Road Trip Summer in the US – This is one of my favorite one day road trips!

**Note that National Parks and other attractions may require advanced reservations, limit capacity, social distance, require masks and other covid rules according to local city and state regulations. Be sure to check up to date websites of hotel, tour providers and national parks.**

“If you start early enough, you can do it all in a day” the front desk clerk said at the Courtyard Marriott Page when I was checking in.  Unfortunately, in my research, I had planned it out wrong so back in my room, I went about researching tours and times for the next day and shifting things around. What can you do with one day in Page Arizona (also referred to as Lake Powell or Glen Canyon Dam National park area)? It’s all about the incredible nature – views of Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend plus the engineering marvel of Glen Canyon Dam and the serenity of Lake Powell.  But could you do it all in one day?  I was able to do 2 ½ of the four options during my quick visit. I arrived at dinner time Tuesday night after the drive from Red Mountain Resort in St. George, Utah, I had a good part of Wednesday to visit the highlights before I was off to Zion National Park Lodge later in the day.

 

 

 

8 a.m. – Visiting Horseshoe Bend

Located less than ten minutes from the Page Marriott Courtyard hotel, I drove out to Horseshoe Bend and as it was early November (off-season), I was able to easily park in the gravel lot (note – construction is working on a larger parking area so be prepared for parking challenges now) and begin my trek up the sandy hill and down the other side to the edge of Horseshoe Bend (about 1/2 mile) to take in the early morning views of the Colorado River.  Now if you are a photographer you and your tripod would have been here an hour earlier to catch the sunrise.

Much has been discussed about changes affecting Horseshoe Bend due to popularity with visitors and its a tricky one – this picturesque location is estimating close to 2 million visitors each year and the park service is planning to add a few booths for fee collection.  The gravel parking lot I used, is being expanded to accommodate the crowds and avoid the dangerous parking on the side of the road.

9:15 a.m. – Glen Canyon Dam

The drive to the Glen Canyon Dam was quick from Horseshoe Bend and again as it was a Wednesday in November, parking came easy in the vast lot which during peak season is packed with cars and tour buses.  I walked into the visitor center to view the exhibit (free) and the expansive view of the dam below.  There is a restroom and gift shop plus guided tours four times a day for a small fee with limited number of guests.  The first tour of the day was at 10:30 so I wasn’t able to stay for that as I had a 10:30 a.m. tour at Antelope Canyon. After the exhibits inside, I walked across the empty dam bridge for photos (there are cutouts in the fencing for photos).

10:15 a.m. – Upper Antelope Canyon

The night before at the insistence of the hotel staff, I moved my Lower Antelope Canyon tour until after lunch in order to do the more popular Upper Antelope Slot Canyon tour.  The meeting point was off the main road and had limited parking (so you may need to go earlier or park across the road).  The trucks were filled with 10-12 people and since I had seen these trucks in the Caribbean, I knew they were going to be bumpy and dusty for the off-roading portion of the tour and murder on my back and hips so as a solo I was happily offered the front seat with the driver since he was seating in pairs of two in the back to share seat belts.

Visiting Upper Antelope Canyon is popular and easy to do as it is flat walking inside.  Each group must have a guide (ours was a retired history teacher) and each group is time limited to enter to allow a few rooms just to your group for photos. This tour group had four trucks going out and we joined other tour companies for a total of twelve trucks at the attraction.  You go slowly into the slot canyon with your guide and have time for photos but when you turn around you are instructed to just walk out, no photos, no stopping.

Noon – Lunch in Page Arizona

There aren’t many food outlets in the area so I crossed the road to the strip mall of shops where the local burger (and ice cream) place, Slackers, was recommended for a grilled chicken and bacon sandwich with fries.  They offered local beers, cookies/desserts and a plethora of burger options.  It was busy with locals which is always a good sign.

1:20 p.m. – Lower Antelope Canyon with Ken’s Tours

Visiting Lower Antelope Canyon with Ken’s Tours was the original and only tour I had booked prior to arrival in town but I was easily able to shift the morning visit and delay my drive to Zion National Park in order to experience the adventure of the Lower Antelope Canyon.  This part of the slot canyon is on an Indian Reservation so there is a fee for the tour and a cash fee for reservation access.  Lucky for me the tours leave every twenty minutes and our group was only five people and a guide.  The more adventurous tour involves climbing ladders, stairs and narrow spaces for a different view of the slot canyon.  I was really happy that I did the Upper and now the Lower Antelope Canyon to get a sense of the similarities and differences.

During our visit, there were only three other small groups touring the canyon.  Only two tour companies traverse the Lower Antelope Canyon. Note that in high season (summer), the waits to enter the lower antelope canyon can be hours (yes hours in the sun and heat) due to the limited capacity in the canyon so they have installed a cover to wait under at the entrance.  I’m not sure how happy I would be to wait hours with tons of people.  So I’d suggest going early or late if you and your camera phone just want photos – for photographers, there are different tours for you and your tripod.

Overview  – One Day in Page Arizona

So I did pretty well for my shortened day in Page, Arizona (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.).  I missed the guided tour of the dam which was a shame timing didn’t work out.  I have previously toured the Hoover Dam so will hazard a guess that there are many similarities.  While I would have liked to have sailed on Lake Powell, it wasn’t in the plans given that I needed to drive to Zion National Park later in the day.  Ideally if you are ok to be busy, I would recommend taking the cruise at sunrise in the morning to see how the views change before and after the sunlight hits the rocks and water.

If you are planning a visit to Page, Arizona (Lake Powell & Glen Canyon National Recreation Area), you can ideally do a lot in one day – I know I did but it was off season in November.  You may need two days or more in high season, which as an in between town for the Grand Canyon (Arizona) or Zion National Park (Utah) is a nice layover.

Roadtrip Continues….

Driving from Page Arizona to Zion National Park

3:00 p.m. –  Driving from Page Arizona to Zion National Park

I was keen to get on the road in order to drive during the daylight on the long road back to Utah and into Zion National Park.  My original plan was to leave by noon but adding in the Upper Antelope Canyon was worth the delay because when will I be back in this area anytime soon or ever?  Traveling back on the long two lane road to Kenab was a bit of the familiar but now the other side of the road view.  I stopped quickly at the “Welcome to Utah” sign because why not?  When I reached Kenab, I stopped at Subway for a sandwich and restroom break before continuing to Zion Lodge.  The roads to Zion were not 80 mph roads so while the distance was less the speed limits made the drive longer.

The drive from Kenab, Utah to Zion National Park was just as beautiful as the drives the past two days.  Unlike the vast expanses on the road, the landscapes ahead and around were on smaller roads and when I turned in between the gas station and pub onto the entrance road to the park, it became a small country road all the way to the Zion park sign.