Vermilion Cliffs

About: Hwy 89A, Marble Canyon, AZ 602-417-9200

Description: MARBLE CANYON. Part of the recently created Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, these awe-inspiring cliffs rise majestically thousands of feet from the landscape. Stunning red, orange, and purple pigments give credence to the name of the formation, which sits alongside the Paria Plateau, home to Anasazi tribes in the 12th century. Early Spanish and American explorers also made their way through this region in earlier centuries. These days, the area is known as being home to California condors released to the wild for repopulation. Permits are required to hike in Paria Canyon and the Coyote Buttes area. Phone number to call: 435-688-3246; permits are limited and awarded on a lottery-based system.