Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area Facility

Overview

The 112,500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness lies approximately 10 miles west of Page, Arizona in Coconino County, Arizona and Kane County, Utah.

Nationally known for its beauty, the Paria Canyon has towering walls streaked with desert varnish, huge red rock amphitheaters, sandstone arches, wooded terraces, and hanging gardens. The 3,000-foot escarpment known as the Vermilion Cliffs dominates the remainder of the wilderness with its thick Navajo sandstone face, steep, boulder-strewn slopes, rugged arroyos and stark overall appearance. Some of the best slot canyon hiking opportunities on the Colorado Plateau are found here. Deer and desert bighorn sheep inhabit the area.

The wilderness also provides opportunities for backpacking, photography, and solitude. In the northwest portion of the wilderness lies Coyote Buttes, an area of spectacular scenery displaying domes, aprons, fins, corridors, and a variety of small fragile rock sculptures carved in colorful swirling cross bedded sandstone. The variety of colors and textures in the rock formations within the wilderness constantly change with variations in light and weather. This colorful sandstone area creates a feeling of wonder and amazement.

A permit is required for overnight trips within Paria Canyon. Learn more about Paria Canyon permits.

The Paria River is subject to periodic and seasonal flooding. The US Geological Survey collects Paria River streamflow data at their gauging station on the Paria River at Lees Ferry, Arizona.

View Paria River conditions near the Paria Contact Station, UT.

View Paria River conditions at Lees Ferry, AZ.

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Condor Viewing Site Facility

Overview

From a low of 22 condors in 1982, over 200 California condors now live in the wild. The Peregrine Fund, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), has released condors from Vermilion Cliffs National Monument since 1996. A number of condors roost on top of the Vermilion Cliffs. This site offers visitors a chance to see these enormous endangered birds in the wild. Viewing is best done with binoculars or a spotting scope.

On-site facilities include interpretive panels, a view finder, picnic tables, a shade shelter, and one pit toilet.

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West Bench Pueblo Facility

Overview

West Bench Pueblo is the site of ancient dwellings used by the Ancestral Puebloans. The group occupied a large part of the Southwest, mainly within Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. These dwellings are thought to have been used around A.D. 1050-1150.

Modern Native American Indian people view prehistoric sites as sacred places. They are, after all, the homes of their ancestors. Historic sites also connect pioneer descendants with their own more recent history. When visiting, please be respectful of these cultural sites.

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Dominguez-Escalante Site Facility

Overview

This site marks part of the historic Dominguez-Escalante expedition. Fathers Francisco Dominguez and Silvestre Escalante, Spanish priests, may have been the first Europeans to see the Arizona Strip on their expedition in 1776. They camped here, at the San Bartoleme Camp, in October 1776. On foot, they traveled from Santa Fe, New Mexico through western Colorado, to Spanish Fork, Utah and then down through northern Arizona back to Santa Fe. Others crossed the Strip along the Old Spanish Trail during the 1830's and 1840's.

Opened as a trade route between Santa Fe and Los Angeles, the Spanish Trail became a major link connecting New Mexico and southern California from 1829 to 1848. It consisted of a 1,120-mile northward-looping course traversing six states--New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. Hostile Indian tribes--Apache, Navajo, and Mojave--prevented the opening of a direct route between Santa Fe and Los Angeles.

Mining activities, timber cutting and settlement by farmers and ranchers began by the 1870's. Settlements founded by these pioneers lasted long enough for a post office and general store to be built at Wolfhole, and one-room schoolhouses at Little Tanks and Mount Trumbull. In the days of horse-drawn wagons, trips to town (St. George, Utah) from these communities took more than one day each way. Travelers would store feed for their stock on flat-topped boulders along the route. Later, the Civilian Conservation Corps created or improved many of the access roads and other structures. As the availability and use of motorized vehicles increased, populations of the little settlements dwindled. The communities of Mt. Trumbull, Wolf Hole and Little Tanks are now ghost towns.

Traveling across the Strip today, it is not so difficult to imagine the earlier times and modes of transportation: horse, wagon and Model T. Place names like Poverty Mountain, Hungry Valley, Last Chance Spring, Death Valley and Tombstone Canyon still attest to the rough life of the pioneers.

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White Pocket Trailhead Facility

Overview

This trailhead is an access point for White Pocket. There are no developed trails in the area and visitors are encouraged to explore. Park here and take the path that heads west from the parking area for about 100 yards. Enjoy exploring the awe-inspiring slickrock. These windswept layers of orange, yellow, and white formations were created over time by mineral deposits and shaped by the elements. Please help preserve the geologic formations so that present and future generations can enjoy them today and for years to come.

You are responsible for your safety. If you get lost while hiking, experience a non-life-threatening emergency, or if your vehicle becomes stuck or breaks down, it is your responsibility, not the responsibility of emergency services or BLM, to deal with the situation. The roads that access White Pocket Trailhead consist of deep sand and patches of sharp rock. Four-wheel-drive high-clearance vehicles are required. Every year, many groups get stuck and stranded on the way to this trailhead as a result of attempting the drive without enough experience or in inappropriate vehicles. If you are unsure of your vehicle’s capabilities or simply don’t want to assume the risk, BLM recommends hiring an authorized guide. Information about authorized guides may be found at BLM visitor centers or on our website.

The popularity of White Pocket is leading to impacts in the form of exposed human waste and toilet paper, excessive campfire rings, and vegetation damage. Please do your part to keep these areas clean and natural. If you camp in the area, use existing campsites, and keep them small. Bury human waste 6” deep, and well away from the campsite. Pack out all your trash, including food scraps and toilet paper. To minimize impact, do not damage trees or collect firewood.

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