Be on the Lookout for Condors
Adult condors weigh up to 20 pounds and have a wingspan of nearly 10 feet. In prehistoric times, the bird ranged from Canada to Mexico, across the southern United States to Florida and north on the east coast to New York State. The birds managed to maintain a strong population until the settlement of the West, when shooting, poisoning and egg collecting began to take a heavy toll. On December 12, 1996, six California Condors were released on the Vermilion Cliffs of the Paria Plateau, in Northern Arizona. This was the first time the giant birds have been seen in the skies of the American Southwest since 1924. The rugged Coconino County terrain provides the necessary remoteness, ridges, cliffs and caves favored by the carrion- eating birds.

Drive the Vermilion Cliffs Highway
Alt Highway 89 from Jacobs Lake to Marble Canyon is part of the Vermilion Cliffs Highway. The Vermilion Cliffs Highways is a project involving a partnership of 40 public and private entities providing a combination of 21 interpretive sites or scenic overlooks along 277 miles of state highways in northern Arizona and southern Utah. These roads generally follow the winding ramparts of the Vermilion Cliffs. While this whole project covers a much wider area than Vermilion Cliffs National Monument itself, it's not a surprise that one of the finest stretches is the part adjacent to the monument.

Hike the Paria Canyon
Paria Canyon is considered among the top backpacking destinations in the world: The stunning Paria River Canyon winds along the east side of the plateau to the Colorado River. Erosion of the sedimentary rocks in this 2,500 foot deep canyon has produced amphitheaters, arches, and massive sandstone walls. These dramatic features are further enlived by hanging gardens of ferns and orchids, woodland terraces, and intricate eroded sculptures. Flash floods can make hiking here a dangerous proposition, so do your research on trail routes and weather forecasts before you go.