White Pocket? What’s that?
White Pocket is a hidden gem that offers a unique and unforgettable adventure for travelers seeking to explore an alien landscape. This exceptionally remote area is known for its stunning rock formations, making it a paradise for photographers and nature enthusiasts alike.
An Alien Landscape
As you hike through White Pocket, the landscape feels otherworldly—like stepping onto an alien planet. My first impression was of a living, organic creature: its white, armor-like skin peeled back in places to reveal a muscular, red core beneath. Honestly, it was a little creepy… Once you set foot on the sandstone at White Pocket, its grippy surface invites you to wander freely—tracing narrow valleys and climbing over gently rolling hills with ease. Climbing to the top of one of the several knolls gives you an expansive view of the Paria Plateau surrounded by the Paria Canyon – Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness to the North, South and East. To the West lies the famous Wave with the Kaibab Plateau as a backdrop.
Photography
With its striking contrast of soft, white rock formations resembling sculpted pillows and vivid, rippling red textures, White Pocket offers not only a surreal visual experience but also some of the darkest skies in the country—making it an exceptional destination for dark sky photography.
I timed my last visit to coincide with a full moon so that I could capture moonlit landscapes with star a filled background, but this is a popular destination for photographing the Milky Way during a new moon.
If dark sky photography is your thing, the frequently clear desert skies will make long exposures easy, and the rocky horizon will give you an easy transition for taking foreground shots and stacking images. Be sure to check Astrospheric ahead of time for air clarity and cloud cover.
Being that White Pocket is in the Arizona desert, light can often be a little harsh for daytime photography, so Blue and Golden hours are going to be your friend. There are countless small depressions that fill with water on the rare occasion that it rains here and make for some fun opportunities to play with reflections.
History
Geologists don’t agree on how White Pocket was formed, but there are a few clues that have helped derive theories. White Pocket is made of Navajo Sandstone. Originally a massive sand dune that lithified into the rock over millions of years. Whether due to seismic disturbance, or water saturation leading to slides or large scale slumping, the twisted flowing formations are truly unique. Mineral deposition and weathering may have lead to the white pillows or “cauliflower rock” interspersed with the exposed stratified sandstone you see today.
No matter how White Pocket formed, the area played an important role with ranchers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. With it’s many basins and depressions, White Pocket became a vital stop for cattle drives as these pockets would collect and be a much needed source for water in the arid desert.
Due to it’s remoteness, White Pocket remained largely unknown until it’s re-discovery in the early 2000s when adventurous photographers began seeking out the surreal landscape and sharing it online.
Weather
We’re talking about the Arizona desert… Ok, seriously, yes it’s the AZ desert, but it’s also at about 5,600ft elevation, and that helps with the heat. In July, daytime highs frequently get over 100deg F with overnight lows in the 70s. I was there in November, and while the days were pleasant in the 60s, overnight lows were well below freezing. You can regularly expect 25+ degree swings from day to night, so be prepared, it’s not San Diego or Seattle. Annual precipitation is less than 10″ on average, with February the month most likely to see rain, or occasionally snow.
How to Get There
Getting to White Pocket requires some planning and the right tools, but the journey is well worth it. Here’s a what you need to know:
Vehicle
This isn’t your average dirt road to a scenic hangout—it’s a true 4X4 trail, and you’ll need a serious rig to tackle it. We lucked out with some rain before our trip, which helped pack down the deep sand that stretches for miles. Even so, it was a slog. The only other vehicles we spotted were purpose-built overlanders and a handful of Jeep Wranglers. Our rig has about 10 inches of clearance under the differential, and we were still scraping through the softer sections.
If you’re uncertain about tackling this trail, it’s best to go with someone experienced or hire a guide. If you choose to venture out solo, have a solid backup plan. Turnarounds are scarce, the path is barely wide enough for a single vehicle, and there’s zero cell service if things go sideways. Just to underscore it—this is the desert. Getting stranded out here isn’t just inconvenient, it’s dangerous.
Directions
There are a few gas stations along US-89A, but depending on which direction you’re coming from, you’re best bet for provisioning (water, food and fuel) will be at either Fredonia, AZ or Page, AZ. The fun part starts at the turn off for Rock Valley Road about halfway between Fredonia, AZ / Knab, UT and Page, AZ at MP565.5 off US-89A. Once on Rock Valley Road, head North for 9.4 miles to Pine Tree Road. Don’t trust Google on this part, it sent us up a “Short cut” that ended up being a dead end… After about 6.2 miles on Pine Tree Road, you will come to a ranch on the Left. Here you will veer left onto Big Stink Road. In 4 miles you will come to another Y in the road. Stay left again on White Pocket Road. Follow White Pocket Road for 5.4 miles to the White Pocket Trailhead. there are a few minor side tracks along the way, just ignore them and stay on the main track. You will come across one gate that should be closed but not locked. Opening the gate involves unwrapping a chain from the post and swinging it open. Please be respectful and leave it the way you found it. Once in the fenced area, you will find openings on the west side of the parking area with well beaten paths that take you the half mile or so to the main attraction.
Conclusion
Writing this article roughly two years after visiting White Pocket highlights so many things I missed in my fist visit and has sparked a longing to go back and fill in the many gaps. I look forward to an update and adding to this guide. In the meantime, I hope you find joy in your travels and the good in the things you do.
Have you been to White Pocket, or are you planning on going? I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments.