b'MARBLE CANYONMARBLE CANYON IS A TINY POPULATED1874, relations between the Mormon settlers PLACE in Coconino County, Arizona, on USand the Navajo grew tense, so a fort was Route 89A, about 12 miles southwest of Page, atconstructed at the ferry, although it never the Navajo Bridge. It is a short distance from Leessaw official use and was soon converted into Ferry, once one of the few places where travelersa trading post.could cross the Colorado River and today a popular tourist spot. Marble Canyon has a postIn 1877, the law finally caught up to Lee office and not much else, just a place visitors passand he was executed for his role in the through on the way to Lees Ferry, where mostMountain Meadows Massacre 20 years adventures into the Marble Canyon and Coloradoprior. After Lees execution, his wife River start. Marble Canyon got its name for itsEmma ran the ferry until 1879 when the Mormon colorful purple rocks and cliffs. It is located justChurch purchased the ferry from her and sent newthe trees, within reason, and have a healthy snack below Glen Canyon Dam, between the dam andcaretakers to operate it. while wandering among the pioneer ruins.the confluence of the Colorado River with theLittle Colorado River, and it marks theIn the early 1900s, there was a boom of goldRiver Trail, 1 mile, Easy: Trail follows the old westernmost point of the Grand Canyon. prospecting in southern Utah and northernwagon road past Lees Ferry Fort and the Post Arizona and mining companies used Lees FerryOffice, Spencer mining ruins and wreck of the LEES FERRY AND LONELY DELL as a base of operations. The most notable of thesesteamboat.The trail ends at the main ferry site For much of the history of the United States,was the American Placer Company, led by Charleswhich is marked by ruins of rock houses.crossing the Colorado River proved a challenge.Spencer. Spencer hauled in tons of equipment, Impassable canyon cliffs lined the river forincluding a 92-foot long steamboat, but the goldSpencer Trail, 1.5 miles, Strenuous: Trail climbs hundreds of miles, and in places where one wasin the area was too meager and his expenses werea vertical cliff with a 1500 foot elevation gain.able to get down to the shore, there were usuallytoo high. Spencer left the area broke in 1912,Excellent views of the river and Lees Ferry.rapids or cliffs on the opposite side. At one spot,abandoning his equipment and the steamboat however, where the Paria River meetsbehind. The steamboat sank in 1921 but can still beCathedral Canyon, 1.25 miles, Moderate: Narrow the Colorado River in whats nowseen today at the bottom of the Colorado River. canyon with interesting rock formations. The trail northern Arizona, theres aends at Cathedral Rapid on the Colorado River.relatively calm section ofIn 1928, in what became the last ever crossing atWatch for quicksand and mud holes. Park your car river with lower banks. Lees Ferry, the ferryboat sank and three peopleat the second turn out on Lees Ferry road.It was here that John D.drowned. Navajo Bridge opened seven months Lee was dispatchedlater, four miles downstream from Lees Ferry,FLY FISHINGto operate a ferry toand the settlement faded into quiet obscurity.The mighty Colorado River and its tributaries allow the crossing ofAlthough the site is no longer the busy rivercarved out an extraordinary landscape, with the Colorado River. crossing it was in its heyday, its now a popularintricate mazes of canyons, delicate arches, and launching point for rafting trips down the massive rock monoliths. Nowhere is the landscape Lee arrived in theGrand Canyon. It is managed by the Nationalmore extraordinary than around Lees Ferry.area that wouldPark Service.come to bear hisTo the fly-fisher more accustomed to a traditional name in 1870,At the base of the vermillion cliffs, meadow or mountain stream, the Colorado River bringing two of hisa myriad of adventures awaitis often initially intimidating. However, in reality, wives and many ofyou whether youre seekingit is much like a giant his children with him.thrill or solitude. Fish atlimestone river or spring Although a prominentLees Ferry, raft the mightycreek with diverse fishing and influential early MormonColorado River, hike nearbyopportunities. It is a truly pioneer, Lee was sent to thistrails or simply stargaze. unique destination fishing faraway posting in an attempt to hide himlocale. The gravel bars, from the federal government, which was workingHIKING backwaters, eddies and to prosecute the perpetrators of the MountainThe last private ownersmain river channel offer Meadows Massacre, the slaughter of 120 pioneersof Lonely Dell planted anopportunities to fish dries, from Arkansas who were passing through the Utahorchard of apricot, peach,nymphs and streamers territory in 1857. pear, and plum trees inwithin a few hundred yards. 1965 and the NationalStalk rainbow trout in water Lee constructed a ranch for his families that hePark Service maintains theonly a few inches deep or named Lonely Dell and built the infrastructureorchard to this day. Visitorscast size #18 or #20 midge for the ferry service, which was up and runningto Lonely Dell are welcomeor pupae patterns to trout in 1873 and soon attracted hordes of travelers. Into pick their own fruit fromfeeding in deep, dark runs. 28 April 2019'