Have you ever seen something so vast and majestic in nature that it didn’t feel like real life? For us, that was how we felt when we laid our eyes on Marble Canyon for the first time.
What to Know About Marble Canyon
Situated between Vermilion Cliffs and Page, Arizona, Marble Canyon is where the Colorado River meets the Little Colorado River, marking the beginning of the Grand Canyon. In 1969, President Johnson made Marble Canyon a national monument, which designated the area under federal protection. This area is also a base camp for Lees Ferry, as day hikers, fishermen, river rafters, backpackers and kayakers come from all over the globe to adventure here. And it’s easy to see once you set your eyes on the colorful cliffs and rocks that make Marble Canyon such an incredible sight to behold.
What to Do in Marble Canyon
Visit Lee’s Ferry
After staying a few days exploring the slickrock in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, we wanted to spend some time near the water. At Lee’s Ferry there is river-front access, where you can lounge around on the sandy beach area, drop a fishing line or launch a river raft (with a permit, of course) into the Colorado River.
We were dying to dip out toes in the water, so we spent a whole afternoon just hanging out at the river. Lee’s Ferry is one of the only places along the Colorado River between Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Mead where drive-up access to the river is available. While the water was absolutely freezing, the views are incredible and it still made for a fun day!
Take in the View from the Navajo Bridge
To get one of the best views of Marble Canyon and the Colorado River, make sure to stop off at the Navajo Bridge. It’s absolutely astonishing from this perspective! This is the western boundary of the Navajo Nation, the Native American territory that covers more than 17.5 million acres of land retained by the indigenous tribe. During the warmer months, there are little wooden storefronts where you can buy handcrafted Native American art and jewelry. There’s also a small visitor center is also available for restrooms and a variety of information about the area.
Keep An Eye Out for Condors
While you’re on the Navajo Bridge, keep an eye out for condors flying above or below. As one of the world’s largest and rarest birds, it’s an endangered species that was reintroduced to the area in 1996. I’ll be honest – we didn’t know to look at the time, and didn’t get a chance to spot one of these incredible birds – but we wish we had. I should also note here that because we weren’t aware of this, we definitely would not have shot drone footage at our nearby dispersed site.
Where to Stay
If you’re also visiting Vermilion Cliffs, there are plenty of camping areas nearby – check out our post here. Because we needed to refill water and fuel up on gas, we ended up boondocking right on the edge of Marble Canyon. Which is also quite insane!
When we stopped at Cliff Dwellers for water, a local told Steven that there was plenty of camping available here. His advice? “Just don’t park too close to the edge. When the wind picks up, so will your trailer!” Apparently, trailers falling down the cliffside are enough of a thing that the locals will warn you about it. YIKES!!
The area itself is beautiful, but be aware – this is super dry desert land. It gets HOT. Even in May, during our visit, we couldn’t believe how brutal the weather can be. Hence, we only stayed one night. However, the views are epic and totally worth it. Plus, it’s free!
As always, please remember to pack out all of your garbage, including your poo! For more details on how to properly boondock, read this post.
In Summary
If you’re visiting Northern Arizona, don’t miss Marble Canyon. It’s well worth traveling off the beaten path, and a great reminder of the amazing natural beauty that exists in this part of the country!
