📷 George Billingsley, Public domainLees Ferry
Marble Canyon, AZ
The launch point for Grand Canyon river trips, with the ruins of an 1870s ferry crossing and Lonely Dell Ranch. The paved 8 km spur road from US-89A is in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so the park fee applies.
Lees Ferry is the historic crossing of the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, Arizona, and today the launch point for rafting trips through the Grand Canyon. It lies 42 miles (68 km) from Page; from the turnoff a paved road leads about 5 miles (8 km) to the ferry site. A ferry ran here from 1872 to 1928. In 1910 Charles Spencer tried to mine gold in the clay hills; two stone buildings, a steam boiler and a sunken steamboat remain from that effort.
Nearby is Lonely Dell Ranch at the mouth of the Paria River, where the ferry families lived. According to the NPS, the self-guided walk past the orchard, log cabins, ranch house and pioneer cemetery is about one mile (1.6 km) round trip; fruit may be picked for personal use, up to 5 gallons per person per day. The shared grave of the five Johnson boys is also on the ranch.
The area belongs to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and there is an NPS campground. Time-sensitive: according to the NPS the upper loop of the campground is closed to all visitors for renovation, with no reopening date given. Check entrance fees, the campground and the boat ramp beforehand.
- Nearest town
- Marble Canyon, AZ
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 36.8653, -111.5878
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, September and November. Hot in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
© Christian Mehlführer, User:Chmehl · CC BY-SA 3.0Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center
© Christian Mehlführer, User:Chmehl · CC BY 2.5Horseshoe Bend
© Sharon Mollerus · CC BY 2.0Antelope Canyon
© No machine-readable author provided. Dbenbenn assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0Big Water Visitor Center
Campsites nearby
- Page Lake Powell CampgroundCampsite8 mi from Lees FerryCaravansElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Roam AmericaMotorhome stopover8 mi from Lees Ferry · 219 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWi-Fi
- Wahweap CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Lees FerryElectricityShowersWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Wahweap CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Lees FerryElectricityShowersWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Wahweap RV & CampgroundMotorhome stopover10 mi from Lees FerryMotorhomes
- Mystical Antelope Canyon Tours & Arrowhead CampgroundCampsite15 mi from Lees Ferry
All campsites in Arizona · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Lees Ferry?
Lees Ferry is in Marble Canyon, AZ, at GPS 36.8653, -111.5878. It is about 4 mi from Navajo Bridge.
Can you camp near Lees Ferry?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Lees Ferry Campground, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 17 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Lees Ferry?
Lees Ferry is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Grand Canyon North Rim and Marble Canyon: Kanab to Page and Silence at the edge of the gorge: by camper to the North Rim, the Vermilion Cliffs, Lees Ferry and Horseshoe Bend.
What is there to see near Lees Ferry?
Places worth a stop nearby: Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center (4 mi), Horseshoe Bend (4 mi), Antelope Canyon (12 mi) and Big Water Visitor Center (15 mi).
When is the best time to visit Lees Ferry?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)