan — it's free

No permit needed to start

Buckskin Gulch Quick Facts

Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelModerate6/10
Cost$6 per person + $6 per dog
Max Group Size10 people

Key Information

Permit Details

TypeDay Use
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level6/10
LocationUT

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

⚠️

Backcountry Tips

  • Windy conditions: Bring wind-resistant shelter if camping.

Today

🌧️

87°

68°

23%

Mon

☁️

87°

67°

Tue

☀️

86°

69°

22%

Wed

🌧️

80°

66°

Thu

🌧️

71°

63°

27%

Fri

🌧️

82°

61°

Sat

🌧️

84°

67°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

How to Get This Permit

1

Create a Recreation.gov account

Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

2

Know the release schedule

Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.

3

Be ready when permits drop

Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

Safety & Planning

🚨

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Buckskin Gulch.

🐻

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Buckskin Gulch FAQ

How do I get a Buckskin Gulch permit?

Buckskin Gulch is not sold online. The Buckskin Gulch day-use permit is a Recreation.gov Activity Pass, not a dated reservation. It has no cap — Recreation.gov sells it with no maximum number of people and no blackout dates — so it cannot sell out and there is nothing for us to watch. Buy it on Recreation.gov whenever you are ready, or pay at the trailhead: $6 per person and $6 per dog, and no interagency pass gets you out of it. Overnight trips in Paria Canyon, The Wave and Coyote Buttes South are separate permits, and those ARE limited. PermitSnag does not send alerts for it — check the official permit page for the current process.

When is the best time to visit Buckskin Gulch?

Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.

How competitive is the Buckskin Gulch permit?

This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.

What if I can't get a Buckskin Gulch permit?

On this permit there is no cancellation queue and no alert to set, because nothing is re-released onto a calendar we could watch. Bring backup dates, and check the official permit page for the current process and any closures.

👥Community

Trail Conditions

No active conditions reported

Sign in to report trail conditions.

Questions

No questions yet

Be the first to ask about Buckskin Gulch.

Trip Reports

Write Report

No trip reports yet

Be the first to share your experience at Buckskin Gulch.

Write the First Report

A small favor

One tick helps us more than you’d think

Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Add PermitSnag in Google

Takes less than a minute.