Hiking the Spencer Trail - Lee's Ferry, Arizona
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- čas přidán 29. 03. 2020
- Hiking the Spencer Trail - Lee's Ferry, Arizona
We've driven past Lee's Ferry plenty of times. But there's more to do there than access the Colorado. On a recent trip, we decided to check out Cathedral Wash and then the nearby Spencer Trail. They are two completely different hikes. While Cathedral Wash goes down into a canyon to the Colorado, the Spencer Trail is all about gaining elevation. It's steep and relentless, climbing over 1,600 feet in under two miles. It's an out and back with some exposure to get your adrenaline going.
The entire hike gives great views of the Colorado and Lee's Ferry. There is a very interesting area that looks somewhat like Artist's Palette in Death Valley. (Need to go back and check that out sometime.) You also look down on the Paria....Another hike that's on my list.
But the real treat is when you reach the top. The views are absolutely incredible. You can see all the way from Page, Arizona to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Marble Canyon is also on display.
Overall, it's a great experience to link together and day hike Spencer Trail and Cathedral Wash. Both unique, both amazing, you really can't go wrong.
thanks for all the trails ;- )
Fantastic to walk with you! I´ve been there in the area 20 years ago. I didn´t find the trail, sorry. Now with my 80 years I couldn´t do it.
Always enjoy watching your videos.
You are so lucky to have a wife that goes where ever you go. So lucky!!!
I am an extremely lucky man, for sure.
Did the Spencer Trail a few years back on a camp over at Lee's Ferry prior to a Paria Canyon trip. (if you haven't done Paria, you must!). Did the big wow at the top for the views, too! (Except for the power plant which you tastefully edited out.) Apparently, per Michael Kelsey, there is a trail that continues along that ridge line and loops down to connect to the lower Paria Canyon and back along to the old settlement site of Lonely Dell and the official end of the Paria Canyon hike. We did Cathedral Canyon instead. Yup, watched that one. We had a blast, too!
I was just looking at some Kelsey guide books yesterday. So hard to read that dude's maps! But he's been everywhere. Haven't done Paria all the way yet, but we've done Wire Pass through Buckskin, down to the spring in Paria and then out White House several times. One of my all time favorite hikes. Have permits for this spring, actually.
@@JerryArizona The lower canyon past Wire Pass is pretty spectacular. Be sure to take the side trip to Wrather Arch. We camped on the bench across from the canyon entrance. Yah, Kelsey: basically take his directions as a suggestion as opposed to an actual route. Then go look for more beta. But sometimes you have to live dangerously.....😁
Good job. Thanks
Thanks ...will be looking for that next time...may be heading back to kanab soon
Honestly, I enjoyed Cathedral Wash more. But we were actually able to do both in a single day, so check that one out as well.
After watching this video when you first posted it 2 years ago, the Spencer trail and Cathedral Wash trail were added to my bucket list. In April 2021 we finally got to do both. Same day, Spencer trail first. These trails were both amazing. I loved the exposure and the views along Spencer trail. My wife, on the other hand, had a few colorful choice words for this trail, but loved the experience. The Cathedral Wash trail was equally amazing and challenging. It put our 65 year old bodies to the test trying to figure out which way to proceed thruout this trail. Thanks Jerry and Tina for these awesome videos. You inspire us.
I like when you narrate where you are hiking and when Tina hikes too! Beautiful Tina. Views are great! I like the softer music if using musak. Thanks for sharing Tina and Jerry! ❤👍
We just spent 2 nights at Cliffdwellers lodge, and didn't know about those hikes, we went up to Kanab and north of Page into Utah. Thanks will do them next time we are there!!
They're fun hikes. Especially liked Cathedral Wash. But the views from Spencer Trail are amazing also.
We just did the Spencer trail 3 days ago and really enjoyed the incredible view. It seemed never ending up hills but took me 1’34” to get there. Just like you guys, we were “wow”ing the view! We started watching your postings few days ago. You guys are our heros! Looking forward to seeing your next adventure.
Glad you enjoyed! Did you get to do Cathedral Wash while you were there? It was incredible too. We booked a trip to be backhauled up the Colorado to the dam so we could kayak down....not sure it we'll be able to with everything going on though. Love that area.
Just did the trail today. Still sketchy in several sections. 🤪
Really nice hike! Thanks for sharing
Beautiful !!!!
Thanks for the vids guys, been spending time in northern Arizona and southern Utah the last few months, I’ve gotten a ton of great info from your channel. Hope to see you on the trails.
Awesome video 👍. I got another one to add to the list.
Check out Cathedral Wash while you're there. You can do both in a day.
I grew up here and still haven’t made it to the top. I get a little woozy around sketchy heights. Really wish I I wasn’t so affected by heights.
It comes to small moment u ask yourself are these petroglyphs or just petri dish borne kids doing. Yet another fun video from my favorite hiking couple in AZ! make me laugh while doing some quarantine time =>
We'll try. Getting pretty limited to access the outdoors and both our jobs are just ramping up with everything going on. I'm going to have to get creative, I'm thinking. But a little laughter sure is nice at times like these.
Great video. Thanks for charing it with us. Do you remember how long it took you up and down.
Greetings from Norway
I don't, unfortunately. We did this and Cathedral Wash both the same day though, so probably under 5 hours.
@@JerryArizona Thanks 🤠
Nice trail! And I totally agree with the writing...ruins the whole wilderness vibe and looks like graffiti.
have you hiked the hidden valley trail in moab ? elevation isnt nearly as high but its straight up through a rock pile !
I loved your Montage of jokes and your rant about stupid people at the end. Tina Is so frickin cute!
She is, isn't she? I did well.
Just did the trail today. So brutal!
FYI those little poo pebbles are from big horn goats. Seen a couple today just looking at us.
This hike is definitely brutal. I think I was delirious for half those comments. And now I'm bummed we didn't see any mountain goats. Maybe next time.
Beautiful views, but I couldn't do it. I'm not afraid of heights per se, but I need to feel secure, and I wouldn't there. Do you run into rattlesnakes?
Surprisingly, only once. Tina said "Do you hear that rattlesnake?" I said "That's a cicada." Tina said "No it's not." I said "Yes it is." We went on down the trail and a couple behind us caught up and asked if we'd seen the rattlesnake in the middle of the trail....Guess we stepped right over it and didn't see it.
Just did the River trail below Spencer’s...turned around after a couple of miles at what seemed to be a large rock slide going into the Colorado...it seemed like horseshoe bend was just up River..,is that possible? Btw great advice and an amazing hike area...doing the wash tomorrow...thanks again
From my GPS, it looks like River Walk stops less than a mile from Lees Ferry, where Horseshoe Bend is almost 8 miles in. I know for a fact there are plenty of areas you couldn't walk along the river to get to HB. I'm not sure how far you were, but doubt you were close to horseshoe bend. Enjoy Cathedral Wash. Loved that trail.
Thanks, the wash was great but a scramble...also went back and did some of the Spencer
Hi Jerry, I am planning on hiking this one and Cathedral Wash in a couple of weeks.😎
I saw on your other video that I need to buy a permit at the kiosk there, do you know if America The Beautiful can be used at Spencer and/or Cathedral? 🤔
Thanks 👍
Not sure, but I don't think so. There isn't a staffed gate or anything, so you need to display the permit when you park at Lee's Ferry. So I'm guessing it has to be the Lee's Ferry kiosk permit.
Hello! Thanks for posting this! We'll be heading there in December so I'm guessing the trail might be way too icy. You mentioned a river trail. Where is the trailhead for that? At the boat launch? Thank you!
The river walk trail follows the Colorado for a short while. Almost completely flat. It starts at the same trailhead as Spencer Trail. Cathedral Wash trail is also close by and a fun hike. I have a video on that one as well. If it is icy, Spencer probably isn't a good choice. Maybe not even Cathedral Wash. Kind of depends on the amount of snow and ice.
@@JerryArizona Thank you! I think for December we will want to be cautious about anything icy. Flat sounds good!
Another great video (as always). I got 2 questions. First of all, does everybody needs to pay the recreational fee, even if you're only staying for a couple of hours? And secondly, is it possible to walk all the way up to horseshoe bend when you get on top of Spencer Trail? Thank you! You inspire my road trip to the US in 2024!
I believe the fee is enforced for everyone (and we did see rangers driving around). Not sure about the walking to horseshoe bend. There is no known trail that I can find so it's likely it would be off trail. And looking at the topo, there looks like there may be a canyon between the two that might not be passable.
@@JerryArizona thank you! Didn't look very close at the topo concerning the walk up to horseshoe bend. I'll look into that to see what's possible. 😉
Thanks for the useless info at the end. Lol!
I think I may have been out in the sun too long that day...
Beautiful, until the graffiti. At least it wasn’t paint.
90 percent of all statistics can be made to say anything, 50 percent of the time.