Take U.S. Highway 89 and U.S. Highway Alternate 89 (89A) from Page, Arizona for approximately 30 miles to the south and west. From Kanab, Utah, take U.S. Highway Alternate 89 (89A) south and then east from Jacob Lake to the cliffs. To reach the Paria Contact Station from Kanab, take U.S. Highway 89 east approximately 41 miles. From Page, take U.S. Highway 89 west 33 miles. The Paria Contact Station is open 7 days a week from March 15 to November 15, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. MST (Utah).

 

Scenic driving, geologic sightseeing, hiking, backpacking, camping, birdwatching, photography, wildlife and plant viewing. BLM road 1065 may be impassable when wet.

 

The spectacular geology of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument encompasses sandstone formations, high cliffs, and rugged canyons. The Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is located mostly within the national monument and was designated in 1984. Paria Canyon offers an outstanding four to five-day wilderness backpacking experience. The national monument is home to desert bighorn sheep, pronghorns, and at least twenty species of raptors including California Condors, which have been reintroduced into the region.

 

Permits, available on the Internet, are required for hikes in Paria Canyon and the Coyote Buttes area. Visits to the area require special planning and awareness of potential hazards such as rugged and unmarked roads, venomous reptiles and invertebrates, extreme heat, deep sand, and flash floods.

 

No accessible facilities exist in the national monument.

 

Three lodges are located along U.S. Highway 89A west of the Navajo Bridge. Other lodging is available at Jacob Lake or in Page and Fredonia, AZ or Kanab, UT. There are two campgrounds, Stateline and White House. Dispersed camping is allowed outside of the permit areas and at least ¼ mile from designated campgrounds. Dispersed camping may occur in already disturbed areas only.

 

Limited food and supplies are available at the three lodges. The nearest source of food and supplies is Page, AZ or Kanab, UT.

 

No first aid is available within the national monument. The nearest reliable first aid is at Lees Ferry (National Park Service), approximately 30 miles west of Page, AZ. The nearest hospital is in Flagstaff, AZ, 125 miles away.

 

Hiking in foothills may be hazardous because of loose rock, steep slopes, and extreme summer temperatures. Fall through spring are the best times to visit. Restroom facilities are located at Stateline Campground, Paria Contact Station, and the Lee’s Ferry, Wire Pass, and Whitehouse trailheads, just outside the national monument.  Contact the Arizona Strip Office for additional information.