Vermilion Cliffs National Monument: 1st Time Visitor Guide
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona is one of the most breathtaking and remote natural landscapes in the American Southwest. Known for its colorful sandstone cliffs, surreal rock formations, and hidden canyons, this monument offers a mix of world-famous hikes like The Wave and lesser-known backcountry treasures. If you’re planning your first visit, this guide will help you understand what to expect, how to plan, and the best ways to experience this rugged desert paradise.
Overview
Covering nearly 300,000 acres, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It sits along the Arizona–Utah border and includes some of the Southwest’s most unique geologic features: towering cliffs, slot canyons, and the Paria Plateau. The area is prized for solitude, photography, challenging hikes, and an otherworldly landscape that feels untouched by time.
Because of its remoteness, access can be challenging, and many areas require permits or high-clearance vehicles. But for travelers willing to prepare, it’s one of the most rewarding wilderness destinations in the United States.
How to Get There
- Road Conditions: Many interior routes require 4WD and high clearance. Check with the BLM for road updates, especially after rain.
- Closest Airports: Page Arizona (approx. 1 hour), St. George, Utah (3 hours), or Las Vegas, Nevada (4.5 hours).
- Driving: The monument is accessible via U.S. Highway 89A and U.S. 89. Most visitors use Kanab, Utah or Page, Arizona as base towns.
7 Best Things to Do
- Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness – A backcountry dream for multi-day hikers, featuring slot canyons and towering walls.
- Buckskin Gulch – One of the longest slot canyons in the world, offering miles of narrow corridors and dramatic rock patterns (very difficult hike, a beginner friendly option is shown below)
- House Rock Valley Overlooks – Scenic viewpoints along House Rock Valley Road with panoramic views of the cliffs.
- Condor Viewing Site – Home to the California Condor reintroduction program, where you might spot these rare giants in flight.
- Toadstool Hoodoos – A short hike near Kanab showcasing mushroom-shaped rock formations.
- Edmaier’s Secret – A hidden hiking area with wave-like rock textures perfect for photography.
- Marble Canyon & Lees Ferry – Gateway to the Colorado River and starting point for Grand Canyon rafting trips.
Photos
5 Best hikes
Hiking is huge in the Vermilion Cliffs area. The following are 5 of the best hikes in the area to check out (with links to instructions on how to hike them):
5) The Wave hike:
- Hiking distance: 7 miles
- Difficulty: Hard
- Permit required? Yes
To get to the Wave, you will need to enter into a permit lottery system and “hope” you can get access. I say hope because this is the most popular hike in Vermilion Cliffs and as such, it gets a lot of people registering to get that permit. If you do happen to get it, know that this hike requires path finding and as long as you use a compass and prepare accordingly, you’ll have a lot of fun on this hike (no real trail to follow).
4) Cathedral Wash hike:
- Hiking distance: 3 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Permit required? No (entrance car fee required).
If you enjoy challenging and very scenic hikes, absolutely do the Cathedral Wash trail. It is an incredibly beautiful, challenging and fun hike that is easily 5 stars. You will basically work your way down from the road into a canyon/wash type of terrain that takes you to the Colorado River, then work your way back to the road.
It is an incredibly fun hike that requires no permit, but read my article above on what to expect when you go here. I would not recommend taking young, inexperienced kids/adults or animals on this hike as some spots require climbing and jumping onto the next part of the hike.
3) Spencer Trail:
- Hiking distance: 4 miles
- Difficulty: Hard
- Permit required? No (entrance car fee required though)
The Spencer Trail in Lees Ferry is a very cool trail you can check out after Cathedral Wash (it’s off the same road) and basically gives you a beautiful hike to check out that overlooks the Colorado River, Marble Canyon and even Horseshoe Bend (from a great distance though).
Additionally, people can also do some boating and kayaking around this area as it’s considered the starting point entrance into the Grand Canyon (from the river). You may also notice that the terrain here looks very similar to what you see in the Grand Canyon (but lower in terms of elevation).
2) White Pocket hike:
- Hiking distance: 2 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Permit required? No
The White Pocket hike is very scenic and also an excellent alternative to the Wave hike because it’s close by. While there is no permit needed to do the hike, you will have to drive off road to get to the trailhead. Do note that the GPS to get there is often unreliable and you will want to download a more updated map to get there (included above). Tour guides are also the best way to go here as it’s way safer.
Fortunately, hiking to the actual White Pocket and exploring it is not that far from the parking area. Just as well, there are many who consider this specific hiking region to be the most beautiful in all of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument (for good reason).
1) Wire Pass hike:
- Hiking distance: 3 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Permit required? Yes
Wire Pass Trail is one of the several entrance points and connections within a very popular hike within the Vermilion Cliffs that is known as Buckskin Gulch. This particular hike is a much shorter part of it that can be done as a day hike if you are tight on time. I personally completed this trail several weeks ago (in November 2022) and I highly recommend it!
It’s actually in part connected with Grand Staircase Escalante in Utah and once you pass Wire Pass trail and head into Buckskin Gulch (which I would not do unless you are prepared as this can be a long and dangerous add on hike), you’ll be in Arizona and the Vermilion Cliffs area.
1–5 Day Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kanab or Page, explore nearby Toadstool Hoodoos and Marble Canyon.
Day 2: If you have a permit, hike The Wave. If not, head to White Pocket for a full-day adventure.
Day 3: Explore Buckskin Gulch (day hike) or hike into Paria Canyon.
Day 4: Visit Coyote Buttes South and enjoy the solitude of its unique formations.
Day 5: Spend the day at scenic overlooks along House Rock Valley Road, visit the Condor release site, and wrap up with a sunset at Lees Ferry.
Packing List
- Navigation: GPS, detailed maps, compass.
- Clothing: Lightweight, moisture-wicking layers; hat and sunglasses; sturdy hiking boots.
- Safety Gear: Plenty of water (1 gallon per person per day minimum), sunscreen, first aid kit.
- Camping Gear: Tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment if overnighting.
- Permits & Documents: Printouts of BLM permits (for The Wave, Coyote Buttes, Paria Canyon, etc.).
- Camera & Tripod: Essential for capturing the otherworldly landscapes.
Where to Stay
In Towns:
- Kanab, Utah – Small town with hotels, B&Bs, and restaurants (see hotels)
- Page, Arizona – More services, lodging options, and Lake Powell nearby (see hotels)
Things to Know Before You Go
- Permits Required: The Wave, Coyote Buttes South, and Paria Canyon all require advance or lottery permits.
- Weather: Extreme summer heat, flash floods in monsoon season (July–September), and snow in winter are possible. Spring and fall are ideal.
- Road Conditions: Many sites require 4WD and sand-driving experience. Always check conditions before setting out.
- Leave No Trace: This is a fragile desert environment. Pack out all trash and avoid stepping on delicate formations.
- Connectivity: Cell service is limited to nonexistent, plan accordingly.
Similar places to visit
Final Thoughts
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is a dream destination for adventurous travelers who want to experience some of the Southwest’s most striking landscapes. Whether you’re lucky enough to secure a permit for The Wave or you explore hidden gems like White Pocket and Coyote Buttes South, your time here will be unforgettable. With preparation, respect for the land, and a spirit of adventure, your first visit will leave you eager to return to this otherworldly desert wonder.
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I’ve been to the Vermillion Cliffs on several occasions, but a word of warning: for two visits to exploratory hikes (one was White Pocket), we hired a tour company to get us there, since they are virtually IMPOSSIBLE to reach with routine transportation due to the miles of entry roads with VERY deep sand, requiring 4-wheel drive vehicles. The drivers we hired had to let air out of the tires to prevent getting stuck in the sand–to get towed out is mucho bucks. We are excited that in November we are hiking to the Wave, because I finally won the lottery after about 20 tries. To echo what others have said–everything in the Vermillion Cliffs is spectacular!
Yeah hiring a tour company to get you there is the safest bet. I’ve driven through these places and a novice driver (and even advanced one at that) will have difficulty getting through that rough terrain. A 4×4 is necessary to get there, but it is also a fun trip to explore with/without tour guides, but be warned, if you have any doubts, hire someone either in Kanab or Page.
Hi Vitaliy. Thanks for the info on Vermilion Cliffs. Looks like there are some beautiful canyons to explore. I have not explored this region and I am a casual hiker so which one of these would you recommend for a starter hike? Looks like you could get turned around pretty quick so I would want something to start with that has good trail markers and guidance. All the best. Dave
Hi Dave, for starter hikes there, possibly a portion of Cathedral Wash (first area), and White Pocket would be awesome ones to explore. I’ve labeled the easy hikes on the list too so you can filter it out that way.
Thanks for sharing this resource with the best hiking trails at Vermilion Cliffs. I am in the planning phase of a trip there, and this has been very helpful narrowing down the best things to do (since we know we won’t be able to see them all). I definitely want to do the spectacular-looking wave hike, but it is helpful to know that access depends on a lottery system and to have an alternate plan.
The Wave itself is amazing (I have yet to see it though), but the whole region is one giant gem of adventures and scenic hikes and these other ones are certainly worth checking out Aly. Hope you have an awesome trip there!
We are heading west after some rv exploring on the west coast. Arizona seems to have some amazing spots for hiking. I am older so not really up for the difficult hikes. As well, we probably will not have fixed dates for anything so permits would not be a good choice. However, it seems like there are several hikes that you recommend that are easy to moderate without permits. I am going to do some checking to see if there are dispersed camping areas near the Vermillion Cliffs National Park. Thanks for the info.
Yeah there’s numerous hikes for which permits won’t be needed here, but you may have to pass for a day pass (for your car), but after that, it’s just impromptu spots to explore all around. The scenic drives around this area are also highly recommended!