Powell Page 4

Left around 9:45 am morning of 26/12, and drove north in the lee of the wall to mile number 50, where, turning the corner, the strong east winds made me decide it wasn't worth the effort to proceed. Also, I was suffering back pain from the unacustomed paddling.

I turned back, and paddled down the inlet of Rainbow Bridge itself, to see the landmark while waiting for the wind to abate.

This is a picture of the inlet approaching the national monument.

Rounding the corner, my first view of the natural bridge. Bigger than I had expected.

Boats may not approach cloder than this dock. I could have slipped the kayak in, but I didn't.

From the base to the top of the arch is 290 feet. Spans 275 feet. Top of the arch is 42 feet thick and 33 feet wide. (National Park Service brochure)

Natural bridges differ from arches in that the natural bridge forms from water flowing under it.

Several tribes hold this landmark sacred, so the NPS requests visitors to not walk under the bridge out of respect for these tribes' beliefs.


Back out of the inlet and on the main lake, the winds had died enough to allow me to make forward progress without undue effort.

Last updated on 01-02-00.
Email: jbruton @northlink.com