Utah offers miles on end of natural beauty and wilderness, and the Paria Canyon is no exception. Nestled in the heart of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, it’s one of the most spectacular canyon-backpacking destinations in the world. Red rock walls that soar for hundreds of feet above the canyon floor, rainbow-colored rock layers, and hanging gardens re-appear throughout the 38 miles of remote trails. This is your chance to make forays into the world of mountaineering in an all-women environment! Combine the best of both worlds by learning how to navigate ever-changing conditions as you explore the never-ending beauty of Utah. With each mile, you’ll feel more confident and get a more refined sense of self than you had before—slowly but steadily, step into the big mountain realm.
Experience the thrill of off-trail adventures on this 7-day all-female hike through the Paria Canyon, UT! The White House to Lee’s Ferry route that you’ll explore during the week covers 38 miles of canyon-floor ground with plentiful river crossings, diverse rock formations, and miles of mandatory wading. Let your seasoned, naturalist, female guide show you the basics of a backcountry adventure. Learn all about camping and navigating through the wilderness while you meet like-minded women, gain more self-confidence, and make lifelong memories!
Included:
Not included:
During your time on the trail, you can expect standard nutritious backpacking breakfasts, light lunch, and fortified “just add water” freeze-dried dinner. If you have any special dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and celiac, dairy-free), please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Hiking in Paria Canyon does not require a lot of skill but all participants must be in great physical condition and have some previous hiking experience. To enjoy this adventure, you should be comfortable hiking 12 trail miles in no more than 5 hours for two consecutive days on uneven terrain. Previous backpacking experience is helpful.
The Paria Canyon Backpack is not a mountaineering adventure, but it is an excellent introduction into remote backcountry travel, endurance, safety, and camping! There is minimal elevation change along the Paria River, but you’ll be wading through water for up to 70% of the journey and navigating varied off-trail terrain. The Paria typically flows all the way from White House to Lee’s Ferry in October, so our feet will be wet for most of the adventure. Summer temperatures can be intense, and you’ll need to carry adequate water along with all your gear and supplies.
To get the most enjoyment from this adventure, consider building up your stamina with regular cardio workouts (running, cycling, or swimming), core strengthening, and practice hikes with a weighted pack. Aim for three 30-minute cardio sessions weekly and one long practice hike carrying about 33 pounds. The better prepared you are physically, the more you’ll be able to focus on the canyon’s stunning beauty and unique experience.
Not sure where you stand? As a general guideline, to thrive on a trip like the Paria, you need to be able to…
The following items are provided by the guide:
This is a list of items you need to bring.
Footwear:
Clothing:
Equipment:
Optional:
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A note on pack weight: even with careful gear management, your pack will feel heavy, so follow the gear list closely and leave non-essentials behind. Be prepared to wear—and sleep in—the same clothing throughout the trip. If you’re new to multi-day backcountry travel, your guides will share tips for comfort and hygiene. With careful selection of gear, clothing, and snacks, total pack weight should stay under 35 lb, including ~5 lb for group gear.
This leaves roughly 13 lb for clothing, snacks (typically 3–5 lb), hygiene kit, electronics, and personal items—pack light!
Backpacking is a full-body, high-output activity that requires intentional fueling to stay strong and safe. On a typical day, you may hike 8–12 miles with a 30–35 lb pack over variable desert terrain, burning 3,000+ calories depending on size, metabolism, and pace.
What your guides provide:
Your guides’ meal system covers your core caloric needs with real, nutrient-dense, and trail-efficient foods. Group meals provide roughly 2,000 calories per day and are designed by experienced guides, featuring high-protein, high-fat ingredients that are easy to prepare and delicious. Dishes include warm granola or oatmeal with nuts and dried fruit, chicken pesto ramen, Mexican rice bowls, and for longer trips, PEAK Refuel freeze-dried meals.
They also provide simple, packable trail lunches daily—usually a wrap, a protein source (nut butter, hummus, or chicken/tuna pouches), and a cheese snack. These are intended as energy boosters alongside your personal snacks, not as full meals.
What you bring:
Guests should bring ½ to 1 lb of personal snacks per day (~1,000 calories), a crucial part of your fueling strategy.
As for dietary restrictions, your guides can accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan diets—please notify us at booking.
Yes. There is mandatory wading along much of the Paria. Spring and fall typically see the Paria flowing all the way from White House to Lee’s Ferry, and you’ll have wet feet for likely at least 70% of the trip.
Paria is quite susceptible to flash flooding. If there is a major storm in the forecast it may be unsafe to enter the Paria River drainage. Spring and fall typically bring good, steady weather – but if the weather doesn’t cooperate, you will pivot to an equally spectacular ‘backup’ route of similar length and difficulty.
Group sizes and prices:
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Private trips are possible to arrange! Even if the displayed dates don’t work for you, please contact us—we’ll work with you to arrange a trip for you and your group (even co-ed is possible in this case).
To get to Paria Canyon, most people fly into Salt Lake City (SLC), about a five-hour drive, Las Vegas (LAS) just over a two hours away. From there, you can rent a car or take a bus ride to Kanab, UT, where you will meet your guides.
The closest airport is St. George (SGU), a regional airport about 1.5 hours driving from Kanab. From there, it is possible to arrange a taxi transfer from St. George to Kanab for approx. $250 one way.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet. The guide will take you from Kanab to Paria Canyon and choose the appropriate terrain depending on conditions and the ability of the group.
Overnight permits for Paria Canyon backpacking adventures become available three months prior to departure and are competitive in nature. Your guides take care of all permitting requirements on your behalf and will reconfirm the details of your departure as soon as they have permits in hand. In the unlikely case that they are unsuccessful in obtaining permits for your scheduled dates and itinerary, they will work with you to establish an alternative and/or provide a refund for any fees already paid.
Rescue insurance is mandatory, travel and medical insurance is highly recommended. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Deposits
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
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