By: bound2explore           February 24, 2016

Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell are  beautiful sites with breathtaking view that you can visit and explore when you are in Page, Arizona.  On the trip to Las Vegas and Phoenix we made a detour to Page, Arizona to visit the famous Antelope Canyon and the other two famous spots. What is the trip without a little adventure right?It was past midnight when we arrived at McCarran international Airport in Las Vegas. By the time we reached the car rental office, the queue was so long and the slow service had turned the place into a chaos, full of disgruntle travelers. Finally we retrieved the car around 3 AM (talk about slow poke service) and started driving toward Arizona. The road was pitch dark and several time I almost hit animals that crossed the road while driving across Utah. After 4 hours of long winding road from Las Vegas to Page, Arizona crossing some part of Utah, we arrived at the hotel around 7 AM. We wouldn’t afford the luxury of taking sweet time or sleeping for hours since we only have one day in Page. So we only nap for a couple of hours and back on the road. We started by driving around the town of Page.

Page is only a small town, so there’s not much thing to see in the downtown area. The reason to visit Page is to explore surrounding area that offer breathtaking views such as the famous Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell. Each site is conveniently located within short distance from each other. If you plan well, you can easily cover all sites in one day. So why not see everything Page has to offer. This was our itinerary for one day in Page, Arizona:

1. Antelope Canyon.

The most photographic canyon in the world was on my bucket list for a while.  So I couldn’t wait to cross it from the list. We bought the tickets from a tour operator in downtown Page then drove to the tour location on Navajo land. From there we boarded a truck and a guide drove us on muddy unpaved hilly road to the Antelope canyon. The ride itself was quite a treat if you like an off road type of adventure.  The beauty of this canyon is more than the words can express. It is breathtaking. This slot canyon is located on Navajo land, east of Page. There are two parts of the canyon: the lower antelope canyon and the upper antelope canyon. You will need a guide to visit either part of the canyon, so make an arrangement for a guided tour. It is recommended to book ahead of time during the busy season. If you don’t have time to book it ahead of time like us, you can just buy a ticket at many tour operators. You can easily spot the tour operators around the town and some gift/souvenir store also sell the ticket. Keep in mind that the flash flood can happen after a rainy day, so check the weather and avoid the rainy season. The tour will be canceled if the tour operator deem the situation is unsafe due to potential flash flood.

 

2. Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe bend is a horseshoe shape meander of Colorado River and free for everyone to enjoy. It is a short drive from Page and it’s a part of Glen Canyon National recreation area. You can access it from Route 89. There is a free parking area, adjacent to Route 89. If you want to see it closer, then you have to hike for about 1.5 miles round trip from parking area to the rim of horseshoe bend. The hike is short but the incline, the heat and the sand might discourage some people from doing it. The hike completely worth it because the view that awaits you is absolutely stunning. A 1000 foot drop will blow your mind away. Another way to see it up close is by taking a helicopter ride or a boat ride.

3. Lake Powell.

Lake Powel is a second largest man-made reservoir in the United States after Lake Mead, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona. It is popular vacation spot especially during the summer when many people rent the boathouse.  You can only access it through the developed marina because most of the lake is surrounded by steep sandstone walls. Lake Powell is a part of Glen Canyon national Recreation area and it is under National Park Services. You have to pay the entrance fee or show your annual pass at the entry booth. The best spot to enjoy the Lake Powell when you are in Page is from the Wahweap marina. We drove along the Lake Powell to enjoy the sunset and drove back to Wahweap Marina for dinner. There are many restaurants on the lake. After you park the car in the parking area, you can walk down to the marina or wait for the golf cart to pick you up and take you down to the marina.

Whenever you are in Page, I hope you make it to all these wonderful sites.