Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness
Coyote Buttes Permit Area - Trailheads & Access Points
Paw Hole Trailhead

the start of House Rock Valley RdDescription 
The Paw Hole Trailhead is an undeveloped access point that provides entry to the southern part of Coyote Buttes South. There are no trails, direction signs or other navigational information once you leave the trailhead and enter the permit area.  Please park in existing disturbed areas.  Four-wheel drive is mandatory. The use of topographic maps of the area is strongly suggested.

Trailhead Location 
To access Paw Hole Trailhead from Highway 89, travel east from Kanab 38 miles, turning right onto House Rock Valley Road (BLM Road 1065) just before the sharp left turn markers.  Or travel west from Page, Arizona 34 miles on Highway 89 over the dam, past the Paria Contact Station (which has updated road and canyon conditions) and turn left onto House Rock Valley road just after the sharp right turn markers.  Drive south on House Rock Valley Road, an unmaintained gravel road, approximately 16  miles crossing Buckskin Gulch turning left (east) on a narrow dirt track at the Lone Tree Trailhead, BLM Road #1079, and drive 1.75 miles through deep sands that require 4-wheel drive to the parking area.

Permits, Fees, Limitations
Group size is limited to 6 people in this permit area. Groups larger than 6 must split into smaller groups and hike within the permit area on separate days.

Permits for day hiking are purchased in advance either on-line or through the walk-in permit process at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab, UT (745 E Highway 89 across from Walkers gas station and Wendy’s restaurant). The fee is $5.00 per person, per dog per day and is limited to 20 people per day (dogs do not count against this total).

What to Expect

Information

 

Permits

Accessibility 
House Rock Valley road is not maintained and may be impassable when wet.  Four-wheel drive is mandatory and topographic maps are needed to access the trailhead.  High clearance vehicles are suggested. During flood events, Buckskin Gulch may be impassable when trying to access the access point from the north. Updated road conditions are available through the Kanab Field Office or the St. George Field Office. 

Water Availability/Hiking in Water 
No drinking water is available within 20 road miles of the access point. The Paria Contact Station is the closest water source when it is open. 

Safety Concerns
Visiting the Paw Hole Trailhead requires backcountry navigation and driving skills. Four-wheel drive is mandatory, as are topographic maps. Please stop by the Paria Contact Station or the Kanab Field Office for maps, road conditions and navigation advice.

Hikers must be extremely cautious during the flash flood season. Hiking in the area requires good backcountry navigation skills. Elevation at the access point is above sea level: 5,720 feet (1,743 meters).

Biting deer flies can be bad in the late spring/early summer. Wear long pants to avoid bites. Heat-related injuries, dehydration or elevation sickness could be potential problems. Neither water nor cell coverage is available in the area. Hikers must carry a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day.

Camping and Lodging
The closest developed campgrounds are Stateline Campground, 1.5 miles south on BLM Road 1065 and Whitehouse Campground located 2 miles south of the Paria Contact Station located on Highway 89.  Dispersed, primitive camping is available within Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and House Rock Valley on Arizona Strip Field Office Lands at least ¼ mile from water sources and developed recreation sites.  Dispersed camping is permitted at the trailhead. Lodging is available in Marble Canyon and Page, AZ and Kanab, UT.

Food and Supplies 
The nearest source of food and supplies is Kanab, UT, and the communities of Marble Canyon or Page, AZ.

First Aid
No first aid is available within the monument.  The nearest hospital is in Page, AZ, 42 miles away.

Maps: USGS 7.5 minute quads: Coyote Buttes, Arizona.