Page, AZ

Horseshoe Bend is a unique incised meander created by the Colorado River near Page. Located within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike will appreciate the absolute beauty provided by this natural phenomena. Visitors will experience a nice, scenic hike on their way to the bend, with plenty of photo opportunities along the way.

The marvelous rock walls that surround the river are comprised of minerals that include garnet, platinum, and hematite. In relation to sea level, the overlook sits at about 4,200 feet above it, while the river is closer to 3,200 feet. Once there, visitors will enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over the river and surrounding desert.

Rainbow Bridge National Monument is a unique, arched, rock formation that spans over a small canyon and stream in Lake Powell. The monument is approximately 30 miles northeast of the city of Page, Arizona, making it very accessible for day trips. The park uses a concessioner, Aramark, to lead guided tours via boat to Rainbow Bridge. Because Bullfrog and Wahweap marinas are a 50-mile boat ride from Rainbow Bridge, visitors should plan for a full-day excursion. This geological attraction draws in over 85,000 visitors each year from all over the world. They’ll enjoy the areas hiking trails, Red Rock formations, and endless, picturesque photo opportunities.

Attractions for Couples

A slot canyon, Antelope Canyon is a popular geological attraction situated approximately eight miles southeast of Page, Arizona.

The canyon features two separate slot canyon sections – Upper Antelope Canyon (The Crack), and Lower Antelope Canyon (The Corkscrew). The canyon was formed from erosion to the surrounding Navajo Sandstone, primarily from flash flooding.

The narrow passageways and deep corridors have beautiful wave-like characteristics left behind by the rushing rainwaters. Visitors can take guided hiking tours through either one of, or both of the slot canyon sections. During certain times of the year, sunlight pours into the canyons from openings above, providing some of the most impressive photo opportunities of this modern marvel.

Vermilion Cliffs National Park is an unspoiled, 294,000-acre monument located about an hour southwest of Page, Arizona. The park is quite the geological marvel, containing Paria Canyon, Coyote Buttes, Vermilion Cliffs, and Paria Plateau. Visitors will enjoy breathtaking views of deep canyons and towering cliffs. Paria Canyon offers a great multi-day, wilderness backpacking experience for visitors to enjoy.

Travelers come from all over the world to get a glimpse of the colorful swirls provided by the cross-bedded sandstone around Coyote Buttes. Visitors will also have plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing, they may even see a few California condors. A permit will be required for hiking Coyote Buttes South and North, and for overnight excursions within Paria Canyon.

For Photographers

From southern Utah’s Orange Cliffs to Lees Ferry in northern Arizona, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area encompasses over 1.25-million acres of land, and stretches hundreds of miles. The area provides visitors with unparalleled opportunities for backcountry and water-based recreation. The recreation area features a plethora of human history, scenic vistas, and geological wonders. Visitors can partake in activities that range from touring Glen Canyon Dam to experiencing pioneer life at Lees Ferry to smooth water rafting down the beautiful Colorado River. Rainbow Bridge National Monument has been designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary by the International Dark-Sky Association, only the fourth in the entire world. Visitors can come and experience a breathtaking night under an endless canopy of stars.

Lake Powell is a beautiful reservoir situated between downtown Page, Arizona, and the Utah border. The lake’s shoreline offers hundreds of miles of picturesque locations for visitors to explore by personal watercraft, kayak, power boat, or houseboat.

Along the way the lake provides a plethora of opportunities for photographing dramatic vistas of Glen Canyon Dam, the slot canyons, and the surrounding Red Rock desert. There are also several water activities for visitors to enjoy on the lake that include paddle boarding, jet skiing, wakeboarding, swimming, waterskiing, and fishing.

Visitors can stop by the Powell Museum and explore the historic collections, interpretive exhibits, and archives for an informative experience.

Water Holes Canyon is a drainage that forms many beautiful slot canyons that cut through red sandstone rocks around Lake Powell.

Visitors will find this marvelous stretch of canyon situated just a few miles south of downtown Page, Arizona. Similar to Antelope Canyon, the course of the water extends along either side of the main road (US 89) and eventually gets much deeper downstream, with quite a few sheer drops.

Visitors can traverse the narrow passageways and enjoy marvelous views of exceptionally beautiful rock formations, delicately curved through colored sandstone, and illuminated by rays of sunlight breaking through from above.

Visitors will appreciate the many wonderful photo opportunities presented during their excursions at Water Holes Canyon.

Recommended Activities for Families

Glen Canyon Dam Overlook is an easy down-and-back hike to a viewpoint along the rim of Glen Canyon, in Page, Arizona. It typically takes visitors about 20 minutes to get down to the overlook, view the river, and then hike back. Unlike the dam and its massive complex, the overlook was a simpler project of just adding in a road, parking lot, and some stairs along the sandstone trail. Visitors will enjoy magnificent views over the Colorado River, the surrounding Red Rock desert, and of the dam itself. This is a simple, beautiful, and easy on the wallet activity for visitors to enjoy in the Page area.

Carl Hayden Visitor Center is a circular, glass-enclosed observation building located at the west end of Glen Canyon Dam. Completed in 1963, this visitor center was designed to accommodate and inform the droves of tourists who flocked to Lake Powell. This beautiful, modernistic structure whose east end extends out over the impressive dam, provides sweeping, panoramic views over Lake Powell, and of the dam itself. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the Glen Canyon Dam performed by members from the Glen Canyon Natural History Association. The tour is typically 45-60 minutes in length, during the tour visitors will see the crest of the dam, a large section of green grass (for cooling purposes), and eight large, hydroelectric generators.

Powell Museum is a nonprofit organization that was created in 1969, for the purpose of commemorating the accomplishments and life of Major John Wesley Powell. The museum is conveniently located along North Lake Powell Boulevard, in the heart of Page, Arizona. The building the museum occupies was originally constructed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as a testing lab for concrete, for Glen Canyon Dam’s construction. The museum is comprised of historic archives and collections, interpretive exhibits, an information center, and a gift shop with maps, books, local art, and artifacts with ties to the Colorado Plateau. Visitors will appreciate the free admission to this attraction, though donations are greatly appreciated.

6 North Lake Powell Boulevard, Page, AZ, Phone: 928-645-9496