There are 20 backpacking permits issued per day in the Paria Canyon Overnight Permit system for all the Paria Canyon Campsites and they are all issued in advance. While the campsite known as the Confluence is actually in Buckskin Gulch it is only barely and is considered a part of the Paria Canyon permit system. "One's destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things." Though it’s not clear that Flat Stanley would be able to manage the steep climb. However, after inclement weather, the road can be impassable even to 4×4 vehicles. Buckskin Gulch is a good p0lace to visit to have a fun time. Buckskin Gulch is best explored as a multi-day backpacking trip but a permit is needed and the process is very competitive. Hiking Buckskin Gulch is a truly amazing journey and one that I highly recommend to anyone prepared for the challenges and dangers of this epic adventure. Be careful.). A log sits, wedged between the walls of Buckskin Gulch, from a previous flash flood. Wire Pass Trail follows a desert wash (AKA a dry creek bed) to a gorgeous slot canyon, called Buckskin Gulch. Like life, hiking the Buckskin requires constant vigilance. Camp that night at the Wire Pass Trailhead, 68 miles east of Kanab, Utah. Flat Stanley, always mysteriously pensive, stays silent on the matter. If your life depends on it, then by all means, go for it but it looks shady, to say the least. I have worked hard to live a life of travel in the fleeting moments between work. - Henry Miller. ... Due to the risk of flash flood there are no good campsites in Buckskin Gulch until you get to the confluence with the Paria. Regardless of what list you place it on, Buckskin Gulch is a geologic wonder that is actually very accessible, doable, and immensely rewarding if you prepare properly. Because of the nature of this canyon and Utah topography this canyon is subject to deadly flash flood if it rains anywhere along the headwaters. But, finally, we spot a steep route up the walls, across jagged, sand-covered stone, on the canyon’s left side. Despite the risk, this is known as one of the best canyon hikes anywhere. I have been there once and backpacking is my favorite to enjoy there. From the trailhead parking lot to the junction with Buckskin Gulch, it is 1.7 miles one-way if you follow the wash and not the side trails. Apply for your permit when they become available, come prepared for the adventure and you will exit this long curvy canyon with memories that will last a lifetime. I was born to roam. However, taking that route makes the entire journey 47.5 miles in length. A flash flood while in Buckskin Gulch is deadly. Buckskin Gulch in the Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument is said to be the longest slot canyon in the world. A boy made of paper, and five other hikers, traverse Buckskin Gulch’s Middle Route. It was just getting dark when the flash flood … Note: there are multiple trailheads that provide access to Buckskin Gulch. The extended exposure to flash flood danger makes Buckskin one of the country's most dangerous slots: Rarely more than 10 feet wide, the eerie corridor is 400 feet deep at … “Did you hear that? On the morning of our hike, we park two cars, one at each end of our planned route. We used Paria Outpost & Outfitters because they were the most cost-efficient. On a whole, this road is a less rough road but the washboarding can be rough. With their steep, narrow passages, slot canyons are especially susceptible to flash flooding, so hikers should never venture into Buckskin Gulch while it is raining or when rain is in the forecast. There are campsites on benches in Buckskin Gulch just up-canyon from the Paria. This is the second essay of a two-part series about escaping a flash flood while hiking through Buckskin Gulch with Flat Stanley. “But I’ve only felt two rain drops, the sky looks mostly clear, and we can always hike out through Middle Route if we have to.”. Paria Canyon and its tributaries average eight flash floods a year. The Wire Pass Trailhead is usually chosen as the starting point rather than the actual Buckskin Gulch trailhead. Kanab Field Office 669 S Highway 89A Kanab, UT 84741. Great pictures btw! If you aren’t certain you are up to this challenge yet, I would recommend doing either a day hike or a backpack through The Narrows in Zion National Park first to determine your ability for such a journey. “But it sounded like it was very far away. You will need to drive back into Kanab, UT or Page, AZ to find good grub. Buckskin Gulch . We’ve actually been looking to buy a place in Utah because we fell in love with it so much (and all the hiking). Buckskin Gulch is located along the Utah/Arizona border, near Kanab. In the canyon itself, the temperature was very pleasant: probably 70F. If you can find it, you may choose to spend the night eight miles in, high above the canyon, at the Middle Route escape trail. There are no permits held for walk-ins. After any long-distance hike, I am always looking for the best food options around to refuel. She hands me a mock child, made from white poster board and colored with crayons by my nephew, Luke. Make sure that there is no rain in the forecast. There are basically four ways to go about exploring Buckskin Gulch with two potential starting points and two potential endpoints. After gorging on blueberry cheesecake, we all lie back on our sandy benches, staring at the heavens. Flash floods up to 100 feet high rip through Buckskin Gulch, as evidenced by full-sized logs wedged dozens of feet over your head. Wini and I, hiking ahead of the group, see a number of possible emergency exit candidates, but then we inevitably realize that some feature — their steepness, their slipperiness, or their overall precariousness — means that they can’t be the Middle Route. Anyone entering the Buckskin Gulch is required to have a permit. “Look, if it starts actually raining, I agree that we should turn back,” I say. There is so much awesome in Utah! Flat Stanley is the title character in Jeff Brown’s 1964 children’s book, which tells the story of a child who is flattened when a falling bulletin board crushes him while he’s sleeping. You will also receive special human waste bags, because you must pack and carry out human waste. You’ll need to drive 8.3 miles down a dirt road to get there, so you may prefer a high-clearance vehicle. Visit the Paria Ranger Station (62 miles east of Kanab, Utah) on the day before your hike to discuss the weather report, flash flood risks, and available water sources with the Ranger. I’m a filmmaker, writer, and travel addict. Ominous clouds appear overhead while hiking near Wire Pass. But at 6 A.M. the next morning, we all awake to the sound of a flash flood, rushing through Buckskin Gulch, below us. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! A wall of raging water and debris can come rushing down the narrows of Buckskin Gulch when there’s heavy rain in southern Utah. Hikers climb up sandstone formations on the Middle Route near Buckskin Gulch. The trail departs on the east side of a gravel parking lot that can hold about 30 cars. What time of the year did you go and what was the temperature like? Flat Stanley doesn’t seem hungry. Nevertheless, I am relieved to know that we have Middle Route in case we end up in dire straits. But after another half mile of hiking, between canyon walls reaching nearly 500 feet above us, everyone in the group feels a couple raindrops. Constant vigilance. The overnight permits are released on a monthly rolling window which becomes available at Noon (MDT) on the 1st day of each month three months ahead of time. It is a part of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument which spans Utah and Arizona. Day-hikers can purchase a day-use permit at any of the trailheads for a small cash fee ($6 as of 2020). Latitude/Longitude: 37.0666694, -67.9995333 This magical place that was carved by water has very little water in it for most of the year. Bring plenty of water. I notice that though my GPS usually won’t function in the canyon, it intermittently springs to life whenever the walls surrounding us become lower. Buckskin Gulch (named on some maps as Kaibab Gulch, or The Dive) is a tributary of the Paria River that drains an area around the Vermilion Cliffs in far south Utah and joins the Paria exactly at the Utah/Arizona border, 20 miles from Lees Ferry next to the Colorado River. Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen is also a tasty choice especially if you prefer an all-vegetarian menu. However, the summer months can be deadly hot and are not recommended. Under an extraordinarily dark and starry sky, we make macaroni and cheese for dinner. My nephew’s school project requires him to send his Flat Stanley, escorted by friends and relatives, to adventurous and exotic places. Your email address will not be published. “Then write a story about what he did. //-->. August and early September are especially dangerous due to the monsoon and risk of flash flooding in the canyon. There is a downclimb of 15 feet close to the confluence. Soon, it becomes obvious that we won’t make it to the first safe campsite before dark. Late February to Late May & Late September to Early December are the best times to explore the canyon with milder temperatures. I believe traveling slowly across landscapes is important. I filmed a flash flood in Buckskin Wash / Gulch on 7/29/17. With the walls hundreds of feet above, there is little or no escape from a flash flood. Buckskin Gulch is a part of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and is open year-round. If however you are headed to Kanab hit up Escobar’s Mexican Restaurant or Houston’s Trails End. Although, most of the time it is traversable by a 2 wheel drive vehicle. In Brown’s book, the newly-flat Stanley quickly learns how to sneak under doors into locked rooms and visit faraway places through the mail. These canyons have a very high flash flood potential and caution should be used. There is also another decent campsite a short distance down the Paria on the left. You may also choose to hike all the way to the Lee’s Ferry Trailhead to complete the entire length of the Paria Canyon, but allow yourself four days to do this. “We’ve found the Middle Route!” I yell to the rest of the group as though I’ve just discovered a lucrative trading route to India. We erect one of the tents on the lower bench, and then I convince Wini to let me construct our tent on the ledge above, which requires another vertical climb. Hikers make their way through a particularly wide section of Buckskin Gulch. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. This is not for anyone with a strong fear of heights. As long as the good Lord allows. But when we enter the canyon and begin walking between the narrow, red and orange sandstone walls, everyone smiles and laughs as we trudge through the deep, gooey, and smelly water and mud pools. When we hiked out and across the desert, the temperature was at least 90F. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6276294760545794"; My friend Wendy and I have obsessively checked the weather report over the past week, and meteorologists predict no rain during our trip. Apparently, it’s notoriously difficult to find, partly because it’s camouflaged by the orange sandstone, and partly because GPS devices don’t function in the deep canyon. It’s clear that everyone is having fun. Carrying Flat Stanley, I begin scrambling up the precipitous, rocky trail and discover two sandstone ledges (known as “benches” in canyoneering parlance) protruding from the side of the canyon walls, high above the canyon floor, which will be perfect sites to pitch our tents. It is recommended to have a high-clearance vehicle to reach either of the two trailheads but most of the time any vehicle can make the journey. “Take him with you wherever you go and take pictures,” Jen demands. I like its natural beauty and rock formation. Most hiking blogs we’ve read suggest that very few hikers have ever found the route, but I find one blog that provides the exit’s geographic coordinates. While it is possible to hike all of Buckskin Gulch, from Wire Pass to its confluence with the Paria Canyon and back, in a single day, you’ll enjoy the trip more if you give yourself more time and camp overnight. When I'm traveling abroad, I start craving burritos. As you traverse through the slot, red sandstone rises 100-200 feet above above your head where it entirely blocks the sun to create an eery-majestic atmosphere. Next to the water-susceptible Flat Stanley, she is the most risk-adverse hiker in our group. I suppose that the scariest children’s stories are also usually the best. Jen thinks naively that giving me Luke’s Flat Stanley is a good idea, because I’m about to drive with my friends Wendy, Rich, Suzanne, and Wini to the remote and rugged Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness on the Utah-Arizona border to hike the length of Buckskin Gulch, the world’s longest slot canyon. Start hiking in the morning, leaving immediately at dawn. If you only have one car, you may also arrange for a shuttle service by calling Betty Price at (928) 355-2552 or Paria Outpost at (928) 691-1047. But she and I manage the ascent, and we name our secluded sleeping area, The Penthouse. Luckily, we’ve spent ample time in both of these towns and have a few recommendations. Because of flash floods digging a cathole isn’t a viable solution and the canyon is a sensitive ecosystem so use the wag bag in your time of need. “But no one has ever found the Middle Route,” Suzanne argues. This takes us longer than expected due to our last-minute decision to hike the entire distance of Buckskin Gulch and the Paria Canyon, from Wire Pass to Lee’s Ferry, a much longer trip than the typical two-day Buckskin Gulch-only hike. There is a surreal irony to hiking Buckskin Gulch—the world’s longest slot canyon. Backpacking Buckskin Gulch – The World’s Longest Slot Canyon, Havasu Falls Reservation Review – Updated for 2020, Craters of the Moon Trails – The 6 Best Hikes, Click here for a more detailed guide for the Middle Trail Escape. My Plans for 2021 – Will I return to the Appalachian Trail. We begin looking obsessively for the enigmatic Middle Route. Alternatively, you could extend this amazing journey by hiking the majority of Paria Canyon downstream and ending where the Paria Canyon meets the Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry. I am going with the park service’s distances although the canyon feels longer. If the sky above you is clear, this doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily safe. On the contrary, even after months of drought muddy pools of water remain in some of the tightest sections of the traverse. At 15 miles long it is the longest slot canyon in the world. Buckskin Gulch can also be taken on as a long day hike or as an out-n-back though you will have to determine when is best to turn back. The canyon changes after every flash flood so go prepared. There are additional sites inside Paria Canyon but they require a few more miles of hiking on the first day. We don’t feel any more raindrops. The Buckskin Gulch part of the hike is 13 miles long which makes for a lengthy first day. You don’t … A journey into Buckskin Gulch in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument isn’t for the faint of heart or claustrophobic. It sometimes is as narrow as 2ft. Lucky to be Alive - Flash Flood in Buckskin Gulch KANE COUNTY, Utah -- A group of hikers say they are "extremely lucky" to be alive after a flash flood came roaring down the slot canyon they were camping in during a 5-day excursion in southern Utah. “Yes,” I say, uncomfortably. The canyon is very deep and narrow so GPS devices are almost completely useless and actual distance can’t be measured reliably. We hike slowly, giving us time to enjoy the fantastic, alien scenery fully and take photos. Buckskin Gulch is the longest and narrowest slot canyon in the world - a serpintine hallway with walls of solid stone and a floor dotted with boulders where in some places it's so tight, even the sky is not visible. Of course, Luke wants his Stanley to travel to places even more adventurous and more exotic than those visited by his classmates’ Stanleys. How long? Backpacking permits are required for overnighting at any of the campsites along the Paria Canyon corridor. Backpacker Magazine even ranked Buckskin Gulch as one of America’s ten most dangerous hikes due to floods. The trailhead is quite obvious, with two information signs, a trail register, and a fee station. But soon after we pass a panel of Native American petroglyphs depicting desert bighorn sheep on the canyon wall near the junction of Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch, I hear the sound of a single thunder clap. The confluence is the only place in Buckskin Gulch to camp and it is about 13.5 miles from the Wire Pass Trailhead. The only place to camp inside Buckskin Gulch is at the confluence with Paria Canyon (and by permit-only). Members of the group had hiked Buckskin Gulch before and purposely chose to camp at that spot because it’s wider than the rest of the canyon, and offers a way out of the canyon. (view all Buckskin Gulch, Utah photos). Remember to check the National Weather Service for flash flood reports before heading out. There is also a trickling spring near the confluence with Paria Canyon that creates an oasis in this otherwise seemingly lifeless desert canyon. google_ad_height = 60; Buckskin Gulch is a natural wonder. About 5 miles after the Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch intersection there is a sand bar on the left side of the canyon with a rather intimidating 100’ accent up the slightly slanted wall. Wire Pass Trail is located in the Kanab area of Southern Utah. The recommended route requires a shuttle. Flash floods are a very real danger at all times of the year. We decided to play it safe and carry the 6 liters per person of water needed for our day and a half adventure into the desert. Buckskin Gulch experiences several flash floods every year. West Clark Bench, Bridger Point and Pine Hollow Canyon are the USGS 7.5 minute topographical maps that show Buckskin Gulch. Buckskin Gulch has no toilets. A tent sits high on a ledge near the Middle Route, in a place we named The Penthouse. To protect Flat Stanley from certain death, I heroically carry him above the water and mud. Every drop of water you drink in the canyon should be carried in. It is fraught with potential deadly threats from dehydration, venomous snakes, challenging terrain, no GPS or cell service, rockslides, and the ever-present real danger of flash floods. Even without his input, the group decides to continue hiking. You can also continue on to safe campsites at the confluence of Buckskin Gulch and the Paria Canyon, 14.5 miles from the start. In the second part of this series, find out how Flat Stanley, and the rest of us, manage to escape the flash flood and learn Navajo. “I am not turning back now,” Wendy says firmly. Buckskin Gulch to Middle Route GPS track (download GPX or KML). Sadly, there is no food anywhere near the trailheads. Flat Stanley marvels at the scenery in Buckskin Gulch. I even concede that Flat Stanley won’t require us to carry any extra supplies considering that he doesn’t eat much and, since he’s made of paper, water is his mortal enemy. But after we’ve attached his backpack to a rope and dragged it up, he has no choice but to begin climbing. We still don’t think we have seen the Middle Route, but we don’t know exactly what it looks like — everything we’ve read about it only describes a slight widening and lowering of the surrounding canyon walls. Flat Stanley appears unconcerned. This isn’t to say there isn’t any water in Buckskin Gulch. I’ve got more must-dos coming but Buckskin Gulch is high up there, especially if you enjoy slot canyons. This is a very strenuous trip and requires a Class 3 scramble out of Buckskin Gulch on the last day. Storms occurring many miles away can still cause a flash flood in your area! Pinned it for later. The driver was on time and very professional with loads of recommendations for exploring more of the area. In case you need to go while inside the canyon the park’s service is kind enough to supply a wag bag to all backpackers when you arrive to pick up your permit. But we relax when we see the sky clear. They selected the spot with a flash flood in mind. I suppose that Utah qualifies as an adventurous and exotic place for this Flat Stanley, especially since he hasn’t left Orange County, ever. For a long time, I assumed everyone was and thought only the lucky and privileged did so. It’ll be easy; you’re the writer and traveler.”. The rock walls tower anywhere from 100-300 ft tall, and at it's narrowest, is only 2 feet wide. Sticky mud pools are a common hazard in Buckskin Gulch. A log stuck in the narrow walls of Buckskin Gulch, about 40 feet (12 m) above the ground level, August 2009. Great guide! These services will ask you to drive your car to your endpoint, then they will drive you to Wire Pass. Fortunately, for the most part, the risk of a flash flood is manageable. If you are headed to Page then we recommend checking out either Big John’s Texas BBQ or the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant. The floodwaters originated in the headwaters of the Buckskin, far north of the slot canyon itself, from a monsoonal downpour not … google_ad_slot = "2575306589"; Many people have died in slot canyons due to flash floods. “I think we should turn back now,” says a worried Suzanne. We feel like we’re on a mission with Victorian explorer John Cabot, searching for a Northwest Passage that we’re sure exists but consistently eludes us. Backpacker Magazine even ranked Buckskin Gulch as one of America’s ten most dangerous hikes due to floods. However, the summer months can be deadly hot and are not recommended. Ignore the right fork to Fivemile Mountain at the saddle, then descend to a crossing of the Buckskin Gulch wash after 4.4 miles, where the road is subject to flood damage. According to the park’s service, this is 13.2 miles from Wire Pass so the first day is a long one. For this reason, you should take care of your business before you go. I’ve traveled to over 50 countries while writing this travelogue. This means that the entire month of permits for April for instance becomes available on January 1st at noon (MDT). In the case of an unpredicted rainstorm, we have read about the existence of a single, treacherous escape route, halfway through the canyon, called Middle Route. After reaching Paria Canyon (probably on the second day), you will have an 8-mile hike to the White House Trailhead. A wag bag is specifically designed for capturing and securely transporting human waste. After seven miles of hiking, everyone is tired from our heavy packs filled with over eight pounds of water per person (no water sources are available in the canyon). Still, flash floods can happen any time of year, and we will only enter the canyon if it’s safe. Rich arrives, takes one look at the steep ascent route leading to our possible campsites, and then looks at me and Wendy as though we’ve gone crazy. We went in September. But I imagine that the Bureau of Land Management won’t object to us taking a sixth hiker, one about the size of a Frisbee and weighing less than one ounce. We fall asleep to the sound of wind, whistling through the canyon, lightly kissing our tents. Bridget recently posted…My Plans for 2021 – Will I return to the Appalachian Trail? Due to the popularity of Buckskin Gulch, we reserved five of the required camping permits two months ago. Before you leave, you’ll want to park two cars, one at Wire Pass and one at your endpoint (probably White House Trailhead). Buckskin Gulch is located in the southwestern part of Utah very close to the Arizona border. “Good night, Flat Stanley,” I say to him. A hiker gazes at the canyon walls of Buckskin Gulch. Wire Pass Trail follows a desert wash (dry creek bed) and a slot canyon to offer the fastest access the slot canyon areas of Buckskin Gulch. This is a lot of water weight to start with and although it is the safest way to do the journey I might have banked more on the spring water if I had to do it again. Buckskin Gulch and the Paria River Narrows. Don’t forget to pick up your backpacking permit at the Grand Staircase visitor center in Kanab, Utah before heading to any of the trailheads. Regardless of which through-hike, you decide to take you will need to either drop a vehicle at one trailhead or arrange a shuttle transport to get you from one side to the other. Twelve hours later, while camped above the canyon, we still experienced a flash flood. With 15 miles of undulating narrows between near-vertical walls, Buckskin Gulchis definitely the longest slot canyon in America, and likely the world. 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