Navajo Bridge -March 28
Construction on Navajo Bridge was begun in 1927 and completed in 1929, replacing Lee’s Ferry as the safest crossing of the Colorado for 200 miles. There is a great visitors center explaining the history and the newest nearby residents – California Condors! Releases of Condors in the area began in 1996 and they have been roosting on and under Navajo Bridge lately. It’s a great place to see one of the most magnificent and endangered animals in the U.S. Interestingly, the first wild release of Condors was conducted in the Los Padres National Forest near Big Sur on the California coast, very near our favorite ‘wide spot on the road’ camping site, but we’ve never seen them there.
You can walk across the original 1929 bridge. The new vehicle bridge is on the left, with the unique visitor center in between.
Rafters floating under the bridge on their way into the Grand Canyon. This is the last of ‘civilization’ they will see until the foot bridges deep in the Grand Canyon!
An immature Condor roosting on the cliff under the bridge.