Like the walls of an ancient palace lining the arid desert floor, the Vermillion Cliffs are a beauty to behold. Best in the morning and late afternoon. The colors range from pinks to reds to oranges, depending on the sun and cloud cover. The drive is pleasant with Native Americans selling handcrafted jewelry in roadside stalls. Road conditions were mostly good. If you are headed thru this area, make sure to gas up before and always carry water. The desert can still be brutal in September and cool off in a hurry when the sun sets.
We traveled this road Jan. 8th. As we came into the valley after the so so lookout, there was a heavy layer of very low fog. We could see the cliffs over the top of it. It was a beautiful and eerie sight. The fog eventually lifed some to reveal a gorgeous valley/ highway! The road itself is very straight, long and narrow but is in very good shape. We came into a few inches of new snow but the road was clear though a bit sloppy in spots. It's very tempting to speed on this road so we had to slow it down which was a good thing so we could better enjoy the views. The surrounding area is gorgeous and the snow on the cliffs and mountains, plateaus were spectacular! I'm a photographer so we stopped to take pictures as much as my husband would allow. I was itching to get out of the car more to photograph the sites and even the long road. To my dismay we were just passing through and didn't have time to explore. The canyon, mountains and sites were calling to me! We WILL go back! The bridge is a nice stop. Picturesque views! It really was stunning give the natural beauty of the canyon, water and mountains, in the snow and with a gorgeous cloud cover giving spectacular light and peaks of what I guess we're the Marble Mountains?
This is the highway you'll take if you're going to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon if you're coming from Page or Flagstaff. The Vermillion Cliffs are spectacular and, really, quite a wondrous sight. The highway is narrow but with miles long straightaway stretches it lends itself to speed if that's your thing. But best to travel the speed limit and take in the scenery.If you're interested in photography and want to get the best shots, make sure you're traveling at sunrise or just before sunset, as the cliffs will appear somewhat washed out if you take photos at other times. Don't travel here just for this highway, be sure to proceed on to the Grand Canyon.
All I can really say about this drive is that it is spectacular, especially if you get there when the sun is setting. The cliffs are a gorgeous red and you'll want to stop at least a few times to take photographs. There isn't a huge amount of traffic on this road.
If you have not been through Marble Canyon or seen the Vermillion Cliffs, you need to go. If you are headed to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon from the East, you will undoubtedly pass through here. Plan some extra time to take in the beauty.Navajo Bridge is an amazing structure, built in 1928. Certainly one of the more attractive and accessible bridges around. The pedestrian bridge at the location also allows you to stand over the center of the Little Colorado River with ease.As another reviewer wrote, there are numerous places to pull off to photograph the cliffs, the wild horses or whatever. You won't find any gas or a McDonald's, but you might just find some Peace there.
The most scenic part of the drive was from Jacob Lake to Navajo Bridge. The expansive landscape with the multi colored Vermillion cliffs, beautiful clouds formation and very long straight road of US89A at sundown just picture perfect. Absolutely stunning.
While not 'Grand Canyon' spectacular, Highway 89A is a scenic must-do. It's especially enjoyable in the off-season (winter) when the traffic is light. The Vermillion Cliffs which the highway follow are dramatic and beautiful, off-setting the vast desert plain to the south. Equally scenic is the Kaibab Plateau with it's pine forests and winter snow. Crossing of the Colorado River is also worth a stop.We had concerns about December travel in this relatively remote place - not a problem. Road is good quality and well maintained. Services are few and far between - gas, restaurant (check for hours in winter) & motel at Marble Canyon and again at Jacob Lake. That's it.
We drove down the highway one evening to watch the sunset and it was spectacular! We parked at the end of the scenic viewpoint parking area but crossed the road to a disused road that sat a little higher up so my husband could shoot photos without the roadway in view.The colors were amazing and the views over to the Marble Canyon & Page well worth the 15 minute drive from Jacob Lake!
The beauty must be seen to appreciate. I like it all which includes the drive and scenery as well as the Cliff Dwellers Lodge and Restaurant.
I loved this beautiful Highway. From Cameron to Page AZ, one of the most awe inspiring drives I've ever taken. For whatever reason, seeing this right after visiting the south rim of the Grand Canyon only made this place seem more awesome. From the beautiful cliffs to the drive over Navajo Bridge, viewing the vast expanse of the plain, then the drive over the mountains and then up to Page, simply a wonderful days drive.