We have spent 2 days in the Kanab area and enjoyed ourselves. We will be back to do a few tours. 

Our first day we pulled into the campground and in the afternoon went to the Pipe Spring National Monument. 

Pipe Spring National Monument

We saw this National Monument on a map and decided to visit. Never heard of it before. A very nice monument that enlightened us with the conflict between the Paiute, Mormons and the govt. As usual, the Paiute lost. Not a proud moment in US history.

This spring is created from the Vermillion Cliffs from the snow melt and some of the water appears at this location. I believe it flows all year which makes this spring a critical water source.

The Paiutes appeared in the area around 1000 AD and, as with all Native Americans, appreciated nature and respected nature. The Mormons appeared on the scene following Brigham Young’s call for his flock to expand into Arizona. Due to the water source, Mormon ranchers began settling in the area. Grazing cattle did not co-exist well with the Paiute, gatherers. The Paiute and Navajo started raiding the Mormon ranches and killing off the stock. A fortified ranch house was built, looks more like a small fort. The Paiutes, over time, lost more and more of their land but they stayed in the area. Finally, the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation was established and the Pipe Spring Ranch was purchased and the National Monument created.

We found the monument well worth a visit. Our only disappointment was we missed the last tour of the day and didn’t have time the next day. 

An Original Wagon

A Retention Pond, clear water

The spring was directd through the original house, then to the retention pond