dare2go

The Grand Canyon


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The 89A passes along the very edge of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, and the cliffs were really gorgeous shades of red, pink, orange, pale green, and charcoal. We came upon a small settlement called Cliff Dwellers - started in the 1920's by a woman who broke down driving through the area. She liked it and decided to stay. They built a house up against a large rock which had fallen down the cliff face.
Soon after leaving Cliff Dwellers we turned off the 89A into Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to drive about 5 miles to Lees Ferry. This is the official start of the Grand Canyon and many rafting expeditions into the Canyon set off at this point. It is named after a settler who established a ferry across the Colorado here in 1871.
As we left the NRA, and turned again onto the 89A, we crossed the bridge that replaced the ferry. We were absolutely stunned by how deep the canyon had become in such a relatively short distance. The old bridge is now a pedestrian bridge which allows a clear view up the canyon and a less clear view down the canyon (the new bridge is in the way!).
We continued on the 89A (and soon met with the 89) which then ran through the huge Navajo Indian Reservation. At various points along the road they have stalls set up selling jewelry, rugs, pottery and other hand-crafted items. The favourite place to set up is on parking spaces for scenic views - to catch the tourists as they stop to take photos. Just after we left the 89 to drive the 64 towards the south rim of the Grand Canyon NP we stopped at one of these which overlooks the Little Colorado Canyon, and they had their stalls set up so that one was almost directed to walk down between them to get to the overlook into the canyon!

We got a site at the Desert View Campground which is at the eastern end of the Park, just after entering the gate. This area is much less touristed than the area around the Grand Canyon Village on the south rim, about 20 miles west.
We spent a relatively quiet night and left early the next morning to drive the road toward the Village. There are a number of observation points along this road and we stopped first at Navajo Point and then at Grand View. Grand View is the highest point on the south rim and was the first place that tourists came to the Grand Canyon. A hotel was built there by a miner in the late 1800's and he would bring the tourists from Flagstaff by stagecoach. In the early 1900's the Santa Fe Railroad came up to the Grand Canyon around the area where the Village now is and the Grand View Hotel lost its trade.
We didn't stay around in the Village, except to go to the dump station (this is a place where one can empty the grey water and black water tanks and fill the fresh water tank of the RV), as our real reason for coming to the south rim was to explore the possibility of taking a flight over the Canyon. To do this you must go to a small town just outside the Park called Tusayan. We went to the airport there and arranged a 25 minute helicopter flight for a cost of $145 per person. I was somewhat nervous at the prospect, but we both thought that it is a once in a lifetime experience and the only way to truly appreciate the size of this enormous hole in the ground. It was an incredible experience and we were both a little overwhelmed by it. We shared the flight with a German couple and their teenage daughter - when it brought tears to her eyes, I think it was hard for the rest of us to be unmoved! I think you will agree that the photos from the air give a much clearer perspective of this amazing place.