Moquistang; one little mustang who does it all.

Copper Canyon is a short slot canyon located in Southern Utah. This 2.6 mile route can be ridden from the White House Trailhead & Campground within the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness. This ride is a great add on to Paria River Trail, and has much easier access compared to Buckskin Gulch for those wanting to experience a slot without the long approach or rock and mud hazards that Buckskin is known for. Look out for the super clear petroglyphs too!

CAUTION: FLASH FLOODS ARE A FATAL HAZARD IN THE CANYONS. CHECK THE SURROUNDING WEATHER, BE AWARE AND DO NOT RISK IT IF THERE IS A WEATHER SYSTEM.

Trail Stats:

• 2.6 miles out and back.
• Elevation Gain: 143 feet
• Elevation Loss: 135 feet
• Max Elevation: 4,448 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
  ↗ What does this mean?
• Footing: Sand, few rocks, slickrock, mud around river crossing.
• Hoof Protection: Barefoot OK if not sensitive.

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Facilities: Paria River Ranch is located only 5 minutes from the turnoff from Highway 89. Offers dry camping, electric hookups, cabins, corrals, water, shower house and a store. Highly recommended if you’re staying in the area.

Water Sources: Paria River.

Trail Info: From the parking area ride into the open area to get around the section of road with a cattle gate. Connect back to the road and ride until you come to the bridge that goes over the wash. Ride down into the wash and follow it for approximently 0.1 miles until you cross the Paria River. Pick up the faint trail on the other side and ride it towards the hidden canyon on your left. Once you enter the canyon follow it until it becomes too narrow to continue on. Return the way you came.

Trail Challenges: Narrow turn in the slot- watch your knees, loose sand, sun exposure, rattlesnakes, and possible quicksand around the Paria River. Check the recently reported trail conditions on the whiteboard by the store at Paria River Ranch.

Permits: $6 + tax per person/dog. Payable with Tap to Pay at trailhead, QR code scan at trailhead or prepay on recreation.gov

Backcountry Sites: Not suitable for equestrian overnight use.

Cell Service: Verizon – okay service at trailhead but unreliable in canyon.

Fuel: Big Water Shortstop – 415 Independence, Big Water, UT 84741

GPX File: UHT – Copper Slot

Maintained By: Unknown.

Directions: From Kanab, UT drive 42 miles east on Highway 89. From Page, AZ drive 31 miles west on Highway 89. Between mile marker 20 and 21 on Highway 89, turn south onto the Paria Contact Station Road and drive 1.8 miles to White House Trailhead & Campground.

The road has some minor washboarding but no potholes. There is a large dip through a wash that may be troublesome for trailers with minimal clearance.

The road that accesses the permit area is unpaved and minimally maintained. Most of the time, it is possible to reach the trailhead in a two-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle. However, four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicles may be required when the road is wet. During the rainy season and the winter months, the road may become impassable for all vehicles, even those with four-wheel-drive. 

Resources:

• Paria River Ranch

Map:

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