Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon
Robert and Courtney Schafer
June 2008
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On a weekend in early June, we did a 2-day backpacking trip through Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon with our friends Catherine, Khurrum, Eric, and Jason. Buckskin is said to be the world's longest slot canyon - 12 miles of slot! We started at the Wire Pass trailhead and entered Buckskin via Wire Pass Canyon, which was a short but very nice little slot. We continued down Buckskin and camped just before the confluence with the Paria, on a high bench with lovely views. Although Buckskin was bone dry for most of its length, there was enough water from the seeps near the confluence for us to filter water that evening. The next day, we continued to Paria Canyon, dropping our packs and exploring downstream for a while before we headed upstream and out to the White House trailhead. We had excellent weather and it was a really wonderful trip.

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Ready to go at the Wire Pass trailhead Wire Canyon starts as a sandy wash Robert at the start of the slot Robert and the Wire Canyon slot Khurrum and Catherine enjoy the slot
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Narrow slot Courtney and Robert in the canyon Catherine takes a photo Patterned rock wall Looking upward in Buckskin
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Sculpted rock Khurrum, Catherine, and a jammed log Canyon light In a broader section of the slot Jason playing on the rock
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Beautiful canyon walls Catherine having a good time Courtney in the canyon Towering canyon wall Jason in the slot
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Water sculpted stone Desert colors Jason and Catherine in Buckskin Heading toward a sharp left turn Beautiful slot
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Catherine in the slot Slot walking Robert having a good time Light in the slot Deep in Buckskin Gulch
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Now that's a crack climb! Eric in the slot Walls of Buckskin Lichen on the wall Looking straight up
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This never gets old Turn the corner into light Really high log Canyon light Tenacious little tree
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Looking down the canyon Robert in light Robert in the slot Robert and Khurrum in a cathedral of stone Walking through wonderland
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Robert in a subway portion Robert in the slot We took a lot of pictures Khurrum in the slot Trees in the canyon
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Light awaits around the curve Single file through the canyon The slot narrows again Robert and Jason Catherine heading down canyon
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Amazing slot! Sun in the slot Dwarfed by the scale Catherine and Jason Below the seeps
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Jason squeezes through a side slot View back upcanyon from our campsite Jason builds a cairn Camp sweet camp We stuffed Khurrum in a hole
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Looking downcanyon from our campsite High canyon wall over our camp Robert and Courtney Heading to the Paria Near the Buckskin/Paria confluence
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Sheer walls of Paria Canyon Catherine checks out a shallow pool Exploring downstream in Paria Canyon Heading towards the sun Mouse condos
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The Paria is more open than Buckskin Rock keyhole Wandering down the Paria Heading upstream Towering rock walls
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Back in shadow Undercut rock wall Canyon geometry No more water The canyon twists and turns
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Salt seeps high on the canyon wall Streaks of color The canyon walls get lower No more shade! The canyon is still beautiful
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Robert in the hobbit holes It's the perfect size for Courtney All done!