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Hiking Forum The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Coyote Buttes, The Wave, Paria Canyon and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument!
Stay in Mt. Carmel Jct., the heart of the parks, and visit
the treasures of the Southwest.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Paria Canyon vacation
with our Utah and Arizona maps.
In these pages you will find insiders information on the best
Coyote Buttes hikes. This detailed
guide includes road maps, permits, park maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking,
history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds.
Utah!
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Paria Canyon Directions
From Mount Carmel Junction, drive 17 miles to Kanab. Leave Kanab, drive 40 miles
east on Highway 89. The turn-off is located on the south (right side coming from
Kanab) side of the road. Its between mile markers 25 and 26, at a curve in the
road, at the end of a guard rail. Turn at the unmarked dirt road. This is House
Rock Road.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
House Rock Valley Road and
Lone Tree Reservoir Intersection
36°54.876 N
112°03.079 W
Paw Hole Trailhead and Parking
(South Coyote Buttes Permit Area)
36°55.394 N
112°01.080 W
Gate 1
36°55.501 N
112°00.369 W
Gate 2
36°55.613 N
112°00.197 W
Windmill at Poverty Flat Ranch
36°55.561 N
111°57.920 W
Corral at Fence Line
36°56.569 N
111°56.713 W
Arch
36°56.221 N
111°55.497 W
White Pocket Parking
and Trailhead
36°57.328 N
111°53.734 W
Optional entrance to Poverty Flat
Windmill on road 1017
36 51.699 N
112 03.781 W
Stateline Campground
It's 10 miles to the Stateline Campground from Highway 89. There are only 4 spots,
so if you want to camp get a spot early. It's first come first use. Two of the
camp sights are in Utah and two are in Arizona. There is no water, but there
are vault toilets.
Coyote Buttes Special Permit Offices
Arizona Strip Field Office: 345 East Riverside Drive St. George, Utah 84790 435.688.3200
Kanab Office: 318 N 100 E Kanab, Utah 84741 435.644.4600.
Paria Contact Station: Located south of Highway 89 between mile post 21 and 22,
between Kanab and Page, Arizona.
This article by Bo and Tanya was published in the Today in Dixie Magazine
Suggested
Gear: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike in Paria Canyon. Quality
shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced hikers like the
Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.
Beta: Coordinates, trail and canyoneering information by Zion
Park search and rescue veteran team member, Bo
Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
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Paria Canyon - White Pocket
The area of White Pocket on the Paria Plateau in Northern Arizona is very impressive indeed! While many are lured and wait their turn to visit the infamous "Wave" in the North Coyote Buttes, the "White Pocket" area to the east is seldom visited. Maybe because of its remoteness or the requirement of 4WD to access the area. The impressive White Pocket will fill the senses beyond imagination! The drive to the swirling, twisted, multicolored natural artwork is an adventure in its own right, and the exploration by foot is endless. Whether spending just a couple of hours or an entire weekend, "White Pocket" will surely become "top of the top" in the list of special places. This area has colors, shapes and textures that are hard to beat, but remember that it is an extremely fragile environment and the utmost care should be taken to preserve this place. Tread lightly and make it a point to see if you can leave the area without anyone ever having known that you were there. Stay on the slickrock when possible, but be careful not to snap off thin fins and don't trample the delicate vegetation between the small mounds of beautiful stone. This area should, and can be, saved for any and all that visit in the future.
White Pocket at a Glance
Photo Album: White Pocket Photos
Topo Map: White Pocket Map
Day Hike: Yes
Distance: 4 miles round trip.
Average Hiking Time: 3 hours.
Equipment: Sticky Rubber Hiking Shoes, 3 quarts of water per person, sun protective clothing, Map and compass (GPS optional).
Difficulty: Moderate.
Permits: Not required.
Trailhead: Off Highway 89 between Page, AZ and Kanab, UT. South Coyote Buttes Area.
Trailend: Same as trailhead.
Trail Access: Year-round but if the road is wet or there is melting snow it could be impassable. A 4WD is required.
Off the Beaten Path: Yes
Best Season: This is a year-round as long as the road is drivable.
Directions to White Pocket
From Kanab, drive 40 miles east on Highway 89. The turn onto House Rock Valley Road is located on the south side of the road (right side driving from Kanab). It is located between mile markers 25 and 26, before a sweeping left hand curve in the road, prior to a guard rail protecting the curve. Slow down and turn right just before the guard rail. This north-south running road is House Rock Valley Road. The road soon becomes dirt and may be impassible if wet. Continue past the Wirepass Trailhead (8.4 miles from Highway 89) to the Utah - Arizona state line. This is the border of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah and the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona. Keep driving south for another 8.1 miles past the Wire Pass Trailhead and look for the dirt road that turns left and to Lone Tree Reservoir. At this point there are two options to arrive at Poverty Flat. Poverty Flat is the junction to the east which is necessary to locate to continue further to either Cottonwood Spring (South Coyote Buttes) or White Pocket even further to the east.
Turn left at Lone Tree Reservoir and follow the main, sandy 4WD road to the east for 2.5 miles to the Paw Hole trailhead. Beyond Paw Hole the road becomes even deeper sand and may require tire deflation to prevent becoming stuck. The next 3 miles to the Windmill at Poverty Flat Ranch is deep sand and quite rugged in places. The road will pass through two gates. Close the gates after passing through them.
(Alternative route to the Poverty Flat Ranch and Windmill Intersection: At the Lone Tree Reservoir/ House Rock Valley Road Intersection you may opt to continue another 4 miles to the south on House Rock Valley Road to the road intersection 1017. Turn left (east) on 1017 and then travel 3 miles east to the junction bearing north-east and another 3 miles to Red Pocket. Traveling north-east for another 2.5 miles puts you at the Ranch and Windmill, and the junction to either Cottonwood Spring or White Pocket. This option of driving is longer, but does not require 4WD until after the Windmill.)
Once at the Windmill, travel northeast passing the windmill just on your left and a group of buildings on your right. The road now becomes quite sandy as it ascends a hill, toward a large water tank resting on a knoll 100 yards away. Be sure to keep up momentum and follow this sandy road to the east and then north for 1.8 miles until it arrives at a corral and fence. At this point the road will turn right and follow alongside the fence for a short time and continues east for 2.8 miles and then steers northeast for another 1.5 miles
and ends in a very sandy area by a lone juniper tree. This is the parking area and trailhead. "White Pocket" monolith will have been visible during the drive at various times, and at the trailhead/parking area it is just a half mile to the west.
There is no formal trail established, but it will soon be evident that wandering and exploring is the main fare. Immediately from arriving, and walking toward "White Pocket" the slickrock formations will lure and amaze with the unique colors and texture. Take time to look over the extensive formations and then maybe drop down into the valley below and head for a circumnavigation of the "White Pocket" monolith to the west? There is much to see, but remember to tread lightly and preserve the landscape as you found it.
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