White Pocket
WHITE POCKET
Vermilion Cliffs, AZ
For a photographer, the American Southwest is like the Willie Wonka factory - with never-ending possibilities and excitement everywhere you look. And visiting the White Pocket, in the middle of nowhere Arizona, is like finding the Golden Ticket.
This small, intriguing rock formation (only 300 yards long x 800 yards wide) in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is filled with some of the most intriguing extraterrestrial-looking shapes you will find anywhere on the planet. From brain-rock to swirls, the red and yellow sandstone abstracts provide boundless photographic opportunities that are only limitedby your imagination. But like most unique places, this one is very hard to get to and is only accessible if you come well-prepared and committed.
Some formations at the White Pockets are delicate and could be damaged if subjected to a large number of hikers. I would ask that when you visit, please do your best to preserve all aspects of this location for future visitors and always try to leave it in better shape than when you found it.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - HARD to EXTREME
I rate the difficulty of this trail as a 5 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The drive to the White Pocket is 36 miles, and it takes about 2 1/2 hours to get there (from US89). The majority of the long drive is on ranch-style dirt roads. However, the last 5 miles are made up of DEEP SAND and rock sections. A 4x4 vehicle with good ground clearance and off-road tires is a must. If you get stuck, it is very difficult to dig yourself out, and the extraction cost can run up to $1,000.
Even if you have a high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle, I suggest letting air out of your tires down to 15-20 lbs of pressure. This allows your tires to expand and gives them more traction in deep sand. For this reason, you will need a portable air compressor for the ride home.
TAKE THE DRIVE SERIOUS! If you are driving a street version (rental) SUV with 2-wheel drive and think you can make it to the White Pocket – think again because you stand a strong chance of getting stuck! White Pocket is deep in the Arizona desert and is 60 miles from the nearest community. There are no trees, shade, water, or cell service.
Deep sand!
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
5,944 Ft. Elevation
Google Earth
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to White Pocket.
You can reach White Pocket from either the north US Hwy 89 (the road from Kanab, UT, to Page, AZ) or the south via US Hwy 89a (from Jacobs Lake). The most common route is from the north (US Hwy 89).
From US Hwy 89 - take House Rock Rd for 20.3 miles until you come to a dirt road called Pine Tree Rd / BLM 1017 (you will see an old cattle fence on the right - see below). Take a left and drive 6.1 miles until you see an old ranch house and water tank. Take a left at the old ranch house and travel for 3.9 miles, where you will see a split in the dirt road. Veer left and travel about 1/2 miles, and you will come to a ranch gate.
Open the ranch gate (make sure you close it once you pass through it) and travel another 5 miles until you see the White Pocket parking area. The last couple of miles get pretty gnarly WITH SOME PRETTY DEEP SAND, and unless you have a 4-wheel drive, you stand a good chance of getting stuck.
You have arrived!!
WHILE AT WHITE POCKET - ensure you are always aware of where you are. Even though the White Pocket area is not very large (roughly 300 yards x 800 yards), it is VERY EASY to get disoriented and lose your place when walking around on the rocks. Make sure you either bring a GPS and mark the spot of the parking area or, at minimum, look around and take note of markers to help find your way back. It is not a place you want to get lost after the sun goes down.
Photography Tips
The White Pocket is a unique place and offers some of the most intriguing abstracts of any location in the American Southwest. However, this is not a place you drive up to and wait for the best light. You will need to spend time scoutingaround to find the different compositions that interest you. The entire White Pocket is only about 1/4 mile long by 1/2 mile wide (and the primary photography area is only about 100 yards by 300 yards), but you could easily spend several hours just walking around looking for different compositions to photograph. I suggest arriving 3-5 hours before sunset to give yourself plenty of time to scout.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that you know where you want to shoot as the sunset (or sunrise) approaches - as the light goes very quickly, and it does take time to walk from one composition to the other. For scouting, I suggest walking around during the day with your camera and taking pictures from different locations - while marking your spot with either a GPS or visual. Then, return to your vehicle and find which compositions you like best. Then, as late afternoon approaches, position yourself to capture your best composition under the best light.
Water in potholes—If you can time your visit to White Pocket after a good rain, you will most likely be rewarded with the very best photography opportunities the wonderful place has to offer. There are hundreds of small—to medium-sized pockets that fill with water after rain. These pools can add to the incredible abstracts with reflections, dimension, and additional elements to the shot.
Main shooting areas for White Pocket - as mentioned, the primary shooting area is not very large and is represented by the oval shown on the map below (there are other photographic opportunities outside the oval, but there is where you will find the best abstracts).
Astrophotography - the White Pocket is also a great place for night photography - as you are miles from any light source, and the abstracts are all around. As mentioned before, it is VERY EASY to get disoriented and lose your place around the White Pocket (especially at night). Make sure you either bring a GPS and mark the spot of the parking area or take note of markers to help find your way back. It is not a place you want to get lost after the sun goes down.
This image (I call X-Factor) is shown with the YELLOW MARKER on the map above at 36°57'22.20"N 111°53'51.06"W. The location is found by walking up the dirt path from the parking area. Once you reach the White Pocket rock formation area, take a slight left and walk about 100 yards - the formation is easy to spot. This location faces WEST, so I found it is easier to shoot at dawn (before the sun comes up). This image was taken at 5:23 am on a day when the sunrise was at 5.43 am (20 min before sunrise).
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 16 mm
Exposure – 1 sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Aug 15th
Time – 5:23 am
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Photographing the White Pocket is all about the abstract formations and the light. For this reason, White Pocket is best photographed in the late afternoon/sunset/dusk or dawn/sunrise/early morning, and some of the best colors are found 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset. You can also get photographs on a cloudy or overcast day.
For sunrise, get up early and be ready to shoot well before the sun comes up!!! Once the sun hits the rock formations, the shots get blown out.
Best Time of Year
The White Pocket can be visited and photographed at any time of year. However, the best time to visit depends on a few factors.
First, the heat. White Pocket is in the middle of the Arizona desert with no trees (just shrubs and bushes), no water, and very little shade. In the summer, the heat is EXTREME and can be debilitating and deadly. If you go in the summer, make sure you bring lots of water or Gatorade equivalent to keep hydrated. THERE IS NOWHERE TO HIDE FROM THE HEAT.
Clouds, weather, and water. Interesting weather can make an image more interesting. During the late summer months (monsoon season), you stand a better chance of clouds and water in the rock pockets.
Visiting the White Pocket in non-summer months allows you to avoid the extreme heat, which allows you to spend more time scouting areas to shoot when the right light presents itself. Bottom line: Summer brings more weather, but the heat can zap your personal and creative energy.
Lens(es) Needed
There are countless compositions at the White Pocket. You will have the opportunity to use lens(es) that range from ultra-wide to telephoto.
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
No permits are required at the time of this writing (January 2025).
Direction of the Shot
There is no set direction for shooting at White Pocket - as there are photographic opportunities in all directions.
Equipment Needed
The White Pocket is deep in the middle of the Arizona desert and is miles and miles and miles from the nearest community. There are no trees, little shade, water, or cell service. With this in mind, you must bring a compass, sunscreen, a hat, a long-sleeve shirt, a jacket, plenty of water (with electrolytes), food, snacks, energy bars, and a full gas tank.
From a photography equipment standpoint, you need a sturdy tripod and a polarizer. Also, make sure you have a headlamp or flashlight so you can find your way to and from your vehicle.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The drive to White Pocket is difficult. It is only accessible in a high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle and is way off the beaten path for most photographers. However, it is a very unique place that draws quite a few visitors during the tourist season. Depending on the time of year, you can expect to see between 0 and 30 tourists and/or photographers at White Pocket.
Having company at White Pocket IS NOT bad as there are countless photographic opportunities and plenty of room to go around.
Weather
The Vermilion Cliffs is a high desert climate where temperatures can vary up to 40° in a day. Spring and fall are nice, but summer can get into the 100s. The monsoon season (in late summer) can bring violent but brief thunderstorms, which can be great for photography.
It is very important to know the weather if you are driving south on House Rock Valley Road (from US89). On the drive from US89, the road crosses the Coyote Wash for about 500-700yds. This wash would be very dangerous to be in during a flash flood and would be completely impassable after heavy rain.
If you are cut off after a flood you can drive south on House Rock Valley Road until you reach US89A which can take you to either west to the north rim or east to Page, AZ.
Cell Service
I use Verizon and could not get cell service at White Pocket. If you get lost, you might get cell service by climbing one of the large hills in the area. AT&T seem to have better coverage at White Pocket.
Area Guides and Workshops
Many tour guides and outfitters in the Kanab and Paria area offer all-inclusive tours to Coyote Buttes South. If you do not have a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle or are not experienced in driving in deep sand, I recommend hiring one of these expert guides or outfitters.
I have used Paria Outpost & Outfitters in the past and was completely satisfied with their service, knowledge, and accommodations.