Camping Vacations
Arizona Getaway in Lees Ferry

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.

If you want to experience crowd-free camping vacations, 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 ferry operated from 1872 until 1928.
(Photo from National Park Services)

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 a lodge in the area.

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. But if you want to stay in a more civilized atmosphere, there are some private inns along this stretch of Highway 89A:

- Cliff Dwellers Lodge where you will find all the amenities of modern life.

- Lees Ferry Lodge at Vermillion Cliffs where you will find peace and quiet - there are no TVs or phones (there's a small pocket of cell phone coverage by the dumpsters).

There is a gas station, store, post office, motel and restaurant at Marble Canyon, next to the park entrance. More services are found west on Hwy 89A.



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.

This could be your favorite of all camping vacations. Try it this year!

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