Situated in Coconino County, Arizona, White Mesa is the proper name given to a white walled sandstone mesa that boasts an elevation of approximately 6,500 feet.

Its namesake is rumored to be a controversial Arizona Argonaut named James White, who claimed to have navigated the Grand Canyon on a raft in 1857, several years prior to John Wesley Powell’s maiden venture. Learned opinion classes White’s story as more fabrication than fact, since he lacked either evidence or eyewitness testimony to lend credence to the daring deed.

Although White Mesa’s distance from the Grand Canyon may raise questions about James White as the man behind its name, the captivatingly scenic nature of the setting leaves little doubt that it is one of Arizona’s most aesthetically engaging natural jewels.
- Michael Goldwater