Landmark
White House Trailhead
MI 0 · 4,300 ft
Starting point in Utah. Ranger station, parking, permit pickup.
Each entry point carries its own quota
Paria Canyon Overnight Permit
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument · Arizona
Multi-day backpacking through spectacular slot canyon (38 miles, White House to Lees Ferry).
Get an alert when Paria Canyon opens on your dates.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Paria Canyon were gone within 45 minutes.
Paria Canyon reservation dates
- route distance, point to point
- 38mi
- elevation gain
- 1,200ft
- max group size
- 10people
Paria Canyon elevation profile
White House Trailhead to Lee's Ferry2,300 ft of descent · 0.6% average grade
Landmark
White House Trailhead
Starting point in Utah. Ranger station, parking, permit pickup.
Mile 0 of 38
0 White House Trailhead38 Lee's Ferry
- Mile
- 0
- Elevation
- 4,300 ft
Paria Canyon landmarks
Map of the Paria Canyon Overnight, White House Trailhead to Lee's Ferry
9 of 9 places in this section
Loading the map
Terrain USGS 3DEP · Water USGS NHD · Trail © OpenStreetMap contributors
2,300 ft of descent · 0.6% average grade
How to get a Paria Canyon permit
As of October 2026, Paria Canyon in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona requires a permit issued via reservation. Paria Canyon is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Canceled Paria Canyon permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Paria Canyon route covers 38 miles with 1,200 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- AZ
Step 1: Create an account before permits drop
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn more:
More on Paria Canyon: Live availability activityWhen Paria Canyon permits open upChance of an openingParia Canyon Overnight permit itinerary
Guides: Vermilion Cliffs National Monument Paria Canyon permit guideCoyote Buttes South permit guideCBS Daily Lottery permit guide
The Paria Canyon hike
- Distance
- 38 miles
- Elevation Gain
- 1,200 ft
- Route Type
- Point to Point
- Duration
- 4-5 days
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Elevation Range
- 3,200 - 4,300 ft
Walk 38 miles through one of the deepest and longest slot canyon systems on Earth, where thousand-foot walls close in until the sky becomes a narrow ribbon overhead.
About this permit
Paria Canyon is a 38-mile through-hike from White House Trailhead (Utah) to Lee's Ferry (Arizona). The route passes through some of the deepest slot canyon terrain on Earth, with walls reaching 800 feet while narrowing to 15 feet.
Overnight permits are required and limited to 20 people per day. The 4-5 day journey involves constant river wading, making water management critical.
The route
From White House Trailhead in Utah, the river hiking begins immediately. The first miles establish the pattern: wade, walk, wade, walk. At mile 5, the canyon walls reach their maximum height in the Paria Narrows, 800 feet of vertical sandstone with passages only 15 feet wide.
Buckskin Gulch enters from the right at mile 7, adding its drainage to the Paria. From here, the canyon gradually opens while maintaining its beauty. Bush Head Canyon at mile 35 contains significant rock art panels. The terminus at Lee's Ferry marks the Colorado River and the Arizona border.
Why it matters
Paria Canyon is slot canyon wilderness at its most sustained. BLM describes a 2,500-foot-deep canyon whose narrows, where it meets Buckskin Gulch at the Arizona-Utah border, run only a few feet wide and several hundred feet deep. Recreation.gov calls the Paria, Buckskin Gulch and Wire Pass together one of the longest slot canyon systems in the United States.
The feeling
The river claims your feet from the first step and doesn't release them for four days. You wade through silt-laden water while walls climb higher with each mile. At the narrows, the sky shrinks to a sliver of blue barely visible between sandstone cliffs taller than skyscrapers. Time loses meaning. The canyon becomes your entire world.
Paria Canyon hike highlights
- 38 miles over 4-5 days
- 50-100+ river crossings per day
- Walls reaching 800 feet, passages as narrow as 15 feet
- Extremely silty water requiring settling time before filtering
- Overnight entry capped at 20 people a day, counted across all four trailheads
How hard the Paria Canyon hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills3/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential4/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route5/5
Best for: Experienced desert backpackers comfortable with uncertainty and constant wet feet.
Recommended experience: Multi-day backpacking. Desert canyon experience strongly recommended.
Not recommended for: Beginners. Those who struggle in water. Anyone claustrophobic in narrow canyons.
When to hike Paria Canyon
Best time to visit
March-May and September-November. Summer brings flash flood risk during monsoons. Winter is cold but hikeable.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (4,300 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- Day 6: 83% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
Today
☀️
65°
37°
Wed
☁️
68°
45°
Thu
☁️
67°
43°
Fri
☁️
66°
52°
40%
Sat
☁️
63°
49°
40%
Sun
🌧️
58°
51°
83%
Mon
☁️
60°
47°
46%
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
Paria Canyon photography guide
Golden Hour
The Paria Narrows catch light beams around midday when sun penetrates the slot. Camps photograph well at golden hour.
Best Light
Midday for slot canyon light beams. Early morning for canyon wall reflections in water.
Beat the Crowds
Overnight entry is capped at 20 people a day across all four trailheads, so the canyon stays quiet. Weekday starts see even fewer hikers.
Classic Shots
- Light beams in the Paria Narrows
- Hikers dwarfed by 800-foot walls
- Reflections in still water
- Buckskin Gulch confluence
- Petroglyphs at Bush Head Canyon
- Lee's Ferry terminus
Paria Canyon rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- WAG bags (mandatory)
- Water filter AND container for settling silt
- 4L water capacity minimum
- Footwear that drains well
- Trekking poles for river crossings
Recommended gear
- Gaiters to keep rocks out of boots
- Quick-dry clothing
- Wetsuit in spring/fall
- Camp shoes for dry feet at night
- Detailed topo maps
Rules & regulations
- 01Overnight permit required (reservation or lottery)
- 02Maximum 10 people per group
- 03WAG bags required for human waste
- 04No fires
- 05Permit pickup required at White House Ranger Station
Hazards & considerations
- Flash floods. Canyon offers no escape for miles. Check weather for entire watershed.
- Hypothermia from constant cold water immersion
- Quicksand-like mud in some areas
- Very silty water. Must settle 30+ minutes before filtering.
- No cell service entire route
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Paria Canyon.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Paria Canyon · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Paria Canyon FAQ
How do I get a Paria Canyon permit?
PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Paria Canyon cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Paria Canyon permits use a reservation system.
When is the best time to visit Paria Canyon?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Paria Canyon permit?
This permit has a demand score of 7/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
What if I can't get a Paria Canyon permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
Paria Canyon trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Paria Canyon permit
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Buckskin Gulch Day Hike
Hike into Buckskin Gulch from Wire Pass without the full Paria commitment. BLM measures 1.7 miles one-way to the Buckskin confluence.
Tradeoffs
See the famous slots without 5 days of river walking.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Coyote Gulch
Multi-day canyon backpacking in Grand Staircase-Escalante.
Tradeoffs
Less river walking, more arches and bridges. Different character.
Where to stay near Paria Canyon
- White House CampgroundBureau of Land Management
- All Arizona campgrounds
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
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