Paria River, Utah
Grand Staircase — Rainbow trout in the slot canyon country of Southern Utah
The Paria River flows south from its headwaters near Bryce Canyon through the spectacular slot canyon country of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument before crossing into Arizona and joining the Colorado River at Lees Ferry. It is primarily known as a backcountry hiking destination — the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is one of the most celebrated multi-day slot canyon hikes in North America — but the upper Paria near Kanab holds a small but genuine wild rainbow trout population that few visitors think to pursue.
The trout fishery is concentrated in the upper Paria above Kanab, where spring seeps and runoff from the Paunsaugunt Plateau (Bryce Canyon's foundation) maintain cool enough temperatures to support cold-water fish. The fish are not large — averaging 8–11 inches — and the stream is genuinely small, but the setting is extraordinary: pink and red canyon walls, white sandstone narrows, and the eerie silence of the Grand Staircase backcountry create a fishing environment unlike anything else in this guide.
This is definitionally a destination for adventure anglers who value experience and setting over fish size and density. If you're in Kanab for the slot canyons and want to add an unusual fly fishing experience to your itinerary, the upper Paria delivers. If you're making a dedicated fly fishing trip, there are better options nearby.
Spring flows can make the river dangerous and inaccessible — always check BLM conditions reports before approaching slot canyon sections.
Kanab — Upper Paria
Access from Kanab via roads east toward the Grand Staircase. River access from highway crossings near Kanab and in the upper valley.
Paria Townsite — BLM Access
Historic Paria townsite (ghost town) provides BLM access to the canyon entrance. Day hike into the canyon for small stream trout fishing.
White House Trailhead
Primary backcountry access for the Paria Canyon. Permits required for overnight trips. Upper canyon has trout in the first several miles.
Rainbow Trout
Small wild population in upper sections. Fish averaging 8–11 inches. Cooperative on simple attractor dry flies. More a curiosity than a destination fishery.
Check BLM flash flood forecasts carefully — the Paria Canyon can fill with floodwater within minutes during summer thunderstorms.
The real draw of the upper Paria is the landscape, not the fishing — bring a camera and set low expectations on fish size.
The Paria townsite ghost town is worth exploring on any visit — the history of failed 19th-century settlement in this harsh country is compelling.
Combine with Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the Kanab area slot canyons for the ultimate Southern Utah canyon country road trip.
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