Elephant's Feet

AUGUST, 1929 ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Page Fifteen Rainbow Bridge, Near Arizona State Line, Is One of Nature's Master Creations

IN THE shadows of Navajo mountain, far from the "beaten path" of travel, is the Rainbow Natural Bridge, one of nature's master creations in rock formations. An arch of gigantic proportion, the structure has been artistically carved from varying shades of red sandstone by the ever active agency of erosion. The Rainbow Natural Bridge, while generally recognized as one of Arizona's many scenic contributions to the West's collection, actually is located in the state of Utah, twelve miles distant from the Arizona boundary line. It is more easily accessible from the Arizona side, however, and practically all visitors making the trip do so through the Arizona gateway. The bridge is set in a canyon with walls of tan, brown, buff and gray sandstone, with the turquoise bue sky overhead providing the contrast that makes the picture one never to be forgotten. Navajo Indians know the structure as "Tsay-non-na-ah," (Rock Goes Across the Water.) It rises to a height of 308 feet at the center of the arch and has a span of 274 feet. At the top it has a width of approximately 35 feet The great arch is supposed to have been first discovered by white men in 1909, the party having been led there by a Piute Indian. Indians have since told a party of three white men visiting the bridge "years and years ago," and the words "John Emerson, 1882," carved on the rock wall on the west side of Navajo mountain tends to bear out the assertion that some trader or trapper visited it over 40 years ago. Because of the hardships and inconveniences experienced in the long, toilsome and dangerous trip to the bridge, however, comparatively few persons have ever seen or inspected the wonder.

Until several years ago, the trip involved a long motor ride from Gallup, N.M., to Kayenta and from that point a pack train over 90 miles by dangerous trails. The journey required from two to three weeks. Since that time, however, a highway was completed from a point five miles north of Red Lake, a short distance beyond Tuba City, to Rainbow Lodge, a distance of 61 miles. By this route, the visitor can now travel with ease and dispatch in a motor car to a point within 15 miles of the bridge, thus reducing the former 180-mile horseback journey to 30 miles for the round trip. Incidentally, the motor drive from Flagstaff to the lodge is through one of the most interesting sections of the North American continent. Such worthwhile scenic attractions as Sunset mountain, the gorge of the Little Colorado river, with its 660-foot suspension bridge, the unique trading post at Cameron, Arizona, the peculiar rock forma-tions known as "petrified pumpkins," and figures found there. Bryce Canyon, some places a desperate need for better

ELEPHANT'S FEET ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

Page Sixteen

AUGUST, 1929

And the footprints of the prehistoric for instance, is named for one of the highway facilities.

dinosaurs preserved in rock are just "old settlers." Save the mark! Who The South Rim of the Grand Canyon a few of the outstanding offerings were the "old settlers" in this part of of the Colorado can be reached direct Of the trip. the world? Were they Aztec, Maya, by rail. The nearest railway point to Moencopi, the extreme western village existed back of these in days when is 163 miles from Zion Canyon to Too, this highway carries one through Apache, Zuni, Navajo, or races that Zion National Park is 70 miles, and it of the Hopi Indian reservation. A earth was in the making? Grecian myBryce Canyon. A number of the other couple of miles beyond is Tuba City, thology, Egyptian history, China, Spain, points mentioned are approachable only the Western Indian agency. Here a Indian, the Indian tribes, and the annals by roads that it would be charity to be school is maintained for the education of "Who's Who" have been pillaged and called trails.

Leaving Tuba City, the road winds these eminences and temples. But 20,000 SOUNDING THE TOCSIN through stretches of sand and valleys years from now, when Greece, Rome, Wake up, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, until Red Lake is reached, where anEgypt, India, China, and the infinitesiif you wish to reap a golden harvest of other interesting trading post is located. mal insects of "Who's Who" have been dollars from the motoring public. Build Good hotel accommodations are available at Red Lake and likewise at Cameron. Two miles from Red Lake are appellations will remain. It would have repay you a thousand fold. Only in this the unique Elephant Feet rocks and been better to have left them unnamed, way will the Magic Circle bring in Three miles beyond them the new Rainbow Trail begins, 61 miles of road that them the evanescent titles of mortality. only by making access to it comfortable The Indians surveyed by their own peFrom time to time as we continued on can its possibilities be adequately capiculiar methods. Twenty-five miles out our pathway, the guiding and directing talized.

Of Red Lake is the branch road to Insigns of the Automobile Club of SouthNo American deserves the name who scription House ruins. ern California aided us in our journey. has not, so far as it lay in his or her Rainbow Lodge, the end of the motor journey, is on the west side of Navajo mountain, among the cedars and pinons. Beautiful mountain springs of pure, clear water, are nearby. The overflow of the spring which supplies Monument, Boulder Canyon Dam the Middle West, and the Eastern States The lodge runs through a stone-lined Site, the Site of Lost City, the is a world of scenic picturesqueness, ditch constructed more than 2000 years Hopi Indian Villages, Battleship Mounand a repository of natural history, ago by the cliff dwellers to irrigate tain, the Elephant's Feet, as well as the which ought to be studied by every The lodge runs through a stone-lined Site, the Site of Lost City, this is a world of scenic picturesqueness, ditch constructed more than 2000 years ago by the cliff dwellers to irrigate tain, the Elephant's Feet, as well as the which ought to be studied by every A solid rock wall several hundred Circle, much could be written, and all oramas which must be seen before they feet high rises abruptly from the rear should be visited by those travelling can be even remotely appreciated and of the lodge. Old ruins and their in that part of the United States. understood. Go there, and you will find Terraced gardens stretch out in front But there is one serious obstacle in something to stay with you to the of the lodge while close by is an ancient ceremonial chamber while still pageant. That is, the fact that many of cient ceremonial chamber while still pageant. That is, the fact that many of sense of unearthly beauty; something to last; something to haunt you with a other old aboriginal ruins are withthe roads are poor, and some of them dwell upon when long years have faded, in pleasant walking distance. extremely bad. On the other hand, as a life-time experience. This, indeed, The lodge is composed of a main much good, and considerable fair highis a journey into the unknown, and a dining hall and several small cottages. The way for automobiles will be encountered. drawing aside, for ever so tiny a space, These may be reserved by the day, But there is a crying need, indeed, in the closely-folded curtains of the past.

week or season. First class meals are provided.

INSIDE THE MAGIC CIRCLE

(Continued from page 8)

Morning or evening, is to be literally

overwhelmed by a sense of reverance,

and of the apparent futility of the

works of men. How puny and trivial

seem all the boasted sculptural triumphs of the Michaelangelo, or Phidias, or Parxiteles, when compared with these Praxiteles, when compared with these towering colossi of all times.

WONDERS GIVEN NAMES

In each of these canyons, the Grand

Canyon of the Colorado, Bryce, and Zion

Canyons, an amusing effort has been

made to attach appropriate names to the

chasms themselves, and to peaks, cliffs,

At the Gateway to Grand Canyon National Park The WHITE GARAGE, Ltd.

All Car Service

WILLIAMS, ARIZONA

Official Garage Telephone 111.

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