Buckskin Gulch & Paria Canyon

Hiking the longest slot canyon in the world, Buckskin Gulch, and then continuing to descend the Paria canyon down to the Colorado river. Four days of an amazing adventure, difficult at times, with so much natural beauty.

Buckskin Gulch is an amazing slot canyon located in the Vermillion Cliffs national monument, advanced permits required.

Buckskin Gulch slot canyon is less renowned than its cousin Antelope Canyon, but offers a unique experience to hike through the narrow canyon alone, or with a group of friends, without anyone alse. And you will be surprised by the number of absolutely stunning viewpoints throughout the day.

Buckskin Gulch is an ever changing canyon, every turn leads to a new breathtaking vista.

The canyon was flooded a few days beforeour hike, as a lrge desert storm pourred inches of rain on the plateau creating flash floods. It left many ponds along the way with stunning reflections.

Hiking this canyon in its full length requires propert equipement and some level of fitness: backpacking equipement must be complemented with good trail shoes that will let water come in and out, dry bags and plenty of water. Water is everywhere but cannot be filtered easily and springs are sparse

To find the first campground, one must leave Buckskin Gulch and enter the wider Paria Canyon, where sandy overbanks provide great shelters.

On day-2, the canyon is sufficiently narrow to create stunning light reflections from opposite walls, and importantly shade on what would otherwise be scortching hot days in June when we hiked.

Stunning colors reflected on slow moving water.

Superb view from Wrather Arch, well worth the little detour.

The Colorado river is near, an early morning hike for the last stretch hoping to complete early before running out of water.