Most
hikers planning to travel the length of Buckskin Gulch choose
Wire Pass as a shortcut, saving a few miles of walking froom
the Buckskin Trailhead. While Wire Pass serves this purpose
well, it also offers a short, pleasant, day - hiking opportunity.
In fact, Wire Pass is a slot canyon narrower than either Paria
Canyon or Buckskin Gulch. While not as deep as those canyons,
it narrows to barely shoulder- width for short distances.
Wire Pass is a
short, easy stroll from the trailhead parking area to the
confluence with Buckskin Gulch. During hot summer months,
its narrow slots provide cool relief from the soaring temperatures
in the open sun above. Sometimes the temperature difference
can be as much as 15 degrees.
The entire hike
follows the usually dry wash bottom. Occasionally, logs can
be seen high above, jammed between the slot canyon walls;
solid evidence that this bone dry wash is not dry all the
time.
Access to the Wire
Pass Trailhead is via U.S. 89 in Utah between Kanab and Page.
Backpackers may obtain information about weather conditions
from the BLM ranger station or the office in Kanab, Utah.
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