Kicking off my Arizona series, I am staring in the city of Page. Nestled in Northern Arizona, not to far from the Utah border, this small city offers a lot of stuff to do in the area. It may not be one of those places you need to dedicate a whole week vacation, however there is enough other awesome places nearby, that you don't want to skip it.
For our trip we visited for a quick overnight but got a feel for the area and some ideas in hopes of returning someday. Here is my recommendation of things to do in no particular order:
Nestled out the outskirts of Page, this famous spot in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is probably one you've seen in photos. The Colorado River has carved an amazing bend in the sandstone that's really something to see. It's about a 3/4 mile walk from the parking lot (there is a fee to park) to get to the view. The path is easy to follow and flat/accessible. Down side is there aren't things like trees, so you are in the sun constantly. They do have a few man-made areas for shade along the path. We went on a chilly November day, and had to deal with strong 40 mph winds. I'd suggest wearing a sun hat when you go; but do go.
Also note there are some tours you can book on a boat that will take you down the river and get you up close of the bend from ground level. We did not do this but I wanted to mention it for those who may be interested.
A concrete arch- gravity dam, much look the Hoover dam, this is worth a pit stop. First I recommend going to the overlook which you can find on aptly named Overlook Drive (close to a bunch of hotels, one of which we stayed at). The parking for this does require walking down hill, but its a very short distance, its not that steep, and there is a hand rail. The view of the dam and the area well worth the short little hike.
When you are done there I then recommend heading over to the dam itself. There is a parking lot and visitor center. We didn't go in the center but we did walk out onto the bridge that is next to the structure and admire the dam views (pun intended).
Page sits on the edge of Lake Powell and during the warmer months offers a variety of lake activities such as boating and kayaking. We were there the middle of November and all the boats and watersports were docked for the winter. However, if you are planning a visit during the summer, I would consider at least a boat tour.
Official title is the Navajo Nations Monument Valley National Tribal Park. This stunning park you more than likely have seen in a movie or two in your life. This is a 2 hour drive from Page, but I do think its absolutely worth the drive and a day trip if you are staying in Page for more than a night.
Or you can be like us and drive there middle of the day. Send a couple hours, and head back earlier than planned, cause the scenic road with lots of other views was closed by the time we got there (ok maybe we should have researched it more). However, we got to see some of the big monuments and the spot were Forest Gump stopped running. For us it was a lot of time in the car that day but we both said it was worth it. Hindsight we should have just planned an extra night in Page so we could have gotten up early and planned an entire day there, but lesson learned for next time. Most of the drive from Page is beautiful on Navajo land; but be warned there are only a few small towns you will go through. You want to use the restroom, get some snacks, and fill your gas tank before embarking on your journey.
Hiking
We didn't partake in many trails while in Page but lets just say when you are in Arizona, hiking trails are a staple everywhere in this state. If you want to do some more hiking, I recommend a Google search.
Antelope Canyon (and other slot canyons)
I saved the best for last. A visit to this area would not be complete if you did not visit Antelope Canyon. You've probably seen those canyon slots as screensavers and they are just as incredible in person. The canyons are on Navajo land and you must use one of their tour companies to see them. First though you need to decide if you want to tour the lower canyon or the upper canyon. The upper canyon you will be driven out on a jeep to access (so I read) and walk right into the canyon. The lower you just walk from the tour center down to it, but it does require climbing down some steps that are sort of like a ladder in some parts, not difficult. We did the lower and we used Ken's Tours (Dixie's is the other company).
The whole experience was surreal. Just looking out over the desert you wouldn't even know this magical world was beneath your feet. The tour guides are friendly and knowledgeable and will take great pictures of you and your party at certain spots. They will even give you camera tips but I think its impossible to take a bad picture. While doing my research for the tour we picked a middle of the day tour, right around noon. From what I read it is the best time to get the light coming into the canyon from above.
Tours last about an hour and do tend to sell out. As soon as you know you are going, make sure to book your tickets (and try to get that mid-day tour).
I say other slot canyons as we learned on our visit that there are some smaller, lesser known slot canyons you can visit in the area. We are hoping to go back some day and do the upper canyon as well as a few of the other ones. Just know the all canyons do have tour guide requirements and its understandable. At one point the canyons used to be self guided but a flash flood one time caused the death of numerous people stuck in them.
Before I sign off on this post I did want to mention one other popular attraction about 45 minutes from Page. its called the Wave. Its a hiking trail but access to it only available by permit and a lottery system (massive fine and jail time if you try to do this without the permit). I hear its hard to get the permit, its something like a 3 mile hike in one way, can be brutal on hot days; and while beautiful its not very big. If it something you may want to try and add to your trip; there are tons of bloggers and You Tubers out there who have visited and can talk about their experience.
**All pictures taken by me on this trip on my iPhone.
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