Morning Trip To The Navajo Bridge And Interpretive Center
- Date Visited: April 2021
- Address: 1000 US-89A, Marble Canyon, AZ 86036
- GPS: 36.81812, -111.63344
- Phone: (928) 640-3900
- Website
- Hours: Daily 8 AM - 6 PM
- Price: Free
The historic Navajo Bridge in Marble Canyon, AZ was originally dedicated on June 14-15, 1929. When first dedicated it was originally named the Grand Canyon Bridge, but in 1934 state legislature changed the name to Navajo Bridge.
At the time of it’s construction, the bridge was the highest steel arch bridge in the world. Today, the dual bridges are tied at ninth place among the highest bridges in the United States. The bridge is also one of only seven land crossings for the Colorado River for 750 miles.
For over 60 years the old bridge served travelers well, but as automobiles and trucks became larger, wider and heavier, a new stronger bridge was needed to accommodate them. The new bridge was officially dedicated on September 14, 1995.
The new Navajo Bridge was even christened with a bucket of water from the Colorado River below.
Below are some statistics on the original and new bridge.
Historic Bridge
Total Length: 834 Feet
Height Above River: 467 Feet
Width of Roadway: 18 Feet
Steel Arch Length: 616 Feet
Arch Rise: 90 Feet
Amount of Steel: 2.4 Million Pounds
Amount of Concrete: 500 Cubic Yards
Construction Cost: $390,000
New Bridge
Total Length: 909 Feet
Height Above River:470 Feet
Width of Roadway:44 Feet
Steel Arch Length: 726 Feet
Arch Rise: 90 Feet
Amount of Steel: 3.9 Million Pounds
Amount of Concrete: 1,790 Cubic Yards
Construction Cost: $14,700,00
The new bridge was built right next to the old one so it’s very cool to see them side by side like that. While it may not be open to vehicular traffic anymore pedestrians are still able to walk across the historic Navajo Bridge.
The views of the surrounding Vermilion Cliffs as you are walking across the bridge are pretty epic. The views of the flowing waters of the Colorado River far below you aren’t too shabby either.
Leashed pets are permitted to walk across the bridge so don’t forget to bring along your furry friends.
After the construction of the new bridge the Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center opened for business in April of 1997 and was officially dedicated on June 17, 1997. The bridge is open 24/7 year round to walk across and explore.
The interpretive center is only open seasonally, April-November, from 8 AM – 6 PM. Most of the exhibits are located outside the visitor center, but a small gift shop can be found inside. There are also free brochures on local attractions and hikes you can pick up.
Restrooms and trashcans are also provided outside. There are multiple places to sit at as well as parking for larger rigs.
Another very special reason to visit the Navajo Bridge is the opportunity to see endangered California condors. These birds are one of the world’s largest and rarest. They have a wingspan of 9 to 10 feet, weigh up to about 25 pounds and can live up to 60 years.
Six California condors were released at the Vermilion Cliffs on the Paria Plateaure in 1996. Their reintroduction into the wild was a success and many can be seen hanging out around the bridge. We saw at least half a dozen during our visit and they were close enough to get a few great pics.
The best time to catch them is early in the morning.
Many travelers cross the bridge on their way to the Grand Canyon and if you happen to be one of those people stop in and check out the center.
Take a walk across the historic Navajo Bridge to take in the views and stretch your legs for a bit. A number of informational plaques are scattered around the site with more details on the history of the bridge and the area.
It’s a free and fast stop worth checking out.
If your looking for other activities in the area Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and Lee’s Ferry are both right down the road and are amazing places to visit. We boondocked in the area for two weeks and had a great time hiking and exploring.