Vermilion Cliffs and Horseshoe Bend, AZ

Sunday, August 21st, afternoon- Our next destination was planned to be the Glen Canyon area, near Page, Arizona.  However, to get there, we wanted to be able to see the Vermilion Cliffs.  I knew we had driven Rt. 89 in 2009 on route to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, but could not remember if it was 89 or 89A... We wanted to go a different route than in the past, but 89A was the one that drives right along the edge of the cliffs- so that's what we did.  We realized after the fact that we had done this drive before.  The drive is spectacular, so repeating was not so bad.
     Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is one of 5 monuments designated in 2000, and managed by the Bureau of Land Management rather than the park service.  It is remote and primitive, and will most likely never see improvements such as visitor centers and parking lots.  It is identified by several small signs- which we did not even see- and there are wilderness hiking trails available.  Just not sure how you find them...  The monument covers 280,000 acres and the cliffs rise anywhere from 3100 feet up to 7100 feet.  There are 5 "steps" that lead to the highest elevation of the Colorado Plateau.  Route 89A actually travels along step 1, on something called the Chocolate Cliffs.  Vermilion Cliffs is step 2.  The escarpment, named for its brilliant red color from iron oxide in the soil, runs about 30 miles.  This drive is just beautiful.  If you are looking for a scenic route between Utah and Arizona, this is it.

     We arrived in Page, Arizona, in the middle of the afternoon.  While checking in to the hotel, Dale noted a photo in the lobby of the iconic Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River.  He asked if it was in the area, and turns out it was a mile down the street!  We decided to go right there.
     The parking lot was almost full when we arrived.  The round trip hike to the edge of the canyon was about 1 1/2 miles up and then down a sandy dune.  We made it down to the edge and were in awe of how beautiful it was.  Both Dale and I tried to find a location to photograph the whole horseshoe, the shot we had seen in the hotel.  We just couldn't get the whole thing, and discussed how they managed to do that.  I went on line to look and found one used a drone, others used a very wide-angle lens.  So, bring your wide-angle if you decide to try this one- also your nerves of steel so you can get close to the edge....