Arizona Camping

Lees Ferry, Arizona

If you want to experience Arizona camping without crowds, you must try Lees Ferry, Arizona. This is a remote region near the Utah/Arizona border that is one of the least-visited and wildest places in the West. But that's not for a lack of things to do or a shortage of interesting historical stories to uncover.

The solitude of this historic river crossing on the Colorado Plateau makes camping vacations in this area both unnerving and at the same time exhilarating.

Lees Ferry is the site of the first crossing of the Colorado River starting in 1892. It is named after John D. Lee, a Mormon settler with 17 wives who established a ferry there in 1871.

The ferry provided the only crossing of the river for nearly 60 years until a bridge was built a few miles downstream where the present day Route 89 crosses. It marks the end of Glen Canyon and the beginning of the Grand Canyon and is the only place within Glen Canyon where visitors can drive to the Colorado River in over 700 miles of Canyon Country, right up to the first "rapid" in the Grand Canyon.

This natural corridor between Utah and Arizona figured prominently in the exploration and settlement of Northern Arizona.

So what's there?

Just upstream from the Lees Ferry Launch Ramp is the ferry-crossing site and several historic buildings. Different ferryboats and pioneers, miners, Indians, and tourists crossed here from 1872 until 1928. Of special interest is Charles H. Spencer’s attempt to extract gold from the clay hills here in 1910. Two of the stone buildings, a steam boiler, and the remains of a sunken paddle wheel steamboat are all that is left from his efforts.

Lonely Dell Ranch Historic Site

This historic ranch, near the mouth of the Paria River, was home to the families who operated Lees Ferry. The place was so isolated that the families working at the crossing needed to be self-sufficient, growing their own food for themselves and their animals. Their hard labor changed the barren desert into a green oasis. The main ranch buildings are about 700 feet up the dirt road from the parking area. A "Walking Tour Guide" may be purchased at the entrance to the ranch. The complete tour of the orchard, log cabins, stone ranch house, and pioneer cemetery is about a 1-mile round trip. There are picnic tables and shade trees at the ranch. Take drinking water with you.

What is there to do?

River running trips. If you are the outdoor, adventurous type, a trip down the Colorado River from the beginning of the Grand Canyon could be just the thrill you're looking for.

Love to fish? You can enjoy world-class trout fishing upstream from Glen Canyon Dam.

Hiking and backpacking anyone? Take a 4 or 5 day hike through the Paria Canyon Wilderness Area and explore the canyons and desert ridges.

A day hike is just as enjoyable for soaking up the solitude and the incredible scenery. Don't forget your camera!

If you like camping vacations on the shores of Lake Powell or anywhere in the back country, be sure to explore the many side canyons, slickrock hills, and passageways through washes into slot canyons or hanging gardens. Just keep safety uppermost in your mind.

Are you a bird watcher? This is the place to see California Condors and other raptors as well as many other varieties of bird. Bring your binoculars.

And more! There are mountain biking areas, star gazing, photography, Native American crafts, golfing, peace and quiet, and even some fine dining at Cliff Dwellers Lodge (see below) in the area.

Places to stay.

I believe camping would be the most exciting and refreshing out in this remote area - if you enjoy quiet, and few, if any, close neighbors.

Lee's Ferry Campground

Located about 1.5 miles back up the road from the boat ramp is Lee's Ferry Campground. There are 54 well-kept campsites, flush toilets and a waste station for RV's. There are even wind breaks in each campsite as the wind can sometimes pick up pretty strong in the afternoons (make sure you bring your stakes if you are tent camping).

Upriver campgrounds

If you have a boat, there are several campgrounds available upriver. Stop in Marble Canyon and buy a map of the river - there are campgrounds at 6 mile, 7 1/2 mile, 8 mile, 9 mile, Ferry Swale and Ropes Trail (powerline camp). All of the campgrounds are a few steps from where you anchor your boat and are a good 10 feet above the waterline. There are vault toilets available but you need to bring your own water and trash bags. This is a PACK IT IN - PACK IT OUT area.

Motels in the Area

If you want to stay in a more civilized atmosphere, there are some motels along this stretch of Highway 89A:

• Cliff Dwellers Lodge where you will find all the amenities of modern life, plus awesome scenery and a restaurant with great food.
• Lees Ferry Lodge at Vermillion Cliffs - It's rustic and simple but peace and quiet abound along with gorgeous scenery. There are no TVs or phones (there's a small pocket of cell phone coverage by the dumpsters).
• Marble Canyon Lodge with a restaurant, a gas station, gift shop, and post office at Marble Canyon, next to the Grand Canyon park entrance.

More lodging is available in Page, AZ about 45 minutes away.

So where is this place?

Lees Ferry is 42 miles from Page via Hwy 89 south and Hwy 89A west. It is 85 miles from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon via Hwy 89A and Hwy 67. The Lees Ferry Junction and Park Entrance is just west of Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center. A paved road leads 5 miles to the Ferry area. A National Park Service campground, ranger station, and public launch ramp are the only services available at Lees Ferry.

Arizona camping at Lee's Ferry could turn out to be your favorite of all camping vacations. Try it this year!