Dogs in Buckskin/Paria

[JillRide44]

Hi Everyone,
We will be heading to Zion and the Paria area next week. We have a permit to do Buckskin/Paria. Planning on a two day trip with camping at the confluence. We have 2 small dogs that we usually board at the doggie dude ranch, but we love hiking with them. They are 2 small daschunds, one is 8lbs the other 18lbs. For downclimbs or tricky sections we usually put them in a sling or in the top of the backpack.

They walk/hike with us a lot and are capable the distance. However, they do not like water and also have a hard time on big rocks. How much water slugging should we encounter? What about the rattlesnakes in the canyon? Is this a crazy idea! Just let me know.

Cheers,
Jill

[nat]

Hi Everyone,
We will be heading to Zion and the Paria area next week. We have a permit to do Buckskin/Paria. Planning on a two day trip with camping at the confluence. We have 2 small dogs that we usually board at the doggie dude ranch, but we love hiking with them. They are 2 small daschunds, one is 8lbs the other 18lbs. For downclimbs or tricky sections we usually put them in a sling or in the top of the backpack.

They walk/hike with us a lot and are capable the distance. However, they do not like water and also have a hard time on big rocks. How much water slugging should we encounter? What about the rattlesnakes in the canyon? Is this a crazy idea! Just let me know.

Cheers,
Jill

We've taken our dog, a 20lb terrier down Buckskin, and had no trouble. There's not a lot of downclimbing in the canyon, and it's easy to pass the dogd in the few spots there are. My dog also hates water. But if it's unavoidable and we go through it, he'll follow us. The times I've done Buckskin, there wasn't much water, but with the recent weather, there certainly could be some.

I have seen rattlesnakes everytime I've done Buckskin. My dog is afraid of them.

Nat

[nonot]

you will have to get creative with the dogs at the rockslide in buckskin. We brought a 80 pound lab and handed him down wire pass a few times. The dog got freaked out in some of the pools in buckskin. Your dogs will have to have some hiking/swimming experience or else they will not do well.

At the rockslide we had to rig a lower system since it is about a 15 foot drop and the dogs cannot use the chopped out steps or ropes.

[nat]

you will have to get creative with the dogs at the rockslide in buckskin. We brought a 80 pound lab and handed him down wire pass a few times. The dog got freaked out in some of the pools in buckskin. Your dogs will have to have some hiking/swimming experience or else they will not do well.

At the rockslide we had to rig a lower system since it is about a 15 foot drop and the dogs cannot use the chopped out steps or ropes.

I've always found a way through the rockslide under some boulders, that allowed us to avoid the drop. It's quite a bit easier this way, I believe, although things could change, and this route could get blocked.

Nat

[jman]

Is the rules still the same: Do dogs need permits just like us mortals? My friends did it two years ago and there was a ranger in the area who asked if they permits, and they said yes and showed them, and then asked if there was a permit for the dog. They were confused and didn't hear of this but the ranger let if fly by this time.

[JillRide44]

Yes, dogs need a permit but they do not count in the allotment of 20. But they do cost $5 a day.

Thanks for all the tips. Since they are small and calm they are easy to lower. I have a sling I put them in or can actually stick them in the backpack.

Cheers Jill

[pup]

We did Buckskin last week-end. There's was lots of water but nothing long, you could easily pack your dogs across any of the pools. I think the longest was around 25' with one exception, the long strech of smelly mud just after the junction with the Paria.
There was a sign at the trailhead that there are Africanized Bee's in the area and we did see one swarm on the canyon wall. I have no idea if they were africanized bee's but it makes a better story. At any rate - you'll want to watch your dogs - the swarm was about 2 ft up on the canyon wall.