Lees Ferry

I have been to Lees Ferry and it was an incredible place to explore. The area sits right on the edge of the Colorado River and offers a quiet, scenic stretch that feels peaceful and wide open. It’s a great spot to walk along the river, explore the historic ferry site, and enjoy the views of the red rock cliffs all around. One of the most memorable parts of the visit was spotting California condors from the bridge. We looked up and saw these massive birds soaring overhead and even perched near the cliff walls. If you’re patient and bring binoculars, there’s a good chance you’ll catch a glimpse of one. It’s not something you see every day and made the stop even more special. The bridge itself offers a great overlook of the river and canyon, and it’s a nice walk with plenty of opportunities for pictures. Whether you’re just passing through or planning to launch a rafting trip down the Grand Canyon, Lees Ferry is worth the stop. I would definitely go back again. Between the river, the history, and the wildlife, it’s a peaceful and unforgettable place to visit.

Excellent spot! We came here initially to get some water, and was surprised it wasn’t just potable water but drinking water! We then ended up hanging out and letting the kids play in the river. We stumbled across two different groups getting ready to take off for a 14 day river floating down the Colorado River (future bucket list item unlocked!). We did the river trail, which was short and relatively flat (so great for the kids) and had lots of signs to learn more about the local history. Definitely interesting learning about mining and I forget the gentlemen who pioneered the area but he had lots of inventions to try and harvest gold! Overall, would totally recommend - it’s beautiful!

Lees Ferry is a place that truly takes your breath away. The area is vast and stunning, with jaw-dropping scenery all around. Sunset is the most magical time — golden light glowing on the red cliffs and the Colorado River is pure beauty. It’s incredibly peaceful, perfect for a quiet walk, some photos, or simply soaking it all in. Along the River Trail, you’ll spot the iconic balanced rock and get up close to the majestic Colorado River. No photo can fully capture how it feels to stand here in person.

Did you know that this spot is where the Grande Canyon begins?! There is a sign that states it. It’s a beautiful drive down. Several places to stop. Navajo bridge is wonderful. Balanced rocks. The Cathedral rock, but a Navajo lady told me they called it the church. Not much to see at the Ferry crossing but its history. The boat ramp is very busy as there are few boat ramps left due to water levels. Several rafting companies use it after departing from the dam 15 miles away. Pit toilets. Camp ground for under 30’ rigs. No hookups but pit toilets. Potable water down at the ramp and I believe there is an Rv dump as well. It’s a long way down and around into Glen Canyon on the way to Vermillion Cliffs. There is a great beach a few hundred yards away. Very swimable and dogs welcome. It’s very pretty and it it appears you can fish there also.

Absolutely amazing views and access to the Colorado River made the trip so fun for our big guy! Also the campsites were pretty quiet and very clean. Would definitely return here for sure!

Well worth a visit. It was quiet and peaceful when we stopped by. It was fun wading in the Colorado river and the river was cold and clear. There are a lot of neat rock formations in the area and lots of great photographic opportunities.

This is a historic location along the Colorado River, dating back to the 1800s when it was operated as a ferry service along with the historic Lonely Dell Ranch. The location is now used as a launching point for recreational services both commercial and private. The area offers a multitude of services including lodging, boat and kayak rentals as well as rafting adventures. There are multiple parking areas both paved and unpaved to handle all the vehicular traffic. There is a good-sized launching ramp with several floating dock areas. To the west of the main paved parking area, is a small, covered pavilion with picnic tables as well as a pay station. There is also a restroom building on the north side of paved parking lot with running water.

Beautiful location. We would definitely recommend taking the boat ferry up river to kayak back down.

Camping along the Colorado River - the views are stunning. There's potable water available and a dump site. The bathroom on one end is under renovation. It's a short walk down to the river... which is icy cold. There's a great hike with the remains of a small ranch. Loved my time here.

Rented kayaks/back hauled all the way to the damn. Amazing ride and views!!! Definitely recommend, even if it's just a day trip. Kayaking/SUP down the river does not disappoint!!

Driving by and decided to see what was here. It's a pricey place if you don't have a yearly pass. $25 a car. There's lots of hiking trails and they launch the river rafts from here. You can go down by the Colorado river and put your toes in the cold water. There wasn't a lot of people here today which was great! We stopped at the Navajo bridge and walked on the old 1927 bridge that is now for pedestrians only. Got some great pics and saw a Condor was hanging out under one side! Check out the pics! Lots to do here. Great fun for all ages. The Condor we saw and posted picture of is a wild Male born of wild parents. Was so cool to see him from about 20 feet away.

We all had the best experience kayaking down through this canyon. We rented kayaks and got backhauled by Lee's Ferry Anglers Fly Shop and Guide up the river to mile 10 and spent the whole day enjoying the frigid water and baking under the toasty sun. When I spoke with Wendy on the phone, she was SO nice and helped me plan this activity perfectly. 11/10 experience!

here's the thing with lee's ferry: if you haven't been there, you just can't understand. it's surreal. i like beautiful places, but this is ridiculous. i can't really describe it; all i can say is that it isn't about what you see. it's also how you feel when you're there. this is my happy place. the steep canyon walls twist and turn 15 miles back to the dam. the current is strong; wading is exhausting and cold. the fishing is exciting. the water is clear. the grand canyon starts here for goodness sake! water seeps through the rock walls and a rainstorm may create spontaneous waterfalls so dramatic you almost don't believe they're there. lee's ferry can be one of the most memorable trips of your life. ok, no more mushy. here's the rest of the scoop: to fully enjoy lee's ferry, you've got to get out on the water - the colorado river water. the water level changes frequently, and "prop bar" is called prop bar for a reason. if you don't want to use a something with a motor and have some time to explore, there are a handful of campsites along the river banks. you could easily have someone tow a canoe or kayaks up river and float down at your own pace, setting up camp as you go. like i said, the current is strong so don't try to tell me i didn't warn you. the hoodoos (i just love that word!), or balancing rocks, on the way to the boat ramp are just freakin' cool. speaking of the boat ramp, don't go trying to camp out overnight there. the parks service is not so fond of that action. visitors can camp away from the water at the campground. facilities are basically bathrooms (no showers) and each site has a shade structure that walked out of 1974, a picnic table and a fire pit. some sites have river views. camping costs $7/night or something. it's cheap. the $$ you pay goes back to the ferry to keep it beautiful. even though the pay station is broken each time i make the trek (about 4 hours from phx) to the ferry, i'm still awarding 5 stars. it is way too hard to deduct a star from such a special place.

Lee's Ferry is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Though it was scorching in June, the water was icy cold and so refreshing. This was my first camping experience and it's brilliant to camp almost on the banks of the river! Camping spots are first come first served (no reservations), but given the warm weather, there were spots available right up until 8-9 pm. The rest rooms are great - clean with flush toilets. Most impressively, there are wild condors roosting at the Navajo bridge just outside the park! I cannot recommend this spot highly enough!

Launched my brothers boat here to stay on the river a few days. When staying overnight you have to buy a pass at a machine on the way in. Make sure you keep a eye out for it because you'll miss it. Also, bring cash. I believe we paid like 20 bucks for overnight parking for the weekend. There are some great scenery and plenty of parking. I do wish they had stuff labeled better. I heard there are showers up here, however we looked for about 30 min and could not find them. Trust me after a weekend of dealing with this fine sand, youll want a shower as soon as you get off the river (if you've camped out). Other then all that its easily accesable to launch your boat, there were some park rangers enforcing the laws so make sure you park in the designated areas and have your parking pass. Sadly they weren't around when looking for the shower...

Breathtakingly beautiful in every sense. If you get anywhere close, take the boat ride from the Glen Canyon Damn downriver to the old ferry launch. Truly one of the prettiest places on earth.

This place is unbelievable. The colors, the sounds, the serenity, just everything is amazing. It is a must see!