Arizona 389 is an isolated route that provides access to the Arizona Strip.
The route begins at the Arizona/Utah state line in Colorado
City, and travels across BLM lands to Fredonia, where it meets
U.S. 89A.
Arizona 389 was added to the state highway system in 1960,
and completed on August 11, 1967. Prior to the completion
of Arizona 389, Colorado City was not on the state highway
system.
Perspective from Eastbound Arizona 389
Arizona 389 enters the state from Utah in the town of
Colorado City. Colorado City is dominated by the FLDS,
a breakaway sect of the Mormon Church that still believes
in Polygamy. This is a distance sign to Fredonia and the
North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Arizona 389 crosses Short Creek. Colorado City used
to be known as Short Creek until the Short Creek raids
of 1953 (designed to catch polygamists). After the raids,
the town was renamed to erase the stigma of the raids.
Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Arizona 389 meets Central Street here. The highway bypasses
downtown Colorado City, partially due to the wishes of
notoriously reclusive residents. Unfinished buildings
are seen throughout the town, and partially due to 1960s
road design philosophy. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Now leaving Colorado City, we see a turnoff for the
town of Cane Beds. Cane Beds is an offshoot community
of Colorado City, where many former FLDS members now live.
Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Distance sign to Pipe Spring National Monument. Photo
taken June 24, 2007.
Arizona 389 enters the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation
here. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Arizona 389 is a short road. Pipe Spring National Monument
marks the halfway point, and this shield is one of the
few along the road. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Pipe Spring National
Monument is a Mormon fort built around Pipe Spring,
a natural spring at the base of the cliffs. The fort was
built to support ranching operations conducted under the
Mormon Church in the 1800s. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Turn left at the Pipe Spring turnoff to reach the towns
of Kaibab and Moccasin, both located on the Kaibab Paiute
Indian Reservation. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Distance sign to Fredonia and the north rim of the Grand
Canyon. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
This is a typical view of Arizona 389 as it travels
through the sparsely populated Arizona strip. Photo taken
June 24, 2007.
Toroweap is an overlook along the North Rim of the Grand
Canyon. This is the lowest overlook (in elevation) along
the rim, but it is accessed by a 61 mile long dirt road.
High clearance vehicles are mandatory. Photo taken June
24, 2007.
Distance sign to Fredonia and the North Rim of the Grand
Canyon. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Turn left to reach Sixmile Village. The Village is part
of the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation. Photo taken June
24, 2007.
Arizona 389 enters the town of Fredonia. Fredonia, the
largest town of the Arizona Strip, is a cattle and ranching
center. Many Polygamists moved to Fredonia in the late
1800s to escape scrutiny in Utah, although the town abolished
Polygamy when the Mormon Church abolished the practice
in 1890. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
Advance signage for U.S. 89A, 1/2 mile. Photo taken
June 24, 2007.
This group of signs marks the end of Arizona 389. Commercial
traffic must turn left to reach the Arizona inspection
station along US 89A at the state line, where there is
also a welcome center and rest area. Photo taken June
24, 2007.
There is no end shield posted for Arizona 389. The road
ends unceremoniously here at US 89A. Traffic turning left
heads north to Kanab, Utah, while traffic turning right
travels east to Jacob Lake and eventually to US 89 at
Bitter Springs. Photo taken June 24, 2007.
