Frommer's Review
The pace at this lodge is very relaxing, making it my favorite place to sleep in this area. Cliff Dwellers Lodge sits in the most spectacular setting in the Marble Canyon area. It's just a few hundred yards from an eye-catching area of balancing rocks (formed when boulders, having toppled off the nearby Vermilion Cliffs, "capped" the softer soil directly underneath them, thereby slowing its erosion). In the 1920s, against the side of one of these boulders, two former New Yorkers built a house and began serving dinner and drinks to the occasional passerby. Known simply as Old Cliff Dwellers, the house still stands -- barely.
The "new" Cliff Dwellers, which dates from the [?]50s, is set back 50 yards or so from the highway, so the rooms are very quiet. Unless you strongly prefer a bathtub to a shower, ask for a room in one of the older buildings, some of which have carports and recessed patios. My favorite rooms are in the oldest building. They have wood paneling, even on the ceilings and in the bathrooms, which look a bit like saunas. Cliff Dwellers also rents a nearby, three-bedroom house for $200 per night.
The lodge's casual Cliff Restaurant serves what's arguably the best food along this stretch of Highway 89A, with an outstanding chef who prepares her sauces and dressings from scratch. It's a favorite among rafters and fishers, is open for every meal, and has an inviting outdoor veranda. The ribs are among the tastiest you will find anywhere. For a lighter dish, consider the High Mesa salad, which is packed with mixed greens, candied pecans, crispy artichoke hearts, and a homemade raspberry vinaigrette (with the option of adding chicken, shrimp, or Ahi).
Also on the premises: Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop and a liquor store.
Facilities:
Restaurant; fly shop; liquor store; service station
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
