Horseshoe Bend, Arizona – A Gem of the Colorado River
Horseshoe Bend is a spectacular place to visit near the Grand Canyon. Though technically (and often mistakably attributed) it is not part of the Grand Canyon National Park, which begins a few miles downstream at Lees Ferry. Nor is it Marble Canyon quite yet. Horseshoe Bend is in Glen Canyon, and sits about halfway between the Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. In September of 2022, we took 50 people on an amazing 4-day tour of multiple parks in celebration of the 25 years Canyon Ministries has been leading
A GRAND Upgrade
Coyote Gulch backpacking trip renamed and revamped as Grand Staircase Adventure! Without a doubt, backpacking in Coyote Gulch is one of our most thrilling adventures. With breathtaking sights and exhilarating challenges around every corner, it has become a big hit with guests and a favorite trip to lead for our guides. It has also just received a major upgrade! Our backpacking program launched with a trip to Coyote Gulch in 2020. At that time, we did not have a vehicle suitable for transporting guests and all our equipment to Utah.
Many Are The Plans
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 No matter how many times I have experienced or witnessed it, I find myself increasingly amazed by the will and plans of God on display. The other day, while prepping for a Sunset Tour, I went through my usual routine: checking our booking system for information on my guests, committing names to memory as best I can, and reaching out to each party to make direct contact with them before we meet
Forever Family
We often have a phrase we like to use around here, and that’s “forever family”. With an understanding that this place is not our ultimate destination, but as Billy Graham would say, “I’m just passing through this world”, we have the incredible opportunity to make memories together on this earth that may very well be talked about for eternity. What more GRAND place to make those memories and draw close to our Creator than the grandest canyon on earth? Olive Garden used to say, “When you’re here, you’re family.” Well,
Goals Aren’t Always As Important As We Think They Are
“Last week I did the North Kaibab Trail. It was really busy but beautiful weather and a beautiful trail. Learned about goals and how they aren't always as important as we think they are. I'll write it down someday.” These were the last words posted to Facebook by our guide, Paul Weaver. Two days later, on October 12th, Paul suddenly passed away from a medical complication while riding his mountain bike on the trails overlooking Flagstaff. There has only been one other event in my life that brought more devastating
Grand Canyon Creation Museum
Discover the Wonders of Creation Canyon Ministries is thrilled to unveil our vision for the Southwest Creation Center, a pioneering endeavor aimed at illuminating the grandeur of God’s creation through the study of biblical creation science and history. Our center will showcase an enthralling Grand Canyon creation museum, a science research lab, and an education training facility, all dedicated to enriching understanding of the American Southwest from a biblical perspective. Our Vision The Southwest Creation Center will also function as the focal point for our ministry’s daily Grand Canyon tours, river
Quiet Whisper
We’d made a mistake. We all knew it but there wasn’t anything we could do about it. The previous night we had camped at the end of Coyote Gulch. It was a nice campsite next to the creek. And it was quiet. Tonight, we were camped at a popular campground closer to Bryce Canyon. Our site was next to a hotel parking lot. We heard crying children, yelling parents, and endless horn beeps as car doors were locked. Unfortunately, that was just the start of the noise. We were
Pleasant Inns
I was recently backpacking our Canyon Ministries Grandview Loop in the Grand Canyon. As I finished scrambling down a scree field from the top of Horseshoe Mesa, I came upon a beautiful campsite at Cottonwood Creek. The water was falling over a small waterfall and making a pleasant babbling sound. There was a perfect spot for my one-person tent under a juniper tree. This oasis in the desert made a dream campsite. I settled into camp, listening to the album Hebrews by Psallos as I fell asleep. Psallos is
Why We Do What We Do
We recently finished another amazing river trip season. In our 24th year of taking people through the canyon along the Colorado River, God continued to amaze, astound, and inspire us at every turn. While we love exploring and experiencing the features of the canyon, often it’s the people who come our way that are the real highlight for me on a trip. Day and night, the glory of God is revealed through shared wilderness experience and canyon conversation. Of particular joy for me this season was the 7-day trip we
Excitement In Coyote Gulch
Earlier this month we completed our third backpacking trip into Coyote Gulch in southern Utah. We love going beyond Arizona’s Grand Canyon to explore this equally spectacular neighbor to our north. It is still the rainy season in the southwest at this time of year, which creates some exciting challenges and opportunities when backpacking. This trip never lacks in adventure, but in early September the thrills get turned up a notch or two! Around every bend in the canyon are new and beautiful sights to behold. Towering sandstone arches,