Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area

The Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area is a rugged, remote region of cliffs and canyons located on the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona and extending into Utah. Established in 1984, it encompasses a significant portion of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, which was created in 2000.1

The area features the Vermilion Cliffs, a sandstone escarpment rising 3,000 feet, and the Paria River, which carves a beautiful canyon with sandstone walls, arches, and amphitheatres. This region is rich in archaeological sites, including rock art and remnants of the prehistoric Ancestral Pueblo culture, as well as historical sites from Spanish explorers and Mormon pioneers. The climate supports desert grassland and cold desert habitats, home to diverse wildlife such as California condors, desert bighorn sheep, and desert tortoises.1