Buckskin Gulch in Utah is one of the world’s longest slot canyon hiking trails. It’s a hidden gem of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. And for sure, is one of the most exciting places worth visiting in Utah, but also dangerous if you are not prepared. The main reason for this is the flood danger. And the threat is real – while in the slot canyon, there are limited escape options. You can do part of the Buckskin Gulch as a Day Hike from Kanab or Page or as a multi-day hike. Check our tips, hike, and trailhead description, and photos from Buckskin Gulch Day Hike. We also tell you how to get a permit for Buckskin Gulch and what to expect.

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Buckskin Gulch Hike – Our Experiences

In this article, we share our tips and photos from the Buckskin Gulch hike. We focus on a one-day hike. How to get a permit to Buckskin Gulch? And how to get to the trailhead? How to prepare for it? As it’s a log slot canyon (one of the longest in the world), you can also do it as a backpacking adventure. We will also give you some tips about it. Whatever option you decide to choose, you have to be prepared for this hike and have a permit. We will give you tips on how and when you must purchase it.

My partner Chris and I made this hike during one of our Utah adventures. We will share with you our firsthand experience, insights, tips, and photos, which we took during this hike.

Buckskin Gulch Slot Canyon is so magnificent that you can’t compare it to anything else.

Even if you know other Southern Utah’s slot canyons, like Upper Antelope Canyon, Lower Antelope Canyon, Antelope Canyon X, Zebra Slot Canyon near Escalante, Peekaboo Slot Canyon, or Willis Creek Slot Canyon, the Buckskin Gulch is still incredible, and its charm is unimaginable.

This is why many people are trying to visit it, fighting for permits. And it’s not easy to get one. But there is an easier day hike option for those who still want to touch it. Easier from a permit perspective, but you still have to prepare yourself similarly to multi-day hikers.

Make sure to add this hike to your bucket list while visiting Utah. It’s one of the best things to do while visiting Kanab.

What is Buckskin Gulch?

Buckskin Gulch (also known as Buckskin Creek, Buckskin Wash, and Kaibab Gulch) is one of the longest continuous slot canyons in the world. Buckskin Gulch runs through about 16 miles of unique formations and rolling sandstone walls in the northern part of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness.

It’s located in southern Kane County, Utah, near the Arizona border, between Kanab and Page. It is one of the major tributaries of the Paria River, itself a minor tributary of the Colorado River.

We made this hike while staying in Kanab, where we tried to win the lottery to the Wave formation. We didn’t win the lottery then (we did win another time), but we had plenty of time to explore the Kanab area. And one of the best things to do in Kanab is hike Buckskin Gulch.

How long is Buckskin Gulch?

At over 16 miles (26 km) long, Buckskin Gulch is the longest and deepest slot canyon in the southwestern United States. More than that, it may also be the longest in the world.

The canyon is often visited in conjunction with the longer Paria Canyon, 20 miles (32 km) away. Wire Pass, a short tributary of Buckskin Canyon, is a popular day hike alternative that takes hikers through the narrow, winding canyons that are the hallmark of slot canyons.

Popularity

Buckskin Gulch slot Canyon is less popular among tourists than the famous and spectacular Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon, but it is still worth visiting. This hike can be called an adventure because you can go there on your own.

You can hike for a day or longer. You must have a guided tour of Antelope Canyon, and it’s a 1,0 to 1,5-hour trip. It’s not possible to visit Antelope Canyon on your own. You must visit with a licensed guide. To Antelope Canyon, you must pay for a trip between $70-130 (depending on the type of trip). Buckskin Gulch is almost free (only a few $ per person).

When to go to Buckskin Gulch?

Permit to Buckskin Gulch

When selecting your visit date, consider three aspects. The permit is required if you plan a multi-day hike with an overnight stay. A day hike is easier because you only rely on the weather forecast and your free time availability.

A permit is also needed for a day hike, but it’s much easier to get it. Below, we provide details about permits for this canyon. This post focuses only on day hikes in Buckskin Gulch, so the weather forecast is the most important factor in planning your trip.

The best Season for Buckskin Gulch Hike

The best time to plan your trip to Buckskin Gulch slot Canyon is between April and June and between September and November. There’s the lowest flood threat in those periods. However, please always remember to check the Buckskin Gulch weather forecast. If there are any rainfall forecasts, don’t go on the trail. It’s always dangerous in slot canyons, which fill up quickly with water.

If you plan a Summer trip, check weather alerts and flood warnings. Only go when it’s dry. It’s a good idea to ask at the Paria Station even a day before your planned hike. We recommend staying off the trail if there is at least a very low probability of rain and even as far as Bryce Canyon.

Ensuring the mud conditions in the slot canyon is also a good idea. Sometimes, after the rain, you can encounter muddy pools that may require wading or even using the appropriate gear. They are sometimes even waist-deep.

Another question is the time of the day. Start as early as possible because you don’t want to hike in darkness and would like to go as far as possible during the day.

Below, we have prepared an average temperature chart for Buckskin Gulch so that you can adequately prepare.

Paria Contact Station

It is a good idea to call the Paria Contact Station at (435) 644 1200 before your trip and ask about current conditions (mud and flood/rain threat). Always check the weather before your hike to Buckskin Gulch.

Buckskin Gulch Permits

Paria Canyon Buckskin Gulch Overnight Permits

If you plan to stay overnight in Buckskin Gulch (Paria Canyon), you must reserve a permit in advance. The canyon’s overnight use limit is 20 people per day. For more information about overnight permits, please go to the BLM webpage, which provides all the required information.

Permits are available only through an online lottery system and four months in advance. There is no other option.

Buckskin Gulch Day Use Permit

We did the Buckskin Gulch day hike. You also need a permit, but it’s much easier to get. Paria Canyon day-use permits are available via the website. There are no visitor use limits for day use in Paria Canyon.

The fee is $6 per person per day for day hiking and $6 per person per day for overnight trips. If you take your dog, the price is $6 per dog per day for day hiking and $6 per dog per day for overnight trips. There is no fee for children 12 years and younger. All permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

If you plan Buckskin Gulch Day Hike, don’t forget your permit for a hike. In this article, we will focus on day hikes.

Self-pay stations for Buckskin Gulch

It used to be possible to get a permit for day hiking in Buckskin Gulch at the self-pay stations at each trailhead. You could enter the slot canyon permit area using one of four trailheads (Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, Whitehouse, or Lee’s Ferry).

While you reached the trailhead, you could follow the procedure of taking an envelope from the self-pay station, filling in all details, paying, tearing off the flap and placing it in a visible location on the dashboard of your vehicle, and sealing the envelope with the fee and dropping it in the fee box.

If you are a day hiker, the trailhead will likely be Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, or Whitehouse.

How to get to Buckskin Gulch Hike?

There are four trailheads to Buckskin Gulch Hike. Below we will describe each of them in detail:

Buckskin Gulch Trailhead

If you are driving from Kanab, head east on US89 for 38 miles (from Page, AZ it will be 35.5 miles). Turn right onto gravel House Rock Valley Road and continue for 4.5 miles.

Wirepass Trailhead

If you are driving from Kanab, head east on US89 for 38 miles (from Page, AZ it will be 35.5 miles). Turn right onto gravel House Rock Valley Road and continue for 8.4 miles. You will park your car on your right and the Wire Pass Trailhead will be on your left across the road.

Whitehouse Trailhead

From Kanab, head east on US89 for 43 miles (till Paria Contact Station). From Page, AZ, it is 30 miles. Turn right onto White House Trailhead Road. After driving 2 miles on this road, you will notice the White House Trailhead and Campground.

Lee’s Ferry Trailhead

From Kanab, head south on US89A for 78 miles. In Marble Canyon, turn right onto Lee’s Ferry Road and follow this for 4.4 miles to the trailhead. You will not cross the Colorado River. From Page, head south on US89; in Bitter Springs, turn right onto US89A. Follow the same Lee’s Ferry Road from Marble Canyon to the trailhead.

TRIP TIP: Rest well before this hike. The best room rates are in Kanab, one of our favorite towns in Utah. The best offers are shown below on the map. Kanab is also the closest town to the trailhead.

Buckskin Gulch Shuttle

In case you would like to do a one-way hike instead of out-and-back, there is an attractive option to book a shuttle. It’s not cheap, but it might be your only option sometimes. Please book through the webpage http://grandstaircasediscoverytours.com/ or call the Paria Contact Station. 

How to prepare for the Buckskin Gulch Day Hike?

Water

Buckskin Gulch Day Hike requires preparation. Whether you go for a day or a multi-day hike, it doesn’t matter. In Buckskin Gulch, the crucial element is water. So, pack a water reservoir. During summer, you must carry at least 1-1.5 gallons (4-6l) of water per person for a day.

On the warmer day, you will be likely to drink more. If you plan to fill water in Big Springs or Paria Canyon, you should definitely filter it.

Maps and Navigation

Although there is no designated trail in Buckskin Gulch Canyon, and you will not lose yourself, having some offline maps is a good idea to know how far you are from the entrance’s confluence. It will help you plan your return during daylight hours.

The good idea is to download offline maps on the  Alltrails application. In some broader parts of the canyon, you will have a chance to catch some GPS signals.

If you feel more comfortable with paper maps, we can recommend Paria Canyon, Kanab [Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map (859)). We use it, and it’s detailed. There is often no cell coverage, so take a map.

Leave Nothing but Footprints

In Paria Canyon, thinking about how you will carry out your waste is necessary. If you are doing a multi-day hike, you will get proper bags together with your permit. If you are doing a day hike, please take care of it yourself. The good idea is to use Restop 2—Solid and Liquid Waste Bag.

Backpacking Gear for Buckskin Gulch Day Hike

This hike is not very different from other hikes in the area. And we have already prepared a universal list of gear you should always have with you on a day hike. In such a case, you will not need any rope in Buckskin Gulch.

Whether the trail is short or long, easy or demanding, you must always be prepared for your hike. Accidents happen, or the weather can change dramatically in a few minutes. That’s why we pack carefully, even for shorts and leisurely walks.

Below is a list of our essentials, the most necessary things you must have on the trail. So we pack the essentials even on day hikes. We do not use most of them but take them just in case of an emergency. If you are hiking responsibly and carefully, you should have them. They might save your life or someone else life. If something happens on the trail, these items could be essential to your survival.

• Water is most important even during short hikes, so bring a sufficient amount and extra water in an emergency. Always carry a water treatment method, e.g., tablets. Check before the hike if there are any water sources on the trail. The best idea is to take a light water reservoir.
• Take a salty snack, such as high-energy protein bars and beef jerky, or other high-calorie meals, such as nuts and sandwiches. Always take extra portions.
• Always take a trail map. You can use an App during your hike, but remember that there is often no coverage on the trails, so you should also have printed maps.
• First aid kit with blister care and duct tape. It will help you handle unexpected moments (includes CPR Mask, Bandaids, Blanket, Tourniquet and more)
• Headlap or flashlight with spare batteries. Yes, we take it with us even if the hike lasts only a few hours during the day. We lost during the day a long time ago, and then we had to come back through the wilderness at night. You never know what will happen, so we always have a headlamp with us.
• Emergency sleeping bag, serves as your emergency blanket, survival shelter, and emergency bivy sack.
• Fire Starter, because in an emergency, you need reliable supplies for starting and maintaining a fire.
• Emergency Whistles are also a must-have. The battery in the cell phone will run down, or there will be no coverage on the trail, and this is the only way you can call for help.
• Sun protection. Always pack with you and wear sunglasses, a sun protection hat, and sunscreen.
• Always carry an emergency shelter to protect yourself from wind and rain in case you become stranded or injured on the trail.
• Extra Clothes. Even for short hikes, we dress in layers. We always have high trekking shoes with reliable traction and use trekking poles, too.
• Leave no trace but footprints—follow this rule and use waste bags. You can buy some Restop here.

Buckskin Gulch Day Hike – Trailhead

The best option for a Buckskin Gulch Day Hike is to start at the Wire Pass trailhead or Buckskin Gulch Trailhead. We prefer starting at the Wire Pass because the part from Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch is not very interesting. It’s better to cut those 3 miles and make more of the main canyon.

Wire Pass Trailhead shares the parking lot with Coyote Buttes North/The Wave trailhead, and actually part of the trail goes the same Wire Pass wash. After lucky people that won the Wave lottery turn right, you have to go further straight forward, but be careful.

The wash actually transforms into the slot joining the Buckskin Gulch, but it’s a trap. You will come to the point where there is a big stone and high jump down. You will not be able to do it without a rope. And that’s ok because it’s not the proper trail. If you are stuck here, turn back and find the unmarked trail on your left just before the slot opening. You must climb a little bit, and you will find the easy workaround leading you to the main part of the slot directly connecting with Buckskin Gulch.

Confluence

After about 1.7 miles from the parking lot, you should reach the confluence leading to the left and right. On the left, there’s a way to the Buckskin Gulch and Whitehouse trailheads, and on the right, there is a way to Lee’s Ferry leading through the whole Buckskin Gulch slot canyon.

Now you have to decide if you want to end at the Buckskin Gulch Trailhead, or maybe you are well prepared and have enough time to reach Whitehouse? But the most often chosen option is to go to Buckskin as far as possible and turn back when the time is right. Don’t risk your way back in the darkness. It might be a risky choice.

Let’s focus on the best part of the hike – the one leading to Lee’s Ferry. Of course, to get the whole trail, you need like 3-5 days. In this post, we focus only on day hikes. And during the day you can do like 4-5 miles one way – it will depend on the canyon floor, and it changes after each flood.

Generally, it should be flat. Sometimes you will be stepping on the deep sand like on the beach. Otherwise, you will cross large fields of rocks. And be careful, and don’t break your ankle on this unstable surface.

If the year is dry, you can encounter some water pools that will require you to wade, sometimes waist-deep. If you are doing a day hike, you will probably not get as far as Buckskin Gulch Cesspool, about 7.5 miles from Wire Pass trailhead. It seems to be the worst pool on the whole hike.

What are other exciting hiking trails in the Buckskin Gulch area?

You can try to win a permit to the Wave or you can try to get a permit to Coyote Buttes South Hike, which is an excellent alternative to the Wave. It is less famous, less touristic, but stunning. So it’s worth trying to get a permit.

Without a permit, you can visit Paria Rimrocks Toadstool Hoodoos, or take the Nautilus Hike. In our opinion is a fantastic formation.

If you are in Kanab, take the Moqui Caverns hike. It’s short and easy. Check also what other exciting things to do in Kanab, as you have plenty of outdoor opportunities in this area. Amazin Adventure is also a local tour from Kanab to the spectacular Great Chamber formation at Cutler Point.

From the Buckskin Gulch area, it’s easy to get to the Page and take Horseshoe Bend Hike, which is short and easy.

8 Slot Canyons Photography Hints for a Buckskin Gulch Day Hike

In this part of the article, we selected a couple of hints for slot canyon photography – it is useful not only for Buckskin Gulch but also for other similar canyons.

Carry Tripod

If you want to take great pictures in the Buckskin Gulch slot canyon, you must carry the tripod with you. It’s very dark inside. The good idea is to have a comfortable and precise ball head.

Choose a Perfect Day

The best light is on a sunny day (no clouds in the sky) and in the middle of the day when walls glow in the sun.

Find Great Composition

Try to find narrow, curvy slots for better composition. You can find beautiful horizontal lines in the canyons that your spectator can follow. Likewise, try to find also light composition.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

It would be best to look for places without direct bright fields of light. The contrast will be too high for a good picture (sensors in the camera don’t cover such a wide dynamic range).

Use Wide Lens

Use your wide lens (line Canon 16-35 or Nikon 14-24, it doesn’t have to be fast lens – you should take photos with f8 or f11 for better depth of field).

Put People in the Frame

If you have a chance, sometimes it’s good to put people in the frame and show how big canyon walls are. It makes the wow effect.

Use HDR

If the dynamic range is too low, you can try HDR mode on your camera and take at least 3 frames with different settings, then compose it in the post-process. It sometimes helps if the contrast is not too big.

Use sand, water, or other elements to make a photo more dynamic

Photographing canyon walls might be boring after a while. So you can try to find some water and move it for long exposure photography—the same thing you can do with sand slowly flowing from the rock. Try to add some leaves or branches if they fit the frame. Be creative.