Buckskin Gulch - Wire Pass to Paria River Photoset • Digital_Sherpa • 2009-10-28 • HikeArizona.COM

Buckskin Gulch - Wire Pass to Paria River, AZ

need az index	2009-10-28
	9 by Digital_Sherpa

Buckskin Gulch - Wire Pass to Paria River

Southwest, AZ

Buckskin Gulch - Wire Pass to Paria River

Southwest, AZ

Canyoneering	16.00 Miles

Canyoneering	16.00 Miles

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We started at Wire Pass, hiked through Buckskin, and then took a lefty at the confluence to hike the Paria River back to our camp at White House. The weather was perfect. The Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area is an overwhelming geological specimen and this hike certainly didn't disappoint. There was a fairly significant flood that ripped through in mid September so we anticipated there would be some obstacles. Within Buckskin we encountered a few waist level pools. And then there was the mud. A cold, evil, greasy, unforgiving clay based mud that I'm certain is the spawn of Satan. :guilty:

At times it reached our knees and seemed to get on everything. Again, it was expected so it wasn't much more than an irritant. Immediately after the confluence we had to wade through several long pools of ice cold water, a few of them being chest high. It's not a big deal, just be prepared.

Like other slot canyons I've visited, when there's clear skies and low angled light the canyon simply glows with colors that are off the chart. Seems almost unreal and around every corner (and there's lots of corners) you're faced with a new photo worthy scene. I was also impressed by the immense size of the walls and chambers. I'm sure I'll go back for more.

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