Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness
This colorful Wilderness snakes through northern Arizona, northeast along the gorgeous Vermilion Cliffs and swings northwest along the not-to-be-missed Paria Canyon before eventually leading into Utah, where a much smaller portion of the area is preserved. Soaring walls are streaked with desert varnish, and serpentine canyons are so narrow in places that the sky is reduced to a ribbon of faded blue. Vast red-rock amphitheaters, sandstone arches, intricate erosion-carved sculptures, woodland terraces, and hanging gardens of ferns and orchids are found here. Common wildlife includes mountain lions, bighorn sheep, porcupines, beavers, rattlesnakes, red-spotted frogs, bald and golden eagles, violet-green swallows, and great blue herons.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| States | Arizona, Utah |
| Size | 110,816 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.88° N, 111.63° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 29) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 7 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCy26 Nkrd- Misc Piles Rx
44 mi from the center point · 2 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.2 miNavajo Steel Arch Highway Bridge ↗Lee's Ferry, AZ
- 9.7 miCooper Ridge Lookout Tree ↗Fredonia, AZ
- 10.2 miJacob Lake Lookout Tower ↗Jacob Lake, AZ
- 11 miJacob Lake Ranger Station ↗Jacob Lake, AZ
- 12.5 miKane Ranch Headquarters ↗House Rock Valley, AZ
- 14.3 miFracas Lookout Tree ↗Fredonia, AZ
- 14.8 miTater Point Lookout Tree ↗Fredonia, AZ
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Arizona
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness?
110,816 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness in?
The boundary crosses Arizona and Utah.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.882° N, 111.633° W. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is 5 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Cy26 Nkrd- Misc Piles Rx at 44 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness?
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (5 mi) and Old Spanish National Historic Trail (6 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness?
The National Register has 7 listings within 15 miles, including Navajo Steel Arch Highway Bridge and Cooper Ridge Lookout Tree.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.