Overview

Hype:

This historic ranch, near the mouth of the Paria River, was home to the families who operated Lees Ferry. The place was so isolated that the families working at the crossing needed to be self-sufficient, growing food for themselves and their animals. Hard labor changed the barren desert into a green oasis. The main ranch buildings are about 700 feet up the dirt road from the parking area. The complete self-guided walking tour of the orchard, log cabins, stone ranch house, and pioneer cemetery is about a 1-mile round trip. There are picnic tables and shade trees at the ranch. Take drinking water with you.

Trail Condition: Class 1 (Trail is either paved or gravel. Navigation skills are not needed because there is only one trail or because there are signs. Elevation gains are gradual or there are stairs.)

Time: 30-60 minutes

Length: 1 mile round trip

Elevation Gain: Negligible

Fees: Park Entrance

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Links: https://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/lees-ferry.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee%27s_Ferry_and_Lonely_Dell_Ranch

Getting There

Navigate to 36.867029, -111.595281.

Maps

Closest City or Region: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Coordinates: 36.868654, -111.595538

Interactive Guide Map

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April 2, 2022 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Savannah Dye, Madilyn Dye, Cooper Dye,

Story

On our way down to Flagstaff for spring break, we stopped at Lonely Dell Ranch and explored the cabins and orchard. The kids were mildly interested.

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Pictures

June 17, 2020 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Ondylyn Wagner, Shawn Parker, Marci Parker, Becca Bevan,

Story

We had a little mix-up while hiking the last leg of Paria Canyon. Ondy, Becca, Tara, and I took one trail while Shawn and Marci took another trail. We thought we'd meet up again but we passed each other about a hundred feet from each other and didn't realize it. Long story short, we did a lot of sitting around waiting for each other. Our group took the lazy option and waited at Lonely Dell Ranch at a picnic table in the shade. Becca and Tara both had pretty bad blisters on their feet, so they were very content to sit down and rest. Ondy and I walked around Lonely Dell Ranch and read the information signs while we waited. Ondy even hiked back up to the upper ranch to look for Marci and Shawn while I hiked down to the parking area to do the same. Everything worked out in the end, and we all collapsed in the car at the end of a long but beautiful backpacking trip. 

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Pictures