Pictures courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona -Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.
Campground Overview:
This remote and unspoiled, 280,000-acre monument bumps up against the Utah/Arizona border, where the wooded Paria Plateau stretches south, dropping 3,000 feet at the monument’s namesake—the Vermilion Cliffs. Paria Canyon, a sinuous slot canyon along the Paria River, cuts across the northeast corner of the monument and offers a true wilderness experience for those who want to explore.
Most people visiting the monument today come to see The Wave, Buckskin Gulch, and Paria Canyon, which are all located in the northwest part of the monument generally called Coyote Buttes. These incredibly scenic features, with their vibrant colors and intriguing forms, attract photographers, artists, and tourists alike. Once little visited, the area is now so popular that people compete for the chance to see the sandstone formations and sinuous slot canyons. Hundreds of people vie daily (through a lottery and walk-in system) for the 20 permits the BLM issues for Coyote Buttes North (The Wave). Overnight trips in Coyote Buttes South (Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon) also require competitive permits, but exploring these canyons is worth the advanced planning. With miles of constricted walls, Buckskin Gulch is the longest slot canyon in the world. You can acquire day-use permits for Buckskin Gulch and Coyote Buttes South at certain trailheads.
Campsites:
There are two developed campgrounds just outside the Monument: Stateline Campground and White House. Dispersed camping is allowed outside the wilderness area in previously disturbed areas.
Located on the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument includes the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. The monument borders Kaibab National Forest to the west and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to the east. From Flagstaff, travel north of U.S. Highway 89 or 89A. From Kanab, Utah take U.S. Highway 89 to the east or 89A to the south. There are no paved roads within the monument.
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Dispersed |
Season: |
Year-Round |
Nearby City: |
Page |
Fishing: |
Colorado River |
Campground Website: |
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is a 294,000-acre monument geological treasure, containing Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes and Paria Canyon. Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area is nationally known for its beauty. The Paria Canyon has towering walls streaked with desert varnish, huge red rock amphitheaters, sandstone arches, wooded terraces, and hanging gardens. The 3,000-foot escarpment known as the Vermilion Cliffs dominates the remainder of the wilderness with its thick Navajo sandstone face, steep, boulder-strewn slopes, rugged arroyos and stark overall appearance. Some of the best slot canyon hiking opportunities on the Colorado Plateau are found here.
Coyote Buttes and Paria Canyon’s outstanding scenery, desert wildlife, colorful history, and opportunities for primitive recreation will remain free from the influence of man and are protected in this condition for future generations. Its 112,500 acres beckon adventurers who yearn for solitude, scenic splendor, and the chance to explore one of the most beautiful geologic formations in the world. Permits are required!
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is located north, across the boarder into Utah. Grand Staircase-Escalante spans many acres of America’s public lands and contains three distinct units, Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon. The Monument was the last place in the continental United States to be mapped.From its spectacular Grand Staircase of cliffs and terraces, across the rugged Kaiparowits Plateau, to the wonders of the Escalante River Canyons, the Monument is a diverse geologic treasure speckled with monoliths, slot canyons, natural bridges, and arches.
Grand Canyon National Park, located about an hour from the entrance of. The park is one of the most popular National Parks in America with more than five million visitors each year. The history of the Grand Canyon goes back approximately six million years, with the Colorado River being the focal point of its creation. Over these millions of years, the Colorado River slowly eroded the land beneath it forming the spectacularly deep canyon that we all know today. Grand Canyon National Park- North Rim, (Park Map) is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon, with its layered bands of red rock revealing millions of years of geological history. The drive to Cape Royal is a scenic drive along the North Rim. Viewpoints along the ride include Point Imperial, Roosevelt Point, Walhalla Overlook, and ends at Cape Royal.
Located at the Walhall Overlook, the Walhalla Glades Pueblo Nine hundred years ago, people were living at Walhalla Glades. The site was a summer home to families for over 100 years. Walhalla Plateau is a “peninsula” surrounded on three sides by the Grand Canyon. The elevation in this area is a bit lower than most of the North Rim of Grand Canyon, and updrafts of warm air from the inner canyon allow the winter snows to melt earlier from Walhalla Plateau than from other rim areas. This made Walhalla a favorable place for ancestral people to farm.
Nearby Campgrounds:
Campground full or want to see what’s around? Try one of these campgrounds located nearby
