Kanab: Vermilion Cliffs Teepees Hike & Wave Rock

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.75 (4 reviews)

Free cancellation

1/37

Duration7h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

The hike starts in sand, not on a marked trail — and that's the whole point

You hike through sand and open desert for 6 to 7 hours to reach two isolated teepee rock formations in the Vermilion Cliffs, with water included and no permit needed. The terrain is moderate but unforgiving, the crowds are nonexistent, and the formations reward the effort with raw, photogenic geology that most visitors to Utah never see.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike to Teepee formations

Start early morning hike
Hike through sandy trail
Reach north teepees
Walk 15 minutes to south teepees
Return hike to start point

The Experience

The trailhead near Kanab doesn't announce itself. You park, look around, and realize there's no sign, no kiosk, no other cars — just open desert and the knowledge that the Vermilion Cliffs Teepees are out there somewhere. It takes 1 to 2 hours each way to reach them depending on how the sand feels that day and how your legs are handling the terrain, which is mostly soft underfoot. The hike is 6 to 7 hours total, so you're committing to a full morning and afternoon, but that's exactly why you'll have the place to yourself. Most people don't make it out here.

The teepees themselves are two separate rock formations — north and south — both tall and angular enough to stop you cold when you round a ridge and see them. The geology is wild: layered red and cream-colored stone that looks like it was stacked by hand, except it wasn't. About 15 minutes of walking separates the two clusters, so you get to move between them and shoot from different angles. Spring, fall, and winter are ideal; summer heat can wear you down fast if you don't leave before dawn. The sand is the real variable — some days it's firm, other days it pulls at your boots with every step. That's not a flaw; that's what keeps the crowds away.

This is a hike for people with moderate fitness who don't mind a sustained effort and terrain that doesn't coddle you. You're not scrambling or climbing, but you're also not on a groomed path. The remoteness is the draw — you could spend hours out there and see maybe one other person, or none. Water is provided, which matters when you're six hours from the car and the sun is high. No permit required, which means you can book and go without waiting for a lottery or filling out forms. Kanab is the nearest town with services, about 30 minutes away.

What’s included

Water is provided for the hike.
You are responsible for bringing food, sun protection, sturdy hiking boots, and any personal gear.
The tour operates year-round, though summer requires an early start to manage heat.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditions

Operated by Grand Circle Tours-AZ

Is this one for you?Right for hikers with moderate fitness who want isolation and raw geology over crowds and amenities. Plan for a full day out and sand that demands focus — that's what makes the teepees feel like you found them yourself.