Last major stop for our trip after visiting Cathedral Wash is the historic Lee’s Ferry District. We are planning to see the remaining ruins and also take the River walk. We have been here a few times but we were never able to hike the River Walk as it was too hot, today it is a great weather for hiking though. We are surprised at the size of the parking lot, wonder if it ever gets full? There are some historic houses here already, they are quite popular with the people that just drive here, look at them and then return without hiking at all.
Nearby is an interesting cabin ruin, it is set in a beautiful landscape near the colorful mountains but still close to the Colorado river.
We then start on the River trail, it is quite level with some excellent views. It is quite surprising how few people actually go on it, most don’t go far from the parking lot.
There are some remnants of mining and settler activity along the way. There was a major attempt for mining but then the major economic activity revolved around ranching and maintaining the ferry(-ies) across the river.
There are quite a few birds in the area including ducks on the river. We are happy to see a canyon wren after so many rock wrens on our previous stops.
About halfway on our hike the Spencer trail leaves the River Trail climbing steeply towards the Rim. It would allow us to do a loop trail hike combined with the route through the Paria River we tried a couple of days prior. Today it is not the time for it obviously as we have to leave towards home…
As we continue on the trail we find a few petroglyphs that are not marked otherwise. Some are quite new, getting close to graffiti territory but some are a bit older. And then just like that the trail ends at a point where the ferry used to cross and therefore has a few ruins around it, we just have to find them.
We take a use trail that leads us behind the interpretative sign and a few bushes to the two ruined fireplaces described on the sign as well as a ruined cabin from which only the foundations can be seen.
As we return to the car we find even more petroglyphs, these ones likely done by the Anasazi, quite difficult to see without a bit of luck. And then soon we are back at our starting area and it is time to start our return trip.
With one more stop, of course, how can we not stop at the Balanced Rock viewpoint? It is a short stop and we notice how the sun is almost at the horizon, highlighting the need to start our drive back.
As we reach Flagstaff we are already hungry and decide to stop at Pita Jungle, one of our preferred places in Flagstaff. we order tikka masala and a gyro and both are quite good and full we are back on our way planning to arrive relatively early in Phoenix.
Unfortunately the gods have a different plan for us with the traffic being completely stopped close to Phoenix. We spend more than one hour in traffic with no idea when, if ever, we will be able to continue towards Phoenix. It is a time of impromptu parties and snack breaks with most people exiting the cars and eating, drinking, listening to music. And then, phew, the traffic starts to move passed a huge traffic accident and then we arrive in Phoenix and back home after a beautiful trip to the northern Arizona border.
