VERMILLION CLIFFS OF ARIZONA
Adventure brief: Blue skies, red cliffs, coral pink dunes.
KOGAI looking like a matchbox van next to the rocks along HWY 89
Taking advantage of time based in Arizona, we planned a quick vanventure north, touring the aptly named Vermillion Cliffs National Monument and surrounding areas. Located directly south of the Utah boarder where HWY 89 crosses the mighty Colorado River, we found this place to be stunning and wonderfully quiet in October.
Highlights:
Lees Ferry Campground + Paria Beach on the Colorado River
Vermillion Cliffs viewed from HWY 89
Toadstools State Park in Grand Escalante National Monument
Lees Ferry Campground and Glen Canyon
We left Phoenix, bound for Lees Ferry Campground—our base for adventures. Lees Ferry is situated along the Colorado River and features a campground with 54 first come sites at $20/Night. There’s an incredible sandy beach to explore on the riverfront along with bathrooms, shelters, and fire pits. We lucked out and snagged a spot situated along the base of the cliffs.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
From Lees Ferry Campground, the drive along HWY 89 toward Kanab, UT and Coral Pink Sand Dunes Park is full of stunning views of the Vermillion Cliffs. The town of Kanab is quaint—a few shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and a modern visitors center. Backcountry permits are needed for most of the area's more famous spots including the Wave. We tried our hand with the day of auction for a permit to the Wave…and failed. The auction is worth it for the analog entertainment value. Hundreds of people huddled into a gymnasium while the announcer spins a lottery ball contraption and calls each winning number. For more info on the iconic site we didn’t get to explore, check out THE WAVE.
Koda loved running around Coral Pink Sand Dunes Park
Toadstools Hike in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
We planned a round-trip back to Lees Ferry Campground our first day exploring so we opted to head east from Kanab, UT and explore a teeny tiny bit of Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument. Grand Staircase is massive, encompassing 1.9 million acres of land—that’s the size of Delaware for scale, assuming you’ve been to Delaware. I’ve not but let’s just say it’s just BIG. We stopped for a hike and some photography with Koda, exploring a few miles of the Toadstool trails. Entry is free to meander your way around the site. I’ve seen some awesome night photography of this location. Worth a stop.
