Off-the-beaten path: White Pocket

When it comes to off-the-beaten-path hiking destinations in Southern Utah, The Wave, Wire Pass, and Buckskin Gulch get the glory, and it’s justified. However, don't sleep on White Pocket and the other formations within the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. With the exception of North and South Coyote Buttes, none of these alternatives require a hard-to-get permit. White Pocket is our favorite these days, a seemingly endless expanse of formations, colors, and textures. Much larger than The Wave, we discover new coves, pathways, and lunch spots every visit. Most of White Pocket sits above the desert floor and offers great views into the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument all the way to Powell Point.

Access to this gem can be tricky. We've been in our Toyota FJ and on our ATV several times. We can ride the quad right from BaseCamp 37°, climbing over the Kaibab Plateau and dropping down the other side, or we can drive around on the pavement to House Rock Valley Road, entering in the south from US 89A or the north from US 89. Regardless of your route and vehicle, expect 90-120 minutes of travel time each way from BaseCamp 37°. The roads in Vermillion Cliffs are basically sandy paths with varying depths and steep climbs here and there. Certainly passable for a sturdy 4x4 with an experienced driver and air compressor, but not advisable to anyone in a passenger vehicle.

For those on an ATV, the trip takes closer to 90 minutes and is about 45 miles each way from BaseCamp 37°, the first 30 miles is very easy, with some route finding needed to reach the main gravel road that takes you over the Kaibab Plateau. Once you get to Lone Tree Reservoir, the fun begins on an ATV, with tight, twisty turns and plenty of ups and downs in the soft sand.

These are our preferred resources when planning a trip to White Pocket. We've found All Trails to be very helpful with driving and hiking directions. If you want to leave the driving to others, we recommend Dreamland Safari Tours, located just up the gravel road from BaseCamp 37°.