April 25, 2011
The information in the Glen Canyon Guide said....Take a 5 1/2 hour boat ride up to Rainbow Bridge national Monument. Travel through superb views of Lake Powell to Bridge Canyon where you will disembark and walk approximately 1 1/4 mile on a maintained, dirt trail up to this magnificent natural bridge.
We had to be at the lobby of the Lake Powell Resort at 7am in the morning. At 7:30 we headed down hill to the boat dock.
It was a long steep walk down to the dock.
After everyone was aboard the boat headed down river towards Glen Canyon Dam before heading
up river towards Rainbow Bridge.
We passed Wahweap Marina as we left the Resort Dock.
We sat on the top deck. It got chilly when the boat speeded up but we stayed up top more than half the way to the Bridge. After we went down to sit inside, I would go out again when I wanted to take pictures.
The color change marks the high water line. It is called the bathtub ring. The Lake was 90 ft low when we were there. Besides water coming into the Lake the water level depends on how much is backed up or allowed through so the level varies.
As stated the views were SUPERB!
Although Glen Canyon Dam is in Arizona, the largest portion of Lake Powell is in Utah.
The boat wound through Bridge Canyon to reach the dock and trail to Rainbow Bridge.
The trail was in both shade and sun.
It was a very pleasant walk.
Rainbow Bridge
Along the trail.
There was a creek running down the canyon. There were small clam shells on the trail.
Back at the dock....a houseboat had joined our boat.
We wound our way back out of Bridge Canyon.
On the way up lake we passed a heart shaped cave with instructions to hug... and on the way down lake we passed the heart on the right....Our second chance the Captain told us.
We rode inside most of the way back to the dock,
As we passed one of the canyon with a dock, a boat came to exchange mail bags with us.
Our pilot and tour guide...... A new crew member.
A 12 year crew member. The Captain stayed close.
We saw many houseboats...some private like the one with slides on 2 decks....others rentals.
We went up top to watch the boat return to the dock.
We walked back up the steep trail to get back to the car. It was a great day !
.jpg)
Wow, You guys are giving us the "itch" to travel again, I don't where you got your "to see" liust but I love it.
ReplyDelete