advertisement
5 February 2022
The 112,500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is located approximately 10 miles west of Page, Arizona in Coconino County, Arizona, and Kane County, Utah.
Paria Canyon is renowned for its beauty and is known for its towering walls streaked with desert varnish, the massive red rock amphitheaters, sandstone arches, and terraces with wooded gardens. Vermilion Cliffs, a 3,000-foot escarpment dominated by thick Navajo sandstone walls, steep slopes littered with boulders, rugged arroyos, and a stark appearance, dominates the rest of the wilderness. Slot canyon hiking is one of the best things to do on the Colorado Plateau.
advertisement
You can also go hiking, take photos, and enjoy solitude in the wilderness. The scenic Coyote Buttes area is situated in the northwest part of the wilderness and features domes, aprons, fins, corridors, and picturesque sandstone sculptures carved from swirling cross-bedded color sandstone. As light and weather change, the rock formations within the wilderness exhibit a wide variety of colors and textures. There’s something amazing and wonderland-like about this colorful sandstone area.
This colorful Wilderness snakes through northern Arizona pass along the magnificent Vermilion Cliffs to the northeast, and then passes along the not-to-be-missed Paria Canyon to the northwest, leading to Utah, where much less area is protected. Canyon backpacking in Paradise Canyon is considered one of the best in the world. There are soaring walls covered in desert varnish and narrow canyons that reduce the sky to a faded ribbon of blue. There are impressive red-rock amphitheaters here, as well as sandstone arches, intricate sculptures carved by erosion, woodland terraces, and forests cloaked in ferns and orchids. In addition to mountain lions, bighorn sheep, porcupines, beavers, rattlesnakes, red-spotted frogs, golden and bald eagles, violet-green swallows, and great blue herons, the area is home to a variety of wildlife. Visitors to this region are attracted to its raw beauty and return time and again. As the Navajo Sandstone face, boulder-bound slopes, and rugged arroyos of the Wilderness tower above the canyon, the massive and multicolored Vermilion Cliffs rise as much as 3,000 feet. There are elevations ranging from 3,100 to 7,100 feet within the Wilderness.
advertisement
Some backpackers choose the more difficult Buckskin Gulch route to enter the main canyon from the Utah end of the Wilderness. White House is located about seven miles from this canyon, which is about 12 miles long. It is three feet wide at some points. Before entering Paria Canyon, climbers must descend a 30-foot rock wall. During flash floods, Buckskin may be hit by 20-foot walls of water. In order to travel safely in Buckskin, an accurate weather forecast is essential. Spring and fall are the best times to visit. However, hiking can often be done in the winter as well. It can be extremely difficult to hike in the summer due to the high temperatures. In some areas, there is also no water available. Summer temperatures range from 60 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter temperatures range from 20 to 45 degrees. Annual precipitation is only a few inches.
Paria Canyon requires a permit for overnight trips. Periodic and seasonal flooding of the Paria River is common. At Lees Ferry, Arizona, the US Geological Survey collects streamflow data from the Paria River.
advertisement
Phoenix is a city rich in history, culture, and heritage, with roots extending back to the first century AD. As Phoenix continues to grow into the 21st century, it faces the challenge of balancing urban expansion with the preservation of its diverse historic and archaeological resources. The PreserveHistoricPHX 2025 plan is the city’s roadmap to achieve this balance. They will be building on the success of the 2015 preservation plan and setting ambitious goals for the next decade. advertisement Why Historic Preservation Matters Phoenix is not just a modern metropolis; it is a city with deep ties to its past.
In a state known for its intense summer heat, it’s helpful to understand how to stay comfortable in hot temperatures while living or visiting Arizona. However, when referring to ‘being comfortable,’ there tends to be a spectrum of what people consider comfortable. People who have spent their whole lives in Arizona have an excellent tolerance for heat but typically get cold easily, and vice versa for those who grew up in much colder states. This spectrum is defined as thermal comfort. advertisement According to ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers), thermal comfort is defined in their
In a city where the culinary scene is growing rapidly, one restaurant stands out for its authentic, innovative, and flavorful take on Thai cuisine — and it’s earned national recognition. Lom Wong, a Thai restaurant in Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row, has become a popular hotspot for locals and food critics alike. Chef Yotaka “Sunny” Martin, co-owner of Lom Wong, has made it to the finalist round for the prestigious 2025 James Beard Awards, among the highest honors in the culinary world. advertisement The Vision Behind Lom Wong Opened in 2022, Lom Wong is more than just a place to grab a
In our day-to-day hustle, it’s easy to overlook the beauty surrounding us while on the road. Arizona’s cities are surrounded by incredible landscapes such as the Sonoran Desert, the Sedona monuments, and Flagstaff’s trees and mountains. Still, it’s sometimes too easy to forget the daily beauty we have the opportunity to enjoy. It’s beneficial to remember that Arizona’s commutes can be far more than just a means of getting from point A to point B while trying to avoid traffic. advertisement Top Scenic Commutes in Arizona According to a recent survey by Quantrell Volvo, which surveyed over 3,000 commuters, several
