THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Explore 3 miles of Wire Pass and 2–3 miles of Buckskin Gulch on a private guided hike. This 7–8 hour trip covers tight sandstone narrows, cooler canyon air, and requires a BLM permit (handled by the operator).
Explore 3 miles of Wire Pass and 2–3 miles of Buckskin Gulch on a private guided hike. This 7–8 hour trip covers tight sandstone narrows, cooler canyon air, and requires a BLM permit (handled by the operator).
A single-file ribbon of sandstone narrows until the sky becomes a skinny strip overhead and the canyon seems to breathe around you. On this guided walk into Wire Pass and the first miles of Buckskin Gulch, the walls fold and swell in sweeping curves, light sliding down alcoves and revealing bands of rust, cream, and mahogany. Temperatures inside the slot often drop noticeably from the desert sun; the canyon’s shade and occasional puddles demand deliberate footing and a steady pace.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Coral Cliffs Tours of Kanab · Kanab, Utah
A single-file ribbon of sandstone narrows until the sky becomes a skinny strip overhead and the canyon seems to breathe around you. On this guided walk into Wire Pass and the first miles of Buckskin Gulch, the walls fold and swell in sweeping curves, light sliding down alcoves and revealing bands of rust, cream, and mahogany. Temperatures inside the slot often drop noticeably from the desert sun; the canyon’s shade and occasional puddles demand deliberate footing and a steady pace.
Geology here reads like a slow-motion painting: Navajo Sandstone sculpted by flash floods over millions of years into sinuous, vertical corridors. The area sits along the Paria River watershed on the Colorado Plateau, land with Navajo and Paiute histories and a long human relationship to these narrow passages. Visitors should respect fragile cryptobiotic soils on the mesa above and leave no trace in the narrows below.
Practicalities matter: the tour typically covers about 5–6 miles round trip (roughly 3 miles to Wire Pass then 2–3 miles of Buckskin), with minimal elevation gain but tight, uneven terrain and occasional waist-deep puddles depending on season. A Bureau of Land Management permit is required for Wire Pass; the provider secures it in advance. Expect 7–8 hours total including drive time, guided instruction, snacks and water support. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with good traction, bring 2–3 liters of water, sun protection for the approach, and a dry bag for electronics. Timing your visit for morning or late afternoon reduces heat exposure and gives the best low-angle light for photos. With a trained guide, the canyon’s curves become both safe passage and an immersive lesson in the slow art of landscape-making.
challenging.
7–8 hours.
Good cardiovascular fitness and agility for uneven terrain and some wading; participants should be comfortable walking multiple miles with a daypack.
The guided outing runs about 7–8 hours total including drive time; hiking distance in-canyon is roughly 5–6 miles round trip depending on how far you go into Buckskin Gulch.
Yes—Wire Pass requires a BLM permit; the tour operator secures this permit and includes the cost in the booking.
Elevation gain is minimal, but the route involves narrow sections, uneven footing, and occasional wading—no technical climbing, but good balance and mobility are needed.
Wear closed-toe, water-friendly hiking shoes, layered clothing, sun protection, and bring 2–3 liters of water, snacks, and a dry bag for electronics.
Buckskin Gulch cuts through Navajo Sandstone along routes traditional to regional Indigenous groups; the Paria area later became a route for settlers and explorers heading between the Colorado Plateau and the Grand Canyon region.
Flash floods and human traffic can damage slot canyon features and cryptobiotic soils; stay on durable ground, pack out waste, and avoid trampling vegetation above the canyon.
Coral Cliffs Tours of Kanab operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A single-file ribbon of sandstone narrows until the sky becomes a skinny strip overhead and the canyon seems to breathe around you. On this guided walk into Wire Pass and the first miles of Buckskin Gulch, the walls fold and swell in sweeping curves, light sliding down alcoves and revealing bands of rust, cream, and mahogany. Temperatures inside the slot often drop noticeably from the desert sun; the canyon’s shade and occasional puddles demand deliberate footing and a steady pace.
A single-file ribbon of sandstone narrows until the sky becomes a skinny strip overhead and the canyon seems to breathe around you. On this guided walk into Wire Pass and the first miles of Buckskin Gulch, the walls fold and swell in sweeping curves, light sliding down alcoves and revealing bands of rust, cream, and mahogany. Temperatures inside the slot often drop noticeably from the desert sun; the canyon’s shade and occasional puddles demand deliberate footing and a steady pace.
Geology here reads like a slow-motion painting: Navajo Sandstone sculpted by flash floods over millions of years into sinuous, vertical corridors. The area sits along the Paria River watershed on the Colorado Plateau, land with Navajo and Paiute histories and a long human relationship to these narrow passages. Visitors should respect fragile cryptobiotic soils on the mesa above and leave no trace in the narrows below.
Practicalities matter: the tour typically covers about 5–6 miles round trip (roughly 3 miles to Wire Pass then 2–3 miles of Buckskin), with minimal elevation gain but tight, uneven terrain and occasional waist-deep puddles depending on season. A Bureau of Land Management permit is required for Wire Pass; the provider secures it in advance. Expect 7–8 hours total including drive time, guided instruction, snacks and water support. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with good traction, bring 2–3 liters of water, sun protection for the approach, and a dry bag for electronics. Timing your visit for morning or late afternoon reduces heat exposure and gives the best low-angle light for photos. With a trained guide, the canyon’s curves become both safe passage and an immersive lesson in the slow art of landscape-making.