Vermillion Cliffs

Lake Powell is centrally located in the midst of countless natural formations and monuments. Visitors to Lake Powell usually stay awhile and play. Many come to rent a houseboat for a week and explore the canyons of Lake Powell. The Vermillion Cliffs are one of the show stoppers in the area. The Vermillion Cliffs are not on Lake Powell but are closeby on the Colorado River. Many houseboaters like to get off the water for a while and hike or tour the beautiful protected areas surrounding them.

The Vermillion Cliffs are petrified sand dunes that have layered up to great heights and then began to erode away millions of years ago. They are very colorful due to minerals in the layers changing the composition and mixing with water over time to create the colorful look of the Vermillion Cliffs. There are three main attractions within the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument.

• Buckskin Gulch is the longest slot canyon in the American Southwest with 12 miles meandering and carving through the Navajo sandstone.
• Coyote Buttes are perhaps the most popular stop at the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument.
• The Coyote Buttes contain an amazing formation that is highly photographed called 'The Wave.' The Wave is a small gorge between several sandstone domes that have eroded over the past gazillion years. The result is beautiful and colorful ribbed layers that twist and spiral and make for an amazing photographic opportunity. Also in the Coyote Buttes is an area with over 1000 dense dinosaur footprints. Vermillion Cliffs National Monument contains Lees Ferry as well, which is a historical settlement near the confluence of the Paria and Colorado Rivers.

Vermillion Cliffs are a gorgeous side destination in the midst of your visit to Lake Powell. Park your houseboat at Wahweap Marina and head over to Vermillion Cliffs National Monument for a kaleidoscope of natural formations that will humble even the most experienced traveler.