84°F
weather icon Clear

Aptly named Lonely Dell good start for adventure

Located on the Arizona Strip and the Colorado River, Lee’s Ferry makes a great getaway for those who like remote areas for hiking or just kicking back for a night or two. This one offers the bonus of being a historic site.

It is one of the very few places where you can access the Colorado River in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Lee’s Ferry is the place where smooth-water raft trips from Glen Canyon Dam finish their 15-mile, day run down the river. More famously, it is Mile Zero, where river rafters begin multiday, white-water adventures through the Grand Canyon.

The Lonely Dell Ranch Historic Site is a mile or so, a couple of minutes’ drive or a 25-minute walk from Lee’s Ferry, and lies just north of the confluence of the Colorado River and the Paria River. The 165-acre property is maintained and managed by the National Park Service, and lives up to its name as you’ll likely be the only visitors present. It’s fun to walk around and look at fruit orchards, cabins, ranch house, several outbuildings and the cemetery.

For a good hiking adventure, head upstream from the cemetery and into Paria Canyon a ways. No permits are required for a day hike from here going upstream. It’s a beautiful area but be aware there can be severe flash flooding in the canyon. Be sure to get an accurate weather report before setting out.

The ranch has quite the interesting, yet scandalous, history. Back in 1872, John D. Lee, a prominent Mormon leader, came here to establish a permanent ferry crossing across the Colorado River. Lee was an active polygamist and housed two of his many wives here. Much of the reason behind his setting up at such a remote location was its relative inaccessibility to legal authorities. The law was after him for the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre that took place in 1857 east of Cedar City, Utah.

In that tragic event, Mormon militia and some American Indians attacked a wagon train of 120 non-Mormon emigrants, and slaughtered all but a few young children. About 50 people are known to have participated in the crime, but only Lee paid the supreme penalty. Finally convicted, he was brought back to the site of the massacre, where he was put to death by a firing squad in 1877.

One of his Lee’s wives, Emma, continued maintaining the ranch until 1879, when the Mormon Church bought the ferry and put another family in charge of running it. The ferry operated until 1928, when it sank. As long as the ferry functioned it was regionally important and famous; there is even a cowboy song about the homesick singer’s desire to “cross over Lee’s Ferry and go back home next year.” Once the nearby Navajo Bridge was finished in 1929, there was no longer a need for ferry services. The park service acquired the property in 1974.

The ranch is at an elevation of about 3,150 feet and from now through June, and then again from September to November, are ideal times to visit the area.

There are plenty of places to park and walk down to the Colorado River via a multitude of footpaths. Many people just sit and relax, wade in, while others spend their time fly-fishing. Trout fishing is said to be some of the best around.

The campground offers 54 sites on a first-come, first-served basis. Open fires are not allowed, but there are standing grills where you can burn wood. Bathrooms are kept clean. Sites are $20 a night. Gas, supplies, restaurants, showers and a motel are available in Marble Canyon, about five miles away.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/glca.

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Volleyball squad gets back into win column

Advancing to 4-7 on the season, Boulder City High School girls volleyball got back in the win column with a victory over rival Moapa Valley on Aug. 27.

Eagles hold strong in loss against Clark

Continuing to impress during the preseason despite a narrow defeat, Boulder City High School football fell to 4A Clark 28-20 at home on Aug. 29.

Friday Night Lights

Photos by Ron Eland/Boulder City Review

Eagles bounce back at home

Picking up their first victory of the season, Boulder City High School football routed 4A Sunrise Mountain 33-0 in their home opener on Aug. 22.

Boys tennis picks up where they left off

Starting their season off hot, Boulder City High School boys tennis defeated a pair of 4A schools, Basic and Silverado, during their opening week of play.

Volleyball splits matches this week

Advancing to 3-7 on the season, Boulder City High School girls volleyball continues to impress early on, despite suffering a league loss.

Volleyball squad struggles in opening tournament

A game away from making the 3A state tournament a season ago, Boulder City High School girls volleyball has their eyes set on being better in all aspects of the game this season.

Soccer team looks to bounce back, again

Two years removed from a 0-15-1 campaign, Boulder City High School boys soccer will look to continue to trend upward after making the playoffs last season.