The Arizona Strip sprawls five million acres across northwestern Arizona, bordered by Nevada to the west, Utah to the north and the Grand Canyon to the south and east. The Canyon isolates the region from the rest of Arizona, making it tricky to access — but also making it a true hidden gem and one of the most visually stunning areas in the world.
Marble Canyon
Start the journey in Flagstaff, following US-89 and US-89A north for two hours to Marble Canyon. This little town tucks along the Colorado River and serves as a gateway to some of the most iconic landscapes in the American Southwest: Horseshoe Bend, Vermilion Cliffs, Antelope Canyon and, of course, the Grand Canyon.
Once you arrive in Marble Canyon, cross the Colorado River, then stop at the Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center to learn about the area’s history; explore outdoor exhibits, browse the bookstore and stroll the historic Navajo Bridge. From this vantage point, look up to spot the majestic California Condor overhead.
Continue down 89A, then turn onto Lees Ferry Road for Colorado River access points like Paria Beach with its white-sand shores and towering red-rock cliffs, or Lees Ferry, where the 4.4-mile roundtrip Spencer Trail affords breathtaking panoramas of the river and Marble Canyon.
Spend the night at Marble Canyon Motor Lodge, a stylishly renovated boutique hotel boasting views of the region’s colorful sandstone cliffs. Accommodations include two-bedroom Ranch Cottages or spacious LodgeRooms. Grab dinner at the Lonely Jackrabbit Restaurant — be sure to save room for the Navajo fry bread in both its sweet and savory forms.
Jacob Lake
Start the day early to get the most out of a visit to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, an otherworldly display of rock formations in huesof red and orange, and home to The Wave, one of the most sought-after and photographed places on Earth. Entrance requires a permit via a lottery system.
As you make your way along 89A through high desert terrain, stop at House Rock Valley Overlook for sweeping views of the Paria Plateau before climbing into Arizona’s dense Ponderosa pine forests. Here, about 12 miles west of House Rock Valley Overlook, the town of Jacob Lake emerges from the trees.
Situated north of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Jacob Lake perches at 8,000 feet in the Kaibab National Forest and offers a serene mountain retreat where you can saddle upfor gentle horseback rides, spot wildlife like mule deer and the black-bellied Kaibab squirrel, and soak up the natural history of the region at the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center.
Not to be missed: Jacob Lake Inn for their famous homemade cookies and delicious ice cream.
For your next move, you have two choices: Continue on to Fredonia, a 30-mile drive from Jacob Lake, or spend one more night in town at Jacob Lake Inn.
Fredonia
The route from Jacob Lake winds north and west, ferrying travelers from the cool pines to the desert grasslands and into Fredonia. Sitting just four miles south of the Arizona-Utah border, Fredonia is the state’s northern most community.
Pay a visit to Homestead Tribal Arts to peruse Indigenous arts and crafts, such as handmade Navajo rugs, jewelry and Hopi carvings, then head over to the Red Pueblo Museum and Heritage Park, a fascinating museum that curates a collection of American Indian artifacts, from 1,000-year-old pottery and ancient tools to authentic medicine bags and apparel.
When you feel peckish, try Buckskin Tavern, beloved for its laid-back, friendly atmosphere and casual cowboy cuisine — think burgers, pulled-pork sandwiches and chili.
Colorado City
From Fredonia, drive west on AZ-389 for 14 miles to reach Pipe Spring National Monument.
You’ll want to set aside a few hours for a thorough deep dive into the history here. This historic site is home to a natural spring that sustained life for the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians and later 19th-century Mormon settlers.
First, get your bearings at the Pipe Spring Visitor Center, then see the exhibits inside the Cultural Museum; hike the half-mile Ridge Trail; and book a ranger-led tour of Winsor Castle, a fortified ranch house built by the Mormons.
Continue west on AZ-389 for 20 miles to arrive in Colorado City. The secluded town offers the perfect base camp for Southern Utah experiences such as Zion National Park, Canaan Mountain Wilderness and Water Canyon Trail, a 3.2-mile challenging hike to a waterfall.
Pop into Sweet Sage Coffee to refuel with espresso drinks and savory paninis and fresh salads before back tracking to Jacob Lake or Marble Canyon to bed down for the night.
Header image credit: Micah Adams
Arizona Office of Tourism
These articles are brought to you by the staff of the Arizona Office of Tourism, and occasionally local tourism organizations around the state.
