Road to Paria-BLM585

Trail Overview

Road to Paria-BLM585 is an 11.4-mile out-and-back trail rated 2 of 10 located in Kane County, Utah. This trail can be driven by any high clearance vehicle normally in 2WD unless the road is wet or snow-covered. The first 2.5 miles of this trail are relatively level and generally wide enough for 2-way traffic without slowing (Speed Limit is 45). At this point, visitors will see a sign at the intersection with K4265 that says "Reduced Speed Ahead." Crossing the cattle guard, the road becomes single-vehicle-width but wide enough for cars to pass carefully as it starts the steeper descent into the Paria Creek bed and the historical community of Paria. As the trail levels out, there is a parking corral, toilet, and historical signs. This is the location of the old western Paria movie set. The trail passes through the corral and continues towards the river banks passing the Paria cemetery on the left. The trail ends at a turnaround near the banks. Vehicular travel across the riverbed is prohibited. The original community of Paria is located on the downriver on the far bank about a quarter mile. The settlement was established in 1869 but abandoned 40 years later because of frequent river flooding. The Paria River flows along a wide valley that is often completely dry in summer but subject to flash floods. In the early 1940s, the budding moving industry came to Paria to film westerns. Productions were difficult, sometimes being destroyed during flash flooding. Many well-known actors filmed here over the years with some notable films including Sergeants 3 (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr, and Peter Lawford) and The Outlaw Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood and Sandra Locke). A flash flood damaged or destroyed much of the movie sets in 1998 and a team of volunteers and employees of the Bureau of Land Management disassembled the wreckage and replaced the structures in 1999-2001. On August 25, 2006, vandals committed arson and burned down the movie set. To date, it has not been rebuilt. There is cellphone service while close to Highway 89. The nearest services are located in Kanab to the west and Big Water to the east.

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Difficulty

This is a county dirt road with infrequent or light maintenance after rain or snow. High-clearance light-duty 4WD is recommended.

Technical Rating