White Pocket Arizona: What You Need To Know Before You Go

Thinking about visiting White Pocket Arizona? It’s worth it. Here is everything you need to know before you go, including location, directions, tours, life-or-death tips and more.

First, is White Pocket worth visiting?

White Pocket is 100% worth visiting. Although the journey to get to White Pocket is not easy (doable, but not easy), the otherworldly landscapes of White Pocket are definitely worth your time, especially if you were hoping to win a lottery permit to The Wave for your trip.

White Pocket is a rocky wilderness area filled with wavy volcanic formations, bubbly white hills and Mars-red desert rock. The scenery at White Pocket is unlike anything you’ll see outside of Arizona, making it a bucket list road trip destination. You truly feel like you’re on another planet at here. Everyone from my Arizona group trip agreed that White Pocket was the best road trip stop.

White Pocket Arizona is very similar to The Wave in Arizona. White Pocket is the best alternative to The Wave, which means if you weren’t able to win a lottery permit for The Wave, you can still experience a very similar Mars-like landscape at White Pocket.

Where is White Pocket Arizona?

Geographic coordinates: 36.955011, -111.893296

White Pocket Arizona is located in Marble Canyon on road BLM 1086. It is on the north side of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument in between highways 89 and 89A, just southeast of The Wave. The closest major cities near White Pocket are Kanab, Utah, and Page, Arizona. Kanab, Utah, is a 2 hour and 10 minute drive to White Pocket. Page, Arizona, is a 2 hour and 15 minute drive to White Pocket.

White Pocket Arizona Map

White Pocket Arizona does not have any marked trails. Therefore, there is no park map needed for your visit to White Pocket. You are free to explore White Pocket leisurely, responsibly and at your own risk. You can find the official BLM map for driving to White Pocket here.

White Pocket directions From Kanab, Utah

To get to White Pocket from Kanab, Utah, take US-89 to House Rock Road/House Rock Valley Road (BLM 1065) in Coconino County. From House Rock Valley Road (BLM 1065), turn onto BLM 1017. Drive east on BLM 1017 for 6.2 miles. Then, drive northeast on BLM 1087. Continue on BLM 1087 until it diverges into BLM 1086 and BLM 1087. Stay left onto BLM 1086 until you reach the White Pocket trailhead and parking lot. You may have to open BLM gates to pass through, which is totally acceptable. Leave the gates as they were when you arrived to them.

White Pocket Directions From Page, ARizona

To get to White Pocket from Page, Arizona, take US-89 to House Rock Road/House Rock Valley Road (BLM 1065). From House Rock Valley Road (BLM 1065), turn onto BLM 1017. Drive east on BLM 1017 for 6.2 miles. Then, drive northeast on BLM 1087. Continue on BLM 1087 until it diverges into BLM 1086 and BLM 1087. Stay left onto BLM 1086 until you reach the White Pocket trailhead and parking lot. You may have to open BLM gates to pass through, which is totally acceptable. Leave the gates as they were when you arrived to them.

Can you drive to White Pocket Arizona?

Yes, you can absolutely drive to White Pocket Arizona if you have a 4×4 vehicle. You do not have to take a guided tour if you don’t want to. There is a free parking lot at the White Pocket trailhead for you to park your car. White Pocket is most accessible with a 4×4 vehicle from Kanab, Utah, or Page, Arizona.

Is it hard to get to White Pocket?

It is not hard to get to White Pocket if you have a 4×4 vehicle. The road to White Pocket is very bumpy, but very worth it. Note, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles are different. Here, four-wheel drive is essential. There are signs to White Pocket that mandate four-wheel drive. If you do not have a 4×4 vehicle at White Pocket, you risk getting stuck in deep sand on your own dime. Cell phone service is sparse around White Pocket. Rescues can take hours or even days.

If you do not have a 4×4 vehicle and are coming from Page, you can rent a Jeep for the day from Jeep BNB. The owner was casual, and the vehicle was fully equipped with a spare tire and shovel in case you get stuck. If you’re driving a camper van or rented an all-wheel driving thinking it would suffice like I did, this day rental is a great option.

White Pocket Arizona Tours

If you do not have a 4×4 vehicle or do not want to drive to White Pocket yourself, you can still visit by taking a White Pocket tour, such as the ROAM East Zion White Pocket Adventure from Kanab or a private White Pocket tour from Kanab. If visiting from Page, I again recommend renting a 4×4 from Jeep BNB or driving to Kanab to meet up with a guided tour.

How far of a hike is White Pocket Arizona?

White Pocket is only a 5-10 minute walk away from the parking lot. Once you’re on White Pocket, there are no marked trails. Visitors are encouraged to explore leisurely. You should plan to spend at least 1-3 hours hiking around White Pocket.

White Pocket Arizona Permit

No permits are required to visit White Pocket. And, you don’t need any admission ticket to enter White Pocket. Although permits are required for nearby hikes, such as Coyote Buttes North (The Wave), Coyote Buttes South and overnight stays in Paria Canyon, no permits are required for White Pocket because it is on BLM land.

That being said, you still need to take deliberate precautions to protect White Pocket and follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles.

Where can I camp at White Pocket?

You can camp in any existing campsites at White Pocket. Camping is free and primitive at White Pocket, as White Pocket is on BLM land. Keep each campsite small and follow Leave No Trace Principles. There are no hookups or toilets at White Pocket, so make sure to bury any human waste away from the campsite and at least 6″ underground. You cannot collect firewood at White Pocket, so bring firewood with you if needed. As always, pack out everything you bring in. This includes camping gear, trash, toilet paper and food.

Essential White Pocket Arizona Tips

In addition, note that the White Pocket wilderness is very isolated, which means rescue missions can take hours, if not days. Be responsible and visit at your own risk. Vital tips for visiting White Pocket include:

• Bring plenty of water (there are no fresh water sources near White Pocket).
• Fill up your gas tank before visiting (there are no nearby gas stations).
• Wear sunscreen and sun protection.
• Only bring shoes with good traction.
• Wear proper hiking clothes.
• Bring food.
• Do not risk driving to White Pocket without a 4×4 vehicle (deep sand).
• Bring a shovel in case your car gets stuck.
• Do not visit after a heavy rain storm (the roads become quicksand when wet).

There’s everything you need to know about visiting White Pocket Arizona! Have any more questions? Feel free to ask your questions in the reply section below or by sending me a private message on Instagram.

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