Our crew (wife, 2 lab crosses, and me) is heading down the famously georgous Paria River Canyon from White House traihead to Lee's ferry. We will fly into Kanab to pick up our permits. I've got a ground based shuttle about 90% figured out, but a flying shuttle sure would be lots faster.

It is a long shot, but perhaps someone is based in this area and knows of a strip (or a road) around White House that if used, won't upset the locals. The Marble Canyon strip is on the south end (within about 5 miles of the trailhead).

best
Stan

I'm not aware of any strips right there but the access road is well groomed!

Kanab may be your best bet on the upper end. The roads would work too but they are frequented by BLM types as that area sees a good bit of hikers who have to pay to use public land My airplane partner goes down there a bunch to photograph "The Wave"

Your hike sounds epic… how long will it take you to get to Lee's?? My goal this year is to take Dad down there and fish below the damn. Love that country!! Marble canyon is a riot too. Its skinnier than the highway next to it. Try to fly in there if you get a chance. I want to hit Buckskin as well…

enjoy-

When will you be down there?

I looked for options on a recent flight from Page back to Kanab. Couldn't really see any options. I've started the hike via the Wire Pass route but can't imagine getting away with landing on House Rock Rd. Marble would be close for your flight out but I"m afraid you're going to have to get a shuttle for the trailhead from Kanab. Have fun.

Thanks for the replies. I stopped at Marble a few years ago, and yes it is close enough to be convenient to the exit trailhead.

Typically, folks do the 38 mile hike in 3 nights, 4 days. Here is a nice discription http://bearfoottheory.com/paria-canyon-backpacking-guide/

This is early season, but the weather looks to be nice (mid-sixties) the next week so it should be pleasant enough.

When you say "hit Buckskin" is that a visit to the slot canyon or is there an airstrip?

Best
Stan

Buckskin is another way into the Paria.

We had a great trip. Warm weather and one very windy day. Experiencing the Narrows and being able to through hike it was worth the logistics hassles.

We ended up tied down at Marble Canyon for about 5 days. We used a shuttle service (Drew-good bloke) to move us around to the upper end, White House trailhead. After 4 days coming down the canyon, the Marble Canyon staff picked us up at Lee's ferry, so we didn't have to walk the 5 miles downriver back to the airplane at Marble. We stayed a night at the hotel and had a couple meals at the resturaunt. The resturaunt and store looked about brand new. They had a fire a few years ago and have rebuilt. The strip was repaved in the last couple years, it was much better than I remembered.

We did talk about coming back for the Buckskin. That effort we'd base out of Kanab, which is a stop anyway for the permits.

If you want a shuttle in this region of Northern Arizona & SW Utah, Drew at 928-645-2789 was punctual and professional. He is based out of Page.

Fred54 wrote:We had a great trip. Warm weather and one very windy day. Experiencing the Narrows and being able to through hike it was worth the logistics hassles.

We ended up tied down at Marble Canyon for about 5 days. We used a shuttle service (Drew-good bloke) to move us around to the upper end, White House trailhead. After 4 days coming down the canyon, the Marble Canyon staff picked us up at Lee's ferry, so we didn't have to walk the 5 miles downriver back to the airplane at Marble. We stayed a night at the hotel and had a couple meals at the resturaunt. The resturaunt and store looked about brand new. They had a fire a few years ago and have rebuilt. The strip was repaved in the last couple years, it was much better than I remembered.

We did talk about coming back for the Buckskin. That effort we'd base out of Kanab, which is a stop anyway for the permits.

If you want a shuttle in this region of Northern Arizona & SW Utah, Drew at 928-645-2789 was punctual and professional. He is based out of Page.

minimum is 30

Another vote for pictures if you can make the time. Glad you had a great trip. Its one of my favorite parts of the country.

There is now a Paria album up under my profile.

Best
Stan

Pictures look great. Sounds like a fun trip and you hit it on the right weekend. Would you mind sharing what they charged for the shuttle??

SixTwoLeemer wrote:Pictures look great. Sounds like a fun trip and you hit it on the right weekend. Would you mind sharing what they charged for the shuttle??

We did hit it just right. We held off committing until having a good sense of the weather for the period. Based on the trail registers, it looked like we were the first through hike for 2016.

Shuttles- The usual gal that does shuttles around Marble Canyon had some life stuff going on so she was questionable availibility.. One of the Page FBO's gave me Drew's contact info, Destination Services- 928-645-2789. I was quoted $100-120. Drew was willing to work with our somewhat flexible schedule. Thursday we had hoped to leave Idaho, but Nevada had low vis, low ceilings, high winds, and precipitation, so we did all the flying Friday. He showed up as we entered the pattern. We kept Drew waiting a half hour or so at Marble. IIRC, with tip I handed him $140 and was very pleased to do so. He was great. The NPS has a few more shuttle companies listed near the online registration page.

We had spotty cell service at the confluence, but good enough to get the hotel to send a van down so we didn't have to hoof the 5 miles of pavement downriver to Marble. That will be whatever you negotiate. Perhaps tip only if they are getting your business.

Another option would be Page. If I had a panel full of $$$, I'd fly to Page and let the airplane sit behind a fence for the duration. There is not much security at Marble.

Great pics, I like the pack dogs!