An ancient Chinese proverb states that “the journey is the destination.” If you’re the sort of adventurer that likes to combine a rugged off road ride with a big payoff at the end, then read on and keep that proverb in mind. White Pocket in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument is neither easy to get to nor short on scenery. The crowds are thin and the rewards are big, so gas up your rig and get rolling to southern Utah…and beyond!
Before you read how to get there, perhaps you should know you why you’d want to go in the first place. White Pocket is an overlooked part of an amazing geographical region. Other standouts in this part of Grand Staircase and Vermillion Cliffs include The Wave, Buckskin Gulch slot canyon, and Coyote Buttes. White Pocket certainly holds its own amongst these well known attractions. Slickrock undulates and dazzles with deep oranges, reds and pale white to yellow hues. Large sections of rock have been cracked and carved into a turtleshell mosaic. Mushrooms similar to Goblin Valley State Park protrude from large clusters of rock. Small pools and pockets fill with water after rainstorms to add even more character. As you survey the area, your senses will be dazzled, and you may wonder why more folks don’t make a trip to this strange terrain.
Perhaps the best part of exploring White Pocket is the fact that there is no established trail (outside of the path that leads from the parking area to the slickrock zone). Free range exploration is the name of the game here. One can wonder about, climbing and scampering on any of the rocks. The whole place is a ready-made jungle gym of crevices, cracks and towers. Set aside a half day to check out all the nooks and crannies that White Pocket has to offer. Camping in the area is a breeze, as there are many at large sites just a stone’s throw from the parking area and main dirt road. As one local guide mentioned, White Pocket at night is truly a site to behold. If you’re sold, then read on for how to get to this little known attraction.
Getting There:
From the town of Kanab, drive 40 miles east on Highway 89. Turn right onto House Rock Valley Road (between mile marker 25 and 26). The road soon turns to graded dirt, and the adventure begins! You will pass trailheads for The Wave and Wire Pass (which provides access to Buckskin Gulch). Cross the Utah-Arizona state line and you’re now in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument area. At mile 20, make a left turn onto BLM 1017, also known as Pine Tree Road. You may want to stop and let some air out of your tires here; everything beyond this point is sand and slickrock off roading.
Bear right 3 miles in to continue on Pine Tree Road. After a total of 6 miles on the road, turn left and you will soon come to a cattle gate. Open the gate, drive on through and don’t forget to close it behind you. Four miles from the gate, bear left, and after 5 more sandy miles you will finally see the White Pocket parking area on the left side of the road. It was my experience that the deepest sand was less than a mile from the parking area, near an old cattle round-up area. Yes, it’s a heck of an effort to get here, but a destination like White Pocket deserves a hearty journey.
What were you driving that caused you to get stuck so much vs. the guides’ Tahoe?
We were in an older model Ford Explorer. It wasn’t until after we finished the drive that we realized the 4 wheel drive feature no longer worked in the vehicle (we borrowed the truck from a coworker and he failed to mention this important piece of info). It’s my feeling that if you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle with a few inches of clearance, you should make it to White Pocket without getting stuck.