To Grand Canyon and other great canyons

[Old Henry]

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: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127222

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument November 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123694

Across Nevada on US 50, "The Loneliest Road in the Country", October 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098

Mount Evans (the highest paved road in North America) August 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115013

Canada in June 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109872

Monument Valley in March 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99523

Bryce Canyon in February 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822

Milford, Utah in December 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137

Nevada and Idaho in November 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89080

Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966

Yellowstone National Park in May 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72864

Death Valley in February 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62705

Pike's Peak in July 2011: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19141

Route 66 in April 2010: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57511

[expavr]

That Sunset shot is a KEEPER..... Lake Powell looks like a mud puddle -bad news for the SW this summer!!! Thanks for sharing the driving experience.

[mfagan]

You do have fun with your old ford!!

[Lawrie]

AS I said before,you should be working for the history channel.
We stayed at knanab last time in the old wooden cabins,then drove down to the canyon,my boy was driving and had a fit,there was a heard of buffalo or bison on the road,he had never seen anything like that .

Lawrie

[Vic Piano]

That scenery is majestic, and having the Ford in the photos enhances the adventure. I'm living vicariously through your threads and enjoying every minute. Thanks for using your car as Henry intended and sharing your adventures with us.

[av8coupe]

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Thanks for sharing your roadtrips with us. Your photos capture the beauty of the American West and the writing provides a great balance of information and personal experience. Please keep those tires on Old Henry rolling down the road.

[cushman man]

Thanks, I love out west and you do a great job showing it.

[green50]

Enjoyed the road trip, thanks for taking us along!

[flat-v8]

Awesome as usual, those scenic photos just keep getting better thanks!

[Pat/Ohio]

Thanks for sharing! You have saved Us a lot of $$$! We drove some of the same roads while on our trip to the Western Nationals in St. George, UT. Pat

[Planojc]

Love the rear view mirror shot.

[done4]

Always a blast to take a cruise with you and Pepe. Thanks Old Henry, I needed a little sun. This is what we have been dealing with, a view of our deck.

[Vic Piano]

done4, you need to come down to the Cigar City Flatheads Florida "Barner's Bash" for some Flathead fun in the sun... We can even do some cigars.

[Bolts]

The picture at Glen Canyon Dam looks like a travel poster from the fifties. Really enjoyed the trip Professor.

[JimOH]

Prof. Henry,
Your road trips and pictures amaze me more each time I see one. I sure enjoy each and every one of them. Thanks for posting them.
Jim

[Ol' Ron]

Well Henry, I was with you every step of the way. Now I'll head over to Google earth and try to follow the trip. Great job, keep up the good work, we love it.

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

Well Henry, I was with you every step of the way. Now I'll head over to Google earth and try to follow the trip. Great job, keep up the good work, we love it.

Any time you wanna do a road trip in person come here and we'll go. Same goes for anyone. I'd love to show you "God's Country."

[ccnelson]

Prof. Henry. Thanks again for another wonderful road trip. Keep them coming. They have all been so enjoyable.

[35cab]

Thanks for posting, always enjoy your trips, great photos of amazing landscape.

[Fredb_]

Great photos as always! That's one lucky dog you've got!