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North Coyote Buttes (AKA the Wave), Arizona

North Coyote Buttes, also known as “The Wave” is truly one of the most magical places I have ever visited. Each time we go, there are new wonders to explore. Everything from dinosaur tracks to incredible lace rock to intricately cut alcoves with sand dunes can be found here. This March, some of our canyoneering friends came to visit from out of state. Due to threatening weather, we took them to White Pockets and played the daily lottery from the top of the butte. Fortuitously, our friend Jess won the lottery, so we got to go for our fifth time and play tour guide. Let’s start with the basics. The Wave is one of the most difficult permits to obtain in the United States. Only 64 people per day are allowed to visit, with thousands of entries to the lottery. There are two types of lotteries, daily and advance. [...]

By |2024-04-25T15:44:23+00:00March 13, 2024|arizona, hike|0 Comments
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White Pocket, Arizona

The Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, on the border or Utah and Arizona, is one of the greatest geological treasures in the United States. Deep within its heart, hidden in a maze of sandy roads are three incredible sites, all located within several miles of each other: The Wave (North Coyote Buttes), South Coyote Buttes and White Pocket. Of these three sites, White Pocket is the only one currently accessible without a permit. Many years ago, on our first trip to the southwest, my husband and I booked a tour of White Pocket and it proved to be the gateway drug that led to us eventually moving to southern Utah. So be careful! A trip here might just change your life 😊. Located in a fairly small area, you may want to allocate three to four hours for the hike. The drive might take two or more hours each way. [...]

By |2024-03-21T02:12:00+00:00March 11, 2024|arizona, hike|0 Comments
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Thousand Pockets, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona

If you’re craving solitude and a fascinating introduction to how water impacts the desert, Thousand Pockets right near Page, Arizona might be a great winter hike for you. Winter or early spring is a great time to visit this corner of the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, particularly after rain or snow. Precipitation helps compact the very sandy roads and makes this drive a lot safer and more pleasant. It’s also best to visit when the water pockets are full to get the full experience of water in the desert. There is no permit required to visit this area. A four-wheel drive vehicle with good clearance is highly recommended to get to the trailhead as there are a couple areas with rock "steps" to drive over and much of the drive is in deep sand. The trailhead can be located by navigating to "Thousand Pockets, Arizona" on Google maps, but [...]

By |2024-03-21T02:24:20+00:00February 14, 2024|arizona, hike|0 Comments
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South Coyote Buttes, Arizona

Deep in the middle of the desert, in the heart of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, down some very sketchy sandy roads, lies an amazing place called the South Coyote Buttes. The only way to really describe this magical place is to imagine Dali and Gaudi getting together and directing sandstone erosion for a few million years. There are bright colors, crazy shapes, beautiful views. South Coyote Buttes is adjacent to another area you might have heard of called the North Coyote Buttes, also known as "The Wave", that we have visited before several times. South Coyote Buttes is a fantastic alternative to The Wave, which is extremely difficult to get into. It also requires a permit, but is much easier to obtain, especially in the winter months when visitation is down. To obtain a permit, you have a couple of options. You can join the general lottery four [...]

By |2024-03-21T02:35:02+00:00December 11, 2022|arizona, hike|1 Comment
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