With a population of only 7,500, Page, Arizona might not wow you with a bustling nightlife or innovative culinary scene (although, there is some pretty dang good food here), but what it might lack in big city pleasures, it makes up for in natural wonders and beauty! With places like Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs, Lake Powell, and countless others all within a 15-20 minute drive, Page, Arizona is the ultimate hidden gem in the west and an absolute must for nature lovers! Here's our take on the top 5 things to do in Page, Arizona!
Make sure to watch our "Arizona: Page, AZ + The Grand Canyon South Rim | Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Vermillion Cliffs" Vlog!
1. Epic Adventure Rides Off-Road UTV Tour
Voted the #1 Outdoor Activity Tour in Page, no trip to Page is complete without taking one of their off-road UTV tours! They offer 2 different group tour options as well as private and custom tours! We took the Vermilion Cliffs Sunset Tour and it was exactly as their name says… EPIC! It was a 3 hour ride weaving in and out of the hills and desert of Arizona and Utah with the best views being at the Vermilion Cliffs overlook. If you aren’t familiar with Vermillion Cliffs, they are located in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument which is a 280,000-acre geologic treasure with some of the most spectacular trails and views in the world. The cliffs themselves overlook an impressive canyon carved out by the Paria River. It was like having your own little Grand Canyon! We can’t recommend Epic Adventure Rides enough! Head over to their website to book your epic adventure!
2. Aerial Tour with American Aviation
The best way to see the most of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, Antelope Canyon, etc) in the shortest amount of time is definitely going to be taking an aerial tour with American Aviation. There’s just something special about seeing Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, and all of the unique rock formations from above. It gives you an entirely new perspective! We took the 45 minute Lake Powell and Horseshoe Bend Air Tour and can’t recommend it enough! Our pilot, Alan, was very knowledgeable about the area and sights, plus he has over 50,000 landings under his belt, so we knew we were in good hands! American Aviation offers a variety of flight/tour options and has the capability of accommodating groups of up to 7 people per flight. Check out their website to book your trip!
You can’t go to Page without getting out on Lake Powell! There are a dozen or more kayak rental companies in the Page, AZ area, all offering similar services and tours, so I don’t think you can go wrong. The biggest thing is to just get on the water. Sitting in a kayak on Lake Powell gives the opposite effect of the aerial tour. Rather than seeing the expansive landscape from a bird's eye view, you become engulfed in it, realizing how small we really are. Paddling through the deep, blue waters contrasted by the white and orange, sandstone cliffs is an experience of a lifetime, and a must if you're ever in Page.
With 2.2 million visitors each year, Horseshoe Bend is one of, if not the most iconic landmark in Page. And for good reason! The “U” shaped curve in the Colorado River creates an amazing and unique view of the canyon below the observation deck. A few notes to make before visiting… 1.) If you’re a photographer, make sure you have a wide angle lens. Horseshoe Bend is MUCH bigger than I expected it to be and was barely able to fit it all in frame with my 24mm lens. 2.) There is a $10 admission fee, and even though it is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the park is run by the city of Page, therefore they do NOT accept Annual National Park Passes. 3.) It is a 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot to the observation deck. The walk there is mostly downhill, and the walk back is mostly uphill. The Arizona sun gets hot, so make sure to bring water!
While I couldn’t find the exact number of visitors that Antelope Canyon sees each year, it has to be a close tie with Horseshoe Bend! The narrow slot canyon has attracted celebrities like Britney Spears, Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and countless others which has helped put it (and Page) on the map as a tourist destination. With openings as narrow as 3 feet the smooth, wave-like sandstone walls create a visual that doesn’t even look real at times. At the time of writing this (April 2021), the Upper Canyon is still closed due to Covid, but the Lower Canyon is open and only accessible by water, so it's the perfect opportunity to combine our tip #3 (kayaking on Lake Powell) with this one to create one awesome experience! Just make sure you know where you’re going, unlike us (watch the vlog to see where we messed up)!
We know that there are SO MANY amazing things to see and do in and around Page, Arizona, and these 5 only scratch the surface of this beautiful area, so let us know your favorite things to do there! Also, be sure to watch our Arizona Travel Vlog to see our experience in The Copper State!