This Arizona Pocket of Navajo Sandstone Has Formations That Look Like Petrified Brain Coral

White Pocket, Arizona

White Pocket exists in that sweet spot between accessible and impossible.

The rock formations here look like frozen waves, striped in colors that shift from cream to deep red depending on the light. It’s become a bucket list destination for those willing to brave the rough desert roads.

This is what awaits at the end of that bumpy journey.

Ancient Desert Sands

White Pocket started forming 160-180 million years ago during a time called the Jurassic period. Back then, this area was a huge desert like the Sahara today. Wind blew sand around for millions of years, creating enormous sand dunes.

These old sand dunes got buried under more sand and dirt over time. The heavy weight on top slowly pressed the loose sand together until it became solid rock.

How It Got Twisted

Scientists still argue about how White Pocket got its weird twisted look. Most think it happened when the sand was still wet and soft before it turned into rock. The main idea is that these old sand dunes collapsed into shallow lakes before they hardened.

A retired rock expert named Marc Dershowitz found 25 clues that earthquakes caused the strange shapes. He thinks big earthquakes made the sand slide around, creating what we see today.

Brain-Like Rock Formations

White Pocket’s coolest feature is its “cauliflower rock” or “brain rock” shapes. These white surfaces crack into puzzle-piece patterns connected by deep splits. They look completely different from the red rock underneath.

New research from 2024 by scientist Chen says these cauliflower shapes are actually a thick crust. This crust formed when minerals from underground water built up on the surface in this dry area.

Amazing Colors

White Pocket shows off incredible colors from bright white to deep red. These colors come from different minerals mixed in the rock. Red colors come from a mineral called hematite. Yellow and orange colors come from other iron minerals called goethite and limonite.

The white surfaces might have old seashells in them, which makes them pale. These colors change all day long as the sun moves across the sky

Strange Round Pebbles

Black and brown round pebbles fill the low spots all over White Pocket. These metal-looking balls are made from iron and sandstone mixed together. Rock collectors have lots of names for them like Moqui marbles, Moki balls, and Navajo cherries.

Scientists study these because Mars has similar round rocks, which might mean water once flowed there too. These iron balls break free from the bigger rocks and roll into dips around White Pocket.

Hidden Until Recently

Most people never heard of White Pocket until 2013. That year, National Geographic wrote about it in a story about Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Before that, only local ranchers and a few photographers knew this place existed.

Even though more people know about it now, the tough drive keeps big crowds away. This has kept White Pocket from getting damaged like other popular places.

No Permits Needed

White Pocket works great as a backup for “The Wave,” another famous rock spot nearby. The Wave requires winning a hard-to-get permit months ahead of time, but White Pocket doesn’t need any permit.

Just 5.5 miles from The Wave, White Pocket has equally amazing swirling patterns and colorful rocks. Many people who can’t get Wave permits find that White Pocket gives them just as great photos.

Protected Land

President Bill Clinton made Vermilion Cliffs National Monument official on November 9, 2000. This protection covers 280,000 acres of desert and cliffs in the area.

The Bureau of Land Management takes care of this land, trying to protect it while still letting people visit. The monument protects not just rocks but also old Native American sites and endangered California condors.

Hard to Reach

Getting to White Pocket takes serious planning. You absolutely need a high 4-wheel-drive truck to handle the rough roads. From House Rock Valley Road, take BLM Road #1079 to Poverty Flat, then Roads #1084 and #1086 to the parking area.

The 30-mile drive from real roads takes 90-120 minutes through deep sand and sharp rocks. Rain makes it much worse and sometimes impossible to drive.

Protected by Distance

White Pocket sits in the middle of the Paria Plateau, a remote 20-by-20-mile sandy area. Being so far from everything limits visitors better than any permit system could.

The difficult drive keeps the place clean and protects the delicate rock shapes. Unlike The Wave, which needs permits to control crowds, White Pocket stays peaceful because it’s so hard to reach.

Visiting White Pocket

White Pocket lies approximately 38 miles east of Kanab, Utah or 36 miles west of Page, Arizona via Highway 89 to House Rock Valley Road.

No permit is required, but a 4×4 high-clearance vehicle is essential for reaching this isolated wonder.

From the trailhead parking lot, visitors walk approximately 200 yards up a sandy wash to reach the rock formations.

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