Navajo Bridge

The basics

Colorado River rafting trips through Marble Canyon often pass below the Navajo Bridge, and are an ideal way to admire this feat of engineering, as well as highlights such as Glen Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the Vermilion Cliffs. Driving tours of the river also generally stop at the bridge and include time for visitors to walk across it and visit the Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center. Independent travelers can opt for an audio tour and visit the bridge and other nearby sights by car at their own pace.

Things to know before you go

• Motor and foot traffic are separated between the two twin bridges, making it safe for visitors of all ages to walk across.
• There is no shade or shelter from the elements along the bridge, so wear sunscreen and a hat or a jacket in cooler weather.
• Marble Canyon is known for its condor population, so bring binoculars or a zoom lens on your camera to spot them circling above.
• The Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center has several exhibits about the bridge, plus amenities like water fountains, restrooms, and a gift shop.
• The pedestrian bridge is accessible to wheelchairs, as is the interpretive center.

How to get there

The Navajo Bridge stretches between the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon along Highway 89A between Bitter Springs and Jacob Lake, Arizona. The bridge is located on Navajo tribal land just outside the Grand Canyon National Park, though many park tours include a stop here. You can reach the bridge by car or with a driving tour of the national park or Horseshoe Bend.

When to get there

Choose a clear, mild day to walk or drive across Navajo Bridge for the best views and photos. The Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center is open daily from morning to late afternoon, so visit during open hours for additional information about the bridge’s history and construction before your trip across the canyon.

Postcard-perfect Horseshoe Bend

Many visitors to the Navajo Bridge are on their way to or from the bridge’s famous neighbor: Horseshoe Bend. This scenic spot overlooks a U-shaped curve in the sandstone canyon carved by the flow of the Colorado River over millennia. Horseshoe Bend is one of the most photographed spots in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and the clifftop overlook perched 1,000 feet (300 meters) above the canyon floor sits just northeast of Navajo Bridge.