Читать книгу Backpacking Arizona. From Deep Canyons to Sky Islands онлайн

44 страница из 56

HIGHLIGHTS Rainbow Bridge is the world’s largest natural bridge, and one of the most graceful—a frozen rainbow of stone. Although most people now reach the bridge by boat on Lake Powell, the hike around Navajo Mountain is scenic enough in its own right—the bridge is frosting on the cake.

PROBLEMS The Rainbow Bridge Trail, though originally constructed for pack stock, is no longer maintained. Until you reach the bridge and the lake, you are in a very remote corner of the Navajo Reservation. All but experienced desert hikers should avoid this route from mid May through mid September, because of temperatures that reach 100˚F. Lake Powell is the only dependable water source during the summer months.

HOW TO GET THERE From Tuba City on U.S. 160, drive 40 miles northeast, and turn left on Arizona 98. Drive 13 miles, and turn right on Navajo 16. This road is paved for about 15 miles, to Inscription House Trading Post, and then becomes a graded, sandy road. Turn left 29 miles from Arizona 98, onto the Rainbow Lodge road, which is usually unsigned. Drive 5 miles, and look for a dome-shaped rock formation, Haystack Rock, ahead. Take the road that goes to the right of Haystack Rock. Unless you have a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle, park at the fork at Haystock Rock. The trailhead lies 1.8 miles up the road, at the west side of the ruins of the old Rainbow Lodge, on the southwest slopes of dome-shaped Navajo Mountain.