"B. Rainbow Bridge With Navajo Mountain" by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
Rainbow Bridge
National Monument - Utah
Rainbow Bridge National Monument is administered by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, southern Utah, United States. Rainbow Bridge is often described as the world's highest natural bridge.
The Junior Ranger Booklet for Rainbow Bridge National Monument (NM) in Utah. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
https://www.nps.gov/rabr/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Bridge_National_Monument
Rainbow Bridge National Monument is administered by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, southern Utah, United States. Rainbow Bridge is often described as the world's highest natural bridge.
Rainbow Bridge is one of the world's largest known natural bridges. The span has undoubtedly inspired people throughout time--from the neighboring Native American tribes who consider Rainbow Bridge sacred, to the thousands of visitors from around the world who visit it each year. Please visit Rainbow Bridge in a spirit that honors and respects the cultures to whom it is sacred.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument is located between Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and the Navajo Nation. *There are no roads to or near the monument.* Rainbow Bridge can be reached by boat on Lake Powell or by hiking one of two trails around Navajo Mountain on the Navajo Nation, by permit only. Boat tours are available. The entrance to Forbidding Canyon is located at buoy 49 on Lake Powell. Boaters should be familiar with the Aids to Navigation (buoy) system and use a navigational map.
There are no visitor centers at Rainbow Bridge National Monument
There are no visitor centers at Rainbow Bridge National Monument
There are no campgrounds at Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Camping is not permitted at Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Rainbow Bridge
A large sandstone arch - a natural bridge.
Stand here and take in the majesty of Rainbow Bridge - the largest natural bridge in the National Park Service.
Aerial View of Rainbow Bridge
A view of Rainbow Bridge from the air.
Seen from the air, Rainbow Bridge is a graceful curve over the dry stream bed.
A Crowd Views Rainbow Bridge From Its Shadow
A large crowd faces away from the camera at the scenery.
In the desert heat after the rough walk up to Rainbow Bridge from the docks, you take shade where you can get it.
Rainbow Bridge Docks
Boats and personal watercraft sidle up to docks.
The only way to access Rainbow Bridge is by a two-day hike across the Navajo Nation, or a fifty-mile boat trip up Lake Powell.
Jim Mike Returns to Rainbow Bridge
An elderly Native American man sits in a lawn chair under Rainbow Bridge
In 1974, Ute Mountain Ute Jim Mike, one of the guides who led the original expedition to Rainbow Bridge, returned to see how he had led the way for many more visitors.
Park Ranger at Second Observation Area
Park Ranger standing in front of perfectly curved sandstone arch
During the summer season, Park Rangers will be at the observation areas to answer your questions.
Anthropogenic Sources Amplify Vibration of Iconic Rainbow Bridge
On August 4, 2008, Wall Arch in Arches National Park collapsed. While the forces of gravity and erosion may contribute to the collapse of natural rock formations like Wall Arch, are there other forces that may hasten the collapse of magnificent natural rock structures?
The Rainbow Bridge arch on a bright, sunny day
Arches National Park’s Free-Flowing Waters
Visitors to Arches National Park experience natural free-flowing waters and have water to quench their thirst, thanks to an agreement between the National Park Service and the State of Utah.
The sun sits just below the horizon behind Delicate Arch.
The Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is centered on the four corners area of the Southwest, and includes much of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Hazy Fajada Butte, Chaco Culture National Monument
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Utah
Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.
trail and natural stone bridge
Monitoring Night Skies and Natural Soundscapes on the Southern Colorado Plateau
Many national parks in the Southern Colorado Plateau region contain large areas of wilderness, where dark night skies and natural soundscapes are important human values. Dark night skies, which depend upon the visibility of stars and other natural components, are diminishing resources in several park units because of anthropogenic activities. Natural soundscapes—that is, the natural sounds of wildlands—are degraded by sounds caused by humans or human technology.
Clouds and sky turning red and orange over Navajo National Monument at sunset
Veteran Story: John Pflaumer
John Pflaumer is the Education and Outreach Coordinator at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Ranger holding child scissors
Volunteer Story: Brent and Dawn Davis
Brent and Dawn Davis have been volunteer photographers for Glen Canyon and Rainbow Bridge since 2018.
Night photo of round sandstone arch and starry sky
Southwest River Environments
In the arid Southwest, water means life, and prehistorically, rivers were the lifelines of the people.
The Colorado River flowing through a canyon
Climate Change on the Southern Colorado Plateau
The combination of high. elevation and a semi-arid climate makes the Colorado Plateau particularly vulnerable to climate change. Climate models predict that over the next 100 years, the Southwest will become warmer and even more arid, with more extreme droughts than the region has experienced in the recent past.
One result of climate change may be more, larger floods, like this flash flood in Glen Canyon NRA
Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Mesozoic Era
The Mesozoic Era (251.9 to 66 million years ago) was the "Age of Reptiles." During the Mesozoic, Pangaea began separating into the modern continents, and the modern Rocky Mountains rose. Dinosaurs, crocodiles, and pterosaurs ruled the land and air. As climate changed and rapid plate tectonics resulted in shallow ocean basins, sea levels rose world-wide and seas expanded across the center of North America.
fossil dinosaur skull in rock face
Series: Defining the Southwest
The Southwest has a special place in the American imagination – one filled with canyon lands, cacti, roadrunners, perpetual desert heat, a glaring sun, and the unfolding of history in places like Tombstone and Santa Fe. In the American mind, the Southwest is a place without boundaries – a land with its own style and its own pace – a land that ultimately defies a single definition.
Maize agriculture is one component of a general cultural definition of the Southwest.
Jurassic Period—201.3 to 145.0 MYA
Dinosaur National Monument is home to thousands of dinosaur fossils making it a true “Jurassic Park.” A vast desert covered Southwest North America in the Jurassic, and ancient sand dunes now form tall cliffs in many parks including Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
dinosaur skull in rock face
Mesozoic Era
The Mesozoic Era (251.9 to 66 million years ago) was the "Age of Reptiles." During the Mesozoic, Pangaea began separating into the modern continents, and the modern Rocky Mountains rose. Dinosaurs, crocodiles, and pterosaurs ruled the land and air. As climate changed and rapid plate tectonics resulted in shallow ocean basins, sea levels rose world-wide and seas expanded across the center of North America.
fossil dinosaur skull in rock face
Ranger Edmonia-Making Your Own History
For Black History Month 2021, Ranger Edmonia shares her experience of trying to find her place in the history of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Park Ranger drives a boat with the sun at her back
Rainbow Bridge: a Traditional Cultural Property
The National Park Service has designated Rainbow Bridge a Traditional Cultural Property and International Dark Sky Sanctuary, recognizing the site's historic and ongoing cultural significance to at least six American Indian tribes, and establishing its listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Rainbow Bridge is the first site in Utah to gain a TCP designation, and the first site in the National Park Service to become a dark sky sanctuary.
A group of people stand in front of sandstone wall with two aged bronze plaques embedded.
Plan Like a Park Ranger: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Plan like a Park Ranger with these top 10 tips for visiting Glen Canyon and Rainbow Bridge.
Hiker treks along the rocky trail
Water Resources on the Colorado Plateau
Describes the origin, uses, threats to, and conservation of water on the Colorado Plateau.
Dark green body of water winding through red rock formations with brilliant sun overhead.
Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils
The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian.
photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface
Guide to the Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection
Finding aid for the Thomas J. Allen Photographs in the NPS History Collection.
My Park Story: Christine Longenecker
Meet Christine Longenecker, the Community Volunteer Ambassador intern at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area!
A person posing in front of rock bridge.
My Park Story: Cindy Stafford
Meet Cindy Stafford, Glen Canyon's Museum/Archives technician volunteer.
person holds black and white image of stone building.
Making an Impact: Long-Term Monitoring of Natural Resources at Intermountain Region National Parks, 2021
Across the Intermountain Region, Inventory & Monitoring Division ecologists are helping to track the effects of climate change, provide baseline information for resource management, evaluate new technologies, and inspire the next generation of park stewards. This article highlights accomplishments achieved during fiscal year 2021.
A man looks through binoculars at sunrise.
My Park Story: Taryn Preston
Meet Taryn Preston, the Natural Resource Program Manager at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area!
Park ranger wearing a hard hat stands near burning brush.
My Park Story: Clinton Talley
Meet Clinton Talley, the Facilities Management Specialist at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Two people pose near lake's edge. Rock buttes rise out of the water.
My Park Story: Emma Hincher
Meet Emma Hincher, a Recreation Fee Technician at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area!
Person stands near the edge of a rushing river.
My Park Story: Kari Prassack
Meet Kari Parssack, the Compliance Archaeologist at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area!
a person takes a selfie in a small plane, they are wearing a headset.
My Park Story: Mary Little
Meet Mary Little, a Remit Technician at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area!
Ranger giving the thumbs up outside
My Park Story: Nick Crowley
Meet Nick Crowley, the Facilities Operations Manager at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
park ranger selfie indoors
My Park Story: Kendall Neisess
Meet Kendall Neisess, the Outdoor Recreation Planner at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Park ranger smiles for the camera
The Plateau Postcard: Spring-Summer 2023
The Plateau Postcard is the official newsletter of the Southern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring Network. In this issue, we say hello to many new faces within the network and head to the field with some of this year's spectacular monitoring crews.
Pile of postcards with images of various southwest national parks on them.
My Park Story: Donny Plassman
Meet Donny Plassman, a Law Enforcement Officer at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
park ranger wearing a climbing harness and holding rope stands near a canyon edge.
A Changing Bimodal Climate Zone Means Changing Vegetation in Western National Parks
When the climate changes enough, the vegetation communities growing in any given place will also change. Under an expanded bimodal climate zone, some plant communities in western national parks are more likely to change than others. National Park Service ecologists and partners investigated the future conditions that may force some of this change. Having this information can help park managers decide whether to resist, direct, or accept the change.
Dark storm clouds and rainbow over mountains and saguaros.
My Park Story: Elise Chan
Meet Elise Chan, a Photogrammetry Intern for Archology at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
A person stands in a brushy sandy desert landscape.
My Park Story: Ashlee Austin
Meet Ashlee Austin, a Public Lands Intern at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Person stands with their arms up posing on a red rocky surface, a lake in the distance.
My Park Story: Steve Henry
Meet Steve Henry, Glen Canyon's Backcountry Ranger for the Escalante District.
A person wearing a backpack hikes in a steep canyon wash.
My Park Story: Ketona and Hershal
Meet Katona and Hershal, participants in the LeChee Youth Program at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
two teens stand under a large bolder balanced on a rock pedestal.
My Park Story: Jeremy Childs
Meet Jeremy Childs, the Downlake District Interpreter at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area!
A park ranger speaks near a scenic canyon overlook.
My Park Story: Deb Gardecki
Meet Deb Gardecki, a Volunteer Interpretive Ranger at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area!
A person wears a looks out over a river and deep canyon.
My Park Story: Nick Nyquist
Meet Nick Nyquist, a Volunteer Interpretive Ranger at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
A uniformed person wears a backpack and points to a rock wall with flora growing below it.
My Park Story: Kelsey Shores
Meet Kelsey Shores, a Interpretive Park Ranger at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area!
A park ranger wearing a lifejacket swims near a national park service boat.
My Park Story : Diana Greymountain
Meet Diana Greymountain, Glen Canyon's Special Use Permit Coordinator!
A person smiles near a scenic canyon overlook
Desert Varnish
Ever wondered what those dark lines were on the rock walls of canyon country? These black, brown, and red streaks are called desert varnish.
streaks of black desert varnish on a red rock wall
The Plateau Postcard: Winter 2024
The Plateau Postcard is the official newsletter of the Southern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring Network. In this issue, we learn about how we are trying to predict pinyon-juniper die-offs, as well as a new tool we developed to help make us all better field scientists, and we hear from Bob Parmenter about his remarkable career at Valles Caldera National Preserve.
A pile of postcards.
Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.
Spotlight on LeChee Youth Intern
The LeChee Chapter House hires teens and offers them a variety of placements in the community, such as Glen Canyon, where the youth can gain real world job skills and new experiences. Ketona Reed has been a member of this youth partnership program between Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and the local LeChee Chapter House of the Navajo Nation for three years.
A person stands at the edge of a cliff with a natural arch going across
Restoring Balance: The Battle Against Invasive Riparian Plant Species
We’re incredibly fortunate to have some of the most beautiful mountain, river, and grassland landscapes across the United States but their resilience – a key characteristic of national parklands – is threatened by invasive species. National Park Service (NPS) park managers, restoration biologists, and other partners are at work to control invasive species through multiple projects in parks of the American southwest.
An extra wide shot of a desert, dry, barren landscape - with red canyon walls and steep cliffs.
Project Profile: Restore Native Plants and Reduce the Vulnerability to Climate Change Across the Arid Southwest
The National Park Service will remove over 4,000 acres of riparian invasive plant infestations and replace them with native vegetation in 14 parks, building drought resiliency.
A pond surrounded by palm trees with mountains in the background.
Dinosaurs of the National Park Service
Dinosaur fossils have been discovered at or are associated with at least 27 NPS units. Geographically, their finds are concentrated in the parks of the Colorado Plateau, but they have been found from central Alaska to Big Bend National Park in Texas to Springfield Armory National Historic Site in Massachusetts. The most famous site is the Dinosaur Quarry of Dinosaur National Monument, but a rush of new finds since the 1970s has greatly expanded our knowledge.
allosaurus fossil
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 10, No. 2, Fall 2018
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
NPS staff work to document a recently discovered slab of Navajo Sandstone
The Plateau Postcard: Spring 2025
The Plateau Postcard is the official newsletter of the Southern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring Network. In this issue, we highlight the exciting and new scientific journal put out by Petrified Forest National Park, interview our newest partner about their efforts to track white-nose syndrome in regional bat populations, discuss special food diets while working in the field, and share our latest publications and 2025 field schedule.
A pile of postcards showing various scenery from across the southern Colorado Plateau.
Cover photo by Jeff Gnnss
Throughout history, humans have ada p ted their surro u ndings to better
suit their needs. Glen Canyon N at io nal R ecreation A re a pro vi des a d ramatic example of the combinat ion of o ne o f nature's m o s t insp iring a nd
one o f m an's most ambit ious p rojects. Impounded behind the Bureau o f
Reclamat ion's Gl e n C anyon Dam, w aters of t he Colorad o River and it s
for the enjoyment of p resent and future generations. Eart h f orces shaped
th is topography that now appears as talus slopes, b u ttes and mesas,
canyons and cliffs. Prehistoric human inhabitants occu pied the area an d
left scattered ind icat ions of their presence.
N ot long after Powell 's voyage , pe r manent sett lements were esta Plished
at the easiest and m o s t rel iable ri v er cross ings. An early propanent o f the
need for recla m ation activities in this a r id country. Powe ll eventua lly was
h onored b y h aving the lake named for hi m. T he da m w as born amid great
controversy a n d compromise . It f ulfill s its goa ls of water stora g e and
tributaries a re backed up a lmost 200 miles, forming Lake Powell. The lake
and nearly one million acres of desert-and-canyon country offer memorab le leisure-time activities for American and international visitors. Fishing
Earl y Spani sh explorers traveled the area l ooking for a n overland route
to C alifornia and leaving us a deta il ed acco unt of t heir e x ped i tion . Major
John Wesley Powel I also left a well-chronicled account o f the first expedition down the Colorado River. Powell named this stre t ch o f t h e Colorado
River Glen Ca nyon.
power generat ion and also provides major rec rea t iona l opportunit i es. T h e
resulting lake ma kes it passible for many peopl e to view natural m arvels
a nd cu ltural feat u res that once were accessible to only a determin ed few.
Constructi o n o f t he concrete arch dam began in 1956, and t he f inal two
g enerating units b egan providing power in 1966. Th e lake reached full
and w ater spo rts are the dominant activities. Exploring on foot can provide intimat e contac t with the natural and cu ltural features preserved here
pool level in 1980. The spillways were used in that year and again in
1983 to handle the rising lake level caused by f lood waters. Today, Lake
Powell is one of the Southwest's f inest lake recreation areas, yearly
d i scovered by more and more vacationers. The lake and surrounding
area are now inhabited by animal species that were attracted here by the
recently created water habitat within this desert landscape.
Cultural History
Activities
T he first ma1or hu man migration i n to North America
by e1ectnc1ry generated fro m th e flow o f th e rrver, but
from Asia may have taken place fro m 15,000 to 12,000
years ago. In relatively small groups, the se peop le dis·
persed quickly throughout North and South Ame rica
and lived in iso lation for thousands of years. The tribes
in this area , w hich we call Desert Archaic people , were
hunters and gatherers. Their continuing subsistence
needs left little opportunity for development of so-called
higher cultural traits o r fo r po pu lation growth. About
2,000 yea rs ago a majo r cultural change - from ca uses
about which we ca n on lv speculate-transformed th ese
their bankers disagreed. Nex t came th e settlers and.
with them , the indi spe nsable ferrymen .
Anasa zi
The Anasazi , th e notab le
builders here, developed
comp lex stone houses
called pueblos by Span·
ish explorers. Their granaries nestle in sandstone
al coves, and their drawings adorn canyon wall s
in the park. Pottery shards
lie scattered about. Cl imate changes drove out
the agricu ltural Anasazi ,
probable ancestors of
today's Hopi Indians, by
about 1300.
Settlement . Although the Colorado River is accessible
near the m out h of the Paria , as Domingu ez and
Esca lante d iscovered, it can not be easi ly crossed .
Joh n D. Lee was sent there by the Ch urch of Jesus
Christ of the Latter·day Sai nts. or Mo rm on Church . to
bu il d and opera te a fe rry. H e built the Lone ly De ll
Ranch for Emm a Lee, his 17th w ife . and by 1873 had
built a fe rryboat named the Colorado. He was executed
in 1877 for his part in the Mountai11 Mea dows Massacre,
the attack by Mormons and Paiutes on sett lers bou nd
for Californ ia. The Mo rmon Chu rch eventually bo ught
the e nter pri se from Emma. The f<Hry ran continuously
until 1928. It was replaced by the Navajo Bridge
completed across Marble Canyon in 1929.
\
Water sports dominate recreational activities at Glen
Canyon National Recreation Area. Concessioners otter
boat tours that last from an hour to all day and provide
boat rentals at developed areas. Houseboats provide
comfort at a relaxed pace, as wel l as a chance to
sightsee beyond developed areas. Sailing is best at
Wahweap, Padre, and Bullfrog Bays. Canoes and kayaks
provide access to secluded areas in small canyons.
Lake Wlfler~ are relatively warm from Jun
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Vol. 13, No. 1, 2017
The official newspaper
PHOTO: NPS Trash Trackers
Visitor Guide 2017
Glen Canyon Continues The Party Into The Next Century
One hundred and one. That’s how old the National
Park Service will be turning in 2017. It doesn’t quite
measure up to the excitement of turning 100, does it?
In 2016, we rolled out the red carpet to celebrate 100
years since the creation of the National Park Service,
the agency that takes care of places like Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area. Now that it’s 2017, the
party hats have been put away and the guests have all
gone home.
site, where preservation and enjoyment are one and
the same. Perhaps your visit will include taking a
power boat out on Lake Powell or paddling a kayak
down the Colorado River to get a taste for what Glen
Canyon was like before the dam was built, creating
Lake Powell. Maybe you would prefer to explore
Glen Canyon by foot on one of several hiking trails,
taking in the sights and sounds of the desert around
you.
Or have they?
Regardless of how you choose to experience Glen
Canyon, you are sure to come in contact with the
unique resources that make this place so special;
stunning rock formations millions of years in
the making, cliff dwellings left behind by ancient
peoples, the footprints of a coyote hunting for its
supper under some of the darkest skies on earth.
The National Park Service continues to protect these
things and more so that they will be here for the next
100 years, and that is certainly something worth
celebrating year after year!
The reality is, you don’t make it to be 100 years old if
you’re not doing something right. And with over 300
million visitors every year it seems like the public
would agree. The National Parks are truly the pride
of our nation, where citizens and visitors alike can
experience the best that this country has to offer.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is no
exception. Over 3 million visitors per year come here
to recreate within this unique National Park Service
Park Info
Park Map ....................2
Fees ............................2
Weather ......................3
Ranger Programs .........3
Safety .........................4
Volunteer ....................4
Districts
South....................... 6-7
Page, Wahweap, Antelope Canyon
North........................8-9
Bullfrog, Halls Crossing
Escalante....................10
Lees Ferry....................11
Rainbow Bridge ..........12
Highlight
Horseshoe Bend..............5
Welcome to Glen Canyon National
Recreation Area and Rainbow
Bridge National Monument,
home to Lake
Powell and so
much more!
You may
already know
about the
water-based
activities like
boating and
fishing you
can enjoy in your 1.25 million-acre
national park, but that’s only a
small part of our story. We have
seemingly endless trails, routes,
roads and canyons to explore by
foot, bike or vehicle, which will
impart a sense of discovery as you
share in the rich history of this
national treasure. Throughout
the park, you’ll find evidence
of our region’s past as a seabed,
dinosaur habitat, sacred land of
American Indian tribes, and home
to Mormon pioneers. Our cultural,
geological, paleontological and
historical resources are only rivaled
by our beautiful views. Take some
time to speak with our rangers
and plan a Glen Canyon trip you’ll
remember forever!
William Shott
Superintendent
Glen Canyon Overview
Glen Canyon’s 1.25 million acres were set aside for the National Park Service by Congress in 1972. Its vast landscape is filled with rugged canyon lands, sandstone
mesas, rivers, and a 186-mile-long reservoir called Lake Powell. Getting from the one end of the park to the other requires many hours by boat or by car. Most
visitors find it impractical to visit more than one district in a single trip. For some people, it takes a lifetime to even begin to know all of the wonders Glen Canyon
and Rainbow Bridge have to offer.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
During Major John Wesley Powell’s famous 1869 expedition
on the Colorado River, he noted, “So we have a curious
ensemble of wonderful features - carved walls, royal arches,
glens, alcove gulches, mounds, and monuments. From which
of these features shall we select a name?
We decide to call it Glen Canyon.”
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
CANYONLANDS
NATIONAL PARK
Superintendent
William Shott
Orange
Cliffs
Park Address
P.O. Box 1507
691 Scenic View Rd
Page AZ 86040
Website Information
nps.gov/glca
nps.gov/rabr
Email: glca_carl_hayden@nps.gov
facebook.com/glencanyonnra
youtube.com/glencanyonnra
GLEN
CANYON
NATIONAL
RECREATION
AREA
Park Headquarters
Open weekdays 7am-4pm
928-608-6200
928-608-6259 fax
The National Park Service cares for the special
places saved by the American people so that all
may experience our heritage.
Hite
CAP
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Foundation Document Overview
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Arizona and Utah
Contact Information
For more information about the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Foundation Document, contact: glca_superintendent@nps.gov or 928-608-6205 or write to:
Superintendent, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument
P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040-1507
Purpose
Significance
Significance statements express why Glen Canyon National
Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument
resources and values are important enough to merit national
park unit designation. Statements of significance describe
why an area is important within a global, national, regional,
and systemwide context. These statements are linked to
the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data,
research, and consensus. Significance statements describe
the distinctive nature of the park and inform management
decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the
most important resources and values of the park unit.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area,
located at the center of the Colorado
Plateau, provides for public enjoyment
through diverse land- and waterbased recreational opportunities, and
protects scenic, scientific, natural, and
cultural resources on Lake Powell, the
Colorado River, its tributaries, and
surrounding lands.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
protects an extraordinary natural bridge
that captures public and scientific interest
with its rainbow form and appearance.
• The Colorado River and its many tributaries, including the
Dirty Devil, Paria, Escalante, and San Juan rivers, carve
through the Colorado Plateau to form a landscape of
dynamic and complex desert and water environments.
• The vast, rugged landscapes of Glen Canyon National
Recreation Area provide an unparalleled spectrum of
diverse land- and water-based recreational opportunities
for visitors of wide-ranging interests and abilities.
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area preserves a record
of more than 10,000 years of human presence, adaptation,
and exploration. This place remains significant for many
descendant communities, providing opportunities for
people to connect with cultural values and associations
that are both ancient and contemporary.
• The deep, 15-mile-long, narrow gorge below the dam
provides a glimpse of the high canyon walls, ancient
rock art, and a vestige of the riparian and beach terrace
environments that were seen by John Wesley Powell’s
Colorado River expedition in 1869, providing a stark
contrast to the impounded canyons of Lake Powell.
• Rainbow Bridge is one of the world’s largest natural
bridges and is a premier example of eccentric stream
erosion in a remote area of the Colorado Plateau.
• For many indigenous peoples in the Four Corners region,
Rainbow Bridge is a spiritually occupied landscape
that is inseparable from their cultural identities and
traditional beliefs.
Fundamental Resources and Values
Fundamental resources and values are those features,
systems, processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds,
smells, or other attributes determined to merit primary
consideration during planning and management processes
because they are essential to achieving the purpose of
the park and maintaining its significance. Below are the
fundamental resources and values of Glen Canyon National
Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
• Heritage Resources: Glen Canyon National Recreation
Area is the steward of heritage resources exemplified by the
archeological and historic sites, cultural landscapes, and
traditional cultural properties that illustrate the connection
of people with the landscape of the Glen Canyon region.
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•
Photo by Gary Ladd
• Lake Powell: Lake Powell, set dramatically against a
backdrop of eroded red rock canyons and mesas, is the
largest man-made lake in North America and is widely
recognized by boating enthusiasts as one of the premier
water-based recreation destinations in the world.
• Landscape: The vast landscape of Glen Canyon contains
rugged water- and wind-carved canyons, buttes, mesas,
rivers, seeps, springs, and hanging gardens where diverse
habitats sustain an array of endemic, rare, and relict plant
and animal communities.
• Paleontology: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
preserves one of the most complete sections of Mesozoic
strata in the world; new discoveries continuously add to
our scientific understanding of the past.
• Water: Water quality and quantity is essential for public
outdoor recreational use and enjoyment and for sustaining
terrestrial and aquatic life in the high desert.
• Rainbow Bridge: The bridge itself is a fundamental
resource.
• Traditional Cultural Property and Values: Rainbow
Bridge and the immediately surrounding landscape are
considered sacred by, and are vitally linked with
Rainbow Bridge
National Monument
Utah
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Rainbow Bridge, Ed Cooper photo
Nonnezoshi, the Navajos called it, "rainbow
of stone," this soaring ribbon of sandstone
that surprises and profoundly delights.
Rainbow Bridge, the world's largest natural
bridge, is considered a sacred place by the
Navajo Indians, for whom personified
rainbows have stood as guardians of the
universe. This natural wonder nestles among
canyons carved by streams en route to the
Colorado River from Navajo Mountain's north
flank. Until Lake Powell recently backed up
Bridge Creek to the bridge itself, this was
one of the most remote and inaccessible
regions in the contiguous United States.
Today the bridge is accessible by boat.
The first publicized sighting of the bridge
was made by the Douglass-Cummings party
in 1909. Two parties had set out, under
government surveyor W.B. Douglass and
under University of Utah Dean Byron
Cummings, to seek the great stone arch that
Indians said lay near Navajo Mountain. The
two parties eventually met and joined forces.
They were guided by two Paiutes, Jim Mike
and Nasja Begay, and by John Wetherill,
trader and self-taught archeologist. The
country proved rough and treacherous.
Horses slipped and skidded on the slickrock
surfaces. Rimrock ledges, like terrible
sandstone mazes, frequently blocked progress and turned the party back. They
struggled through canyons, some dry and
boulder-choked, some containing water and
dense brush. Then, coming down what is
now Rainbow Bridge Canyon in the late
afternoon of August 14, the party beheld
this beautiful natural stone bridge.
With a span of 84 meters (275 feet), Rainbow
Bridge gracefully arches to a height of 88
meters (290 feet). The top is 13 meters (42
feet) thick and 10 meters (33 feet) wide. The
bridge's predominant color is salmon-pink,
with dark stains—called desert v a r n i s h -
caused by iron oxide or hematite. Afternoon
sunlight makes the coloration especially
brilliant.
The base of Rainbow Bridge is composed of
Kayenta Formation, reddish-brown to purplish
consolidations of sands and muds laid down
hundreds of millions of years ago. Above its
these massive layers of rock now lifted far
above sea level. As the landscape lifted and
tilted, these streams acquired more force
and began to downcut their meanders.
As Bridge Creek entrenched itself into the
landscape, the scene was set for carving
Rainbow Bridge. As the canyon cut through
How the Bridge was Formed
Water flows off Navajo Mountain on its way to
the Colorado River. In Bridge Creek Canyon various
layers of sandstone resist erosion by the rushing
stream. As the water slows it meanders, ever cutting
weaker sandstone layers. Stream meanders form
large loops, creating thin rock walls as the water
circles back on itself. Floods will pound away at
these thin walls until the loosely cemented Navajo
sandstone opens a small hole to its relentless
foe. Illustration by Jaime Quintero
base the bridge is composed of Navajo
Sandstone. This formation was created as
wave upon wave of sand dunes were
deposited to depths of 300 meters (1,000
feet). Over the next 100 million years, both
these formations were buried more than
1,500 meters (5,000 feet) deep by still other
strata. The pressures and temperatures of
this profound burial consolidated and
hardened the rock of these formations.
the Navajo Sandstone and then hit the hard
Kayenta Formation rock, the cutting became
more difficult. The stream then widened its
path and undercut the canyon walls. Finally
it cut through the neck of a meander loop.
The stream then altered its course, taking
the more direct course through the break.
Huge flakes of sandstone broke loose and
fell, leaving a concoidal or shell-like pattern
like that found in the chipping of Indian
arrowheads. Natural flaking, called exfoliation,
contributes to the formation of alcoves and
natural bridges throughout this region.
Some 60 million years ago the landscape
we know as the Colorado Plateau began a
gradual uplift. Today's landscape results from
the erosion caused by streams cutting into
iGPO: 1984-421-578/467
Rainbow Bridge
To Reach Rainbow Bridge by Water. Most
people take the water route on Lake Powell,
some 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Wahweap,
Bullfrog, or Halls Crossing to the landing in
Bridge Canyon. From there it's a 400-meter
(1/4-mile) walk up the canyon to the bridge.
For using your own boat there are launching
ramps at Wahweap, Halls Crossing, Bullfrog,
and Hite. Here concessioners sell boating
and camping supplies and provide guided
boat trips. Tour boats operate from Wahweap.
The nearest marina is Dangling Rope Marina,
16 kilometers (10 miles) south of the bridge,
offering gasoline, supplies, and emergency
service. Concessioners: Canyon Tours
(Wahweap), Box 1597, Page, AZ 86040;
Hite Marina, Hanksville, UT 84734; Halls
Crossing Resort & Marina, Halls Crossing,
Blanding, UT 84511; Bullfrog Resort Marina,
Bullfrog Basin
Rainbow Bridge
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
A Century of Preservation
Rainbow Bridge National
Monument was established May 30,
1910 by President William Howard
Taft as a scientific example of
“eccentric stream erosion”.
The 1906 Antiquities Act, signed
into law by President Theodore
Roosevelt, provided himself and
future presidents the “power of the
pen”, the authority to set aside sites
of cultural or natural significance as
national monuments.
In 1906, the southwestern United
States was still a frontier and the
existence of Rainbow Bridge was
yet unknown to the outside world.
The Discovery Party
It was in 1909, that Anglos discovered Rainbow
Bridge, the same year that Commodore Perry
reached the North Pole. A dozen men from two
different groups - one faction from University of
Utah led by Professor Byron Cummings and another
with the federal surveyor William Douglass – decided
to join forces. Departing from the Oljato Trading
Post in Utah, they persevered through 4 ½ days in
the vast, carved, canyon wilderness of southern
Utah/northern Arizona. The expedition was guided
A Natural Wonder
by two Paiutes, Jim Mike and Nasja Begay, and also
included John Wetherill, who operated the trading
post at Oljato. It was Wetherill who was first to arrive
under the bridge, on his horse, about noon on August
14, 1909.
But discovery - actually proving the bridge’s existence
- was not the only goal of the 1909 expedition group.
They also wanted to survey the bridge and have it set
aside as a national monument.
One-hundred years later, we reap the rewards of their
efforts. Eight and a half months after the discovery and
survey, President Taft proclaimed Rainbow Bridge
a National Monument. Today’s visitor may boat to
within a mile of the bridge via Lake Powell, a much
easier trip than that of the discovery party. Despite
its increased accessibility, it still sits in one of the most
remote locales in the lower 48 states. The visitor who
takes a moment to soak in their surroundings can still
feel that they have found the middle of nowhere.
A Park Ranger welcomes visitors to the Rainbow Bridge
docks
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™
Back in Time
Rainbow Bridge Spanning Cultures in a
Sacred Landscape
In 1910, Taft preserved more than the physically
impressive bridge (290 feet tall x 275 feet wide), he
also preserved an earlier human connection to the
bridge that likely dates back thousands of years. The
Douglass/Cummings Party found a 3x5 foot oval
fire pit made of rocks near the base of the bridge.
Recently, charred wood fragments were carbon
dated to about AD 540. Standing before the bridge,
it’s easy to ponder when that first indigenous visitor
arrived at the bridge, and what his/her thoughts
were.
Preservation of an ancient paleo environment was
assured with that stroke of a pen in 1910 as well. One
approaches the bridge on a sandstone surface that was
deposited in the early Jurassic Age, roughly 200 million
years ago when dinosaurs roamed the area. The bridge
itself is sculpted from the hardened sediments of an
enormous, harsh desert that was near sea level and
much closer to the equator - the Sahara Desert of the
Jurassic Age.
Remains of ancient rock hearth found near the base of
Rainbow Bridge
Fossilized footprint of a Dilophosaurus, found at the
viewing area
Rainbow Bridge appears much as it did the moment of its discovery by the earliest human visitor. Today’s
visitor to Rainbow Bridge National Monument benefits from the wisdom, now 100 years in duration, to protect
precious sites such as Rainbow Bridge, for many centuries to come.
Rainbow Bridge from the sky
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™
Rainbow Bridge
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Rainbow Bridge Timeline
The land that comprises Rainbow Bridge
National Monument was traditionally used by
Navajo, Paiute, Ute, and Hopi Peoples. Prior
to these tribes or nations, Ancestral Puebloans
and earlier indigenous people lived in and
used the area.
1848
Mexico ceded much of the Southwest to the U.S. All unappropriated lands become public domain.
The U.S. recognized the validity of any earlier claims by Mexico or Spain. Aboriginal titles were
extinguished by conquest by either Spain, Mexico, or the U.S.; in the case of the Navajo, by all three.
1884
The Navajo Reservation was created by Executive Order in what was then Utah Territory.
1892
Previously set aside reservation lands west of the 110th Meridian (west of Mexican Hat, UT) were
removed from the reservation and restored to public domain, including Rainbow Bridge
1906
June 8, 1906, the Antiquities Act was passed into law. This authorized the President to establish a site
or area of cultural or natural significance or of scientific interest as a national monument.
1906
President Theodore Roosevelt established the nation’s first national monument, Devil’s Tower
National Monument in Wyoming.
1909
On August 14, 1909, The Douglas/Cummings party, guided by two Native Americans, Jim Mike and
Nasja Begay reached Rainbow Bridge after 4 ½ days journey in the wilderness. This was the first
official Anglo sighting of Rainbow Bridge.
1910
On May 30, 1910, President William Howard Taft proclaimed Rainbow Bridge National Monument,
the nations 25th. Rainbow Bridge was set aside as a scientific example of “Eccentric Stream Erosion.”
1913
Former President Theodore Roosevelt and author Zane Grey both visited Rainbow Bridge in separate
parties. Accounts of their expeditions were published in Harpers Weekly and National Geographic.
1916
The National Park Service was created with the signing of the Organic Act by President William
McKinley. The administration of Rainbow Bridge National Monument was transferred to the National
Park Service and John Wetherill became its first Custodian at a salary of $1.00 per year.
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™
1924
The Richardson Brothers completed construction of Rainbow Lodge and began packing visitors into
Rainbow Bridge at a cost of $20.00 per night.
1933
Public law restored back to the Navajo reservation “all vacant, unreserved, and undisposed of public
lands...” within the area encompassed by the 1892 legislation. (Rainbow Bridge was reserved; so it
wasnot included in lands given back.)
1951
Rainbow Lodge burnt to the ground. Co-owner Barry Goldwater blamed it on “a cowboy smoking in
the back room.”
1956
The Colorado River Storage Project Act was passed. Amongst other things, it provided for the
construction of Glen Canyon Dam. The Glen Canyon Dam project would begin the next year.
1957
Construction of the Glen Canyon Dam began.
1964
Diversion tunnels of Glen Canyon Dam were closed and Lake Powell began to fill.
1972
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was established.
1978
American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed into law. This legislation stipulated that, in
addition to other National Park Service Units, Rainbow Bridge National Monument would be afforded
protection on behalf of the five tribes that claim it as a sacred site.
1980
Lake Powell rose to full pool (3,700 feet) for the first time, impounding 46 feet of water below Rainbow
Bridge.
1993
Rainbow Bridge General Management Plan was approved via consultation with the 5 tribes or nations
that claim cultural affiliations with Rainbow Bridge (Navajo, Hopi, San Juan Southern Paiute, Kaibab
Paiute, and White Mesa Ute.)
1996
An Executive Order was passed which would reinforce or strengthen the administrative rights of the
tribes or nations mandated as participants under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.
2009
August 14, 2009 marks 100 years since the Anglo first discovery of Rainbow Bridge.
2010
May 30, 1910; The 100th anniversary of Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™
Glen Canyon
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Rainbow Bridge North Trail Guide
Permits are required from the Navajo Nation for hiking and camping
along this trail. Please note: there is no camping permitted within the
boundaries of Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Make sure you know your location when
you camp. Prior to making your plans please call the LeChee Chapter House (928-698-2800)
south of Page, AZ or the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department in Window Rock, AZ
(928-871-6647) for permits. For additional information go to the following web site:
http://www.navajonationparks.org/permits.htm
Hiking this trail is not recommended during the cold and wet conditions of the winter months
nor during the heat and flash flooding of the summer months. Typically the best months to
complete this hike are March through Mid-May, and October and November.
To reach the North (Navajo Mountain Trading Post) Trailhead from Page, AZ
Driving Instructions
• At the intersection of Hwy 98 and Coppermine Rd (Big Lake Trading Post), take Hwy 98 East
51.1 miles to the Inscription House Trading Post turnoff (Indian Rd 16).
• Take Indian Rd 16 25.1 miles on pavement and 5.4 miles on dirt to the Navajo Mountain
Trading Post fork - bear right and drive about 8.5 miles past the Navajo Mountain Trading
Post.
• Along the main road, it is 3.7 miles past the trading post to a 4-way intersection with several structures including a stone warehouse.
• Go straight through the intersection for 2.8 miles, road forks here.
• Take the straight fork (across earthen dam), road forks again after 0.4 miles.
• Take left fork 1.6 miles until road ends at Cha Canyon.
• Fork right by corral and park at base of cliff. Trailhead (no sign) starts at end of road.
Trail Description
The following information has been compiled from an archival NPS trail guide and hikes
completed in October, 2003, May, 2004, and April 2008. This is considered by some to be the
more scenic of the two trails to Rainbow Bridge. The trail follows the north slope of Navajo
Mountain and exhibits extremes in temperature. Water is generally available, but drought can
dry these sources. The trail is not marked, and in some places is difficult to follow. The first
half of the trail is criss-crossed with various livestock and wildlife trails and paths to summer
hogans, and can confuse the unwary hiker – be alert. This is a minimum two day round trip –
three days recommended. Mileages are approximate
Mile
0
1
3.5
5
6.5
10
11.5
15
17.5
Trail Notes
The road to the Trailhead is rough and rocky, high center or 4W drive vehicles are recommended. Know where you are going prior to driving out
there.
Trailhead - No water available, good camping areas. Beware – no trailhead
sign. Trail enters canyon and continues on the other side. Close gate behind
you as you start down Cha Canyon.
Cha Canyon - Creek is usually running.
Bald Rock Canyon – Deep, good campsite, water (intermittent as in all following streams). Interesting trail construction. Nice scenic view from the
top. Cave on right wall ¼ mile below stream crossing.
Pass an old hogan, go up sandy hill behind small Navajo sweat house. Hill is
crisscrossed with many small animal trails. The main trail becomes more apparent on top of hill. As you go down into the canyon, notice the bedrock
was notched out like stairs. This was done so that pack mules and horses
wouldn’t slip and fall on the slick rock.
N’asja Creek – Good campsite, picnic table, water available – You will pass
an old sweat lodge ½ mile further, then you’ll see Owl Bridge on your left
side.
Do not climb or walk on top of the bridge. Awesome views as you climb
out of the canyon. You’ll pass another old hogan on the left on the way to
Oak Canyon.
10 Oak Canyon – Water is available. Poor campsites except further downstream. Take the trail heading up the hill, south, “not downstream”. No
water available for approx. 3 miles from Oak Canyon.
11.5 Trail enters Bridge Canyon, via long, narrow, downhill trek. Water &
campsites available further down the canyon. Can become VERY HOT with
the heat reflecting off canyon walls.
Bridge Creek joins Redbud Creek. This is where the North Trail meets the
South Trail. Go to your right, downstream to Rainbow Bridge. Water and
campsites are available.
Echo Camp – Nearest campsite to Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
Please close the last gate behind you.
Rainbow Bridge – Please avoid re-vegetation areas.
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™
Glen Canyon
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Rainbow Bridge South Trail Guide
Permits are required from the Navajo Nation for hiking and camping
along this trail. Please note: there is no camping permitted within the
boundaries of Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Make sure you know your location when
you camp. Prior to making your plans please call the LeChee Chapter House (928-698-2800)
south of Page, AZ or the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department in Window Rock, AZ
(928-871-6647) for permits. For additional information go to the following web site:
http://www.navajonationparks.org/permits.htm
Hiking this trail is not recommended during the cold and wet conditions of the winter months
nor during the heat and flash flooding of the summer months. Typically the best months to
complete this hike are March through Mid-May, and October and November.
To reach the South (Rainbow Lodge) Trailhead from Page, AZ
Driving Instructions
• At the intersection of Hwy 98 and Coppermine Rd (Big Lake Trading Post), take Hwy 98 East
51.1 miles to the Inscription House Trading Post turnoff (Navajo Rt 16).
• Take Navajo Rt 16 25.1 miles on pavement and 5.4 miles on dirt to the Navajo Mountain
Trading Post fork - bear left and drive 4.6 miles to another fork.
• At the fork, which has a Pinon pine post with IL license plate nailed to it, bear right, drive
0.7 miles to the Navajo Mountain water tank filling area - keep going straight - the track no
longer resembles a road and you will need to engage your 4WD. From here it is 1.4 miles to
the ruins of the Rainbow Lodge and the Rainbow Bridge Trailhead.
Trail Description
The following information has been compiled from an archival NPS trail guide and hikes
completed in October, 2003, May, 2004, and April 2008. Mileages are approximated via usage
of archival trail guides and through accounts of trail hikes. Hiking times will vary, between
nine and twelve hours. In this guide miles and hiking times have been modified and may not
reflect posted mileages along trail. Hiking times assuming a nine hour hike are included with
the exception of the section of trail through Redbud Pass. There has been significant spalling
or rock falls in Redbud Pass since 2004. There are more boulders and drop-offs to maneuver
over, thus hiking times through that section will likely be slower than previously recorded. It
is recommended that this hike be planned as a two-day trip for all but the most experienced
hikers.
The South trail, beginning at the Rainbow Lodge ruins, is not maintained. It is the steeper,
rougher trail of the North and South trails. The trail is marked mainly with stone cairns and
iron pipe mile-posts. Water is not available for the first eight to nine miles of this hike. The only
route signs are at Redbud Canyon, Redbud Pass and Echo Camp.
Mile Time
Trail Notes
(hr:min)
0.5 -Rainbow Lodge Ruins – trail begins at a rock cairn beyond cabin sites elevation 6300 feet. Trail follows southwest side of Navajo Mountain
– goes into and out of 3 canyons – several side trails, with main trail
keeping to the right. No water – pinon, juniper cover.
2.5 1:10
Horse Canyon, second of three to be crossed
3.5 2:45
Mile-post
3:20
High Camp - no water
3:30
Mile-post
6
3:35
Yabut Pass ("Sunset Pass" inscribed in rock) – spectacular view into Cliff
Canyon – 1600 foot drop in first 2 miles – hikers should keep a wary eye
on the trail throughout this steep descent from Yabut Pass and healthy
knees should be considered a requisite to hiking this section of trail.
4:15
Mile-post
8
4:45
Cliff Canyon – elevation 4800 feet
4:55
Mile-post
5:30
Mile-post
9
5:35
First Water Campsite – pit toilet and garbage pit are full. Usually water
here – some shade, good bedding, no firewood.
11
6:05
You have followed the stream to this junction with Redbud Canyon –
Cliff Canyon turns slightly left. Confusing confluence of canyons; if you
don’t find the cairns, navigate toward a very large arch-shaped alcove
high on a canyon wall to the left ahead. Redbud Pass is marked by a
rock cairn on the right and route sign.
6:30
Mile-post
11.4 6:40
Redbud Pass blasted by Wetherill/Bernheimer in 1922 and named by
them – see inscriptions. Trail improvements by NPS, May 1957. Significant rock falls in last four years have obstructed the trail.
12.4
Redbud Creek comes in from your right, you tend left.
13.3
Intersection with the North (Navajo Mountain Trading Post) Trail –
Bridge Creek, continue downstream.
7:15
Mile-post
7:30
Second Water Campsite – shade, usually water here.
15.1 9:00
Gate – please close.
15.2 9:05
Echo Camp – spring at campsite – nearest campsite to Rainbow Bridge
National Monument.
16.0 9:15
Rainbow Bridge – please avoid re-vegetation areas.
17.2
Rainbow Bridge Docks, toilets but no running water, accessible by boat
only.
Trail Notes compiled by NPS Interpreter Chuck Smith with revision of trail notes from Kirk Robinson
Junior Ranger Booklet
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
This book belongs to:
Age:
Welcome future Junior Ranger! Rainbow Bridge (and all national monuments and
parks) need people just like you to take care of them, so they will stay great places to
visit. The best way to care for a place is to first learn about it, so you can know how to
care for it best.
To complete this book and earn your Junior Ranger
Badge, do the number of activities for your age
group and then show your book to a ranger.
Ages: 5 and under: 1 activity
6-8: 2 activities
8-10: 3 activities
10-12: 4 activities
12 and over: all 5 activities
Oh no! Ranger Chuck’s new sign about Rainbow Bridge accidentally fell off the dock, and now some of the
words from it are floating in the water. Can you help him put the words back in their right place?
1
2
3
4
6
5
9
8
7
Who was the president who
made Rainbow Bridge a National
Monument?
11
10
13
12
14
16
15
_______ ______ ____
8 2 9 15 7 4 10 13 5 17 16 1 14
17
Glen
person
Dam
cr
ed
ab
foot
Hopi
sa
Kaib
Powell
White
monument
walk
Am
eric
ans
Juan
president
11 6 12 3
horseback
water
tribe
s
Water flowing down from Navajo Mountain carved out Rainbow Bridge. Can you help the raindrops find their
way under Rainbow Bridge?
I left a footprint at the viewing area a long long time ago. Connect the dots to find out who I am.
1
2
3
83
7
4
82
81
8
9
6
5
10
78
80
79
75
77
76
11
74
16
73
71
70
66
68
69
67
14
17
72
64 63
15
12
18
62
61
60
59
58
65
50
48
20
21
35
47
37
33
38
22
32
39
31
46
44
29 30
40
43
42
41
Draw my footprint here
36 34
53 51
57 55
52
56
54
45
13
19
49
28
27
23
24
25
Can you guess my name?
26
Draw a picture of your favorite part of your trip to Rainbow Bridge.
What is your drawing of?
Where is this?
Why was this the favorite part
of your trip?
There are two ways to get to Rainbow Bridge - by boat over Lake Powell or by hiking trail. What would you take
along for each trip? Match the items below to the boat and the hiker. Some items might only be good for one
kind of trip, some might be good for both, and some might be best left home.
Junior Ranger Pledge: I promise to be a respectful visitor and protector of
Rainbow Bridge National Monument. I promise to keep learning about the
special places I visit and to help keep them beautiful for all the prople who
come to visit after me.
I certify that
has completed the
necessary requirements to become an official Junior Ranger of Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
Park Ranger Signature
Junior Ranger Signature