Horseshoe Bend, Marble Canyon, Lees Ferry, Vermilion Cliffs, and the Cliff Dwellers in Glen Canyon, Arizona
Horseshoe Bend, Marble Canyon, Lees Ferry, Vermilion Cliffs, and the Cliff Dwellers in Glen Canyon, Arizona
Horseshoe Bend is a fabulous natural bend in the Colorado river, that is almost completely circular.
I did not use a fisheye camera lens to photograph it; it is really this round and amazing.
There are other horseshoe shaped bends in the Colorado river as it meanders its way through this region, but at this location, just five kilometers outside of Page, Arizona, you can view the horseshoe while standing above and across the canyon.
It is only a twenty minute hike from the parking lot to the edge of the canyon overlooking this amazing sight.
From there, we continued on to Lees Ferry and Marble Canyon.
Marble Canyon has sheer, tall walls on both sides, and two bridges (one for vehicles and a pedestrian one), stretching across the Colorado River.
A few Navajo women were selling jewelry by the entrance to the bridges.
It was so cold that they sat in their cars until someone showed interest.
Less Ferry is a fairly shallow spot right on the banks of the Colorado River, now part of Glen Canyon National Park, that once was used to cross the river.
A wooden boat was used to ferry people to the other side.
It was discontinued when 11 people died when the ferry capsized in especially rough rapids.
While we were there, we saw a large group of kayakers preparing to paddle in the river.
The park ranger was giving them a briefing about what to expect on the river and some safety instructions.
It was such a cold day, I could not imagine kayaking for very long on the river, but judging from their equipment, they were ready for a multi day adventure.
In the summer, many people come here to start their river rafting trips down the Colorado river’s canyons, some going all the way to the Grand Canyon.
The parking lot sign allows two weeks free parking for such adventures, and longer if you raft the whole way.
The Vermilion Cliffs really glow in flaming red colors, caused by the rich iron content of the rocks.
The area offers lots of hiking, from a few hours to a full day or more.
In some places, the rains have caused large boulders to crumble down the cliffs, and there is a small settlement known as “The cliff dwellers” who had once settled by the road and created a trading post there.
At this time of the year, the few places to eat in the area were all closed.
A few stands of Navajo people selling jewelry and tribal crafts dotted the road.
If you plan to do this day trip, it is best to leave the town of Page with a full tank of gas, water and a picnic lunch.
Wishing you a world of blessings,
Tali
