A Geological Wonderland- The Vermilion Cliffs wilderness and National Monument

Vermilion Cliffs 

Vermilion Cliffs are Known for their colorful swirls of slick rock, a dream world filled with fantastical rock formations. The place is very popular due to its Wave like formation, White Pockets, and Buckskin Gulch, a slot canyon. This National Monument bumps up near the Utah/Arizona border, where the wooded Paria Plateau stretches south at the monument’s namesake the Vermilion Cliffs. Paria Canyon is a sinuous slot canyon along the Paria River, that cuts across the northeast corner of the monument and offers a true wilderness place to explore. A campground has nicely spaced sites separated by pinon and juniper trees. All of the sites can be viewed from Coyote Valley, which is made up of colorful layers of Chinle, Kayenta, Moenave, and Navajo Sandstone. The trail to the bench is also the beginning of the 1287-kilometer Arizona Trail that winds across Arizona to end at the Mexico border. The Vermilion Cliffs are the 2nd step up in the 5-step Grand Staircase of the Colorado Plateau, in northern Arizona and southern Utah. They extend west from near Page, Arizona, and Utah. 45,500 ha of the region was designated as the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness in 1984.

Geography and Geology

Vermilion cliffs are found along U.S. Highway 89A near Navajo Bridge close to Bitter Springs. Highway 89A runs alongside the Vermilion Cliffs for most of its route between Jacob Lake and Marble Canyon and offers a great view of the cliffs. In the spring the valley between Highway 89 and the Vermilion Cliffs will be covered with a carpet of desert mallow and other spring flowers.

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The Vermilion Cliffs are composed of the red sandstone beds of the Lower Jurassic Moenave and Kayenta Formations. They are made up of deposited silt and desert dunes, cemented by carbonates and intensely colored by red iron oxide and other minerals, particularly bluish manganese. They are located in the physiographic High Plateaus Section and Canyon Lands Section of the Colorado Plateau Province.

Things To Do Vermilion Cliffs Utah

These incredibly scenic features, with their vibrant colors and forms, attract photographers, artists, and tourists from all around the world. Once little visited, the area is now so popular that people compete for the chance to see the sandstone formations and sinuous slot canyons.  Traveller permits for Buckskin Gulch and Coyote Buttes South at certain trailheads. Buckskin Gulch is the longest slot canyon in the world. The monument is a rugged plateau for hiking, backpacking, camping, off-roading, wildlife viewing, and many more. These are the best things to do in Vermilion cliff.

Coyote Buttes

Coyote Buttes are Home to The Wave and many other swirling sandstone formations. These waves are some of the world’s most famous natural phenomena. This fantasyland of sandstone on the Utah/Arizona Border consists of undulating U-shaped troughs. Due to the fragile nature of sandstone rock, access is limited and requires a permit to this area.

Buckskin Gulch

Buckskin Gulch is the longest and deepest slot canyon in the United States. A 32-kilometer long, Buckskin Gulch connects up with the Paria River and ends at Lees Ferry along the Colorado River. Visitors can begin their hike from Buckskin Gulch Trailhead or Wirepass Trailhead. Buckskin Gulch trailhead will take you 6.4 km. in an open canyon until you reach the beginning of the Buckskin Gulch slot canyon. One can also begin their hike from Wirepass trailhead. This series of slot canyons are a great hike during the peak heat of the summer as the tall canyon walls create much shade and help keep visitors cool.

White Pocket

The area of White Pocket on the Paria Plateau in Northern Arizona is very impressive, that fills the senses beyond imagination. The drive to the swirling, twisted, multicolored natural artwork by foot is an adventure. This area has colors, shapes, and textures that are an extremely fragile environment and the utmost care should be taken to preserve this place.

Marble Canyon

Marble Canyon is a scenic section along the canyon of the Colorado River from the Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell to the confluence of the Little Colorado River. The best location in Marble Canyon is Lee’s Ferry where boats are available for excursions on the Colorado River. Some motorized sightseeing boat trips go upriver from Lee’s Ferry to the bottom of the Glen Canyon Dam. Marble Canyon is the western boundary of the Navajo Nation. Near Marble Canyon is the famous Navajo Bridge where US Highway 89A crosses the Colorado River. This is the best route for going to and from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

How to Reach vermillion Cliff

Vermilion Cliff can be reachable from Page, Arizona, and From Kanab, Utah Via Highway 89A. Permits-Permits are required for hiking in Coyote Buttes South and Coyote Buttes North. Only 20 people per day are allowed in each area. A limited number of people are accessing daily through an online walk-in lottery that takes place at the BLM Visitor Center in Kanab, Utah.