If you’re building your bucket list, make sure you add a backpacking trip to Paria Canyon to the mix. Though not as famous as some hiking destinations in the southwest, Paria Canyon is one of the most unique. Hikers will be surrounded by distinctive red sandstone, creating a visual experience that is singular in nature.

Designated as a wilderness in the 1980s, Paria spans thirty-eight miles of the Utah and Arizona desert. Over the length of the hike the canyon widens and narrows, closing in to as little as 25 feet in some locations. Even narrower is Buckskin Gulch, only 3 feet wide in some places. This fifteen mile slot canyon was formed by a tributary of the Paria River. Buckskin Gulch is the longest and deepest slot canyon in the United States, distinguishing it from other canyons. Instead of being expansive, slot canyons are narrowly carved into the earth. Buckskin Gulch can be explored in addition to the main part of Paria Canyon as part of your backpacking trip.

Hiking through Paria Canyon will take several days, depending upon the route you choose and whether or not you elect to detour and take any side hikes (like Wrather Arch or Buckskin Gulch). Depending on the pace you set and your hiking skill level, a trip through the canyon could take anywhere from four to seven days. The longer the time you set aside for your trip, the more leisure you will have to explore as you make your way through Paria.

In order to preserve the pristine nature of the wilderness, only twenty overnight permits per day are issued for Paria Canyon hikers. In addition, hikers must pack out their own trash and waste. These precautions serve all visitors to the canyon by maintaining the wilderness in its most natural state, free from too many hallmarks of human use.

The hike through Paria Canyon follows the route of the river along the canyon bed. This means that the hike will at times require you to navigate through the river for the majority of your hike. Generally, the water is no more than ankle deep and can be traversed by moderately skilled hikers. The amount of water in the canyon is variable, based on the amount of rainfall the canyon has received. The hike may also require climbing over boulders and traversing some steep sections in some areas.

The canyon is not entirely devoid of evidence of human presence, however. Throughout Paria Canyon, hikers will come across petroglyphs. These ancient drawings are testament to the indigenous peoples who once traveled the canyon, following a path similar to the one still used today. When hiking Paria Canyon you will be quite literally following in their ancient footsteps.

In addition to the native peoples who once lived in the canyon and the surrounding wilderness, Paria is also the home of many species of native desert wildlife. If luck is on your side, you may run across bald eagles, mule deer, and jackrabbits. Two species were also reintroduced to the canyon, the desert bighorn sheep in the 1980s and the endangered California condor in 1996.

Because Paria Canyon is such a unique destination, it definitely deserves a spot on your list of hikes to make. The fact that Paria is not as well known as some other southwestern landmarks, your hike will be an experience that not many others have had the opportunity to share. Though lengthier than your typical weekend backpacking trip, the distinctive features of Paria Canyon make it well worth the trek.