Coyote Gulch to Hackberry Canyon — Grand Staircase Desert Bench via Paria River Crossing
Two canyons, a river crossing, and nobody watching.
Hackberry Canyon is the overlooked sibling of the Paria — narrower in places, slotted deep into the Navajo sandstone, and almost entirely free of foot traffic compared to the permit-required routes nearby. The drive in from Cottonwood Canyon Road is deceptive: the graded surface lulls you before the track drops toward the canyon floor and the crossings begin. You’ll ford Hackberry Creek a dozen or more times in the lower section, some crossings shallow and sandy, others cut by undercut banks and hidden ledges. The canyon walls rise to 800 feet in the narrows, and petroglyphs and historic cowboy camps mark the walls at eye level. At the confluence with the Paria, the route links back north across open desert bench toward the Coyote Gulch drainage — big open sky, sandstone fins, and almost no one else out there.
Plan for wet feet. The creek crossings are unavoidable and the canyon floor is soft in places — aired-down tires and a solid recovery kit are non-negotiable. A lifted, high-clearance 4WD is the minimum; a snorkel is a genuine bonus after storm events. The Paria River crossing is the wildcard — check current conditions with the Kanab BLM office before committing. No permit required for vehicle travel. The best windows are late March through May and September through October. No services between Kanab and the Page area. Dispersed camping on BLM land throughout the bench.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 44 mi / 70.8 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5600 ft |
| Best season | March-May, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Kanab, UT |
| Land manager | BLM Kanab Field Office / Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Kanab Field Office Grand Staircase-Escalante NM |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or do I need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD will get through, but it'll work for it — deep sand, embedded rock, and uneven canyon floor will test your skid plates and approach angles. Lift and all-terrain tires aren't required but you'll wish you had them on the rocky bench sections. Leave the leveled half-ton at home.
When is this trail actually passable and what kills access most often?
March–May and September–October are the windows. Summer flash floods through Hackberry and the Paria corridor are unpredictable and deadly — the canyon walls give you zero escape. Spring snowmelt can also turn the Paria crossing into a no-go; check the BLM Kanab Field Office before you leave town.
Do I need a permit to run this trail and camp overnight?
No permit is currently required for vehicle travel or dispersed camping on this route through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Self-registration may be required at some trailheads — check with the BLM Kanab Field Office at (435) 644-1200 before departure since monument regulations have shifted in recent years.
What's the hardest section and what makes it technical?
The Paria River crossing is the crux — the river channel shifts constantly, the bottom is soft sand and quicksand pockets, and water depth varies with recent precipitation. Approach it slow, walk it first, and know your rig's snorkel height or you're making a bad decision fast. The sandy bench sections after the crossing can also swallow a vehicle if you lose momentum.
There's zero cell service out there — how far is the nearest gas and what's my bailout plan?
Fuel up in Kanab before you leave; it's the last reliable gas and is roughly 30–40 miles from the trailhead depending on your approach. There is no cell service on the entire route, so a satellite communicator (Garmin inReach or SPOT) isn't optional on a 2–3 day run this remote. Nearest paved road bailout is back toward Cottonwood Canyon Road or US-89.
Trail track
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