We spent 4-days in Page, Arizona. Here is everything we did and the things we wish we had time for.
In this guide:
- Page, AZ Quick Stats
- Our 4-day Itinerary in Page, AZ
- Is visiting Page, AZ worth it?
- Things we wish we had time for
- Practical Information for your trip
Page, Arizona Quick Stats
| Location | Page, AZ |
| Population | 7,375 (est. 2021) |
| Popular things to do | Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell, Wahweap Overlook, Rainbow Bridge National Monument and much more. |
| Official Website | City of Page |
| Popular Day Trips | North Rim of Grand Canyon, Lees Ferry (launch point for rafting), Kanab UT, Monument Valley, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs National Park |
4-Day Itinerary for Page, AZ
Day 1: (Arrived from Vegas at 4:30 p.m.)
The Carl Hayden Visitor Center is the gateway to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Visitors can explore the abundance of informational exhibits and soak in views of the Glen Canyon Dam and Colorado River.
Admission: Free
Average Time: <1 Hour
Highlights: Interpretive exhibits, theater, scenic views, dam tours ($), gift shop, area information, and more.
Learn more about our experience at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center.
2. Dinner – Dominos. We needed lunch for our kayaking trip the next day. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
3. Sunset at Glen Canyon Dam Overlook (scenic view)
The Glen Canyon Dam Overlook is located downriver from the visitor center. Visitors will enjoy a short walk down an uneven trail to a spectacular vantage overlooking both the Colorado River and the Glen Canyon Dam.
Admission: Free
Average Time: <1 Hour
Highlights: Scenic views of the Colorado River and Glen Canyon Dam.
Day 2: Kayaking Trip
1. Kayaking trip from Glen Canyon Dam to Lee’s Ferry
Adventure down the Colorado River on a 14-mile kayak trip (or 10-mile option) from the Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry.
Pricing: Starts at $75 per person for backhaul service plus kayak rental. (Pricing subject to change)
Average Time: All-Day
Highlights: Experience Glen Canyon in the closest way possible to the famous 1869 maiden voyage of John Wesley Powell. Have lunch on the river, kayak through Horseshoe Bend and enjoy optional stops at 3,000-year-old petroglyphs or walk through a hidden slot canyon.
Learn more about our kayak trip through Glen Canyon.
2. Dinner at Bird House (Chicken cuisine)
Dinner at Bird House – 707 N Navajo Dr, Page, AZ 86040
Official Website: Bird House
Cuisine: Fried chicken, cold beer and delicious side dishes.
Pricing: $$
Our thoughts: Every Google search we did for restaurants brought us back to the Bird House. With 4.5 stars on Yelp and over 1,000 reviews, we gave it a shot and we’re glad we did. It’s the type of chicken you dream about long after you’ve arrived back at home. 5 stars from us! Highly recommend.
Day 3: Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon and Bowling
1. Horseshoe Bend
The iconic Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe shaped bend in the Colorado River located deep in a canyon that rivals the nearby Grand Canyon.
Official Website: City of Page / Horseshoe Bend
Pricing: $10 per vehicle (pricing subject to change)
Distance: 1.5 miles round trip from parking area to viewpoint
Average time: 1 – 1.5 Hours
Highlights: Scenic views, well defined gravel path, limited guardrails at the canyon’s edge (use extreme caution!)
Learn more about our experience at Horseshoe Bend.
2. Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper Antelope Canyon is a walking tour of a beautiful slot canyon near Page, AZ, owned and operated by the Navajo. Visitors will enjoy stunning views of the reddish hued canyon and if you’re there on a sunny day at high noon, light beams will cascade through the ceiling.
Pricing: Varies, starting at $90 + fees per person (pricing subject to change)
Distance: 1.5 miles round trip
Average time: 1.5 – 2 Hours
Highlights: Walking tour of the slot canyon, light beams (depending on time of day), historic information (depending on tour guide).
3. The Bowl (Bowling Alley)
Evening at the Bowl!
Website: The Bowl
Activity: bowling alley and bar
Pricing: $-$$
The Bowl features a 10-lane bowling alley, billiards, ping pong table, patio area and a full-service bar.
It’s small, charming and fills up quickly, so you may want to call ahead before you visit.
4. Dinner at El Tapatio (Mexican Restaurant)
Dinner at El Tapatio – 25 Lake Powell Blvd., Page, AZ
Official Website: El Tapatio
Cuisine: Mexican
Pricing: $$
Our thoughts: With over 1,000 reviews on Yelp and 4.0 stars, we were craving Mexican food and El Tapatio delivered. It reminded us of one of favorite Mexican restaurants from Seattle. It was a little on the pricey side for Mexican, but we enjoyed our meal.
Day 4: Hiking Day and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
“The Chains” is a short, “choose your own adventure” type hike that leads visitors up and down sandstone rocks to reach the Colorado River.
Distance: 0.5-2.0 miles round trip depending the path you decide to take.
Average time: 1 – 2 Hours
Highlights: Scenic views including the Glen Canyon Dam, and Wahweap Bay, and some fun scrambling (depending on route taken and current water level).
Learn more about the hiking The Chains.
2. Hiking Hanging Garden Wall Trail
The Hanging Garden trail found near the Glen Canyon Dam leads hikers to a “not-so” secret desert oasis. Hikers will enjoy an easy stroll across the desert landscape and end at a lush spring-fed group of plants nestled under the wall of a towering cliff.
Distance: 1.5 miles round trip
Average time: 1 hour
Highlights: Scenic views of the desert landscape, well defined trail and hanging garden oasis at the trails end.
Learn more about the Hanging Garden Wall trail.
3. Wahweap Viewpoint (inside the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area)
Quick stop at the Wahweap viewpoint.
Location: Wahweap viewpoint, Page, AZ – Glen Canyon National Recreational Area
This quick stop is found about 2.5 miles from the Wahweap South entrance and features an amazing view of Wahweap Bay.
Pricing: America the Beautiful Pass required for entry into the park or $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass.
*Note as an alternative nearby with a similar view, you can visit the Wahweap Overlook, and we believe that area does not require a fee.
4. Glen Canyon Marina (inside the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area)
Quick stop to check out the Wahweap Marina.
Location: Wahweap Marina, Page, AZ – Glen Canyon National Recreational Area
Official Website: Wahweap Marina
Pricing: America the Beautiful Pass required for entry into the park or $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass.
Highlights: Resort including lodging and dining, boat launch, boat rentals, general store supplies, fuel and more.
5. Late Lunch at Big John’s Texas BBQ
Late Lunch at Big John’s Texas BBQ – 153 South Lake Powell Blvd., Page, AZ
Official Website: Big John’s
Cuisine: Texas BBQ
Pricing: $$
Our thoughts: With more than 1400 reviews on Yelp and an average of 4.0 stars, we thought we’d check out the BBQ joint. Parking was a challenge and they had a limited menu, but we enjoyed their pulled pork sandwiches and cornbread. They also have live entertainment but they weren’t playing when we visited. Get your BBQ fix while you’re in town!
Is visiting Page, Arizona worth it?
Rating: 4.0 Mooses
What we liked:
- We enjoyed the unique desert landscape and abundance of canyons in the area.
- Page is centrally located. You can easily get to Kanab, UT (~1 hour drive) to visit the famous “Wave” trail, see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (~2.5-hour drive), visit Zion National Park (~2 hours 15 minutes) or check out Monument Valley (~2 hours).
What we didn’t like:
- For a city on the smaller side (population est. 7,375), we found everything to be more expensive than we expected.
- A lot of the popular tourist spots require advance reservations and come with a hefty price tag.
- The city didn’t have a tremendous amount of restaurant choices but the ones we visited were good (especially Bird House).
Verdict: We enjoyed our trip to Page and would recommend everyone spend a few days there, or at least visit Horseshoe Bend if you’re passing by.
Things we wish we had time for
- Rainbow Bridge National Monument – As far as we know, there are only two ways to visit the Rainbow Bridge. 1) Take a boat to the shoreline and walk approximately 1 mile (apparently this hasn’t been possible since October of 2021 when the lake level dropped too low) or 2) Hike there on the Rainbow Bridge North Trail (17.5 miles) or the Rainbow Bridge South Trail (32 miles) – both of which require a permit from the Navajo. It appears camping isn’t allowed, so it would have to be done in one day and not during the hot summer months due to limited water and potential flash floods.
- Desert Vista Disc Golf Course – We ran out of time for the course and prioritized other items since it is only 9 holes. We were also still a little bitter about the Sara Disc Golf Course in Lake Havasu chewing up our discs on the sharp rocks. We figured something similar might happen again at this course. Maybe next trip!
- The Wave – This is a beautiful hike located around an hour’s drive from Page, AZ. This popular hike requires a permit that you can only obtain from a lottery. Tickets are hard to come by. Additionally, a 4-wheel drive capable vehicle is highly recommended to reach the trailhead. It was not in the cards for us to visit.
- Navajo Canyon Boat Tour – We were hoping to have time for a boat tour in Lake Powell. After our full day of kayaking the Colorado, we decided to try the next time we’re in town. The tours in the link referenced all leave from Wahweap Bay (which means you’ll need a national park pass).
- Wahweap Bay Swimming – Part of our trip to the Wahweap Marina was to include a fun lake day swimming. Unfortunately, when we visited, the swimming area was closed. You can check for specific closures here.
- Bike ride on the Rim Trail – We didn’t end going biking as we couldn’t find a bike rental shop in all of Page. The ones that came up on Google appeared to be out of business.
- Hikes – We researched a few other hikes, but determined they either too far from Page, too difficult for the weather conditions or other restrictions applied such as needing reservations. Some popular options included: Wire Pass Slot Canyon to Buckskin Gulch (11 miles – special permit needed), Spencer Trail (~1 hour from Page) or Cathedral Wash (1 hour from Page).
Practical Information for your trip
Where to stay in Page, Arizona?
We ended up staying at the Home 2 Suites hotel (a Hilton chain). When researching the area, there were some Airbnbs but the selection was rather small and many seemed run-down.
Hotels on the other hand were abundant and many were on the newer side. We also found a lot of the hotels provide a continental breakfast option.
Normally, we try to find the best location in each city we visit and prefer a walkable distance to restaurants and activities. This is not a walkable city. Everyone drives everywhere. We don’t think it matters too much where your hotel is located as nothing is going to be close.
More information for your trip to Page, AZ
