Arizona: Kaibab Plateau

We were on the Kaibab Plateau as we approached the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

It is at a higher elevation than the South Rim and receives more precipitation so supports a more diverse forest, including aspen.

Bison are not native to the area and were brought in from Yellowstone in 1906. Charles Jesse "Buffalo" Jones thought he would cross them with cows. The experiment failed and the surviving animals were sold to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. A bison range was designated in 1950.

We saw much evidence of past fires. Lightning starts about 16 fires each year on the North Rim. The fires are managed now, rather than always extinguished as in the past. This allows the natural course of forest development.

The aspen were colorful as this abstract and overly processed photo shows. 

Arizona: Vermilion Cliffs

Highway 89A from Marble Canyon to Jacob Lake follows along the edge of the Vermilion Cliffs.

The highway basically follows the old wagon route of pioneers.

The red color comes from iron oxide.

The area is part of the Saddle Mountain Wilderness and this is the only road through it.

We started up the incline to the Kaibab Plateau (which includes the north rim of the Grand Canyon) and took a look back.

Arizona: Navajo Bridge at Marble Canyon

Highway 89A crosses over the Colorado River on Navajo Bridge in Marble Canyon. The original bridge on the right opened in 1929 and is still open to foot traffic. Its roadway width is 18 feet. The new bridge at the left opened in 1995 with a width of 44 feet.

The bridge is over 450 above the river. Many of the float trips begin north of the bridge, near Lee's Ferry.

Mable Canyon runs from Lee's Ferry to the confluence of the Colorado River with the Little Colorado River, the beginning of the Grand Canyon.

Arizona: Painted Desert and Echo Cliffs

On our way from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to the North Rim, we passed through the Painted Desert.

The badlands extend from the Grand Canyon National Park to the Petrified Forest National Park.

Having been born and raise in the lush (rainy) Pacific Northwest,

the geology of the area fascinated me.

Most of our drive was within Navajo Nation. Some of the dwellings looked abandoned, as those below.

Echo Cliffs were to our east as we headed north.

We had out first views of the Vermilion Hills before us, as well as smoke from a forest fire nearby.

Even though the drive from Desert View to Marble Canyon took a little over two hours, the road seemed to go on forever,

and ever.

We neared Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, the Vermilion Hills across the river bursting in color.

Arizona: Grand Canyon Desert View Drive

We left the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and headed east along Desert View Drive.

We stopped at the various view points along the way.

The Desert View Visitor Center is at the east end of the park.

The Desert View Watchtower (1932) was designed by Mary Colter, architect for the Santa Fe Railroad. We climbed the 85 steps to the observation deck for the view.

We finally had a good view of the Colorado River to the north. We'd meet it again later in the day on our way to the North Rim.

Arizona: Grand Canyon South Rim Sunrise

We were up early the next morning to catch the dawn light on the Canyon.

The sun came into view at 6:21 am.

We watched as the sun's rays hit the Canyon walls.

The morning light accented some of the colorful cliffs.

It wasn't long, though, before the haze and the rising sun began to wash out the distinctive colors.

Arizona: Grand Canyon South Rim Twilight

We stayed at the point for a while after the sun had set.

During twilight the colors often change or are highlighted in different ways.

A photographer never wants to leave too early, missing that last shot.