Established on November 9, 2000 by a presidential proclamation by President Bill Clinton, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is located in Arizona, immediately south of the Utah state line. This national monument, 293,689 acres in area, protects the Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes, and Paria Canyon. Elevations in the monument range from 3,100 feet to 6,500 feet ab…
Coconino County
Coconino County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. The population was 134,421 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Flagstaff. The county takes its name from Cohonino, a name applied to the Havasupai. It is the second-largest county by area in the con…
Full Answer
Where is the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument?
See Article History. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, rugged remote region of cliffs and canyons on the Colorado Plateau in the Arizona Strip, northern Arizona, U.S. It was established in 2000; it covers 458 square miles (1,186 square km) and has a range of elevations from 3,100 to 7,100 feet (945 to 2,165 metres).
What is the geology of the Vermilion Cliffs?
Geology. The Vermilion Cliffs are made up of deposited silt and desert dunes, cemented by infiltrated carbonates and intensely colored by red iron oxide and other minerals, particularly bluish manganese. They are in the physiographic High Plateaus Section and Canyon Lands Section of the Colorado Plateau Province .
Where are the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona?
Vermilion Cliffs — view from Arizona Hwy 89. The Vermilion Cliffs are the second "step" up in the five-step Grand Staircase of the Colorado Plateau, in northern Arizona and southern Utah. They extend west from near Page, Arizona, for a considerable distance, in both Arizona and Utah.
What is the Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs National Monument?
A large portion of the Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, created in 1984, rings the national monument and is within the monument’s boundaries, although part of the wilderness area also extends into Utah.
How many campgrounds are there outside the monument?
There are two developed campgrounds outside the monument: Stateline and White House.
Do condors breed in the Monument?
Each year, condors hatched and raised in a captive breeding program are released in the monument. To visit the monument, you'll need extra planning and awareness of potential hazards. Most roads need a high clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle due to deep sand.
Where is Vermilion Cliffs National Monument?
Located on the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument includes the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. The monument borders Kaibab National Forest to the west and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to the east.
How many acres are there in Paria Canyon?
Overview. This remote and unspoiled, 294,000-acre monument is a geologic treasure, containing Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes and Paria Canyon. Visitors will enjoy scenic views of towering cliffs and deep canyons. Paria Canyon offers an outstanding three to five day wilderness backpacking experience.
What is the climate of Vermilion Cliffs?
The arid climate of Vermilion Cliffs supports both warm desert grassland and cold desert habitats. Reintroduced populations of endangered California condors are among the 20 species of raptors found there. Other wildlife includes desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, pronghorn, mountain lions, and a variety of reptiles. Much of the land remains unspoiled and is used for grazing cattle as well as for hunting, fishing, and hiking.
When was Paria Canyon created?
A large portion of the Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, created in 1984, rings the national monument and is within the monument’s boundaries, although part of the wilderness area also extends into Utah.
Where are the petroglyphs in Grand Canyon?
A northward extension of Grand Canyon National Park is immediately southeast. Petroglyphs in Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, along the Utah-Arizona border. The Paria Plateau makes up the central portion of the monument. At the plateau’s southern edge are the Vermilion Cliffs, a colourful sandstone escarpment rising 3,000 feet ...
How high is the canyon of Paria?
The beautiful canyon of the Paria, a popular backpacking destination, is formed from 2,500-foot- (760-metre-) high sandstone walls and is dotted with eroded arches and amphitheatres. At the northwestern end of the monument, leaching minerals have created the multicoloured bands of Coyote Buttes.
Where is the Colorado Plateau located?
Colorado Plateau, a physiographic province of the Intermontane Plateaus region, extending across the southwestern United States and covering the southeastern half of Utah, extreme western and southwestern Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, and the northern half of Arizona.
What are the Vermilion Cliffs made of?
They are made up of deposited silt and desert dunes, cemented by infiltrated carbonates and intensely colored by red iron oxide and other minerals, particularly bluish manganese. They are in the physiographic High Plateaus Section and Canyon Lands Section of the Colorado Plateau Province .
Where are the Vermillion Cliffs?
The Vermillion Cliffs were on an important route from Utah to Arizona used by settlers during the 19th Century. The area was explored by the Mormon pioneer and missionary Jacob Hamblin, who started a ranch at the base of the cliffs in House Rock Valley. Present day U.S. Highway 89A basically follows the old wagon route past the cliffs through House Rock Valley and up the Kaibab Plateau to Jacob Lake .
How many acres are there in Paria Canyon?
They extend west from near Page, Arizona, for a considerable distance, in both Arizona and Utah. 112,500 acres (45,500 ha) of the region were designated as the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness in 1984.
Regions
The Vermilion Cliffs and their foothills, the lower canyon of the Paria River and the Coyote Buttes are also part of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, which extends a few miles northwards, beyond the national monument boundary into Utah, to incorporate the Buckskin Gulch slot canyon and adjacent lands.
Hike to the Plateau
Jacob's Pool and nearby Rachel's Pool are a series of small springs at the foot of the Vermilion Cliffs that were once used by, and are named after, the family of John D Lee who founded Lees Ferry.
Where is Vermilion Cliffs National Monument?
Here’s what you need to know before you go: History & Nature. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is in northern Arizona, near the Utah state line. The nearest towns are Page, Arizona, and Kanab, Utah. Things To Do. The monument is a rugged playground for hiking, backpacking, camping, off-roading, wildlife viewing and photography.
Is Vermilion Cliffs National Monument lottery based?
The solitude is a factor of Vermilion Cliffs’ remoteness and rugged terrain, yes, but also a lottery-based permitting system that helps preserve the national monument’s wild beauty for generations to come.
What are the Vermilion Cliffs made of?
The Vermilion Cliffs are made up of deposited silt and desert dunes , cemented by infiltrated carbonates and intensely colored by red iron oxide and other minerals, particularly bluish manganese. They are in the physiographic High Plateaus Section and Canyon Lands Section of the Colorado Plateau Province.
How many acres are there in Paria Canyon?
They extend west from near Page, Arizona, for a considerable distance, in both Arizona and Utah. 112,500 acres (45,500 ha) of the region were designated as the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness in 1984.
Getting to The Monument
- From Flagstaff 1. travel north on U.S. Highway 89 to U.S. Highway 89A at the Bitter Springs turnoff. From Kanab, Utah 1. take U.S. 89 to the east or U.S. 89A to the south through Fredonia and Jacob Lake.
Getting Around
- There are no paved roads within the monument. While House Rock Valley Road (BLM 1065) is a maintained dirt road, it may be impassable when wet. You'll need a four-wheel-drive, high clearance vehicle on other roads due to deep sand.
Things to Do
- You can enjoy scenic views of towering cliffs and deep canyons. Paria Canyon offers an outstanding three- to five-day wilderness backpacking experience (permits required). People come from all over the world to see the colorful swirls of cross-bedded sandstone in Coyote Buttes. There are also opportunities to view wildlife, including California condors(link is external)…
Permits Required
- You must have a permitto hike in Coyote Buttes North (The Wave), Coyote Buttes South, and for overnight trips within Paria Canyon.
Facilities
- There are no visitor centers on the monument. You can get Arizona Strip visitor mapsonline and at 1. the Paria Contact Station, 2. BLM Kanab Visitor Center, and 3. the Interagency Information Centerin St. George, Utah.
Safety
- You'll need special planning and awareness of potential hazards. Expect rugged and unmarked roads, venomous reptiles and invertebrates, extreme heat or cold, deep sand, and flash floods. Bring a full-size spare tire and plenty of water, food, and gasoline.