Googling directions to the Grand Canyon from St. George can lead you into trouble. There’s a place on the Arizona Strip named Grand Canyon Pararashant National Monument. Sometimes when tourists ask the internet for directions to the Grand Canyon, it gives them directions to the monument.

They head out in a rental car down river road, past Bundyville and towards this part of Arizona, all on dirt roads. This is a wilderness area and the tourists are not prepared for the conditions they travel over. 

Brice Provost is a ranger for the Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument and said this happens multiple times a year. “In the beginning of March there was a couple in a BMW SUV,” said Brice. “They had typed in Grand Canyon and google took them that way. They ended up sliding off the road and crashing. We had to go down there and pick them up. The car ended up sitting down their for a month and a half until the rental agency could go down there and find it.” 

Officials have asked Google to change how it gives directions, but the company says they can’t change it without messing up the algorithm. The other option is to take Grand Canyon out of the name. "The monument is looking at changing their name,” said Provost. “It will be a completely new name so that won’t happen anymore.”

The Arizona Strip is the large wilderness area that is separated from the rest of Arizona by the Grand Canyon. It borders Utah just South of St. George. This is a rugged desert that has left many an adventurer broken down and stranded with little cell service. 

Before heading out on the Arizona Strip, visitors need to be prepared for conditions. In the winters there is snow on the roads and year round there are problems with punctured tires. It is not uncommon for visitors to have multiple flat tires and if they only have one spare, they can end up stranded and trying to roll in on a rim. 

You can stop by the Arizona Strip District office at 345 E Riverside Dr. In St. George for information about the area. And if you’re looking for the Grand Canyon, don’t trust google.  

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