The Ford Barn

Old Henry · 01-16-2014, 01:25 AM

Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon, Glen Canyon and Marble Canyon in Old Henry on three day road trip.

AnnaRae took off for a function with our daughter for three days so Pepe and I decided to take a quick road trip to Grand Canyon. But first, we had to shovel the snow off of the driveway just to get started.

Then we headed down old US 89 for 5 hours to Kanab, UT without seeing anything worth taking a picture of. We would usually at least stop at Big Rock Candy Mountain for a shot but it wasn't quite as photogenic with snow on it. I was starting to think that maybe this trip would just be for fun without any pictures.

At Kanab the older Hwy 89A continued south into Arizona to Fredonia while the newer 89 turned east to Page. We took "the road less traveled" and it made all the difference.

Continued south to Jacob Lake, the kickoff point to the north rim of Grand Canyon, but the road there was closed for the winter - higher than the south rim where we were headed.

Turned east and after driving through some more forest (where you can't see the forest for the trees - not my kind of scenery) we left the forest and dropped down from the plateau and drove along the southern edge of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

And drove clear to Lee's Ferry. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfomoLP7q4I

Until 1929 when the first Navaho Bridge was built the only way to cross the Colorado River for a 600 mile stretch of it was on the ferry at Lee's Ferry in Marble Canyon. Now that is the point where all rafts going down the Colorado through Grand Canyon launch for the trip. Here's old Henry at that spot just after the sun set:

Just a little further on was the old Navaho Bridge, a steel arch bridge, completed in 1929 (on the right - only for walking now) next to the newer Navaho Bridge completed in 1995. (Note how my blue dot lenses make the light coming from the tail lights look purple. I love it. That's why I run 'em.)

Then we continued on old Hwy 89A until it connected to the newer Hwy 89 then turned south to Cameron Trading Post Lodge where we stayed for the night.

The next morning we headed east to Grand Canyon. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4FzQEccpno

After seeing all we wanted to see there we headed back to Cameron then north to The Gap where a temporary Hwy 89 followed the route of the old Navaho dirt road to bypass the section of 89 from there to Page that had been lost to a landslide a year ago.

At Page we reached Glen Canyon Dam and Recreation Area including Lake Powel just as the sun was going down.

We then continued on 89 back to Kanab where we stayed in I think the nicest small old "park right at your door" motel I've ever seen, the "Quail Park Lodge" (http://www.quailparklodge.com/). I highly recommend it.

In the morning we continued on 89 north. I had passed the sign to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park so many times saying I would go there some day so we went. Wasn't very impressive compared to the Little Sahara Sand Dunes closer to home and not really as pink as the big red dune across the highway from Arches National Park entrance north of Moab. But, on the way back to 89 after going there got this picture:

At Mt. Carmel Junction on 89 we turned west to drive through Zion National Park. Here's the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAyvUiB_JgA The tunnel, over a mile long, was completed in 1930. It is 21 feet from the surface of the cliff with portals along the way where originally cars could pull off and park for a look out the big windows. Not any more.

Here are the last two portals before exiting the tunnel:

And other shots of the west side of the park where the giant cliffs are:

You'll have to look hard for Old Henry in this one but he's there:

After driving through Zion Canyon we headed for home.

The setting sun turned the sky and hood a beautiful pink.

Unfortunately, the sunset was behind me so I could only get a picture of it in my mirror as I drove along. Kinda cool shot though.

01-16-2014, 01:25 AM	#1
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,777	To Grand Canyon and other great canyons Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon, Glen Canyon and Marble Canyon in Old Henry on three day road trip. AnnaRae took off for a function with our daughter for three days so Pepe and I decided to take a quick road trip to Grand Canyon. But first, we had to shovel the snow off of the driveway just to get started. Then we headed down old US 89 for 5 hours to Kanab, UT without seeing anything worth taking a picture of. We would usually at least stop at Big Rock Candy Mountain for a shot but it wasn't quite as photogenic with snow on it. I was starting to think that maybe this trip would just be for fun without any pictures. At Kanab the older Hwy 89A continued south into Arizona to Fredonia while the newer 89 turned east to Page. We took "the road less traveled" and it made all the difference. Continued south to Jacob Lake, the kickoff point to the north rim of Grand Canyon, but the road there was closed for the winter - higher than the south rim where we were headed. Turned east and after driving through some more forest (where you can't see the forest for the trees - not my kind of scenery) we left the forest and dropped down from the plateau and drove along the southern edge of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. And drove clear to Lee's Ferry. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfomoLP7q4I Until 1929 when the first Navaho Bridge was built the only way to cross the Colorado River for a 600 mile stretch of it was on the ferry at Lee's Ferry in Marble Canyon. Now that is the point where all rafts going down the Colorado through Grand Canyon launch for the trip. Here's old Henry at that spot just after the sun set: Just a little further on was the old Navaho Bridge, a steel arch bridge, completed in 1929 (on the right - only for walking now) next to the newer Navaho Bridge completed in 1995. (Note how my blue dot lenses make the light coming from the tail lights look purple. I love it. That's why I run 'em.) Then we continued on old Hwy 89A until it connected to the newer Hwy 89 then turned south to Cameron Trading Post Lodge where we stayed for the night. The next morning we headed east to Grand Canyon. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4FzQEccpno After seeing all we wanted to see there we headed back to Cameron then north to The Gap where a temporary Hwy 89 followed the route of the old Navaho dirt road to bypass the section of 89 from there to Page that had been lost to a landslide a year ago. At Page we reached Glen Canyon Dam and Recreation Area including Lake Powel just as the sun was going down. We then continued on 89 back to Kanab where we stayed in I think the nicest small old "park right at your door" motel I've ever seen, the "Quail Park Lodge" (http://www.quailparklodge.com/). I highly recommend it. In the morning we continued on 89 north. I had passed the sign to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park so many times saying I would go there some day so we went. Wasn't very impressive compared to the Little Sahara Sand Dunes closer to home and not really as pink as the big red dune across the highway from Arches National Park entrance north of Moab. But, on the way back to 89 after going there got this picture: At Mt. Carmel Junction on 89 we turned west to drive through Zion National Park. Here's the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAyvUiB_JgA The tunnel, over a mile long, was completed in 1930. It is 21 feet from the surface of the cliff with portals along the way where originally cars could pull off and park for a look out the big windows. Not any more. Here are the last two portals before exiting the tunnel: And other shots of the west side of the park where the giant cliffs are: You'll have to look hard for Old Henry in this one but he's there: After driving through Zion Canyon we headed for home. The setting sun turned the sky and hood a beautiful pink. Unfortunately, the sunset was behind me so I could only get a picture of it in my mirror as I drove along. Kinda cool shot though. Total distance 1,016 miles in three days and loved every minute of it. Previous trips: To Moab, UT in December 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127222 Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument November 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123694 Across Nevada on US 50, "The Loneliest Road in the Country", October 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098 Mount Evans (the highest paved road in North America) August 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115013 Canada in June 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109872 Monument Valley in March 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99523 Bryce Canyon in February 2013: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822 Milford, Utah in December 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137 Nevada and Idaho in November 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89080 Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966 Yellowstone National Park in May 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72864 Death Valley in February 2012: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62705 Pike's Peak in July 2011: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19141 Route 66 in April 2010: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57511 __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness Last edited by Old Henry; 05-16-2014 at 12:47 AM.*