A Southwest RV Road Trip: White Pocket to Burney Falls | Dale & Debbie #70

In this update, we visit White Pocket and Willis Creek Narrows near Kanab, Utah, return to Arizona, and continue west to Nevada and Northern California.

Our last update was about hiking The Wave while we were staying in Kanab, Utah. In this post, I’ll share two other places we visited during our time there. The first is White Pocket, a unique and remote area known for its colorful sandstone formations. To reach it, we rented a high-clearance Jeep with our friends, Lynne and John.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling my best that day. I had been dealing with ongoing sinus and ear issues throughout the winter, and the combination of spring allergens and strong desert winds had left me with a severe headache. Knowing the rough sandy roads to White Pocket would only make things worse, I reluctantly stayed behind while the others headed out.

Thankfully, I felt much better later that afternoon, and they picked me up for a short ride before it was time to return the Jeep. John assured me that White Pocket wasn't nearly as impressive as The Wave—I'm pretty sure he was trying to make me feel better, and it worked!

White Pocket Near Kanab, Utah

One nice thing about White Pocket is that, unlike The Wave, no permit is currently required. Once you arrive, you simply wander and explore this fascinating landscape at your own pace.

Do any Apple users recognize scenery like this? It reminded me of some of Apple's iconic desktop wallpapers.

Hiking Willis Creek Narrows

On one of my better days, Dale and I hiked the Willis Creek Narrows Trail, at the recommendation of Lynne and John.

I tried climbing up, but didn’t get very far!

There was still ice in some places toward the end of April.

Dale liked this fish.

Scenery driving away from the Willis Creek trailhead.

Too bad they placed a utility pole in front of such a beautiful rock formation!

This was near Bryce Canyon National Park. We didn’t visit this time, having had the pleasure on 3 previous occasions over the years.

Scenery near Kanab

Spring Snow and Blooming Saguaros

One interesting thing I forgot to mention about our time in Kanab is that it snowed a few nights. The first time it happened, our Starlink TV went out and said the dish was warming up. When we looked out the door to check on it, we were very surprised to see the snow!

It was time to leave Kanab to head back to the Phoenix area for my procedures.

Scenery driving back to Phoenix.

My ENT doctor is located in Scottsdale. Btw…my procedures went fine. Afterward, I just had to recover and hope they were successful. And they were ~ yay!!!

The best thing about being in the Phoenix area that late in the year was that the Saguaros were beginning to bloom. We had never seen the blooms before; they were absolutely gorgeous.

A Stop in Las Vegas

From pretty to harsh…this is scenery on our way to Vegas. The day after my post-op appointment, we headed to Las Vegas to meet our friend, Ellen.

Ellen is our friend who had a heart transplant nearly two years ago, and she’s doing great. Her doctors in California set her up with a team in Charlotte so she could move back to North Carolina.

Ellen and her daughter drove across country making it a fun mother-daughter adventure. So we timed our travels to meet up for a meal at Crab Corner Maryland Seafood House in Vegas, where they have Maryland crabs flown in. We all enjoyed catching up in person and look forward to our next get-together on the East Coast. Ellen is an amazing woman!

Exploring Subway Cave, Mount Shasta & Burney Falls

We boondocked the following night in Tonopah, NV. It was extremely windy and cold. Then we headed to Old Station, CA.

Mount Lassen in Lassen Volcanic NP was still covered in snow.

Subway Cave was formed by hot lava. Located in Lassen National Forest, It’s 1/3 of a mile long, and is one of the largest and most easily accessible lava tubes in the world.

This section is known as Lucifer’s Cul-de-Sac.

The light at the end of the tunnel.

Piles of rubble weren’t very reassuring.

Mount Shasta

Although both photos are Burney Falls, I like the views from different angles. The loop hike around these falls was the first one I did after my procedures.

Next up:  The Rugged Oregon Coast!

Until next time,

Debbie and Dale

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit for White Pocket?

No. Unlike The Wave, White Pocket currently does not require a permit.

How do you get to White Pocket?

Most visitors use a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle because of deep sand and rough roads.

Is White Pocket in Arizona or Utah?

White Pocket is located in northern Arizona within the Vermilion Cliffs area, near Kanab, Utah.

Is White Pocket better than The Wave?

Both are unique sandstone formations. The Wave is more famous, while White Pocket offers easier access without a permit requirement.

Is White Pocket worth visiting?

White Pocket is known for its colorful sandstone formations and remote desert setting. Visitors can freely explore the area without a permit.

How long is the Willis Creek Narrows hike?

The trail can be explored as an out-and-back hike, allowing visitors to choose a distance that fits their schedule and ability level.