Located on a mesa in northern Arizona, the small city of Page makes a great stop over for the many tourists traveling between the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. The surrounding desert provides beautiful views, and nearby Lake Powell offers a rare opportunity for water recreation in this area of the county, but many visitors come to experience for themselves the gorgeous slot canyons that have been made famous by photo sharing sites like Instagram. We had originally just planned to make a half-day stop in Page on our way to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, but after researching the area we decided shorten our stay at Zion so that we could have a night in Page. And I’m so glad that we did! We packed quite a bit in the short time that we had. Here’s how we spent our time:
The Drive from Zion to Page
I’m usually a much bigger fan of the destination than I am of the journey, but we decided to take the slightly longer route from Zion National Park to Page, Arizona, driving the scenic Route 89A. We made several stops, first at the overlook of the Vermillion Cliffs as we traveled down past Jacob Lake, where we ate a picnic lunch using the big rocks as tables. Then we pulled in to Cliff Dwellers, which has an ancient rock house that is free to go inside. After seeing the amazingly well-preserved ruins at Mesa Verde it was a little underwhelming, but there were also Navajo women there selling handmade jewelry and other items. We made a quick stop at Marble Canyon, checking out the trading post (which had some interesting items), and then continuing on to Navajo Bridge. When it was constructed in 1929, the original Navajo Bridge was the highest bridge in America, allowing travelers to cross the Colorado River. Now there are two bridges at the site, the original one that is only open to foot traffic, and the newer one for vehicles to cross, along with a small Visitor Center. All along the way, the colors of the rocks that make up the Vermillion Cliffs were amazing. It was a great drive that the whole family enjoyed!
Antelope Canyon
Quickly becoming one of the most popular slot canyons in the world, Antelope Canyon is a stunning site to tour. Water has gradually eroded the sandstone to leave behind curves in the rocks. Throughout the day, variations in the lighting creates a beautiful range of colors. The most expensive photograph every to be sold was taken in Antelope Canyon! The most popular tour times for Upper Antelope Canyon are between 11am and 1pm. This is because the canyon is so narrow and the walls are so high that when the sun is directly overhead distinct beams of light shine down, creating some amazing sights and opportunities for photographs. We booked our tour a full nine months prior to visiting, and even then, the midday times were completely sold out. So we opted for the first tour of the morning (7:00am) with Antelope Canyon Tours to avoid the crowds. It started with a dusty, open-air ride through Page and then onto some dirt roads leading to the entrance of the canyon. The tour itself was only about an hour of easy walking. We had a great guide named Malcolm who told us about the history and geology of Antelope Canyon and showed us how to get some really interesting photos. I was worried about not seeing the canyon at midday, but it was gorgeous and peaceful.
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is a scenic vista just south of Page. From the overlook, visitors can see the spot where the river curves, creating the shape of a horseshoe. There is a half mile trail leading to the views of the river, and all around the overlook are big rocks to sit on or climb for different view points. I imagine that it’s beautiful here no matter what time of day, but we opted to visit at sunset, and it was an incredible view!
Glen Canyon Float Trip
The best way to beat the Arizona heat is to get out on the water! We opted for a half day float trip leaving from Glen Canyon and floating fifteen miles to Lee’s Ferry. It started with a short bus ride to the Glen Canyon Dam, where we boarded the rafts. We had about fifteen people on ours, and we got a great spot near the front. The views of the canyon walls were amazing the entire trip. We floated past Horseshoe Bend, where we had seen the sunset the previous evening. We stopped at Petroglyph Beach and got out of the raft to see the carvings and take a dip in the freezing Colorado River. The entire trip was quiet and scenic with plenty of great photo opportunities. We even saw wild horses grazing near the end!
Page, Arizona should be a stop on any south west road trip. There is so much to see and do there, with plenty of family-friendly activities. The area is absolutely beautiful, and some of my best photos of the summer were taken at sites in and around Page. I only wish we had more time to spend there. We we definitely be back!
On The Road Together 