Scenic USA - Arizona

Each day Scenic USA presents a new and interesting photo feature from somewhere in the United States. Chosen from a wide variety
of historic sites, city scenes, backcountry byways, points of interest and America's best parklands, this site offers the viewer hundreds
of unique vacation destinations and photographic subjects. Each feature is coupled with a brief explanation. For further detailed
information, links to other sites are provided, but are never to be considered an endorsement.

Best of Scenic USA - Cedar Pocket

Cedar Pocket - Virgin River, Arizona

Photo by Mark Nielsen

     Only a short section of Interstate Highway 15, perhaps 30 miles in length, nicks the northwest corner of Arizona. Even before its completion, proponents suggested the route would be the most scenic highway in Arizona. The Interstate skirts the Virgin River banks as it passes from Utah's Zion National Park region into Nevada's Lake Mead. Pictured here is the spectacular Virgin River Gorge near Exit 18, the Cedar Pocket exchange. The canyon has widened here and access is available at the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area. From the campground short trails lead down to the river.
     With the Beaver Dam Mountain Wilderness to the north and Paiute Wilderness southward, the area is indeed a scenic route. But the U.S. taxpayers may wince after hearing the price tag of this section of the Interstate. Completed in 1973, the Virgin River Gorge section of I-15 exceeded ten million dollars per mile.

   Map