View source for Paria River

{{Short description|American river, northeast Arizona, east border of Paria Plateau}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Paria River
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Paria river buckskin confluence.jpg
| image_caption      = A [[Backpacking (wilderness)|backpacker]] at the confluence of [[Buckskin Gulch (Utah)|Buckskin Gulch]] and the Paria River
| map                = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[Utah]], [[Arizona]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[County (United States)|Counties]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Garfield County, Utah|Garfield]], [[Kane County, Utah|Kane]], [[Coconino County, Arizona|Coconino]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length_mi = 95
| length_ref = <ref name=NHD/> 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= [[Lee's Ferry]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2012/pdfs/09382000.2012.pdf|title=USGS Gage #09382000 on the Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|work=National Water Information System|date=1924–2012|access-date=2013-07-16}}</ref>
| discharge1_min     = {{convert|1|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|28|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2012/pdfs/09382000.2012.pdf|title=USGS Gage #09382000 on the Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|work=National Water Information System|date=1924–2012|access-date=2013-07-16}}</ref>
| discharge1_max     = {{convert|16100|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = Near the [[Pink Cliffs]]
| source1_location   = [[Tropic, Utah|Tropic]], [[Utah]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|37|39|07|N|112|04|41|W|display=inline}}<ref name="gnis"/>
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|6437|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[Colorado River]]
| mouth_location     = [[Lee's Ferry]], [[Arizona]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|36|51|31|N|111|36|03|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name="gnis"/>
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|3084|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size_mi2 = 1410
| basin_size_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azwater.gov/azdwr/StatewidePlanning/RuralPrograms/OutsideAMAs_PDFs_for_web/Plateau_Planning_Area/Colorado_River_Watershed.pdf|title=Colorado River Watershed|publisher=Arizona Department of Water Resources|work=Securing Arizona's Water Future|access-date=2013-07-16|archive-date=January 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120034135/http://www.azwater.gov/azdwr/StatewidePlanning/RuralPrograms/OutsideAMAs_PDFs_for_web/Plateau_Planning_Area/Colorado_River_Watershed.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = 
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| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}

The '''Paria River''' {{IPAc-en|p|ə|ˈ|r|iː|ə}} is a tributary of the [[Colorado River]], approximately {{convert|95|mi|km}} long,<ref name=NHD>{{cite web| url=http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/| title=The National Map| publisher=U.S. Geological Survey| access-date=Feb 25, 2011}}</ref> in southern [[Utah]] and northern [[Arizona]] in the United States.<ref name="gnis">{{gnis|9211|Paria River}}</ref> It drains a rugged and arid region northwest of the Colorado, flowing through roadless [[slot canyon]]s along part of its course.

== Geography ==
[[Image:Pariah canyon.jpg|left|thumb|180px|A portion of upper Paria Canyon]]
It is formed in southern Utah, in southwestern [[Garfield County, Utah|Garfield County]] from several creeks that descend from the edge of the [[Paunsaugunt Plateau]], meeting just north of [[Tropic, Utah|Tropic]]. It flows SSE across [[Kane County, Utah|Kane County]] and [[Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument]]. Along the Arizona state line, it descends through the [[Vermilion Cliffs]] in the Paria Canyon and onto the [[Paria Plateau]]. It joins the Colorado from the northwest approximately 5&nbsp;mi (8&nbsp;km) southwest of [[Page, Arizona]] and the [[Glen Canyon Dam]]. The lower 20&nbsp;mi (32&nbsp;km) of the river are within the [[Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness]], which is administered by the [[Bureau of Land Management]]; a permit is required for any overnight visit. The Paria is essentially a large creek and is not navigable.

A 2004 study estimated that the [[Tropic Ditch]], a historic artificial irrigation canal that diverts water from the [[East Fork Sevier River]], loses 1060 acre-feet per year to seepage, and half of that seepage (530 acre-feet per year) ends up in the Paria River, bringing with it 1829 tons of [[Sea salt|salt]] per year.  To help restore the salinity of the Paria and Colorado Rivers to more natural levels, the Tropic and East Fork Irrigation Company have proposed replacing the last 5.5 miles of the ditch with a pipeline.  The cost may be supplemented by a grant from the [[Bureau of Reclamation]]'s [[Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tropic Ditch Replacement Project Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact|url=http://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/ea/tropicditch/fea/FinalEA.pdf|publisher=Bureau of Reclamation, Provo Area Office|access-date=15 July 2014|archive-date=9 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509013829/https://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/ea/tropicditch/fea/FinalEA.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Attractions ==
[[Image:Verm paria canyon.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Buckskin Gulch]]
The Paria is one of the most popular destinations for [[canyoneering]] in the region. [[Buckskin Gulch]], a side canyon along the river in the narrows section, is considered to be one of the longest and deepest slot canyons in the United States.  The Paria is also home to several important historical, geological, and biological resources.  [[Lee's Ferry]] and the adjoining settlement are located within the canyon upstream of the confluence with the Colorado River, with several other abandoned settlements further north.  The Paria and several nearby rivers and canyons also are the site of several well-preserved specimens of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] [[petroglyph]]s, prehistoric drawings, and symbols carved into stone.  The Paria boasts a vibrant [[desert riparian]] habitat that is home to several sensitive and endangered species and is also the location of [[Wrather Arch]], the longest [[natural arch]] outside of [[Utah]] (although this claim may be superseded by [[Aloba Arch]]).

About a mile south of the river and the [[ghost town]] of [[Paria, Utah|Paria]] is the Paria Movie Set which was the site for several western movies. The old film set in the canyon was a popular attraction but was damaged in a flash flood in 1998.<ref>[http://www.blm.gov/volunteer/feature/2001/ut/index.html Paria Movie Set Restoration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205065343/http://www.blm.gov/volunteer/feature/2001/ut/index.html |date=2012-02-05 }}, [[Bureau of Land Management|BLM]] Volunteer Feature, 2001; retrieved 12 September 2006</ref>  The buildings were dismantled and rebuilt in a nearby location by volunteers.  In 2006 these new buildings were destroyed in a suspicious fire.<ref>[http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_4242201 Fire tears through replica movie sets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206141022/http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_4242201 |date=2012-02-06 }}, [[Salt Lake Tribune]], August 26, 2006; retrieved 12 September 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_4253660 Rebuilt Kanab set: Volunteers who built the facility are furious], Salt Lake Tribune, August 29, 2006; retrieved 12 September 2006</ref>
[[File:Paria River Canyon AZ-UT 20240331.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Paria River Canyon]]

== See also ==
{{portal|Arizona|Utah|Rivers}}
* [[List of rivers of Arizona]]
* [[List of rivers of Utah]]
* [[List of tributaries of the Colorado River]]

== References ==
{{reflist|22em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category multi|Paria River|Paria Canyon}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080208091330/http://www.blm.gov/az/asfo/paria/index.htm Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness]
* [http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/paria_river/canyon.html AmericanSouthwest.net: Paria River]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040610154850/http://www.paria.com/Paria_River_Natural_History_As/paria_river_natural_history_as.html Paria River Natural History Association]

{{Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument}}
{{Rivers and streams of Arizona}}
{{Colorado_River_system}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Arizona]]
[[Category:Rivers of Utah]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Colorado River in Utah]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Colorado River in Arizona]]
[[Category:Canyons and gorges of Arizona]]
[[Category:Canyons and gorges of Utah]]
[[Category:Rivers of Garfield County, Utah]]
[[Category:Rivers of Kane County, Utah]]
[[Category:Rivers of Coconino County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Arizona]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Utah]]
[[Category:Bureau of Land Management areas in Arizona]]
[[Category:Bureau of Land Management areas in Utah]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Coconino County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Pre-Columbian cultural areas]]