Paria Canyon itinerary
Every published mile marker on the Paria Canyon route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one — and which permit each stretch needs. To watch dates and set alerts, go to the Paria Canyon Through-Hike permit page.
Which permit covers this route
The Paria Canyon. One reservation is a trailhead or zone plus an entry date; you roam after that, issued by reservation.
The permit is issued for a named entry point. White House Trailhead and Lee's Ferry are the ones on this list.
- Stops mapped
- 7
- Across the markers
- 38.0 mi
- Published route length
- 38 mi
- Published ascent
- 1,200 ft
How long it takes: 3-5 days. That is the figure the permit publishes — this page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.
The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.
Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.
The Paria Canyon route, stop by stop
Mile 0.0
4,300 ft
White House Trailhead
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
Starting point with ranger station and parking. Enter the Paria River.
5.0 miles · 150 ft down to Paria Narrows
Mile 5.0
4,150 ft
Paria Narrows
BLM describes a 2,500-foot-deep canyon whose narrows are only a few feet wide in places and several hundred feet deep
2.0 miles · 55 ft down to Buckskin Gulch Confluence
Mile 7.0
4,095 ft
Buckskin Gulch Confluence
Junction with Buckskin Gulch, a popular day-hike destination. BLM puts it 7 miles from White House, the nearest trailhead
15.0 miles · 104 ft down to Big Water Spring
Mile 22.0
3,991 ft
Big Water Spring
Spring and common campsite. BLM says springs here are an emergency source, not a primary one - carry your own water.
8.0 miles · 176 ft down to Wrather Canyon
Mile 30.0
3,815 ft
Wrather Canyon
Side canyon with a dramatic natural arch (camping prohibited)
5.0 miles · 190 ft down to Bush Head Canyon
Mile 35.0
3,625 ft
Bush Head Canyon
Petroglyph panels and camping before final stretch to Lee's Ferry
3.0 miles · 425 ft down to Lee's Ferry
Mile 38.0
3,200 ft
Lee's Ferry
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
Terminus at the Colorado River. Historic ferry crossing site.
Getting a Paria Canyon for the dates you want
Planning the route is the easy half. Paria Canyon dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations — they return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag watches Paria Canyon around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.