Introduction:
What? :
Page, Arizona
is one of the most tourist popular small-towns destination in northern Arizona.
The town was only
founded in 1957 as a housing site for workers building the Colorado River Glen
Canyon Dam and Bridge (finish construction in 1963), making it one of the youngest
communities in the United States.
Over the years
and with the increase in nature and outdoor tourist activity in the west of USA
the town has become a hub for people visiting this amazing area.
The town proximity
to some of the most amazing natural beauties in western USA increase it
attractivity that lead to flooding of the number of visitors coming here.
Some are tourists
on their southwest road-trip that are just passing through here when traveling between
Utah and Arizona, they might stay for one afternoon/night. Others are visitors
that make Page as their local “basecamp”, they invest few days staying here,
visiting many of the nearby attraction’s and doing variety of outdoor
activities.
Near the town
you can find Glen Canyon Dam, holding the Colorado River, creating behind it Lake
Powell. The lake was declared as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers many
lakes related recreational activities, from houseboating, water skin, jet sky,
kayaking, swimming in the local lake beaches, and even hiking in the lake
canyons.
The town is located
right near the land of the Navajo Nation, Indian reservation that govern a vast
section of northeast Arizona. Historically, the Page city land was purchased by
the government from the Navajo Nation reservation to build the dam and create
the town. There are many activities nearby that are on Navajo Nation, respect
the local regulation including the need for local guide for most of the trips,
including Antelope Canyon visits.
Just to mention
few famous locations near the town (many more are listed below):
·
Horseshoe Bend
·
Antelope Canyon
·
Lake Powel
·
North and South Rims of the Grand
Canyon National Park
·
Monument Valley
Where? :
The city is
located at northern central Arizona, right by the border with the state of Utah.
It will take
you 4-hours’ drive from Phoenix, 2 Hours’ Drive from Flagstaff, driving north
on highway 89 to get to Page.
Google Map Link
Distances and driving time from
Page to top tourist locations in South Utah, North Arizona:
Flagstaff,
Arizona 2.15 hours / 129 mi
Sedona, Arizona
3 hours / 158 mi
Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area - Multiple entry points 3 miles from town.
Grand Canyon
National Park South Rim - 2 hours / 119 mi
Marble Canyon,
Arizona 43 min / 39 mi
Grand Canyon
National Park North Rim - 2.5 hours / 123 mi
Kanab, Utah
1.25 hours / 74 mi
Zion National
Park 2.25 hours / 116 mi
Bryce Canyon
National Park 2.5 hours / 151 mi
Monument
Valley, Arizona 2 hours / 120 mi
Moab, Utah 4.5
hours / 273 mi
Arches National
Park 4.5 hours / 286 mi
Canyonland
National Park, Island In the Sky 5 hours / 305 mi
Page, AZ time zone:
All tour times
and confirmations are in ARIZONA TIME
Summertime:
Same time as Pacific Time.
Wintertime Same
time as Mountain Time.
No Daylight-Saving
Time – Not Utah Time – Not Navajo Nation Time.
Because the
Utah State Line is less than 7 miles away, cell phone towers from Utah (and the
surrounding Navajo Nation) often will be the wrong time!
Do yourself a
favor and check local time at your hotel night or ask locals.
Or you can also
manually set your cell phone to PHOENIX, AZ time.
When? :
Summer (May –
September) is peak tourism season in this area as in many other southwest
destinations and as many are coming to enjoy Lake Powell water activities. As a
result, at summer there are less accommodation availability and higher cost,
book your hotel well in advance.
Summer months
temperatures mid-day are 90-100f with clear sky. Plan for hot weather, hiking
is preferred during early morning.
During the fall/spring
season temperatures are comfortable, around mid to low 70s.
November to April is winter months.
At winter page experience low temperatures and even snow. You
can visit here during winter, but you will probably have a different experience
compared to summer visit. At winter there are less tourist, more availability
and prices are generally lower.
I visit here in
many times in all seasons of the year and enjoy it every time.
On time during
winter our Antelope Canyon tour was canceled because of snow fall so you need
to take such situation into account.
When its rain
(also after summer monsoon rains) offroad can be challenging because of deep mud
and slot canyons activities can be delayed/cancel.
Accommodation and restaurants
Although Page
is relatively a small town, about 8,00 people, it is tourist oriented. Here you
can find many nationwide and local Hotels, Motels, Glamping and Airbnb options that
span a large price range, from low-cost roadside motels to luxury resorts.
This is
relatively small town with good, connected roads so the exact location of your
hotel is not so much important, look for the level and price that meet your
needs.
In the nearby
area you can find several Campgrounds & RV Parks.
At the town you
can find a large selection of restaurants to choose from.
Need to note
that there are pick hours where you can wait for very long time for getting a
seat. At sunset all people are coming back from their day trip or from
Horseshow sunset viewing so a flood of people coming at one.
There are large
shops in town to get supplies, gas stations and car repair shops, as well as
companies that provide many different tourist activities exploring the
surrounding area as well as lake activities related.
How many days do you need in Page
AZ?
In my view, and
this is what we did several times, one to three days is the perfect amount of
time to spend in Page, Arizona.
There are many
prime tourist destinations just within a 15–20-minute drive, places like: Glen
Canyon Dam, Horseshoe Bend, and the Antelope Canyon tour.
Other locations
can be covered with a full day trip, ending the day back in Page, this include North/South
Rim of the Grand Canyon, Marble Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, or
even Monument Valley and Mexican Hat.
I assume that
Antelope Canyon is high on your “must visit” list and my recommendation is to
plan your stay here around it because it may be challenging to find open tour
slot. You need to book a specific canyon tour and a specific time slot.
Once you booked
Antelope Canyon you will start planning your visit around it.
The town is a
hub for endless outdoor activities, if this is hiking, boating and other lake
activities, golfing, biking, off-roading or sightseeing.
Hiking:
Whether you’re
interested in a very short easy walk (Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon and Glen
Canyon Dam Overlook) or a challenging extra-long day hike (Wire Pass Trailhead
and Buckskin Gulch, Grand Canyon North Rim), Page offers around many hikes for all
skill levels.
Off-roading:
There are many nearby
options for offroad activities, mainly in BLM or federal own lands that are
outside the Navajo Nation area. Usually, in Indian reservation you need a local
guide or proper permits to get into the backcountry for hiking or overlanding.
If you are
coming here with 4x4 high clearance vehicle you can drive and visit Alstrom
Point, White Pockets, Cottonwood Canyon Road and many more amazing places,
located deep in the desert.
Rental:
You can find in
page large variety of rental companies providing offroad vehicle or lake/water
activities.
Page has many tours companies:
Large variety
of companies offer day tour traveling into the desert to nearby locations. If
this is offroad trips, bikes rides, Lake Powell tours, Colorado River
rafting/kayaking and even Air Tours.
The above list is
on top of famous local slot canyon tours (someone say Antelope Canyon) that are
manage under Navajo Nation companies and permits.
One Day Itinerary:
If you are
coming here and plan to stay for only one day I will recommend the following
activities that are right near page without a lot of far driving.
Plan your visit
around Antelope Canyon tour slot, if
you can’t find a tour for your visit day you can skip it or try other companies
for different canyon tours.
I do recommend
visiting the nearby Glen Canyon dam visitor
center.
If you have time,
you can visit one of the following options: Lone Rock Beach, Beehive Trail, or Glen
Canyon Dam Overlook.
Before sunset
drive to Horseshoe Bend, arrive here
well in advance, and watch sunset. From here drive to town find a restaurant
for dinner and go to your hotel.
It might be
tight on time, depending on when you start your morning, but if you want to
combine some more remote hikes you can drive to Historic Navajo Bridge or Toadstool
Hoodoos.
3 Days Visit Planning:
Combine the one-day
itinerary above with longer daytrips, coming back afternoon/night back to page.
A day trip
proposals:
·
South Rim of the Grand Canyon
National Park
·
North Rim of the Grand Canyon
National Park
·
Lake Powell – water activity.
·
Wire Pass Trailhead and Buckskin
Gulch
·
White Pocket (need 4x4 car)
·
Driving Cottonwood Canyon Road to
Highway 12 (need 4x4 car)
·
Alstom Point (need 4x4 car)
·
Monument Valley and Mexican Hat
List of locations/destinations
with short description.
I added a link
to my specific blog (if I have such)
Near the city of Page:
Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
Visiting Antelope
Canyon became one of the “mast visit” destination when people are traveling to
the national parks of south Utah and North Arizona.
Lower Antelope
Canyon considered to be one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes there is in
this region. The deep canyon formed in the Navajo sandstone over millions of
years by water has resulted in the narrow twisting slot canyon with its
stunning formations, textures and shapes and palette of colors.
The slot canyon
views is breathtaking, with its smooth layered rock texture, twisting and
changing rock formation and the vibrant deep reds, purples, orange, yellow, pink,
and hues colors.
You just can’t
stop taking pictures.
Link to my blog
When we visit here,
we went to the lower canyon but there are other similar tours options for visiting
amazing slot canyons:
Upper Antelope, Antelope Canyon X,
and Waterhole Canyon Experience LLC
Lake Powell Marinas
Here you can
rent a Boat, jet ski or Kayak and spend a half/full day on the lake or even
rent a houseboat for several days.
The three
marinas at Lake Powel are Wahweap, Antelope Point, and Bullfrog (located far
to the north and not near Page AZ).
From Antelope
Point Marina you can get to the opening of Antelope canyon and walk some
section of the canyon up.
I did not do
any lake activities so can’t provide a lot of personal information.
Horseshoe Bend
An iconic
"must see" viewing point of the mighty Colorado River canyon.
From the
viewing point the river is flowing about 1,000ft below you and it is doing a
huge U turn bend loop on its way downstream.
Horseshoe Bend
is considered to be one of the most photographed sites in northern Arizona and
there is a good reason for that.
Plan to spend
here about a 1 hour, if you are waiting for sunset this can be a lot longer
visit.
Link to my blog
Glen Canyon Dam Overlook
Visiting this almost
unknown viewpoint is very simple, short with excellent unique views of the
Colorado River canyon, in Page Arizona.
This can be
just 15-20 extension for your trip here, amazing reword for the short easy side
trip.
The scenery from
this viewpoint is unique and impressive, and likely have the place almost to
yourself.
From the
viewing platform you can see to the north the base of Glen Canyon Dam, the
impressive arch road bridge, and the Colorado River flowing down the canyon.
If you look to
the other side, you see the deep Colorado canyon cutting its way in the plateau
and the river flowing down in the direction of Horseshoe area.
Link to my blog
Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen
Canyon Dam
The Glen Canyon
Dam, which blocking the Colorado River formed Lake Powell behind it. The
impressive dam and the nearby arch road bridge was completed in the 1960’s.
Today the lake is used as water source for nearby cities and provides
hydroelectricity as well as a destination for about 2 million people every year
the come and enjoy the lake.
This towering
710 foot tall, dam is a must-see engineering marvel, for anyone visiting Page
or as a short stop on your way to/from Utah/Arizona.
Visiting the
interesting large visitor center at the Glen Canyon Dam is highly recommended
as well as go to the dam and canyon lookouts on either side of the bridge.
Link to my blog
Beehive Trail
Beehive Trail,
also called New Wave*, is about 2 miles easy loop trail that is located near
Page, Arizona.
The rock
formation in this relatively small area provide beautiful desert scenery with
unique eroded sandstone bumps resembles beehive shape and red/white “stripes”
rock formations.
Although not
flat (overall 200 ft of elevation gain) I considered this as relatively an easy
route that can fit families with kids.
It will take you
about one hour to complete.
Link to my blog
Lone Rock Beach
When visiting Lake
Powell, you can also visit the Lone Rock campground and beach.
It is nice
sandy beach with interesting huge rock formation in the middle of water at the
west arm of Lake Powell.
Link to my blog
Additional nearby locations:
Wahweap Marina and viewpoint
Hanging Gardens Trail
Hike The Chains Trail
Highway 89 West:
Alstrom Point
Alstrom Point
is considered to be the best overlook of Lake Powell.
It is located
in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area deep in the desert plateau above the
lake, about 25 miles away from the main road.
Important Note:
You need a 4x4 car to reach the viewpoint.
Link to my blog
Toadstool Hoodoos
Toadstool
Hoodoos are small but nice rock formations and excellent opportunity to starch
your legs and do some short hiking activity.
Nice stop on
the way, short hikes and interesting rock formation.
Link to my blog
Cottonwood Canyon Road to Highway
12
Link to my blog
Wire Pass Trailhead and Buckskin
Gulch
Buckskin Gulch
is the longest and deepest slot canyon in the Southwest.
Amazing in and
out hike (go as far as you want) or 3 days overnight camping hiking all the way
to the Colorado river.
This is one of
the most popular long hike in the area but because this is out and back you can
make it easier hike.
Link to my blog
The Wave
The Wave is the
premier photographic destination in the US Southwest. It is a sandstone rock
formation located in Arizona, US, near its northern border with Utah. The
formation is s in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness of the Colorado
Plateau. The trailhead is at the same place where Wire Pass Trailhead and
Buckskin Gulch.
Important note: this is
heavily regulated area and only 64 people per day (48 permits granted three
months in advance and 16 permits granted one day in advance) are allowed in the
area, and demand far exceeds supply. Contact Kanab, Utah BLM visitor
center for more information.
I did not visit
here, yet so I can’t provide in person review.
White Pocket
Amazingly
beautiful colorful rock formations in the middle of the Vermilion Cliffs
desert, right on the boarder of Arizona and Utah.
This is a
photographic destination where you can see different and amazing rock
formations. Some are gray-white domes that marks by crisscross lines reminding
me a brain and others are swirling twisted colors wave.
After rain, the
rock are clean and with vibrant colors and there are many small pools that
enable nice reflections of the rocks.
Although this
location is remote and not easily accessible you will probably see here other
visitors, on weekends expect to see more private jeep tours.
Important Note:
You need a 4x4 car to reach this location.
Link to my blog
Kanab, Utah
A small tourist
town in southern Utah.
Here you can
find many hotels, restaurants and other tourist services.
Kanab can be
your homebase town for nearby trips or an overnight stay when driving in this
area. The town is in close proximity to Zion, Bryce Canyon, and North Rim Grand
Canyon National Parks.
There are many
other local outdoor activities like Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, The Belly
of the Dragon, Red Canyon Peekaboo Slot Canyon, Cutler Point, and many more.
Link to my blog
Highway 89 South and 89A:
Antelope Pass Vista
A small side-road
vista point on highway 89, located 22 miles south of Page AZ.
From here you
have a vast panoramic view of the Colorado Plateau and Vermilion Cliffs
National Monument, as also the ridge leading to the north rim of the Grand
Canyon.
Historic Navajo Bridge and Marble
Canyon
Navajo Bridge
is the name of twin steel arch bridges that cross the Colorado River near Page
AZ. When Navajo Bridge was first built in 1929 it was the only place to cross
the Colorado River for 600 miles, even today the only place you can cross the
Colorado River downstream is at Hoover Dam near Las Vegas.
This area of
the Colorado River is called Marble Canyon, and it span from the north at end
of Glen Canyon at Lee's Ferry to the south with the confluence with the Little
Colorado River, which marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon.
Link to my blog
Lees Ferry (Cathedral Wash
Trailhead, Balanced Rock, and Spencer trail lookout)
Lees Ferry is
the only place within Glen Canyon where visitors can drive to the Colorado
River in over 700 miles of canyon country. A natural corridor between Utah and
Arizona.
Due to its
unique geography, it historically served as an important river crossing and
starting in the mid-19th century was the site of a ferry crossing the Colorado
river.
Cliff Dwellers Stone House
Cliff Dwellers
Stone House is a short stop along your drive here. The location have unique
history, old rock houses, and many giant boulders, that fall from the above
cliff many years back and are balancing on tiny bases.
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
This remote isolated
area has some of the most spectacular views in the world, places like The Wave,
White Pocket, Coyote Buttes, and Buckskin Gulch and Pria canyons. Elevations
range from 3,100 to 7,100 feet. The monument is also home to a growing number
of endangered California condors. Most roads leading into the monument need a
high clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle due to deep sand.
Jacob Lake
Jacob Lake is a
small unincorporated community, with a gas station, Inn, and campground on the
Kaibab Plateau in northern Arizona. Located on highway 89A right where the road
to the north rim of the Grand Canyon heading south.
Grand Canyon National Park - South
Rim
Nothing prepare
you to the sight you will see at your first visit to the Grand Canyon Rim, a
one mile deep and 18 miles across canyon with the length more than 250 miles
long. It is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and there is a good
reason for that.
The park area
was declared as a national monument in 1908 and was change status to National
Park in 1919. There are many things to see and do here, from watching the
sunrise or sunset color the canyon cliffs and mountains from the many viewing
points, to walking the flat rim trail or hiking a mile down to the Colorado
River, there is something for everyone.
From page this
can be done as one day trip with about 2 hours’ drive in each direction.
Link to my blog
Grand Canyon National Park - North
Rim
The North Rim
is the less popular and more remote section of the park, only 10% of the
visitor to the Grand Canyon visit also the North Rim. It is not less impressive
and here you will have more of these amazing views to “yourself”, without
hundreds of people walking around.
From page this
can be done as one day trip with about 2 hours drive in each direction.
Link to my blog
Flagstaff, Arizona
Located in the high-country
mountains Flagstaff's is the largest city in northern Arizona. It is located
right on highway I-40 and provide access point for many northern Arizona
destinations, if it is Sedona, South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Page, Kingman,
and Albuquerque New Mexico.
The large city
has many nearby attractions as the San Francisco Mountains with their ski
resort, Meteor Crater Natural Landmark, Wupatki and Citadel Pueblo and many
more.
Highway 98, 160 and 163 Northeast
– on the way to Moab:
Oljato-Monument Valley
Monument valley
Navajo Tribal Park landscape is the view when we are imagining how was the old
wild west.
Monument
Valley, a red-sand desert region on the Arizona-Utah border, is known for the
towering sandstone buttes of Monument Valley. The park, frequently a filming
location for Western movies, is accessed by the looping, 17-mile Valley Drive.
The famous Mittens buttes can be viewed from the road or from overlooks.
Link to my blog
Mexican Hat
Mexican Hat is
a census-designated place in remote southern Utah. It is on the San Juan River
on the northern edge of the Navajo Nation's borders. The population was 31 in
the 2010 census. The town got its name from a balanced rock formation located
nearby that resemble of Mexican hat. Today you can find here a small motel, a
gas station and a river access point.
Link to my blog
Goosenecks State Park
A small state
park at the end of a side road in a place where the mighty San Juan River
paving its way in the layered rock formation creating a deep canyon. In this
section the river twists and turns through the meander, flowing a distance of
over six miles while advancing one and half miles west on its way to Lake
Powell.
Impressive
viewpoints on the winding river below, not a lot to do except enjoy the view and
the solitude.
Link to my blog
Valley of the Gods
Valley of the
Gods is a scenic are near Mexican Hat covered with Cedar Mesa red sandstone
monoliths and pinnacles that create an amazing scenery.
This is a BLM
land that offers isolated experience when driving through the area or staying
for the night.
The 17-mile
loop through the Valley of the Gods is unpaved gravel and clay surface road with
average driving time of about one to two hours.
Moki Dugway
The Moki Dugway
Scenic Backway is a remarkable and dramatic stretch of road that runs along
Utah Highway 261. The road is famous for its steep, unpaved, sharp switchbacks,
which climb 1,200 feet from Valley of the Gods to the top of Cedar Mesa.
This road connects
Highway 163 with Highway 95, right near Natural Bridges National Monument
Campground.
Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges
National Monument is a relatively small park with interesting natural bridges
rock formations. Natural Bridges are created from a river going underneath the
rock as the stream of wind into the landscape.
This is a nice
solitude and secluded park in the “middle of nowhere”, few hikes and viewing
points, I always prefer to go through this area when traveling to/from Moab,
UT.
Link to my blog
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