Hiking the Buckskin Gulch in Utah
If you are planning on coming to Southern Utah for a little fun and adventure, consider hiking The Buckskin Gulch. The Buckskin Gulch is a deep, narrow slot canyon that twists and turns for miles. The walls of the Buckskin vary from, fiery red to a blazing orange and can change with the slow moving sun as it hits different parts of the canyon walls. As the walls soar upwards to the sliver of blue sky above, they are like a twisting and turning ocean of rock frozen in time. The floor of the canyon varies from a sandy riverbed, to a rocky riverbed, depending on which part of the canyon you are in.
The hiking conditions in this beautiful, unique canyon can vary and one must be prepared. I last hiked this canyon with my wife and 16 year old daughter. It was the last week in June and the temperature outside was a balmy 95 degrees. 95 degrees in the desert sun sounds like a very hot and miserable time to go hiking but keep in mind, when you are standing at the bottom of the deep canyons, it can be quite cool even with temperatures in the upper 90’s or low 100’s.
Another thing to consider when hiking the Gulch is the pools of stagnant water. The water levels in these pools are unpredictable and can vary with the years weather conditions. This time when I hiked the Buckskin Gulch I was surprised to find no pools of water in the canyon, only a few spots of gooey mud. I had hiked the Buckskin a few years earlier and I found myself wading through chest high water. If you do encounter water in the canyon, be prepared because it is cold. I remember coming upon the first pool of water and putting my leg in the water up to my knee. The water was bone chilling cold. It actually hurt for a few seconds. There were several pools that were waist deep and a few that were chest deep. When you come out of the water, chances are you will be in shade and it will be cool so prepare accordingly.
Another thing to consider when hiking the buckskin is debris that has fallen into the narrow canyon and blocked the easy walking path. Be prepared to climb up and over some of these areas and depending on the water situation, you may need to navigate around, over or through these obstacles in cold water.
Getting to the Buckskin Gulch is pretty easy. If you go east from Kanab on highway 89 for about 36 miles, you will see a dirt road to you right, just before you cross a small bridge. The road is called House Rock Valley Rd. This is a dirt road but it is fairly well maintained. Continue on this road for approximately 8 miles and it will take you to the Wire Pass Trail Head. This route is an easy 1.5 mile walk down into the slot canyon.
With a little planning this can be a fun and easy hike with numerous photo opportunities. This is one of the longest slot canyons around and is an excellent hiking opportunity. For more information you can stop by the Paria Contact Station about 5 miles past the House Rock Valley Rd. turnoff.
Angels Landing, Zion Park
Southern Utah's Buckskin Gulch
The hiking conditions in this beautiful, unique canyon can vary and one must be prepared. I last hiked this canyon with my wife and 16 year old daughter. It was the last week in June and the temperature outside was a balmy 95 degrees. 95 degrees in the desert sun sounds like a very hot and miserable time to go hiking but keep in mind, when you are standing at the bottom of the deep canyons, it can be quite cool even with temperatures in the upper 90’s or low 100’s.
Another thing to consider when hiking the Gulch is the pools of stagnant water. The water levels in these pools are unpredictable and can vary with the years weather conditions. This time when I hiked the Buckskin Gulch I was surprised to find no pools of water in the canyon, only a few spots of gooey mud. I had hiked the Buckskin a few years earlier and I found myself wading through chest high water. If you do encounter water in the canyon, be prepared because it is cold. I remember coming upon the first pool of water and putting my leg in the water up to my knee. The water was bone chilling cold. It actually hurt for a few seconds. There were several pools that were waist deep and a few that were chest deep. When you come out of the water, chances are you will be in shade and it will be cool so prepare accordingly.
Another thing to consider when hiking the buckskin is debris that has fallen into the narrow canyon and blocked the easy walking path. Be prepared to climb up and over some of these areas and depending on the water situation, you may need to navigate around, over or through these obstacles in cold water.
Getting to the Buckskin Gulch is pretty easy. If you go east from Kanab on highway 89 for about 36 miles, you will see a dirt road to you right, just before you cross a small bridge. The road is called House Rock Valley Rd. This is a dirt road but it is fairly well maintained. Continue on this road for approximately 8 miles and it will take you to the Wire Pass Trail Head. This route is an easy 1.5 mile walk down into the slot canyon.
With a little planning this can be a fun and easy hike with numerous photo opportunities. This is one of the longest slot canyons around and is an excellent hiking opportunity. For more information you can stop by the Paria Contact Station about 5 miles past the House Rock Valley Rd. turnoff.
Angels Landing, Zion Park
Southern Utah's Buckskin Gulch
