Paria River Canyon

Paria Canyon is a beautiful and unique destination known for its towering walls streaked with desert varnish, huge red rock amphitheaters, sandstone arches, wooded terraces, and hanging gardens. The 3,000-foot escarpment known as the Vermilion Cliffs dominates the remainder of the wilderness with its thick Navajo sandstone face, steep, boulder-strewn slopes, rugged arroyos, and stark overall appearance. The canyon offers some of the best slot canyon hiking opportunities on the Colorado Plateau, as well as opportunities for backpacking, photography, and solitude. Visitors can explore the scenic Coyote Buttes area, which features domes, aprons, fins, corridors, and small fragile rock sculptures carved in colorful swirling cross-bedded sandstone. The variety of colors and textures in the rock formations within the wilderness constantly change with variations in light and weather, creating a feeling of wonder and amazement. The Paria River is subject to periodic and seasonal flooding, and visitors should be aware of the conditions before entering the canyon