How to Visit White Pocket in Arizona (Otherworldly Beauty!)

This is one of the places where you might find yourself wondering if you’re still on planet earth, or if you’ve jetted off to Mars! White Pocket is a magical destination made up of swirls of white and orange sandstone, brain-like rocks and fabulous views. It’s a remote area that requires some effort to reach, but is worth the journey.

This guide shares exactly how to visit White Pocket, Arizona and includes tips, advice on road conditions, thoughts on going via a tour, and more! This is based on my experience visiting White Pocket in March, 2025.

Please make sure to leave no trace when you visit this special place. It’s a remote area and it’s all of our jobs to keep it pristine. Please pack out all trash, do your research ahead of time and come prepared. Also, do your best to not trample vegetation, avoid cryptobiotic soil and if you bring hiking poles, please add rubber tips.

Full Disclaimer: I was hosted on a tour of White Pocket with Dreamland Safari Tours. As always, opinions are my own. Thank you to Dreamland Safari Tours for their generosity!

How was White Pocket Created?

White Pocket is characterized by its intricate swirls of red and white rocks. If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering what sort of forces of nature caused this to occur?

White Pocket was created from a mix of tectonic activity and erosion over millions of years. The rocks are made up of ancient sand dunes and mineral deposits that became twisted and swirled from the moving of tectonic plates. It has continued to be revealed and shaped by many years of erosion and weathering from water and wind.

Today, it’s a dreamy destination where you can let your mind roam and explore a landscape that is sure to remind you of Mars or some far away location.

How do you get to White Pocket?

White Pocket is located in a remote area within Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. While it has the title of a national monument, it’s managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) instead of the National Park Service.

You will need a 4x4 vehicle to get to White Pocket. The road has a lot of deep sand and some areas where you’ll be driving over rocks.

If you don’t have a 4x4 vehicle, or you aren’t comfortable driving in such a remote and difficult area, I highly recommend going here with a guide.

I had an amazing experience with Dreamland Safari Tours. I went on a full day White Pocket tour that included lunch and a few other stops along the way. Plus, I learned so much more about the geology and history of the area that I wouldn’t have known otherwise. My guide Phoenix also knew all of the best photo spots and had endless advice for exploring the area. I can’t recommend this company enough!

If you plan to go on your own and have the right vehicle, I recommend using the map that the BLM has provided. You’ll start by traveling on House Rock Road, which is an unpaved road that is somewhat maintained. Higher clearance is recommended, but most cars can travel on this road in good conditions (do not attempt when wet).

From the North, you’ll take Highway 89 before turning onto House Rock Road. From the south, you’ll take Highway 89A. House Rock Road is also the road that The Wave, Buckskin Gulch and more are located off of.

To reach White Pocket, you’ll need to turn off of House Rock Road and take a 4x4 road that is much rougher and not maintained. You will turn onto BLM 1017 and start by traveling about 6 miles to Pine Tree Pocket Ranch. After the ranch, you’ll continue on BLM 1087 and 1086 for about 10 more miles. This is the area where the road is the roughest, and you’ll be traveling in deep sand. Be sure to refer to the BLM map for details.

White Pocket is located a little over 2 hours from Kanab and from Page.

Tip: If you’re traveling from Arizona or the Southern route to reach White Pocket, you won’t be far from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon! This could be a great addition to your trip if you’re traveling during the summer.

Tips for Visiting White Pocket

• There are no restrooms or facilities at White Pocket. There are, however, pit toilet stops on House Rock Road, such as Stateline Campground.
• There is very little cell reception at White Pocket. Prepare to be off-grid by downloading offline maps. If you do a lot of off-grid adventures, I recommend the peace of mind of having a satellite messenger. I love my Garmin In-Reach mini.
• There is very little shade at White Pocket. Make sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat. Watch out for any cryptobiotic soil and if you bring hiking poles, please add rubber tips so you don’t scratch the rocks.

Are there trails at White Pocket?

There are no specific, defined trails on White Pocket. You can explore freely as you wish and it’s a pretty big area to explore. I walked about 2 miles during my exploration of White Pocket.

Fun Fact: You can actually see Bryce Canyon National Park in the distance from White Pocket!

Should you visit White Pocket on a tour or on your own?

As I mentioned above, White Pocket is quite remote and requires a 4x4 vehicle to reach it. If you don’t have a 4x4 vehicle or aren’t comfortable driving in rough conditions, doing a tour is 100% worth it!

My tour with Dreamland Safari Tours was fantastic. It was a small group (just one other family of 3 with my husband and I) and we didn’t have to worry about any of the driving or navigation. Plus, they provided lunch, snacks and even gave us nice water bottles.

However, the best part was gaining a greater appreciation for the area by learning about the geology, history and other nearby sights from a knowledgeable guide. I’m used to going places on my own and it’s such a nice change of pace to get to know a local who has so much knowledge about the area.

So if you’re considering a tour with Dreamland Safari Tours, go for it - I don’t think you’ll regret it! In addition to White Pocket, they have several other tours of the area, such as The Wave, South Coyote Buttes, the Grand Staircase, the Peekaboo Slot Canyon and more.

What else is nearby White Pocket?

This part of the US is incredible and there is so much to see and explore nearby. Here are a few other natural places to consider during your trip to the Southwest.

• Buckskin Gulch
• The North Rim of the Grand Canyon (typically only open from mid-May to mid-October).
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
• The Toadstool Hoodoos
• Zion National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Horseshoe Bend
• Antelope Canyon

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide helps you plan a trip to White Pocket, which is definitely a place that belongs on your Southwest bucket list. Whether you’re looking for additional stops on a trip to Page or Kanab, or you're taking a road trip all over the Southwest, this incredible place is worth a visit.

For more Southwest USA travel guides, check out these blogs:

• The Best Things To Do in Kanab, UT
• How to Spend 3 Days in Sedona, Arizona
• An Epic Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip
• The Best Things To Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
• How to Spend 3 Days in Moab, UT
• How to Spend 2 Days in Zion National Park
• How to Spend 1 Day at Capitol Reef National Park

Thanks for Reading!