Hayduke Trail #9

Hayduke Trail Section 9 is a roughly 66-mile stretch of the unofficial, unmarked long-distance route that runs from Willis Creek to the Arizona Trail's stateline trailhead, crossing directly through Bryce Canyon National Park. This is a multi-day backpacking section, not a day hike.

What the route covers

• Climbs to Rainbow Point at the south end of the park, then follows the Under-the-Rim Trail along the Pink Cliffs to Riggs Spring
• Descends through the narrows of Round Valley Draw and down Hackberry Canyon to the Paria River
• Continues up the Paria and Sheep Creek and back out through the Willis Creek narrows to close the section

Permits are required both for the portion inside Bryce Canyon National Park and for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This is remote, water-scarce, route-finding terrain — it's built for experienced long-distance backpackers following the Hayduke Trail end to end, not a casual outing.