Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
4.7(1.3K)google
4.7(3)yelp
GeologyRock Formation
Overview
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is located in northern Coconino County, Arizona, United States, immediately south of the Utah state line. This national monument, 293,689 acres (118,852 ha) in area, protects the Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes, and Paria Canyon. Elevations in the monument range from 3,100 feet to 6,500 feet above sea level (944 to 1,981 meters).
Practical Info
Every dayOpen 24 hours
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeSpring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the golden seasons. In summer, surface temperatures often exceed 100°F (potentially deadly), and frequent July–August monsoon storms can wash out the only dirt road (House Rock Valley Road)
Getting ThereLocated about 30 to 50 miles west of downtown Page. Turning from US-89A onto House Rock Valley Road—a long, bumpy unpaved dirt road—is the required route to reach the trailheads of the major core hikes
Travel Tips
- This is synonymous with America's top-tier hardcore desert scenery; the world-famous "The Wave" (Coyote Buttes North) is hidden here, its terrain like frozen red waves
- Most areas in the preserve (such as The Wave, Coyote Buttes South, and White Pocket) are extremely fragile ecological zones; by law you must obtain an extremely scarce permit in advance through the U.S. government's official website to enter
- There are no paved roads at all within—everything is extremely deep soft sand and sharp rocky roads. Ordinary city SUVs easily get stuck, so you must drive a rugged high-clearance 4WD off-roader with all-terrain tires to ensure safety
Reviews
Positive
- We got incredibly lucky in the online lottery and won a permit for The Wave! When we saw with our own eyes those red-and-orange sandstone lines flowing beneath our feet, all the intense desert hiking and lottery anxiety felt totally worth it
- We drove a professionally modified off-roader to White Pocket, which requires no permit but is equally stunning—all kinds of lava rocks that look like white brains and ice cream, more sci-fi than an alien planet
Heads up
- Extremely unwelcoming to walk-in visitors; the lottery win rate is outrageously low, and ordinary tourists who travel a long way there will most likely not get in. Phone signal inside is zero, and if your car gets stuck in the sand, rescue fees can run into the thousands of dollars