Paria Canyon

Geeks Afield

Paria Canyon

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“Paria Canyon is the ultimate in desert hiking.  Most of the canyon, whose name means “muddy water” in Paiute, is relatively shady and well watered.   The terrain is either level or downhill.   The scenery is splendid; 1600 foot deep canyons, enormous sandstone alcoves streaked with desert varnish, hanging gardens of orchids and ferns, deep pools and impressive Sliderock and Wrather arches.” ~~ Joyce Hilmes

“…it offers a challenging 38-mile hike, enjoyable for experienced hikers.   Four to five days are recommended to make the difficult hike from White House Trailhead to Lees Ferry.   During the spring season, plan on hiking in ankle-to-knee deep water; in May and June, the Paria River can be dry for the first seven miles, while the remainder below the Buckskin Gulch confluence flows year-round.   The strenuous hike can be extremely hazardous during months prone to flash flooding; for several days after a flood, quicksand and mud can make hiking more difficult.   Hiking in the lower canyon entails traversing long silt terraces with fewer stream crossings.”   Online Highways

When we did out hike, in October of 2003, we parked our vehicle at Lee’s Ferry and shuttled up to White House Trailhead.  If you venture this route I would strongly recommend a ride from Betty Price .  It is about an hours ride from Lee’s Ferry up to White House Trail Head, with Betty it seemed like just minutes.  She is a wealth of information on the area.  This seems to include history, geology, hiking, and just general information.   Most importantly she told us where to get a hot shower and a cold beer after our hike.   And she loves rock and roll, especially the music from the 50s and the 60s.   She is definitely one of the hidden treasures of the area.

Paria Canyon can be accessed via the White House Trailhead which is off of U.S. 89 in Utah between Kanab, UT and Paige, AZ.  It is on the north side of the Grand Canyon.  The Paria River flows into the Colorado River below the Glen Canyon Dam.  This is Lee’s Ferry.  There is a park and campground there.  Many of the rafting trips leave from here.

AND Lee’s Ferry is a good trout fishing area, not something I routinely associate with a desert environment.

Contact information for Betty Price: ( Note: Feb 2020 – no idea if this is still a business)
END OF THE TRAIL SHUTTLES
P.O. Box 6135
Marble Canyon, AZ 86036
928.355.2252

White House Trailhead – The beginning of our trek

The sign defining the regulations for the Paria Canyon hike at the White House Trailhead campground. The White House Trailhead is off of U.S. 89 in Utah between Kanab, UT and Paige, AZ.

White House Campground has all the comforts of home…his and her toilets, soft sand to spread you sleeping bag on,  just no water .  So if you are going to spend the night here bring water.  Alternatively, there is a spring a half mile or so away up a little side canyon at the beginning of the trail.

 

 

 

 

Our campground at White House campground, one of the trailheads for Paria Canyon. Brodie Jeff never meet a camera he did not like!!!

 

 

 

 

The view from our tents that first night.

 

 

 

 

Duct Tape

So you thought you knew all the uses for duct tape… Well here is one that I discovered lately, and I highly recommend it.  Instead of mole skin when you get a hot spot, try duct tape.  It is like a second skin and works every bit as good as advertised.  It has definitely become a staple in my backpack.

Before we left we had really debated about our footwear.  We knew that the beginning of the hike and ending of the hike would be best served with regular hiking boots.   What we wondered about was the portion where we were constantly in and out of the Paria River.   We settled on sandals.   This for the most part worked pretty well, but the river bottom was so pebbly in parts that we spent a lot of time shaking or digging those pebbles out.

Most of the folks we saw wore approach style boots or sneakers for the wet portion of the trip.  From talking to them this seemed to work much better.   Although, one hiker did tell us that they had to stop ever hour or so and invert their socks to remove the silt from the toes!

A lot of duct tape, but the hot spot was not that big. It was just tough to keep the tape on with sandals while almost constantly wading in the Paria River. What could have become a major hassle, instead just become a little geeky. No blisters this trip, and just a minor worn spots on the top of my feet from the sandals.

 

 

 

 

 

Brodie Jeff thought it such a good idea he got in on the act too! Nearly as good as white tape on black glasses.