White Pockets Hiking in Southern Utah, Weird Rock Formations Look Like Brain Rocks

Bob Therrien is a travel writer and has traveled allexperience. The major airport to fly into the region is
over North America. He currently operates thenormally Las Vegas, Nevada for southern Utah tours.
website at Author: Bob Therrien White pockets areSaint George and Cedar City both have growing
not as well known as its neighbors, Coyote Buttes andairports with thousands of travelers who fly there too!
The Wave. South Coyote Buttes and White PocketsWhite Pockets is in Southern Utah, which is
can both be done in one long day, (depending on theunbelievable! Utah is very diverse. It has everything
weather). Both are reached from Poverty Flat Ranch.from desert to alpine and is divided into three kinds of
BLM road 1017 and BLM road 1066 is an easier routelandscape. First the Basin and Range, then Middle
to get there. White pockets are a very unique area ofRocky Mountain and Colorado Plateau. Normally
rock formations some times referred to as brain rocks.referred to as the Great Basin, the Rockies and
Much of the area looks as if it's from a bakery shopCanyon Country. There is so much to choose and do!
and swirled with icing candy. Located just east of• Hiking • Camping • Biking
Cottonwood Teepees, it is a very remote area and as• Golf • Boating • Beaches
always, caution should be used. No permit is required• ATV • Museums •
to visit White Pockets, but a 4WD is a must becauseScenic Drives • Dog Sledding •
of the deep sand. The road conditions change rapidlySnowmobiling • Horseback Riding •
so topographical maps and GPS would be best. WhiteHunting • Antique Shopping •
Pockets is in the Vermilion Cliffs Paria WildernessFestivals/State Fairs • Rafting • Ice
Area. This is a unique area on the Paria Plateau andSkating • Fly Fishing • Wildlife
taking a trip to white pockets will be interesting!• Lake/Rivers • Alpine & Nordic
Depending on the time of the year, there may beSkiing/Snowboarding In Southern Utah, Saint George is
puddles and sand all over everywhere. This is not forjust a couple of hours north of Las Vegas. It has an
amateurs. The House Rock Valley Road may haveelevation of 2,880 feet above sea level. St. George
deep sand and puddles. You definitely need a 4WD tohas an average annual temperature of 59.9° F
go to South Coyote Buttes or White Pockets. Thewith summer temperatures well into the 100s. Palm
Last trip report in a Chevy trailblazer, the rangers saidtrees and red rock cliffs are the norm in Saint George
the clearance wasn't high enough to white pockets.along with all the convenience of a city of 100
Getting as far as the poverty flat ranch normally isn't athousand. 45 minutes north on highway Interstate 15 is
problem. Many people find a place near the corral eastCedar City. It is a well known festival city. It is home to
of the ranch and hike the remainder 4 miles fromSouthern Utah University, The Utah Shakespearean
there. We're talking deep sand and the skill to deflateFestival, The Utah Summer Games, The American
the air out of your tires to travel the deep sand, pastChildren's Christmas Festival, The Cedar City SkyFest,
there. This would require a pump to add air back intoNeil Simon Festival, Himmelsk Festival Royal, yearly
the tires. Caution, very remote area! Travel withCowboy Gathering, Rodeo, July Jamboree, Utah
caution and provide someone your trip report withMidsummer Renaissance Faire, Groovefest, and Paiute
times of departure and expected return. CoveringRestoration Gathering & Pow-wow. Cedar City is very
84,904 square miles, Utah is bordered on the north byclose to Brian Head Ski Area. Close enough to be in
Idaho, on the east by Wyoming and Colorado, on thethe Vegas desert, ski during the day with views of
south by New Mexico and Arizona and on the westCedar Breaks Red Rocks and back to the desert for
by Nevada. Utah is located in the heart of thedinner. You'll enjoy your trip to white pockets.
American West. Visiting Utah can be quite an