Established during the construction of Glen Canyon Dam, Page serves as the gateway to many of the Southwest's most celebrated landscapes. The community provides spectacular views of Lake Powell while serving as an ideal base for exploring northern Arizona and southern Utah.
Page, Arizona & the Colorado Plateau: Canyons, Hoodoos, and Desert Wonders
5 Days + Optional Grand Canyon North Rim Day
Centered around the breathtaking town of Page, Arizona, this five-day journey explores some of the most spectacular landscapes on the Colorado Plateau. Carved by water, wind, and time, the region is home to narrow sandstone slot canyons, towering desert hoodoos, dramatic river overlooks, and vast recreational lands surrounding Lake Powell. Inspired by the immersive storytelling of National Geographic and the practical pacing of a TripAdvisor-style itinerary, this route is carefully organized by location to minimize driving while maximizing exploration.
From walking through the glowing sandstone corridors of Antelope Canyon to standing high above the Colorado River at Horseshoe Bend and venturing into the remote wilderness of Buckskin Gulch, travelers will experience some of the Southwest's most iconic natural wonders. An optional sixth day can be added to visit the Grand Canyon's less crowded and more secluded North Rim.
Day 1
Your adventure begins in Page, Arizona, a modern desert town surrounded by some of the Colorado Plateau's most famous landmarks. Today focuses on the iconic attractions nearest town, providing an unforgettable introduction to the sculpted sandstone and deep canyon landscapes that define the region.
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Rising hundreds of feet above the Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam is one of the largest concrete arch dams in the United States. The structure transformed the region by creating Lake Powell and remains a fascinating engineering landmark amid dramatic desert scenery.
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A short trail leads to one of the area's finest viewpoints. From the overlook, visitors can admire the massive dam, the winding Colorado River below, and the colorful canyon walls framing the scene.
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One of the most photographed viewpoints in America, Horseshoe Bend showcases the Colorado River making a dramatic 270-degree curve nearly one thousand feet below the cliff rim. Sunset transforms the canyon walls into brilliant shades of gold, orange, and crimson.
Day 2
Today explores the legendary sandstone slot canyons that have made Page famous around the world. Narrow passageways, flowing rock formations, and shafts of sunlight create one of the most extraordinary geological environments in North America.
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Antelope Canyon is among the most beautiful slot canyons on Earth. Over thousands of years, flash floods carved smooth sandstone corridors into flowing ribbons of color and light. Depending on the season, sunbeams penetrate the canyon, illuminating the walls with brilliant shades of gold, orange, and red.
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The afternoon is dedicated to exploring the immense Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Encompassing Lake Powell and countless side canyons, this vast landscape combines desert cliffs, blue water, and scenic overlooks into one of the Southwest's most diverse recreation destinations.
Day 3
Today's journey heads east toward the Utah border to explore strange and beautiful geological formations sculpted by erosion. Isolated from the larger crowds near Page, these locations offer a quieter and more adventurous experience.
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The Toadstool Hoodoos Trail leads through an otherworldly landscape filled with mushroom-shaped rock formations. Layers of sandstone and mudstone have eroded at different rates, creating unusual natural sculptures that seem more at home on another planet than in the Arizona desert.
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For adventurous hikers, Wahweap Hoodoos provides one of the region's most unique geological spectacles. Towering white formations crowned with darker rock caps rise from a remote wash, creating an alien-like landscape hidden within the desert backcountry.
Day 4
Venture deeper into the wilderness today with a journey into the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs region. This area contains some of the longest and most dramatic slot canyons in North America, offering an unforgettable desert hiking experience.
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Wire Pass serves as one of the most accessible introductions to the slot canyon environment. Narrow sandstone corridors twist through the desert, providing a thrilling adventure beneath towering canyon walls.
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Connected to Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch is one of the longest and deepest slot canyons in the world. Sheer sandstone walls rise overhead while the canyon twists through an ancient landscape shaped by water over millions of years. The scale and beauty of Buckskin Gulch make it a bucket-list destination for hikers.
Day 5
Your final day provides flexibility to revisit favorite viewpoints, explore additional sections of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, enjoy a boat excursion on Lake Powell, or simply relax and experience the atmosphere of Page. This lighter day allows time to appreciate the region's beauty at a slower pace before concluding the journey.
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Explore additional coves, viewpoints, beaches, and scenic shoreline areas within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The combination of blue water and red sandstone creates one of the most striking landscapes in the Southwest.
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End the journey with one final desert sunset. Whether overlooking Horseshoe Bend once more or watching the evening light reflect across Lake Powell, the closing moments provide a fitting farewell to one of the most spectacular landscapes in the American Southwest.
Optional Day 6
Travelers with additional time should strongly consider a visit to Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim. Receiving only a fraction of the visitors found on the South Rim, this remote section of the Grand Canyon offers cooler temperatures, pine forests, and some of the most dramatic canyon viewpoints in North America.
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Standing approximately a thousand feet higher than the South Rim, the North Rim offers cooler temperatures and a more tranquil atmosphere. The viewpoints reveal immense canyon depths, colorful rock layers, and sweeping vistas extending far beyond the horizon.
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The short walk to Bright Angel Point delivers one of the most spectacular panoramic views anywhere in Grand Canyon National Park. Vast side canyons, towering cliffs, and seemingly endless layers of rock combine to create a truly unforgettable finale to your Southwest adventure.