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Paria River > Willis Creek
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Willis Creek flows a long way, from the base of the Pink Cliffs in Bryce Canyon National Park through high country at the edge of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument before joining Sheep Creek which eventually meets the Paria River. Several springs ensure the waters flow year round, and just after the crossing of the Skutumpah Road - the unpaved route between Johnson Canyon and Cannonville, the creek enters a moderately deep gorge with several very beautiful narrow sections.
Unlike some other canyons in this area, Willis Creek is very easy to explore, with no obstacles of any kind, just a flat, stony streambed enclosed by delicately colored shaped sandstone walls. |
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Location: Willis Creek flows over the Skutumpah Road 7 miles south of the Paria River and about 2 miles from Bull Valley Gorge, where the stream is enclosed by a wide, shallow valley and is (usually) the only running water that crosses the road; it disappears tantalisingly into a swirl of sandstone just a few meters beyond. There is a large, flat area for parking and/or camping just north of the creek.
Permit: The gorge is within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument but no permit is needed for exploration.
Photographs: 5 views of Willis Creek.
Map: TopoZone topological map of Willis Creek.
Description: The level of the clear, fast-flowing water is typically just 1-2 inches, and the canyon floor has no mud just clean sand and small pebbles so walking is quite easy. Near the road, the creek drops 3 feet into a narrow sandstone channel which deepens gradually, becoming up to 10 meters deep. There are occasional small waterfalls and several quite lengthy curving, narrow passageways, nicely illuminated when the sun shines, and always very photogenic. After one mile the creek is joined by Averett Canyon from the north and thereafter becomes wider and more V-shaped. Trees and bushes grow around the streambed and the canyon remains similar in character for the next mile, to the confluence with larger Sheep Creek.
Two loop hikes are possible - either the 14 mile circuit of Bull Valley Gorge/Sheep Creek/Willis Creek (best done in this direction as the Gorge is easier descended than ascended), a journey that includes 2 miles of road walking, or the much shorter 4 mile trip of Averett Canyon/Willis Creek. Averett has no narrow sections but is still quite pretty, and has the extra feature of a historic memorial, to a Mormon settler (Elijah Everett) who was killed by Indians in 1866. A dryfall near the junction with Willis Creek presents quite an obstacle so again this loop is easier done in this direction.
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