11/14/2021
To get across this small river in Arizona used to take nearly 700 miles of driving
Perhaps you have travelled to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. If you have, maybe you wondered; how do you get across?
In March of 1864, Mormon pioneer Jacob Hamblin and his men built a raft at the mouth of the Paria River. There they made the first successful crossing at the point on the Colorado that would later become Lees Ferry. They transported all fifteen men, their supplies and horses. This was the only place to cross the river for hundreds of miles.
About six miles south of the ferry, a bridge was built some 65 years later. It was initially called the Grand Canyon Bridge, but it was changed to Navajo Bridge in 1934.
Crossing the Colorado River, if not at Lees Ferry or the Navajo Bridge, is a lengthy trip. You travel south to Flagstaff and west to Las Vegas, Nevada. Then you go up through St. George, Utah, and turn east. You skirt the south end of Zion National Park and cross back into Arizona. Finally you endure a couple of hundred miles of two lane road through some spectacular desert vistas to get back to Navajo Bridge.
You just travelled about 640 miles. Crossing the river on the bridge is a trip of about 900 feet.
Navajo Bridge should be on your bucket list. When built, it was the tallest steel arch bridge in the United States. It instantly became one of the most popular northern Arizona tourist attractions – with almost 7,000 people attending the opening event on June 14 – 15, 1929.
The original bridge, now open only to foot traffic, is only 18 feet wide. It has a load limit of 22.5 tons. Remember, when it was built, there was no such things as SUVs or 18 wheelers.