paria river and a taste of buckskin gulch backpack - September 30, 2026
As monsoon season dies down, up to six lucky souls will start from the White House trailhead and spend the next five days and four nights hiking into Paria Canyon towards Lees Ferry. Our goal is to also detour, without heavy packs, into Buckskin Gulch (out and back) to check out the sights. We will meet at Lees Ferry and will hire a local company to drive us up to the trailhead. This will be desert camping and while there will be water (oh there will be water), filtering from springs vs. the silty river will require one to carry a decent amount of water on the day-to-day, and especially on the last day. It is also possible to settle and treat the water from the Paria but it does take some time. Shade will be absent for the last 10 miles unless you bring your own. All human waste will need to be carried out in wag bags. Approximate costs are $80 to $100 per person for permits, the shuttle and gratuity. A $40 deposit is required to secure your spot as the permit has already been booked. While this hike is a gradual non-technical loss of 1600 feet over 38 miles (not counting Buckskin), this is considered a challenging backpack due to the hiking surface. That said, the pace and approach will be casual. Nobody should plan to hike faster and let the group catch up. Bring your camera! Your feet will be wet every day and the temperatures could fluctuate greatly throughout the day. The risk of flash flood will be lower but not zero for this time of year and the weather will be continuously monitored. No children or dogs. Carpooling is encouraged and roads are paved. Exploratory. Members only.
| Level: | MOD |
| Miles: | 38.0 |
| Vertical: | 300' |
| Route: | Shuttle |
| Pace: | Slow |
| Organizer: | Katherine Thom |
| Date: | Wed Sep 30 2026 — Sun Oct 4 2026 |
| Meeting Place: | Register with the Organizer |
| Web Link: | Bearfoot Theory description of the trip |
New to Hiking with the WMC
WMC Hike Ratings
WMC Glossary of Hiking Terms
