Escapees September-October 2022

skp stops

In and Around Lee’s Ferry Marble Canyon, Arizona HC 67 Box 30, Marble Canyon, AZ 86036, 800-962-9755, leesferry.com

S hortly after crossing the bridge, you will take a right turn onto Lee’s Ferry Road to reach Lee’s Ferry area and campground in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. There are two fairly easy hikes in the area. One is the one-mile round trip Lonely Dell Ranch hike. Some historical buildings are there with information boards about the early settlers who ran Lee’s Ferry. For 100 years the ranch was home to three Mormon families (the Lees, Johnsons and Emetts) who helped run Lee’s Ferry. They grew their own food and hay. The last private owners planted new seeds for a fruit orchard which the park service runs today. In season, the public is allowed to pick up to fi ve gallons of fruit for personal use and it’s free. One of the Mormon leaders and John Lee decided a ferry was needed. John Lee started the fi rst one in 1873, thus the name “Lee’s Ferry.” Because of its remoteness, they named their homestead “Lonely Dell.” He and his wife, Emma, ran the ferry until in 1874, when John Lee’s past caught up with him. He had been involved in the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre, a series of attacks which resulted in the mass murder of 120 members of the Baker–Fancher emigrant wagon train. For some reason he was the only Mormon scape goat and was excommunicated. He was put on trial, found guilty and executed in 1877. After John was gone, Emma ran the ferry and farm alone but later had the

If you are heading to the Lee’s Ferry area from the south and east, you would be taking route 89A and will cross a bridge next to the historic Navajo Bridge which opened in 1929. When the Navajo Bridge was built, it was the only place to cross the Colorado River for 600 miles. Flagsta ff ’s newspaper, Coconino Sun called its open ing “the biggest news in southwest history.” Over 5,000 people attended the dedica tion ceremony. It was a vital link to the fi rst direct highway route between Arizona and Utah and replaced Lee’s Ferry located a few miles upstream. The bridge wasn’t built for today’s tra ffi c and weight, so it has been replaced by a similar bridge next to it. However, you can walk across the Navajo Bridge for wonderful views of the Colorado River. There is a parking area large enough for large rigs and information boards on the west side of the river.

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ESCAPEES Magazine September/October 2022