Last Updated on July 11, 2023
Located in northern Arizona in Coconino County, Page is one of the youngest communities in the United States and is close to the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. Page was founded in 1957 and was home to the workers and their families while building the dam.
The city of Page is growing through tourism and is the hub most visitors call home while visiting the area. It is a great place for exploring the wonders of nature as well as discovering the unique culture of the Navajo Nation.
Arizona is part of the Grand Circle, along with New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada, and is home to the largest concentration of national parks and monuments. The most popular parks include the North and South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Mesa Verdi, and Monument Valley. With Page located in the center of the Grand Circle, it won’t take you long to begin your journey to these amazing parks and monuments.
If you love nature and enjoy exploring new places, Page is the place to visit.
1. Glen Canyon Dam
From Page, head northeast for approximately three miles. You will not be able to stop on the dam. You can either park before the dam and walk across to the other side, or you can drive over the dam and park on the right-hand side in the parking lot. If you’re hoping to get some great photographs of the dam, you will need to drive a little farther down the road or take a boat tour from Powell Lake.
The main purpose of building the Glen Canyon Dam was to provide storage so that enough water would flow from the Upper Colorado River Basin to the Lower, especially in drought years. Tours of the dam are provided by Glen Canyon Conservancy. The tours are approximately 45 minutes long, but each tour is limited to 20 people (including infants and children).
For more information, visit: https://www.canyonconservancy.org/planning
2. Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen Canyon Dam
The Visitor Center is located on the west end of the dam. There is ample parking on the right-hand side, just past the visitor center. You can’t help but notice the beauty of this modern building whose round, glass-enclosed east end protrudes out over the dam, providing a bird’s-eye view of the dam and Lake Powell behind it.
The Visitor Center was completed in 1963 and was built to inform the many visitors who drove to Lake Powell. It now accommodates over a million visitors a year who travel from all over the world.
Inside, you will find amazing exhibits, photographs, dioramas, and a relief map of the dam, Lake Powell, and the surrounding area. Before you leave, take a moment to meander through the Gift Shop and Bookstore.
For more information, visit: https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/info/carl-hayden-visitor-center
3. Navajo Village Heritage Center
Interested in learning about Navajo culture and history? Make sure you stop in at the Navajo Village Heritage Center and listen to the stories that have been passed down through the generations.
The family-run educational center is packed with tons of information on lodging, cooking, culture, rug weaving, and more.
The tour concludes with two sons performing native dances. If you are interested in learning firsthand from Navajo tribe members, then plan on stopping. You won’t be disappointed.
For more information, visit: https://www.navajovillage.com/
4. Hidden Canyon Kayak Tours
One of the best ways to explore Antelope Canyon from Powell Lake is by renting kayaks. Just imagine being able to explore the beauty of nature at your own pace and having the freedom to take your time. Touch the rippled sandstone as you travel along the unending cliffs that wind their way in every direction. Ogle at the beauty of the colors, with hues of red, orange, and brown. Glide through the narrow canyons and continue to explore this stunning scenery.
There are tours and rentals available. Depending upon which tour you book, there are various meeting sites.
For more information, visit: http://www.lakepowellhiddencanyonkayak.com/
5. Grand Canyon Helicopters – Page/Lake Powell
For those of you who would rather explore new places from above, why not be daring and take a helicopter ride and soar above the spectacular red and orange hues of Glen Canyon. Make sure you bring your camera along.
Departing from Page Municipal Airport, there are various tours to choose from: Skyview Horseshoe Bend Air Tour (air only), The Ultimate with Horseshoe Bend (air and landing tour), Top of the World Navajo Style (air and landing tour), and the Ultimate Southwest 3-in-1 Tour (air and landing tour).
For more information, visit: https://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.com/
6. Houseboat Rentals at Lake Powell
Have you ever envisioned yourself taking a vacation on a houseboat? Why not rent one at Lake Powell? Renting one of these private houseboats will be an amazing opportunity to relax and enjoy the breathtaking scenery surrounding you.
Once you decide on which houseboat you want to rent, you’ll be given a short lesson on how to pilot it from the expert staff. Once you’re ready to leave, you’ll be eager to start exploring this amazing man-made reservoir, which is one of the largest in the country.
Take your time to seek out some of the 96 major side canyons and nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline. What an experience!
For more information, visit: https://www.lakepowell.com/houseboating/houseboating-experience/
7. Wahweap Outlook
For those of you needing to find a place to rest along the road, have a bite to eat, or take some photos of the panoramic view, and make sure you visit the Wahweap Outlook! It is located a couple of miles northwest of Glen Canyon Dam on US89.
There are no entrance fees and it does not get very crowded. It is an amazing spot to stop for a beautiful 360-degree view of Lake Powell, the Glen Canyon Dam, and Page.
For those who love photography, set up your tripod and camera just before sunset or sunrise and capture the amazing colors.
8. Waterhole Canyon
Located five miles south of Page on the Navajo Nation is a beautiful slot canyon waiting to be discovered, without the large crowds. This slot canyon is owned and operated by a Navajo family. They offer three guided tours throughout the slot canyon: Hiking Tour, Photography Tour, and a Specialty Tour. On all tours, the guides will talk about the history of the canyon and answer any questions you may have.
If you are wanting a less crowded slot canyon to visit, this canyon is a great choice. You will have plenty of time to explore the beauty of this sandstone canyon, with its rippled patterns along the walls.
For more information, visit: https://waterholecanyonexperience.com/
9. Horseshoe Bend Rafting Trip – Colorado River
Wanting to experience a smooth water rafting trip on the Colorado River while exploring Page? Why not take a half-day trip to Horseshoe Bend, Petroglyph Beach, Glen Canyon Dam, and Lees Ferry.
This tour is a thrill for people of all ages and abilities. Can you picture yourself floating 15 miles along the calm water of the Colorado River, with stops at some of its most awe-inspiring sites? Sit back and marvel at the breathtaking scenery that is surrounding you. Look up at the cliffs above you. Don’t forget to take some photos!
For more information, visit: https://www.riveradventures.com/
10. Rainbow Bridge National Monument
If you love nature and its amazing creations, there is a six-hour boat tour from Wahweap Marina at Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas. Enjoy cruising through 50 miles of Lake Powell shoreline, including many side channels and canyons, with breathtaking views of the buttes and mesas, before reaching the dock.
As you arrive at the dock, you will witness the power of nature in its formation of this remarkable landscape. From the dock, there is a short, very scenic hike up to Rainbow Bridge.
The trail is quite easy, with only a few rocky areas and slight inclines. During your hike, you will see glimpses of the bridge along the way, but the moment you reach the bridge you will need to catch your breath due to the magnificence of its beauty. Take a moment to stand under the bridge, look up, and try to grasp its size.
After walking back to the dock, enjoy your ride back to the marina. Gaze at the ripples in the sandstone along the way and admire its beauty.
For more information, visit: https://www.lakepowell.com/marinas/boat-tours/rainbow-bridge-tour/
11. Antelope Canyon Boat Tour
Wanting to explore Antelope Canyon from the water? You won’t see inside the slot canyons, but what you will see is the beauty of the cliffs above ground. To experience this beauty, there is a 1.5-hour boat tour from Wahweap Marina at Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas. The tour starts with a viewing of the Glen Canyon Dam, which is the second-largest concrete arch dam in the United States. The tour continues through Antelope Canyon, which is over 10-miles long.
At the four-mile point, the canyon wall narrows, giving you the urge to reach out and touch the sandstone walls that are enclosing you. The majestic walls rise far above the water, with intricate ripples in each layer. You can’t help but be amazed by the hues of red, orange, and brown rock formations that date back millions of years.
For more information, visit: https://www.lakepowell.com/marinas/boat-tours/antelope-canyon-tour/
12. Powell Lake Resorts and Marinas
Powell Lake Resorts and Marinas are different than other resorts. They give you more than one option to enjoy your stay. Wanting to experience something different? You could rent a private houseboat and explore the breathtaking scenery with all the comforts of home. Or, enjoy the relaxation of lakeside hotel lodging with the amazing amenities offered. Or, how about sleeping under the stars in your pick of four amazing RV campgrounds. Lake Powell has options to suit every taste and budget.
Lake Powell offers various activities and tours to choose from. For example, boat tours, horseback riding, helicopter tours, antelope canyon tours, water sports, golfing, and so much more.
The resort offers various restaurants to choose from as well as a Canyon Princess Dinner Cruise. Interested in exploring the area on your own? Check out the Area Information page on the website.
For more information, visit: https://www.lakepowell.com/
13. Horseshoe Bend Overlook
Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River located near the town of Page. It is located five miles downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, about four miles southwest of Page.
The City of Page has built a public parking lot just south of town and allows you to park for a fee while you walk to the overlook. The walk to the outlook takes approximately 15 minutes and ends at a viewing platform right on the edge of the canyon.
There is a railing around this platform to keep you from falling off the cliff. For those of you who like that feeling in the pit of your stomach, you can also walk along the canyon rim for some distance, but there is no railing to protect you. The scene in front of you is unbelievably beautiful. Mother Nature has certainly created a masterpiece!
There is more than one way to visit this amazing creation of nature. You could drive in your own car and park in the public parking lot, or you could join a tour and enjoy someone else driving to their private parking lot.
For more information, visit: https://horseshoebend.com/
14. Secret Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend Overlook
This tour lasts 3.5-hour and includes both a visit to the breathtaking Horseshoe Bend Overlook as well as a private Horseshoe Bend Secret Slot Canyon. It is a Navajo, female-owned tour company that provide guided sightseeing and photography tours. What makes these tours special is the fact that only one tour views the slot canyons at a time, giving ample space and time to explore.
The tour begins with a short three-mile drive from Page in an open-air 4×4 vehicle, with a hair-raising rocky ride through the sandy washes and rolling hills. Once you are off the truck, there is a short nature hike to the entrance of the longest slot canyons to be toured on the Navajo Nation.
Upon arrival at the entrance, you will be amazed by the beauty of what is in front you. The canyons are unbelievably beautiful and eerily quiet. Once you reach the entrance, you can then take your time to wander through the canyon and take photos.
After visiting the slot canyons, you return to the 4×4 vehicle and drive to the Navajo-owned viewpoint of the Horseshoe Bend Overlook via a private dirt road. From the truck, there is a short walk to the rim, with a 1000-foot drop.
For more information, visit: https://horseshoebendtours.com/
15. Lees Ferry
Lees Ferry is the only place within the Glen Canyon where visitors can drive to the Colorado River, right up to the first rapid in the Grand Canyon, in over 700 miles of canyon country.
Visit the Lonely Dell Ranch Historic Site, near the mount of the Paria River, as well as the Lees Ferry Historic Site and River Trail and the Lonely Dale Orchard.
There is a complete self-guided walking tour of the orchard, log cabins, and stone ranch house. The pioneer cemetery is about a one-mile round trip. There are picnic tables and shade trees at the ranch. Bring drinking water with you.
For more information, visit: https://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/lees-ferry.htm
Conclusion
If you enjoy marveling at the beauty that nature creates, Page is the city to visit. It really doesn’t matter which direction you take, you will always find another opportunity to explore just around the corner!
