North Coyote Buttes, Paria Canyon Wilderness, South Coyote Buttes, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Wire Pass Slot Canyon

Duration: 10 Hours

Difficulty (1-10): 9

Departure Times: 8am October-May. 6am in June & September; not recommended in July & August.

Recommended Abilities: Recommended only for experienced, fit hikers. Expect 12 miles of rough terrain and off-trail hiking with 1000ft+ of vertical gain.

Permit Required: No special permit is required for this tour.

*Tour Prices include all sales taxes & base guide gratuities.

Description

The Amazing Teepees Tour is a truly epic desert experience.  Combining the best of Wire Pass and the Coyote Buttes with one of the shortest drives of any of our tours and a full day’s worth of demanding hiking across varied terrain, you won’t soon forget this hardcore Vermillion Cliffs outing.

We love sharing our favorite spots with our guests, and this is definitely one of them. The fabled Teepees see infrequent visitors, due to the length and difficulty of the cross-country hike required to get there. We won’t just show you how to get there – along the way, we’ll also show you a rarely-seen slot canyon, rock art, and a plethora of incredible formations. 

Bonus: Wire Pass is a mere ten minute detour from this hike. If you haven’t yet visited this spectacular entrance to Buckskin Gulch, we’ll happily take you there at no extra charge.  

About the Amazing Sandstone Teepees 

You have to hike to get to the Teepees, and that’s a big part of what makes them so appealing: true adventure, solitude, and exploration. Where White Pocket, Wire Pass and the Wave have come to attract dozens of visitors each day, the Sandstone Teepees often go for days without a single party. There is a lifetime’s worth of exploration to be had – from incredible formations to native American rock art (we have found one obscure petroglyph on the way to the Teepees so far; you may very well find more!), from obscure slot canyon squeezes and seldom-seen arches to truly original photo points – this is desert adventure at its finest. 

FAQ´s

1. How much hiking will I have to do to get to the Teepees?

The Teepees are among the most difficult hiking day tours that we offer.  To get to the North Teepees, which we consider the crown jewel of this tour, you will cover a minimum of 11-12 miles roundtrip; while there aren’t many big hills on the hike, there is a lot of varied terrain with small but steep ups and downs which easily add up to ~1000ft of vertical ascent if not more.  The Teepees Tour is an incredible outing but only recommended for experienced, fit hikers with a penchant for physical adventure.  Good footwear and a daypack to carry 3 liters of water are a must; trekking poles are recommended. 

2. How much time is spent driving vs. hiking on this tour? 

The Teepees Tour is a 10-hour tour and the drive to the trailhead takes about an hour one-way, so you can expect to spend 7-8 hours hiking, exploring, and eating lunch in the field. 

3. How do the Teepees compare to the Wave?

The Teepees are shaped from the same 190-million-year-old Navajo Sandstone formation as the Wave, and the two spots are only a mile or two apart as the crow flies.  The colors, striations, and formations of the Teepees rival those at the Wave, there just isn’t yet an ultimate “famous” photograph from the Teepees – and not because the Teepees aren’t photogenic.  Did you know that the Wave was well known to locals but wasn’t “discovered” more broadly as a popular visitor destination until the mid-90s? We think that the Teepees are a lot like the Wave, pre-discovery. 

4. Is there a bathroom at the Teepees?

There is a pit toilet at the trailhead, but there are no facilities of any kind on the hike. You may duck behind a tree or bush for privacy whenever necessary. Bury all solid waste. Guides carry toilet paper, hand wipes and plastic bags in each truck. Do not leave any trash on the ground. Paper must be bagged up and can be discreetly discarded into the trash bag at the truck.

5. Are drones allowed on this tour?

The Teepees are in a designated Wilderness Area so drones are not permitted on this tour.