The very first time my husband Steffen went out there to explore the “great unknown” was in April 2005 together with landscape photographer Laurent Martrès and Tony Kuyper. By that time almost nobody ever heard of White Pockets. Since there were no maps and information available in the internet it wasn’t easy to find the right “sandy tracks” leading to that unexplored place near the Coyote Buttes Permit Area. And what a big surprise when road suddenly ended and they first set eyes upon White Pockets!

Tony whispered “Oh my goodness..:” over and over again. A wonderland made out of sandstone - so beautiful and almost too good to be true!

Here you can read the whole story about their first expedition to White Pockets. And you will find the directions with GPS-waypoints on our White Pockets Topomap.

We do consider the road leading through Paw Hole more dangerous because of the
steep sand hill. That’s why we recommend doing the trip through Corral Valley
and Poverty Flat. On your way back Paw Hole should be fine since in that direction
you will be able to “slide” downhill.

Two years later we keep visiting White Pockets. It is still a magical place, but things changed a lot lately:
Steffen has published an article on his website in May 2005 (available also in English),
in Summer 2005 pictures of White Pockets were shown in a free advertiser-supported
publication for visitors in Kanab and Laurent Martres’s Benjamin Franklin 2007
Awards winning guidebook “Photographing the Southwest: Vol.2 Arizona” was published in July 2006 - all of them attracting many photographers to this area.

By now there is a whole bunch of people visiting White Pockets every day during
Springtime and the Fall Season - mostly American photographers and German speaking
tourists.

Even guided tours are offered by at least three different Outfitters nowadays. The prices are high, but people are ready to pay for it. No wonder, because going out there all alone will always be tricky and a little risky as well. Not everybody will find it easy to drive 24 miles of dirt roads. In places the sand is really deep
and require very high clearance, good driving skills and of course a proper SUV.

Please don’t drive all alone out there, don’t forget to bring along a shovel and please don’t get stuck! It can happen very easily. Each month people get stuck in the deep sand and it’s a hard job to get the car running again. Towing fees in the remoteness of the Paria Wilderness are not what I would call “affordable”.

For all those who manage to get to White Pockets here some photo advices:

- You will need at least 2 hours to visit this area, far more if you do professional
photography!

- Try to be there in the evening or during the morning hours. Keep in mind that
it is the golden light that makes this special place even more special!

- Staying overnight is always
a good option!

- Don’t forget your wide angle lens at home. You might need it here!

- Consider getting some permits for the Coyote Buttes South Area, it is so close that you can easily combine both locations on a single weekend trip.

- And last but not least: If you live nearby or if you happen to be in Page,
AZ after some showers, try to go out there. You won’t be disappointed. All pools
filled with water, that’s truly a “time for reflection“. But be prepared the roads can be flooded as well!

Since my husband and I do both have a passion for photography, you’ll find our pictures on two different websites:
White Pocket
Gallery #1 and White Pockets Gallery #2.

But this Blog is not only a story about weird sandstone formations reflected in beautiful water pockets, it is
also a “story for reflection“:

Please keep in mind that although it may not appear so at first glance, White
Pockets is a fragile place. All those marvelous brainrocks were made out of
ancient sand dunes and can easily turn into sand again! Let us all be careful,
act responsible, respect nature and try to preserve this special places for
all the generations yet to come.

© 06.04.2007
Isabel Synnatschke

White Pocket is in Northern Arizona and a guide would be best for safety because it is remote with deep sand. The website at whitepockets.com invite groups to forward us their news to share here with our readers as well as at our outdoor recreation message board at

Located just east of Cottonwood Teepees, it is a very remote area and as always, caution should be used. No permit is required to visit White Pockets, but a 4WD is a must because of the deep sand. The road conditions change rapidly so topographical maps and GPS would be best. White Pockets is in the Vermilion Cliffs Paria Wilderness Area. This is a unique area on the Paria Plateau

Detailed information can be found written by Bo Beck, Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member, and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan at this wonderful website.

http://www.zionnational-park.com/paria-white-pocket.htm

Looking for southwest events this spring? Consider this event!

First Annual Amazing Earthfest Celebration

Southern Utah’s Kane County

CONTACT: Cowboy Ted Hallisey

TEL: 435-644-5033

E-MAIL: Cowboyted8(at)aol.com

WEBSITE: http://www.kaneutah.com/

KANAB, Utah—Families and individuals from all fifty states and internationally are invited to attend the First Annual Amazing Earthfest Celebration, happening May 21-26, 2007 in Kanab, Utah. Here travelers will discover, learn from and celebrate national and state parks, national forests and public lands of the Colorado plateau located in Utah and Arizona.

Kanab plans to establish, host and support this broadly inclusive event each year in May, fostering education, scientific discovery and understanding, plus recreation and entertainment. The goal is to attract visitors from across the nation and abroad to Kane County, for the purpose of experiencing the National Parks and Public Lands in the region, recently described by Sunset Magazine as “dramatic.”

Visitors can choose from a wide variety of scheduled activities including: lectures and demonstrations, scientific and educational symposia, Native American and Pioneer cultural programs, guided backcountry trips, expeditions and musical performances. Additional activities include: exhibitions of visual arts, painting, sculpture, handmade crafts, culinary delights and Pioneer history.

Scientific Presentations - Visiting scholars, scientists and staff from major regional educational institutions and the public land managing agencies will be invited to present on geology, ecology, biology, paleontology and archaeology, as well as land and resource management techniques. Programs are planned for a host of visitor centers in the area, as well as guided site visits and expeditions to remote locations in the region. Activities, exhibits, lectures and demonstrations will be designed to educate and inform local residents and visitors about the scientific discovery, study, history and natural wonders of Southern Utah and the Arizona Strip.

Creative Arts & Entertainment - Artists, musicians and storytellers will be on-hand to express their experience of the history, life and culture of the Intermountain West, through exhibitions, concerts and presentations, including competitions for prizes. Pioneer history and culinary arts will round out visitors’ enjoyment.

Outdoor Recreation - Campers, hikers, horseback riders, cyclists, mountain bikers, climbers, road tourists and off-road vehicle enthusiasts are invited to make Southern Utah & Northern Arizona their destination for this springtime event; to engage in a favorite sport, while enjoying the welcoming hospitality of area service providers. OHVs are welcome on designated routes and trails.

Want a special treat? Hit the Arizona Strip and learn about the Condor Release Program.

Tentative Amazing Earthfest Participants ~ 2007

· Best Friends Animal Society – bird display on site in Angel Canyon

· Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park – sunset photo clinic and nature walk

· Glen Canyon National Recreation Area – Lake Powell events

· Grand Canyon National Park – North Rim

· Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument – Dinosaur talks and exhibits

· Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts – Maynard Dixon Home

· Pipe Spring National Monument – Native American and Pioneer food and lifestyle recreations & sampling

Also: Bryce Canyon National Park, Capital Reef National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Dixie National Forest, East Zion Tourism Council, Kaibab National Forest, Kanab City, Kane County Office of Tourism, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Mormon Pioneer Heritage Highway, Page-Lake Powell, Snow Canyon State Park, Utah Office of Tourism, and Zion National Park.

For more information on First Annual Amazing Earthfest Celebration please call Cowboy Ted Hallisey-435-644-5033.

Cowboy Ted Hallisey
Executive Director
Kane County Office of Tourism
P.O. Box 209
Kanab, Utah 84741
435-644-5033

Note: This web blog at whitepockets.com invite’s Arizona Strip & Southern Utah groups to forward us their news to share here with our readers as well as our outdoor recreation message board at http://www.adventurezonetours.com/

Have you hiked in southern Utah yet? So many people visit Las Vegas but never travel the two hours into the outdoor wonderland that Utah is! White Pockets, Coyote Buttes & The Wave are among the most unique land formations in the world.

Author: Bob Therrien

http://www.adventurezonetours.com

White pockets are not as well known as its neighbors, Coyote Buttes and The Wave. South Coyote Buttes and White Pockets can both be done in one long day, (depending on the weather). Both are reached from Poverty Flat Ranch. BLM road 1017 and BLM road 1066 is an easier route to get there. White pockets are a very unique area of rock formations some times referred to as brain rocks. Much of the area looks as if it’s from a bakery shop and swirled with icing candy. Located just east of Cottonwood Teepees, it is a very remote area and as always, caution should be used.

No permit is required to visit White Pockets, but a 4WD is a must because of the deep sand. The road conditions change rapidly so topographical maps and GPS would be best. White Pockets is in the Vermilion Cliffs Paria Wilderness Area. This is a unique area on the Paria Plateau and taking a trip to white pockets will be interesting!

Depending on the time of the year, there may be puddles and sand all over everywhere. This is not for amateurs. The House Rock Valley Road may have deep sand and puddles.

You definitely need a 4WD to go to South Coyote Buttes or White Pockets. The last trip report in a Chevy trailblazer, the rangers said the clearance wasn’t high enough to White Pockets. Getting as far as the poverty flat ranch normally isn’t a problem.

Many people find a place near the corral east of the ranch and hike the 4 miles from there. We’re talking deep sand and the skill to deflate the air out of your tires to travel the deep sand, past there. This would require a pump to add air back into your tires. Caution, very remote area! Travel with caution and provide someon your trip report with times of departure and expected return.

Covering 84,904 square miles, Utah is bordered on the north by Idaho, on the east by Wyoming and Colorado, on the south by New Mexico and Arizona and on the west by Nevada. Utah is located in the heart of the American West.

Visiting Utah can be quite an experience. The major airport to fly into the region is normally Las Vegas, Nevada for southern Utah tours. Saint George and Cedar City both have growing airports with thousands of travelers who fly there too!

White Pockets is in Southern Utah, which is unbelievable! Utah is very diverse. It has everything from desert to alpine and is divided into three kinds of landscape. First the Basin and Range, then Middle Rocky Mountain and Colorado Plateau. Normally referred to as the Great Basin, the Rockies and Canyon Country. There is so much to choose and do!

· Hiking

· Camping

· Biking

· Golf

· Boating

· Beaches

· ATV

· Museums

· Scenic Drives

· Dog Sledding

· Snowmobiling

· Horseback Riding

· Hunting

· Antique Shopping

· Festivals/State Fairs

· Rafting

· Ice Skating

· Fly Fishing

· Wildlife

· Lake/Rivers

· Alpine & Nordic Skiing/Snowboarding

In Southern Utah, Saint George is just a couple of hours north of Las Vegas. It has an elevation of 2,880 feet above sea level. St. George has an average annual temperature of 59.9° F with summer temperatures well into the 100s. Palm trees and red rock cliffs are the norm in Saint George along with all the convenience of a city of 100 thousand.

45 minutes north on highway Interstate 15 is Cedar City. It is a well known festival city. It is home to Southern Utah University, The Utah Shakespearean Festival, The Utah Summer Games, The American Children’s Christmas Festival, The Cedar City SkyFest, Neil Simon Festival, Himmelsk Festival Royal, yearly Cowboy Gathering, Rodeo, July Jamboree, Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire, Groovefest, and Paiute Restoration Gathering & Pow-wow. Cedar City is very close to Brian Head Ski Area. Close enough to be in the Vegas desert, ski during the day with views of Cedar Breaks Red Rocks and back to the desert for dinner. You’ll enjoy your trip to white pockets.

Research, read and share trip reports and pics here.

We’d like to invite you to be a guest blogger on this site and to share comments on our Outdoor Recreation Message Boards at http://www.adventurezonetours.com

National Parks, State Parks, National Monuments, and Wilderness Areas, All in One Website!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR NATIONAL PARKS –

On AdventureZoneTOURS.com

Cedar City, UT (February 27, 2007) The good news is that the United States of America has protected some of the most unique and incredible places to see on earth, and to encourage visitors, AdventureZoneTOURS.com brings all the parks, monuments, and wilderness areas into one online message board where people can share information about these fantastic outdoors resources.

The bad news is that the National Parks face a budget crisis. Struggling to protect the historic, cultural and natural resources, the parks are short of funds for operating facilities, repairs to roads, bridges, trails and buildings. In 2006, a $814 million shortfall was reported. With the National Park Service covering almost 400 protected areas, NPS has fewer employees to service the growing number of visitors per year. Over 273,000,000 people visited the National Parks in 2005, with reports of declining visitors.  AdventureZoneTOURS.com fills in the gap where information on locations and services are currently lacking. Instead of contacting a variety of parks or wilderness areas to compile your trip, now planning and previewing a vacation or adventure is just a click away on AdventureZoneTOURS.COM.

In a recent trend, volunteering has become very popular with more people willing to offer their time or vacation in assisting the parks and outdoor organizations with clean up, rebuilding trails and other important tasks.  AdventureZoneTOURS.com not only features a message board for each region of every state but under the category Special Interests members are invited to post messages for volunteer opportunities or find links to the volunteer opportunity just right for them.

Bob Therrien, President of TrainingPASS Sales, Inc., creator of AdventureZoneTOURS.com, outdoor writer, and constant traveler commented, “Over the years, the hardest part for me has been the research about which parks, hikes, climbs, guides I want to visit with my family and friends. Exploring site after site, then mapping the distance from each area of interest is inefficient and many times lacking in information. To solve that inefficiency we (AdventureZoneTOURS.com) have collected all the basic information about our parks, wilderness areas and national monuments into one website. We’re still working on the mapping solution right now, so that a visitor can visually see just a region of a state and distances between multiple areas of interest.  AdventureZoneTOURS.com is an outdoors recreation message board that now needs real trip reports from people who love these parks and are willing to share information on their special places.”

 
The Outdoor Adventure Message Board opens up to reveal historic park photos and a listing of U.S. States separated into travel regions. Click on search to find your park or any state region and there are sub forums for all the parks, monuments and wilderness areas in that region. You’ll find links to park maps, webcams and several interesting choices to pick from within a state region. Choose just the park to visit or check special interest message boards for posts on volunteer opportunities and travel for women only, men, training retreats, or shuttle posts.

 
For the activity-specific minded, AdventureZoneTOURS.com encourages users to share trip reports for a variety of outdoor activities from hiking, climbing, canyoneering, geo exploring, photography, ghost towns, mines, and cave to water sports such as boating, fishing, jet and water skiing, tubing, rafting, and scuba. Winter travel sports locations for snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding are featured. Hunting locations, ATV and horseback trails as well as the most scenic areas for outdoor photography are also available as individual topic posts. To research or share your favorite adventure travel location, and for more information, log on to www.AdventureZoneTOURS.com.