Women-only adventure tours
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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!
After you arrive at Kanab, meet your guides and the group you’ll share this experience with over a welcome dinner. Kanab is a true Western Classic. It will transport you back to a time when small-town charm and cattle ranching was a mainstream way of life. Relax and energize for tomorrow, and spend the night in the Canyons Collection.
After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, head to the trail with your guides. You’ll be transferred to Dreamland Safari Tours around 9am and shuttled to the White House Trailhead about an hour and a half away. Have lunch and enjoy the fresh air before embarking on your adventure! Follow the Paria River south and prepare for some wading. You’ll backpack for 5-7 miles before enjoying a delicious dinner and setting camp where you’ll spend the night.
Distance: 7 miles / 11 km
Make your way along a long and deep slot canyon named Buckskin Gulch before you reach the Paria Canyon — one of the best canyoneering locations in the world. Follow the steps of early Mormon pioneers and the seasonal migration patterns of the area’s native Paiute and Anasazi people and enjoy the historical sites and stunning geologic formations along the way.
Distance: 8-10 miles / 13-16 km
Spend your day adventuring and discovering the natural wonders and wildlife of Utah. Your seasoned and professional guide will show you the fundamentals of adventuring in the backcountry as you hike through the Judd Hollow valley packed with exciting historical sites and marvellous panoramas.
Distance: 8-10 miles / 13-16 km
Learn how to navigate ever-changing conditions and explore the neverending beauty of the Canyon! Wrather Arch is a natural cave-like arch made of dramatic, picturesque Navajo sandstone. It is the least accessible among the major natural bridges in the Southwestern US, making the approach even more exciting! Once you reach the arch, take some pictures and enjoy the rocky environment that only few will experience!
Distance: 8-10 miles / 13-16 km
Today is your last day of exploring the Canyon before returning to civilization. Hike the last section of the trail to a place where old meets new! Lee’s Ferry, a natural corridor between Utah and Arizona, took an important role in the exploration and settlement of northern Arizona. Rich history, beautiful nature, and clear, cold waters make this area great for a break and relaxation before reaching the endpoint. Once you return to Kanab, enjoy a celebratory dinner with your all-female group and spend the night at the Canyons Collection.
Distance: 8-12 miles / 13-19 km
After 6 days of getting to know your group and exploring the Canyon, share stories over breakfast and say your goodbyes! This adventure might be over, but the friendships and memories will last forever!
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 even 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.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s 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 good 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.
You will receive a detailed packing list in your expedition handbook after reserving your spot. The guide will provide the team cooking and emergency gear for this adventure, while you are responsible for your personal backpacking gear including the following items:
Bring a regular, comfortable pair of hiking boots or trail shoes; make sure they are synthetic – NOT leather, and NOT GoreTex – which will allow you to wear them dry easily when you are out of the water for longer stretches. Water shoes don’t offer enough structural support for a 45 miles backpacking trip, and you’ll be in and out of water so much that it is impossible to switch back and forth between water shoes and regular shoes for each crossing. If your boots and socks fit right, and you employ standard blister prevention strategies, whether your shoes are wet or not should have minimal impact on the development of blisters.
Neoprene socks won’t keep your feet dry, but they will keep your feet warmer if you are hiking the Paria during cold weather – November through February, or through a surprise cold spell in March/October. The downside of neoprene socks is that you’ll most likely have to buy a new pair of shoes a size larger than what you typically wear and neoprene socks can be somewhat uncomfortable to wear for longer periods of time.
Selected gear items such as sleeping bags, pads, tents and trekking poles are available to rent directly from the guide. A broad selection of rental gear is also available through national brands such Kit Lender. If you would like assistance with gear rentals or purchase recommendations, please contact us.
It all depends on how carefully you skinny down your gear! A 35lbs backpack is a realistic expectation. In addition to personal gear, you will be responsible for a ~5lbs allocation of team gear.
Due to strict group size limitations, hiring a porter would be forbiddingly expensive in the realm of 1.5x your expedition fee. Therefore, no porter services are offered on this route.
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.
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Though unlikely, an expedition may be canceled for any reason prior to departure. In that event, the deposit and expedition fees paid by the participants will be refunded. In the event of cancellation of a program and upon refund to participants of all program fee payments, the expedition organizer shall be released from any further liability to participants, including but not limited to liability for additional costs participants may have incurred, pre- departure expenses, non-refundable advance purchase air tickets, visa fees, equipment purchases and medical expenses.
Participants agree that beginning on the first date of the program itinerary, there will be no refunds of program fees for any reason whatsoever. Expedition participants agree the cost of any search and rescue undertaken on their behalf will be their financial responsibility. Including costs incurred by the expedition leader, other expeditions, government, and/or other entities.
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.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
