[John Morrow]

There's much out on the internets about this one. This is the classic Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon thruhike. So I'll make it a photo tour mostly. Petroglyphs extraordinaire (though I don't show a lot). Feel like I'm living in the past reminiscing on my annual UT trip. I haven't posted like usual. I've had several agency folks across Utah talk to/email me in criticism regarding the level of detail in my trip reports. Specifically, my cross country route maps, rock art photos and ancestral puebloan habitations. In those parks and monuments I am not yet decided how/why I'll write trip reports. I see their point. This one is a no brainer, however. Kimberly, Ed and Jon made for great partners. Wire Pass TH--->Wire Pass--->Buckskin Gulch--->Paria River Canyon--->Lee's Ferry. Shuttle required. 70 miles driving to place the second vehicle at Lee's Ferry. Day 1 Down Bucksskin to within 1/4 mile of the Paria confluence.

Just above the junction of Buckskin Gulch

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness

A deep canyon

high floods!

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

dark slot

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

deepest pool this day was top of the crotch on me at 5'8".

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

Middle route exit scout, north side:

Climbed out the Middle Route. Looking S/SE at lower Buckskin.

West Clark Bench

Lower Buckskin to camp:

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

Subway like

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UTss

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

Slots up yet again!

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, UT

Camp!

Day 2 Paria Canyon from confluence to below Judd Hollow Pump.

Into Paria Canyon Narrows, Day 2

Down Paria Canyon Narrows, Day 2

Down Paria Canyon Narrows, Day 2

Down Paria Canyon Day 2

Down Paria Canyon Narrows, Day 2

Down Paria Canyon Day 2

spring!

Down Paria Canyon Narrows, Day 2

alcove

Scout of the Adams Exit Route, southside, to the Sand Hills:

climbing the Adams Route looking upstream

looking downstream

Day 3 Past Wrather Canyon and arch, beyond last reliable spring, to about 8 miles from Lee's Ferry.

Wrather Arch Day 3

Wrather Canyon...lush.

bloomin' yucca

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, AZ

fading panel

Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, AZ

amazing detail on this panel

very extensive panel

Down Paria Canyon Day 3

Down Paria Canyon Day 3; emergence of the Kayenta Formation

Down Paria Canyon Day 3, river cuts the Kayenta

Down Paria Canyon Day 3

Down Paria Canyon Day 3; into the Moenave Formation

Stanleya pinnata: Prince's plume. Down Paria Canyon Day 3

Down Paria Canyon Day 3

Down Paria Canyon Day 3; colorful Chinle Formation

Down Paria Canyon Day 3

Down Paria Canyon Day 3, Chinle colors

Down Paria Canyon Day 3

Day 4 Last camp, 8 miles to Lee's Ferry racing an incoming storm so we could get our vehicles out of the sand and clay House Rock Road Wire Pass TH.

Down Paria Canyon Day 4

Down Paria Canyon Day 4

Down Paria Canyon Day 4

Open chinle slopes

Dominguez Pass above

Weather coming, shinarump member the short ledge, I believe

Racing the rain to Lee's Ferry! Moenkopi Formation appears tilting left to right on left

I will say, watching this canyon grow from a slot, through narrows, to a big broad canyon cutting through eons of rock layers, was beyond impressive. I was awed from step one to step last.

[kite]

wonderful images, I love the last 10 miles of that hike with canyon opening up

[MojaveGeek]

Nice pix! I love the Paria but you've seen more of it than I, that's the grand trip indeed.

[John Morrow]

Thanks MG. I threw up a bunch more of the petroglyph photos up on Flickr if you are interested.