paria river canyon

There are plenty of great national parks in the area and they offer great views, comfort stay and paved roads - so it's almost like watching the scenery in a 3D theater, beautiful, comfortable and crowded.Here is a totally different way of experiencing the wilderness. You just get off the main highway on a dirt unpaved road (if it's dry, you can dry pretty much any car, but high clearance would help and if it's wet, you're better off with some crossover or SUV - nothing extreme, but the road might get rough and muddy) and drive. The scenery is breathtaking. There are colorful mountains, carved rocks, a shallow river you can go along for miles. The place has a lot of history, but there are no crowds or comfort, so you get as close to the true middle of nowhere experience as possible.They used to have a town there and a movie set, but now they are all gone, so the only reminder is an old cemetery. There are a few signs along the road and a parking lot with a basic restroom, that's pretty much all reminders of the civilization you'll see.Ok, the important one, the safety. There are no extreme challenges in this area, the road is drivable, the river is shallow, and the trails was walkable, but because the area is so remote, you need to think about your safety. Some advices:1. Don't expect mobile phone coverage. Get a map or offline GPS.2. Stay on the road. If your car gets stuck, it will be very hard to get out.3. If you get lost, it might be very hard to call for help. So stay on the trails, plan your route, avoid risks.4. This area might have flash floods, so pay attention to weather forecasts, the rains could be very dangerous.5. Make sure you can always walk back to the main HWY 89 before it gets dark. If anything happens to your car, this is where you can get help.6. Bring your water.Basically, just some common sense safety tips, nothing you need to be afraid of. And it's free! Highly recommended!

Even in winter, the ride from Rte.89 over into the Paria River Canyon is spectacular. This summer I rode a horse down the Paria River itself, & that was truly beautiful. This wintry weekend I went with Dreamland Safari Tours of Kanab on their Photographer's Dream Tour/Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and part of the trip went to the old Paria Town Set. A photographic extravaganza, the colors and forms of rock were the boldest and best I've seen yet around here. Highly recommend a fascinating trip into the Paria, with Dreamland or during a road trip on the Skutumpah-Cottonwood Canyons back-country roads (this is a great loop, have a - preferably 4W - hi carriage vehicle to do it right.)

This is a beautiful drive down a dirt road to the old Paria/Pahreah Townsite. The surrounding colorful terrain is amazing to see. At approximately 5.5-6 miles on this dirt road there is a picnic area and simple accommodations. The road continues past this point but we’ve never taken it. Worth a drive to see the remarkable colors. Also, check the condition of the road before making this trip.

Beautiful place to hike. Close to Kanab AND Page. Pretty far off the beaten path. Nice clean rest room. Not crowded. Add this pretty hike to your to do list.

On the way back to Kanab from Lake Powell we took a chance and drove off road, very brave for us softie Brits, unused to off road driving. It was fine, the scenery is amazing, it was too hot to hike on to the old town site, but we got as far as the old movie sets and took lots of photos of the bizarre stripey hills. Recommended if you have a 4 wheel drive.

Much like artist pallet. At death valley. Bathroom available. Easy walking since we had plenty of water.

This is a beautiful place to tour but the enviromentalists and BLM do not want you to get too close as you might hurt the enviroment by leaving a footstep.

My family visited this canyon on a four-wheeler trip. It was the highlight. This is a beautiful area with plenty to observe.

It is very hard to get a permit. But keep trying. We tried to get permits 3 times at the Station in person. It is very disheartening to here the guy next to you win a spot when you've tried so ofter. I heard a German woman had been there all week trying to get a permit. My recommendation would be to get a permit on the BLM website.

being a western movie fan I wanted to see the Outlaw Josey Wales movie set, we drove there and hiked to the "set", seems vandals burned down the original and this one in it's place is crap, don't waste your time

Paria is a beautiful place, near Lake Powell. You have to drive on dirt road, but once you are at the bottom of the canyon, you will see that it's worth the drive. Take time to read the plaques about the history of this place.

Not really a trail. I have followed the Paria all the way to the Colorado river at Lees Ferry- a walk of about 38 miles . I have also hiked down Buckskin wash and out the Paria. Best to avoid extremely hot days.

20 years ago I took a group of Boy Scouts into the Paria Canyon to visit what I considered to be the most special place on earth. I am delighted to see (from the first review above) that they still remember, and that it is an important place for them as well. I try to visit there every year or two-- it is good for my soul and puts me in touch with what really matters. The canyon is more than a beautiful place, though it is certainly that. It is a place where, walking barefoot in the shallow stream, I have felt more profound spiritual closeness to nature than I have felt in any other place.

Along with my fellow Boy Scouts, I hiked this canyon from start to finish, (including a day up Buckskin Gulch). It was absolutely incredible. The week long hike was completed over 20 years ago; I still look at the pictures and am going to take my own sons as soon as they are old enough. There really are no words to discribe the Canyon experience with any justice. You enter a whole other world... Thanks Mr. Tyler for taking us!!!

Hiked the Paria River for an overnighter in April 2002. The water was quite low due to drought and so travel was not difficult. We passed the Buckskin to camp 12 miles from Whitehouse Trailhead. We would have camped at ten miles except a couple at that campsite made it very clear we were not welcome. The spring at Big Spring campground gushes from the wall on the other side of the river. It was by far the best spring we had seen. This is an issue since I have talked to others who spent hours getting drips of water from walls. We returned the same way the next day. Beware of blisters as you are hiking in water most of the way. The canyon is quite beautiful, particularly the narrows. If anyone has questions, email me.