Paria River Downstream

After leaving the Lonely Dell Ranch, I crossed a bridge over the Paria River, on the way back to my truck. This location is close to where the Paria enters the Colorado River, between the Glen Canyon Dam and the beginning of the Grand Canyon.

The Paria River begins in the rocky, deserted land that now forms part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - this is roadless for the most part - flowing for about 95 miles before entering the Colorado River. Various smaller streams join the Paria, often flowing through twisting, narrow canyons, most famous of which is Buckskin Gulch, the longest and deepest slot canyon in the USA. The whole area is pristine desert wilderness. But, here where it enters the Colorado River is prime fly fishing.