Lee’s Ferry is considered the “official” starting place of the Grand Canyon. In the early days of the small settlement that sprang up on the banks of the Colorado River, it played a significant role in the exploration of Arizona, Utah and places west. The terrain provides a natural corridor between Utah and Arizona, offering only one practical crossing place of the Colorado River for hundreds of miles. It is also a fun, historic place to visit if you are traveling in the Southwest.

Lee’s Ferry was named for John D. Lee, a Mormon settler, who established a ferry across the Colorado River in 1871. The ferry provided the only crossing place of the river for hundreds of miles in either direction, and operated for nearly 60 years before a bridge was built a few miles downstream. As an odd side note, Lee was in exile following his role in the massacre of 120 emigrants near St. George, Utah, when he established the ferry. He was later executed for his part in the slaughter.

A wider replacement bridge was eventually completed and, together with Glen Canyon Dam, is one of only two bridges across the Colorado for many hundreds of miles between the Hoover Dam and Hite, Utah. It is the only place within Glen Canyon where visitors can drive to the Colorado River in over 700 miles of Canyon Country, right up to the first “rapid” in the Grand Canyon.

Just upstream from the Lee’s Ferry Launch Ramp are several historic buildings — the remains of a gold mine camp, including two stone buildings, a steam boiler and a sunken paddlewheel steamboat. In addition, Lonely Dell Ranch historic site was home to the families who operated Lee’s Ferry. The ranch became a green oasis as the owners worked hard to become self-sustaining — the nearest trading post was hundreds of miles away. Today you can take a walking tour of the ranch and see the orchard, log cabins, ranch house and cemetery.

Lee’s Ferry offers plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure, not to mention some stunning scenery. Because it is at the start of the Grand Canyon, many river runners launch from Lee’s Ferry for trips down canyon. Nearby Glen Canyon Dam offers world-class trout fishing, and Paria Canyon Wilderness Area has plenty of hiking trails to explore the beautiful vermillion cliffs, canyons and desert ridges.

Lee’s Ferry is about 40 miles from Page, Arizona, and 85 miles from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Camping is available here, as is the public launch ramp, while a gas station, store, post office, motel and restaurant are located in nearby Marble Canyon. No matter how civilized the rest of the United States becomes, Lee’s Ferry is likely to remain isolated and little changed from the early days of the West, so plan accordingly when you visit.