Hiking Buckskin Gulch, Southwestern Utah, U.S.A.
The Longest, Deepest Slot Canyon in the Southwestern United States.
If you’ve seen The Wave, or you just haven’t quite managed to get one of the twenty coveted back country permits that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management gives out daily, then don’t despair. The Coyote Buttes area is filled with interesting formations that are worth seeing. The most dramatic of these is Buckskin Gulch.
Buckskin Gulch is a tributary of the Paria River, which is itself a tributary of the Colorado River. The gulch contains over 20 miles of slot canyon through which there is no exit route. The relative ease of access through which the canyon may be reached and certain parts may be navigated make it a good candidate for beginning canyon hikers. It is cautiously estimated that Buckskin Gulch may be the longest slot canyon in the world.
For a shorter day-hike, some hikers prefer to take the Wire Pass trailhead. This trail is also the jumping-off point for The Wave, and contains several corkscrew slot canyons of its own. Just inside a point called the confluence, where the Wire Pass tributary joins Buckskin Gulch, can see Native American petroglyphs.
Buckskin Gulch can be challenging to the novice hiker. A rope may be required to climb over pour-offs. There are also cold, stagnant pools of water that require the hikers to wade if they do not wish to turn back.
Temperatures in Buckskin Gulch are twenty degrees (F) cooler than the surrounding desert. Campfires are prohibited, so travelers may have to rely on extra layers of clothing for warmth.
The Dangers of Hiking Buckskin Gulch
Before hiking Buckskin Gulch, travelers should check in with the Bureau of Land Management’s nearby station for weather conditions. Flash floods from storms more than 50 miles away can prove deadly in Buckskin Gulch. The water can flood the narrow pass suddenly, leaving hikers with no place to seek refuge. It is inadvisable to hike in Buckskin Gulch in late-summer, when the rainy season is in full swing.
Travelers should also be wary of quicksand, which is present in some areas of Buckskin Gulch.
Permits Required for Hiking Buckskin Gulch
Permits are required for both day use and overnight hiking through Buckskin Gulch. Pets are allowed, but must be tightly controlled at all times. The fee is approximately $5.00 per person or pet, or $10.00 for overnight use. Overnight use permits are limited to 20 visitors, and must be booked in advance through the Bureau of Land management. Although the entire length of Buckskin Gulch may be hiked in one day, it makes for a difficult hike. Hikers may enjoy themselves more if they make Buckskin Gulch an overnight hike.
Things to know Before Hiking Buckskin Gulch
- Travelers should also bring at least 30 feet of rope. At some points there are drop-offs of 15 feet.
- All trash and human or animal waste must be packed out to preserve the pristine condition of the canyon.
- The BLM maintains two campgrounds within the region. Additionally, there is a private guest hostel that caters to international tour groups and services in Page Arizona.
A backpacker observes a tree trunk high overhead.
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