Vermilion Cliffs and Lees Landing

Timing is everything!  We decided to drive back to the Navajo Bridge which spans the Colorado River and is the start of the Grand Canyon National Park.  But first, since we have no cell service and the holiday weekend is coming up, we wanted to verify that we do indeed have a reservation at our next campground.  So, if we did not have cell service by the time we got to the Bridge, we would drive onward to Page, Arizona.  However, as soon as we got to a very small community called Cliff Dwellers, which butts up against the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, I got cell service.  While I called to verify, Dave walked around a small establishment and low and behold - it was a River Expedition company and they were readying boats to go on their 5 day trip from Lees Landing, which we were right by,  to the end of the Canyon.

Stopped to make cell call - raft company readying boats

Drive into Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

Rafters coming!

Rafting through Paria Riffle 

Lees Landing - group getting ready to go - last of day 

We continued on to Lees Landing which is the point most river rafters start their trip down the Colorado.  Wow!  As re drove into the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, we were stunned by the magnificent red cliffs!!  We thought we were done with red rock, but this blew us away!  Moab is great, Zion, Bryce - nothing compares to the vista views of this monument.  We drove down to the Colorado River area - Paria Beach - and saw rafters coming.  I stuck my hand into the Colorado, never being this close.  We watched 2 separate raft groups go by, which is right at the first ‘rapid’ known as Paria Riffle.  Not really a rapid but the first time the rafters get to feel the force of the water over rocks.  Very cool!

Just stunning!

Every direction - wow!

Drove to Lees Landing and watched the last group ready to go down the River, the last one to step off is noon.  Was I impressed!  The gear the rafts carry is amazing.  Was not keen on ever going down the River but after seeing this, I have put rafting down the Colorado on my bucket list.  Some day.  Went back to the Navajo Bridge, walked over it, looked down and saw the groups of rafters resting.

Rafters resting below

Truly amazing day!  Wow factor big time.  If you really want to get impressed with seeing Red Rocks - and there is no way to fully explain the hues of reds, blues, yellows, greys, whites - you need to come to Lees Landing and view the Vermilion Cliffs.  Breathtaking!

Hiking here if you want - I just wanted to stare!

Amazing!