Our Visit To Vermilion Cliffs National Monument In Arizona
The Vermilion Cliffs National Monument covers over 290,000 acres and is located in Coconino County in Arizona.
It was established on November 9, 2000 by a presidential proclamation by President Bill Clinton and is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
The Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes, and Paria Canyon are some of the diverse landscapes that can be found in the monument. The monument is bordered by Kaibab National Forest and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which are also incredible places to visit.
This unique wilderness is known for it’s incredible landscapes and is very popular for hiking. Please note you must have a permit to hike in Coyote Buttes North which is home to “The Wave”, the most popular spot in the monument.
After almost two years of travel Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is one of our favorite places we have visited. We spent two weeks boondocking in the monument and just fell in love.
From our boondocking location we got to see the brilliant colors of the sandstone in the Vermillion Cliffs change throughout the day and it was truly spectacular.
The rock formations and the layers of richly colored rock are just incredible and we never got tired of exploring the area.
We unfortunately never got around to hiking “The Wave”, but it is the top thing on our to-do list on our next visit. We still got to to do multiple hikes though that were a lot of fun and even found a closed up abandoned mine shaft.
Highway 89A is the only paved road through the monument and there are multiple pull-offs along the road for hikes, views and historical locations. Be sure to check out the Dominquez-Escalante Trail location as well as the Cliff Dwellers Stone House.
Marble Canyon bordered our boondocking spot and we spent a lot of time exploring there. The Colorado River flows through the canyon and we saw quite a few people kayaking down the river during our stay.
The canyon itself is just as breathtaking as the monument it resides in.
Right outside the monument is the Navajo Bridge And Interpretive Center and it’s free to visit. Visitors can walk across the old bridge and gaze at the Colorado River below while admiring the incredible views. There are a lot of informational plaques outside providing history on the bridge.
A gift shop can be found inside the center.
While visiting the Navajo Bridge you may be lucky enough to spot an endangered California condor. They spend a lot of time hanging out by the bridge and since the are one of the world’s largest birds they are hard to miss.
They were released here in 1996 and their reintroduction into the area was a big success. The best time to see them is in the morning and we saw at least half a dozen during our visit.
On a side note, pets are welcome to walk the bridge as well.
Lee’s Ferry is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and is located right near the entrance to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. The area is completely worth setting aside a day to explore if you have the time. There are a few hikes to check out including the river trail which is quite beautiful.
The Lonely Dell Ranch Historic District is also located inside the recreation area and is a fun little walk with a lot of history.
Pets are allowed inside the recreation area as well.
This is a fee area, but it is covered by the America the Beautiful pass.
The greatest part of Lee’s Ferry is the beach.
That’s right, smack dab in the middle of the desert is a beach to sink your feet into. Paria beach is where the Paria river meets the Colorado River and the whole river runs right through the canyon.
Lee’s Ferry acts as a launching point for rafters, kayakers and paddleboarders traveling down the river all the way to the Grand Canyon. There were a ton of people on the river the day we visited and I was so jealous, maybe next trip.
Even though the water was frosty I just had to take a dip. I didn’t last long, but it was so worth it after months of boondocking in the desert. The pets had a great time just running on the beach and hanging out.
There are a couple businesses in the monument catering to outdoor adventures including rafting and fishing trips. There is a small gas station and even a laundromat with showers, but if you’re looking for any real supplies (especially at a reasonable price) you’re out of luck.
The nearest Walmart is almost an hour away in Page, Arizona. We made the trip once in our two week stay and since we were in town we finally got to visit Horseshoe Bend which was a destination on my bucket list.
It did not disappoint and was completely worth the $10 parking fee.
If you wanna make a day trip out of your visit to Page check out Glen Canyon Dam and the Carl Hayden Visitor Center. There is also a ton of hiking in the area if your looking for a little more adventure. We only had time to hike the Hanging Garden Trail, but really enjoyed it.
If you are anywhere near Vermilion Cliffs National Monument In Arizona during your travels I highly recommend taking some time to explore the area, because you won’t be disappointed. There is plenty of free boondocking in the monument so you will have a spot to park for the night.
Even if you don’t have time to fully explore the area at least take the drive on HWY 89A through the monument and just stare in awe at all the colors and beauty surrounding you. There are scenic viewpoints to pull off at and the historical sites are a quick stop as well.
The rest of the pictures at the end of this post are just some random shots taken during our exploration of the monument. For more details on the various activities we did during our stay click on the links in the post.
I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful we thought this place was and how much we loved staying here. We can’t wait to get back and I think if you visit, you’ll fall in love as well.