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The legendary sandstone formation—one of the most photographed geological wonder...
Paria Canyon Overnight Permit
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument · Arizona
Each entry point carries its own quota
Multi-day backpacking through spectacular slot canyon (38 miles, White House to Lees Ferry).
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Paria Canyon were gone within 10 minutes.
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Paria Canyon Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
Paria Canyon Permit Facts
- As of September 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.
- The Paria Canyon route covers 38 miles with 1,200 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous.
- Cancelled Paria Canyon permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level7/10
LocationAZ
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
38 miles
Elevation Gain
1,200 ft
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
4-5 days
Difficulty
StrenuousElevation Range
3,200 - 4,300 ft
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
Best Time to Visit
March-May and September-November. Summer brings flash flood risk during monsoons. Winter is cold but hikeable.
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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (3,200 ft)
Today
☀️
93°
68°
Sun
☁️
89°
68°
23%
Mon
🌧️
90°
63°
Tue
🌧️
88°
68°
Wed
🌧️
86°
68°
Thu
☁️
88°
70°
Fri
☀️
88°
68°
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 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.
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.
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
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand4/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill3/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk4/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment5/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
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.
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 Experience
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 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.
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •Overnight permit required (reservation or lottery)
- •Maximum 10 people per group
- •WAG bags required for human waste
- •No fires
- •Permit pickup required at White House Ranger Station
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
- Gaiters to keep rocks out of boots
- Quick-dry clothing
- Wetsuit in spring/fall
- Camp shoes for dry feet at night
- Detailed topo maps
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Paria Canyon
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
↑
1,200ft
Gain↓
2,300ft
Loss⛰️
4,300ft
High📏
38.0mi
Distance📐
0.6%
Avg GradeClick on a marker to view details•9 landmarks
Landmarks (9)
Paria Canyon FAQ
How do I get a Paria Canyon permit?
Paria Canyon permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Paria Canyon?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally 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 about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography 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
Can't Get a Paria Canyon Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Buckskin Gulch Day Hike
Easier AlternativeHike into Buckskin Gulch from Wire Pass without the full Paria commitment. BLM measures 1.7 miles one-way to the Buckskin confluence.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
See the famous slots without 5 days of river walking.
Coyote Gulch
Similar ExperienceMulti-day canyon backpacking in Grand Staircase-Escalante.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Less river walking, more arches and bridges. Different character.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Paria Canyon trip
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