Hurricane: Grand Canyon National Park-North Rim

15 of 22 – 2024 Fall Trip West Series. 10/3/24 Thursday. We visited Arizona today. We drove to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with a stop along the way at Pipe Spring National Monument.

GRAND CANYON_DAD4018-NR — There are still reliable springs of water here in this otherwise very dry, desert area. This area had the only water available from Hurricane, UT to Fredonia, AZ for Mormon settlers.

GRAND CANYON_DAD4003-NR — “Winsor Castle” is the name given to the fort ordered built by Brigham Young (1870) to protect early Mormon settlers and the important spring inside the fort. The “main spring” was inside Winsor Castle but it has dried up and is now emulated with pumped water. Other springs around the site continue to have water and were an important feature for over a thousand years bringing peoples to settle, farm, and ranch here.

Plaque reads: “Pipe Springs National Monument established May 31, 1926 through efforts of Stephen T. Mather and friends. Pipe Springs: occupied in 1863 by Dr. James M. Whitmore, who, with Robert McIntyre, was killed 4 miles S.E. of here January 8, 1866 by Navajo and Piute Indians. Winsor Castle: erected by direction of Brigham Young in 1869-70 by Anson P. Winsor for handling the church tithing herds and as a frontier refuge from Indians. It became the first telegraph office in Arizona when the Deseret telegraph line reached here in December 1871.”

GRAND CANYON_DAD4030-NR — Leaving Pipe Spring National Monument we traveled on to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Beautiful fall colors along the way.

iPhone_IMG_6136 — Arriving at Grand Canyon National Park North Rim Visitors Center we found parking and had a quick lunch before walking along the rim to various overlooks. Self shadow portrait of Indiana Dad.

GRAND CANYON_DAD4074-NR — Eric & Jackie posing with their pre-wedding photographer Lauren.

GRAND CANYONGrand Canyon Group_Panorama-1

All the travelers on the overlook except David who relaxed in the sun and Duane and Becky who relaxed in the shade of the hotel lobby (and took the pictures…)