Las Vegas - Virgin Mountains, Arizona

---

Las Vegas - Virgin Mountains, Ariz. March 17, 2011
Decided I wanted to stay another day in Las Vegas in order to check thing out. I went to the desk and was informed that I could renew my room for another day but it would cost me $54 a night instead of the $33 I had paid previously. Something to do with basketball and the final four whatever that is. People bet on it. I can't say I believed that to be the reason as I had only seen one other person staying there that wasn't a 20 something or pre 20 something. I believe most of the people staying in that motel anyway were Spring Breakers celebrating St Patrick's day. No professional gamblers here.
In any case I have a low tolerance for BS and so loaded up and left.
I had wanted to go check out the new bridge below Boulder Dam while I was here and so decided to do so. I drove up Tropicana Ave. and took a right on Las Vegas Blvd and drove North up the Strip. The place was impressive even in the day and the sidewalks were packed with St Patrick's Day partiers dressed in every conceivable type of green outfit. In any case I drove up the strip all the way checking things out all the way at 15 mph. I got on the I-515 when I got to it and drove southeast towards Bolder City.
Immediately after getting past Boulder City the road went to one lane and came to a dead halt. I had read other travel blogs about people being trapped in traffic for hours trying to get to the Dam and said heck with that.
So made a U turn and went back to Vegas and headed North on I-15 and said heck with Vegas. I have been there 4 times before anyway.
The highway was uneventful until I got past Mesquite, NV and crossed over into Arizona. It then entered the Canyon of the Virgin River and became one of the most scenic roads I have driven on. I drove through it and saw a sign for the Virgin River Campground and turned off onto it. The Virgin River Campground was on a plateau with the river running by it and colorful cliffs on that side. Really a scenic campground. And the camping fee was $8.00. So I got a site and settled in for the evening. I enjoyed my picnic lunch with the red cliffs of the Virgin Mountains for my backdrop.
The plan for the next day was to go on to Zion National Park.

---

Photos

Cactus and cliff
View from the Campground at the Virgin River Canyon

Entering the Canyon
Just North of Mesquite on I-15 you enter the canyon of the Virgin River.

Comments

[LAURA]

MOUNTAINS
EVERYTHING LOOK SO PICTURE POST CARD , GLAD TO HEAR YOU CAUGHT ST.PAT CELEBRATION