Day 39:

Starting point: Page AZ
Endin point: Page AZ

Distance driven: 318 km
Distance hiked: 5.4 km

Change of plan, complete U-turn! We had planned to do a long hike in Paria-Hackberry WSA, but as we were en route we quickly realized that we would spend the day under the clouds and that our photos would be rather lousy color-wise. Since the skies were much clearer south of Page, we turned around and headed in that direction.

On US 89 south of Page, we made a short stop at a viewpoint towards the area we were heading to, the Lee's Ferry area in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. We know this area well, having explored it on many occasions, either from Page by vehicle and by hike, or by the usual access via Lee's Ferry.




Once there, we walked the interpretive trail of the various remains related to the old ferry having been established in 1899 in one of the rare places possible to cross the Colorado River.












Next, we continued south into Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, skirting the colorful cliffs of the Paria Plateau. Our objective, in a more or less distant future, is to drive to some points of view located high on the plateau.




We then reached some viewpoints overlooking the Colorado River. This area is designated as a Marble Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern, protecting a variety of small cacti. The first trail we took was Badger Creek Road, then Ten Mile Rock Road. Here and there, a few flowers began to bloom, bent under the force of the strong winds.






Further on, we reached the edge of the canyon. From Marble Canyon near Lee's Ferry, the Colorado River, its banks and cliffs are included in Grand Canyon National Park.




At another viewpoint on Ten Mile Rock, the view of Colorado stretched into the distance. We even saw several rafting groups on an expedition on the turbulent river, including one grouping up before a series of rapids.








We then drove one last trail, the one called Marble Canyon Overlook Road, the southernmost of the three we went. This offers an effect of surprise because it goes from left to right, somewhat for no apparent reason, and then the canyon opens before us at the last moment.












As rain is expected in the area overnight, we do not know how our activities planned for tomorrow will be affected.