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Natural Bridge, Bryce Canyon

"No Room at the Inn," But Still a Perfect Roadtrip
Grand Canyon to Bryce and Cedar Breaks

We left Las Vegas before first light, passed the Las Vegas Speedway as they were getting ready for a NASCAR event, and headed for the Virgin River Gorge on the border of Arizona and Nevada along Interstate 15. We were following our own advice and driving to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon without making reservations, trusting in our good luck to find an open room either in the lodge or in one of the cabins. As is our custom on such unplanned journeys, we stopped by a grocery store deli in Hurricane, Utah, to pick up fixings for that day's lunch. Eating out of a cooler at midday makes it easier to explore back country roads that are often away from towns and cities.

The skies were full of storm clouds that promised rain as we headed south on Utah state route 59 (which turns into AZ route 389) and made our way past the small towns of Colorado City, Cane Beds, and Freedonia. As we drove south along the Kaibab Plateau, we passed an active wildfire being fought alongside route 67 just north of the Grand Canyon National Park. While the situation looked pretty tame as we drove along the still-smoldering trees and brush, we learned that the road had been closed a few times the previous day. Later, while we were gazing at canyon views from the North Rim, a fierce windstorm arose and several trees fell and blocked the road until fire crews could arrive and reopen the road with chainsaws. A bit of luck came our way at the park entrance kiosk, where the ranger informed us that...[Read more]