Alt 89 Vermillion Cliffs
 

Has anyone driven Alt 89 - Kanab to Page? Is it worth it? Miles or beauty than 89?

That's a tough one. 89 takes you through part of Escalante and is more mountain/twisty road. 89A comes down out of the higher roads and the Vermillion Cliffs are pretty. Also, you can take a short turn off at Marble Canyon & Lee's Ferry. Some interesting rock formations & cliffs and you can drive down to the Colorado River. A bit later, Navajo Bridge is interesting and almost always has some Native American jewelry businesses there. Sort of a hard choice. 89 may be overall more scenic in some ways but the road is more difficult - but that makes it interesting. 89A is more direct and an easier road - also scenic. Of course, almost everything out there is scenic.

Alternate 89A, from Kanab UT to Page AZ is a wonderful drive! I have never been on the main 89, so I can't compare the two. From Kanab up to the point where you enter the Kaibab National Forest might be considered by some to be dull, as it is a vast unchanging desert area, short scrubby vegetation, etc. Once in the Kaibab Forest the scenery will gradually go from greener scrubby short trees to downright forested areas with big pine trees and cooler temperature (We were there in mid-May), climbing in elevation all the way. After the town of Jacob Lake, (where a person desiring to see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon would take Hwy 67 into that GORGEOUS park, the only road in), if continuing on 89A, you will drive in a more easterly direction, forests of pine trees will give way to those scrubby bushes again, you will loose altitude as you go, eventually coming out on a very large flat basin area. You will be driving right alongside of the Vermillion Cliffs, with their beautiful pink and cream striations, they are very grand. After crossing the Colorado River you will be heading south, only to meet up with main 89, where you will have to go north again, through a mountain pass to reach Page. <BR>This drive has it's tedium, because the scenery may not change type as quickly as the traveler might wish. But I feel it is a great drive, and unless the traveler is driving between the months of October and mid May the GRAND CANYON should NOT be missed. The North and South Rim's should not be compared, as they are quite unique unto themselves. <BR>On our trip we left Kanab at approximately 7AM, arriving at the North Rim Lodge at approximately 11PM, just in time for lunch in the main dining room (recommended). We toured all of the different viewpoints by car all afternoon (don't skip ANY). Had junk food from the campground store for dinner, eatimg out on the Lodge's patio and watching thunderheads build and lightening strikes out over the canyon. Indescribeable beauty! After spending 1 night at one of the Lodge's "new" Western cabins for $100 (worth every penny to stay there) we drove out at 7AM on Hwy 67 to Jacob Lake, east on 89A to Page as described, arriving at approximately 10AM where we took a 1 hour tour of the Antelope Slot Canyon, which was $12pp. and sponsored by the local indian tribe on their land. Quite an experience, recommended. <BR>Located a few mi. east of Hwy 89 , a right turn just before reaching Page. I can look it up if you are interested. Then we had lunch at the Waheap Lodge overlooking the marina. <BR>You asked about the drive, but the thing I was most impressed with was the North Rim. If you haven't seen it yet, try to work the extra day into your trip. After Page we headed back home to So. California via Flagstaff/South Rim and were so unimpressed after just coming from the North Rim that we just cut it short because it could not match where we had already been. Note to Everyone: See South Rim FIRST.

Just did both (we made a circle) in late May. I'd say Alt 89 is definitely more beautiful and interesting. Especially the part after Jacob's Lodge. I really enjoyed going to Lee's Ferry. It's only about a mile turnoff from Alt 89. There are these weird rock formations and you can actually go into the Colorado River. About 1/4 mile from the turn off for Lee's Ferry is the Navaho Bridge. This is the only crossing over the Grand Canyon. There is both a pedestrian bridge and a car bridge. You can look down into the Grand Canyon. Which I thought was really amazing especially since just down the road at Lee's Ferry there were no canyon walls on one side. After Navaho Bridge Alt 89 meets up with 89. The first part of the road is uphill and you can look back down at the Grand Canyon - although I guess most people if they hadn't come thru Alt89 wouldn't even realize its the Grand Canyon. THen in front of you towards Page you see the blue blue waters of Lake Powell (quite a contrast with the green of the Colorado in the Grand Canyon. I thought 89 from Page to Kanab was somewhat boring but lately I've seen so much desert country. However, my 21 year old neice thought it was a nice drive but she did like alt 89 better. <BR> <BR>I don't recall either road being difficult to drive - I went slower on alt 89 cause there was more to look at. I think 89 I probably drove atleast 70 most of the way.

Hi
I'm sorry - I realise that this thread is ANCIENT - but where do you go to get down to the river? Lee's Ferry? It's just one of those things, isn't it? &quot;Paddled in the Colorado River&quot; .. tick! :)

Lee's Ferry is where the rafting trip from Page, AZ stops. It's about 5 or 6 miles off of Alt. 89. You can get to the river but I don't remember if it would be a good place to swim or paddle.

http://www.desertusa.com/colorado/le..._leeferry.html

I remember you asked about the two routes. I prefer Hwy 89 to Alt 89. Alt 89 is more mountain driving and I get enough of that living in California. I prefer Hwy 89 because it goes by Lake Powell and you also are in Escalante - Grand Staircase National Monument. It's more desert - sandstone than Alt 89. You can see some of the Vermillion Cliffs from Hwy 89 too.

Utahtea

Thanks Utahtea - great link!
Oh, don't know which road to take now! We are though staying at Lake Powell overnight, and the mountain route sounds nice (as does the chance to get right down to the river) - so I think it'll be a backtrack and Alt89 for us the next day.

wildblueyonder,

If you are going to Lake Powell and then doubling back, you will be seeing the MOST scenic part of the drive - TWICE ;)

Utahtea

Cool! :)

Great information on this post. I am traveling with my son next April &quot;around the canyon&quot;, vegas-zion-page-gc-vegas over 9 days. I am from connecticut and am a little worried traveling on desert roads like alt 89. How much traffic is there on alt 89 in april if i break down ? Should I be worried ?

rcb,

In April the North Rim of the Grand Canyon will still be closed because of snow. Alt 89 is more a mountain drive than desert and even the desert part of this trip in April won't be bad. You also can't rule out snow at this time of the year! I haven't driven this route in April so I can't answer how many people would be out there, but my best guess would be less than on 89 to Page.

Utahtea

I am moving with a uhaul truck and driving through the area in late November. How is the area around that time as far as snow. Also im a bit confused. One person says 89A is mountains and another says it isn't which is it. Thanks.