Cameron Trading Post

From Wupakti ruins we will be going to Cameron trading post for dinner and to sleep. The ruins are half way between Flagstaff and Cameron. It's along the Little Colorado river and the next morning we will be heading up 64 towards the east end of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

the Cameron Trading Post has been a haven for travelers, traders, and explorers who come from all points of the globe to see the wonder of the Grand Canyon and experience the Native cultures of the American Southwest. A unique central location from which to explore, then return to relax and enjoy our beautiful Lodge, RV Park, Restaurant, and Gift Shop. Grab a snack in the Market and stroll through our Gardens, see the fine Native art in our Gallery, enjoy the incredible selection of indian arts and crafts in our gift shop and enjoy the view of the breathtaking Little Colorado River Gorge right in our backyard!

was erected over the Little Colorado River in 1911 creating the first easy access over the gorge. Soon after, two brothers, Hubert and C.D. Richardson established Cameron, visited at that time only by the Navajo & Hopi locals to barter their wool, blankets, & live-stock for dry goods.

A trip to the post to trade could take days of travel by horse-drawn wagon. Guests were always treated as family, fed & housed by the trading post during their stay. As traders, the brothers were more than merchants. Understanding local dialects & customs, they were trusted by the native people in matters concerning confusing new American legal & social systems. Over time as roads improved & interest in the area grew, Cameron’s convenience to the Grand Canyon & other intriguing areas made it popular for other travelers as well. Cameron’s philosophy of hospitality accommodated these changes while maintaining its role in the local community.

Today the trading post is owned by the people who work it; many of whom have had their roots in the area for generations. The president of the company is himself descended from the original founders, maintaining the philosophy of hospitality and respect evident in the operation of Cameron Trading Post today.

to enjoy all the amenities: telephone, cable TV, and A/C in a cozy, rustic setting. Hand-carved furnishings in historic Southwestern style provide comfort and charm during your stay. Watch the sun set over the river gorge from your balcony or take a leisurely stroll through our secluded gardens.

For an extended stay or a special treat, our luxury suites with separate sleeping quarters, wet bar with refrigerator and coffee maker, and sumptuous bath are unsurpassed. Compare and you will see; guests never need sacrifice economy for luxury. Once here you may decide, as many do, to “stay a few more days” at the beautiful Cameron Lodge.

The Cameron dining room is a generous expanse dominated by its large stone fireplace flanked by tall picture windows. The vast ceiling of pressed tin presides over diners as they enjoy their meals and the view of the Little Colorado River Gorge. Native American weavings, basketry, carvings, and Southwestern art are displayed along the walls between the antique cabinetry and stained glass that once served as an apothecary nearly a century ago.

from the old shack perched on the edge of the Little Colorado River Gorge! Time was when it would take days, sometimes months, to travel across the reservation and trade for the fine Native American arts and curios that can be found here now. The Cameron Trading Post today is a center for local trade as well as a source for Native art representing cultures throughout the American Southwest. In traditional patterns passed down through generations, this selection of hand crafted weavings, baskets, pottery, jewelry, and carvings are mementos to be treasured, found in a variety to suit any vacation budget. A large variety of regional curio items are also available, popular among locals and visitors alike.

About the Little Colorado River

After we leave Cameron we'll head to the Grand Canyon on the way you'll see on the

north side of the road, you will come across a turn off to the Little Colorado Lookout gorge. During the summer months, you will often find the natives selling their turquoise and silver jewelry by the roadside. A sheer cliff dramatically drops to the floor of the Colorado River in this point and is definitely worth the trip.

The river flows to the northwest from the White Mountains area, leaving the basin near Cameron, Arizona.  The Little Colorado River Plateau basin is bordered on the north by Arizona-Utah state line, on the east by the Arizona-New Mexico state line, on the south by the Mogollon Rim, and on the west by U.S. Highway 89.  Elevations in the Little Colorado River Plateau basin vary from, to 4,200 feet above mean sea level where the Little Colorado River flows out of the basin. 

This tributary canyon to the Grand Canyon is one of the most remote and least visited but most spectacular canyons in America. It was only explored in its entirety by white people for the first time in the the nineteen sixties and due to several kinds of difficulties it has not often been hiked since then. The only safe, easy, and easy to find way into the upper end of the canyon is where Arizona Highway 89 crosses it in Cameron. At that point it's just a big deep wash, easy to get into and hike in. The problem is that soon the walls steepen and there are stretches of impassible quicksand.

There is a small slice of Heaven in the east central portion of Arizona. It is a small stream called the Little Colorado found in the White Mountains. This beautiful little stream originates just below Mt. Baldy, a sacred Apache mountaintop on the eastern border of the state. The valley and stream are nearly surrounded by the White Mountain Apache Reservation. The Little Colorado flows through a section of National Forest Land that gives us access to this pristine environment. This area is one of ancient Apache legend that knows no boundary. A hiker, fisher, or equestrian enthusiast will be fascinated by the beauty and wonder of this alpine valley at an elevation of over 9,000'.

Sheep's Crossing at the Little Colorado is the entrance for valley hiking and adventures upstream. Sheep's Crossing got its name after the pioneer sheep herders who used this natural level area to cross their herds from one pasture area to another. Alpine meadows, old growth forest and mountain valleys describe the area of Sheep's Crossing. It is a well-known crossing of the Little Colorado that many fishers use to get to the other lakes and streams of the White Mountains.

Access to the valley is from the parking area at the trail head. The trail is four and a half miles long, well worn, and works its way to the summit next to the meandering stream. Closely following the stream, it looks more like a fisherman's path than a hiking trail. Along the hike, there are three prominent meadows that break up the valley leading to the spring head below Mt. Baldy. Passing through each of the three meadows, climbing the path on the easy switch backs is not a strenuous feat. Elevation is what will make breathing a bit difficult if you are not acclimated to the altitude. Your rest stops along the way will be rewarded with the quiet solitude of pristine meadows.

Mt. Baldy's summit is off limits to the non-Apache. It is on the Apache Reservation and is a sacred area to the tribal members. The vistas to the north, east and southeast are simply amazing. From 10,000' mountain peaks, to grasslands and deserts, only a little imagination needs to be used to understand the isolated mountains as "Sky Islands." Looking down on the Little Colorado, the meandering, sometimes oxbow sections glisten in the summer sun. Deep blue aquamarines, turquoise dark green grasses and forest meadows sprinkled with beautiful fields of wild flowers make up this unique valley.

To the small stream fly angler, this is nirvana. A gorgeous forested valley stream full of three kinds of trout eager to take a fly. Rigging up a light fly rod in the parking lot, it is a short hike until solitude with grassy undercut banks, a gravel bottom, and all the perfect stream architecture. Many cozy fish holding sections with a pine canopy can be found around each bend. Glistening brook trout, brilliant brown trout with an occasional lunker can be found for those in the know. Below the parking lot, the stream is stocked with rainbow trout in the summer so that many family fishing outing can be made. For the serious angler/hiker, his or her adventure lies upstream of the trailhead.

Away from the highlands, the Little Colorado is persistent in its journey toward the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Meandering out of the mountains and through the desert, the stream takes on a different appearance. The cool crystal clear waters of elevation are warmed and muddied by the grass land wash and desert draw. It is hard to imagine this clean little stream originating from the White Mountain Apache Reservation, skirting the Painted Desert, and crossing the Navajo Nation to meet with the Grand Canyon.

Grand Falls, east of Flagstaff on the Navajo reservation is a great place to make another day trip. There is a ten mile dirt road that must be navigated, but at the end of the road, at the edge of the Painted Desert lies a mocha colored set of waterfalls that describes its name. The muddied appearance at Grand Falls does no justice to the streams alpine origin. The spectacle of the steps and roiling waterfall is an additional diversified aspect of this continually changing stream. The landscape has now changed to rolling grasslands with volcanic cinder cones, ancient lava beds lie crumbling, falling to the effects of time. But time does not seem to affect the Little Colorado. And it rolls on towards its meeting with another Grand, this time a Canyon.

The Grand Canyon and the Colorado River invites the Little Colorado to rest after a long journey from the mountains and across the desert. Carving a canyon of it's own to reach the Colorado River, the Little Colorado has finally reached it's destination. The transformation is complete. The little stream has now taken on an epic canyon carving personality. Red rock walls, cut by eons of running water, physical evidence of water power over time.

There are many ways to see the Little Colorado. In the White Mountains, the alpine headwaters, take Highway 260 west from Springerville, Arizona, or Highway 260 east from Show Low. Take the turn off to Sunrise Ski Area and follow this road past the ski area until you come to the stream crossing. There is a sign for the trailhead parking.

To see Grand Falls, take Winona/Townsend Road from the 89a in east Flagstaff to Leupp Road. Follow this road to the Grand Falls turn off, a dirt road on the left.

You can also visit the Little Colorado on the way to the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry. On 89a north out of Flagstaff, look for the suspension bridge that crosses the stream at Cameron, a small Navajo nation outpost. Another unique way to visit the Little Colorado Gorge is to take a Grand Canyon float trip originating from Lee's Ferry. You will pass the confluence of this mighty stream on your way down the Grand Canyon while being carried by its father, the Colorado River.