Nestled on the northern border of Arizona between Utah and the Grand Canyon, Page is perfectly positioned for a Utah Mighty 5 or National Parks Grand Circle road trip. Perched on red sandstone cliffs overlooking the blue waters of Lake Powell, Page offers marvelous activities for everyone – kids and adults alike.
You could swoop through here and hit the picture-perfect Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. However, if you can find the time (I know, I know…time is so hard to find), try to spend at least one full day and night enjoying all the marvelous things to do in Page, Arizona.
The Best Things to Do in Page, Arizona
Admire the Beauty of Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is easily the most famous (and instagrammed) place near Page. You’ve probably seen dozens of photos where shafts of sunlight highlight dancing dust motes in an undulating red striped canyon.
Antelope Canyon, located entirely on Navajo Nation land, is actually two different slot canyons – Upper Antelope and Lower Antelope. Both canyons are kid-friendly and beautiful.
Upper Antelope is level and does not require any climbing. Lower Antelope uses a series of ladders and stairs to move you through the canyon. With active kids, I would choose Lower Antelope. If you’re carrying an infant, Upper Antelope will be easier to manage.
Unfortunately, all that fame and beauty comes with a price – big crowds. We highly recommend booking your Antelope Canyon tour in advance.
If the crowds in Upper and Lower Antelope aren’t your thing (honestly, they aren’t ours either), other nearby slot canyons worth a visit include:
Antelope X (our personal favorite)
Enjoy the Waters of Lake Powell
Choose your favorite way to get out on the water! Lake Powell has them all – SUPing, kayaking, powerboats, jet skis, and probably ways I don’t even know about it. 186 miles long and 2,000 miles of shoreline, many in seemingly secret coves and canyons, give you plenty of room to explore.
We didn’t have time, but our close friends HIGHLY recommended kayaking the water side of Antelope Canyon. You can do this on your own or with a tour.
Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks and Hidden Canyon Kayak are highly rated kayak and SUP rental outfitters.
Travel to Rainbow Bridge National Monument by Boat
A close-up view of the striped sandstone walls of Lake Powell. A refreshing breeze blowing off Lake Powell. One of the largest natural bridges in the world as your destination. A trip to Rainbow Bridge National Monument is a great way to spend a day in Page. We certainly enjoyed it!
Rainbow Bridge is 50 miles from Page and only day-trippable by boat. We wrote a detailed post on how to get there and what to expect.
Gawk at Horseshoe Bend
Good news! The reality of Horseshoe Bend is as awestriking as the iconic photos we’ve all binged on Instagram.
You can marvel at the horseshoe-shaped bend and the jaw-dropping 1000 foot drop to the Colorado River below. If you’re like me, you’ll have a tight hold on your kids’ hands.
At the time of writing, vehicle parking was $10. You can check current rates on the City of Page website. A 0.6-mile ADA-accessible trail connects the parking lot and viewpoint.
Float Down the Colorado River
Enjoy a relaxing smooth-water float trip down the Colorado River through Glen Canyon.
The only authorized concessioner is Wilderness River Adventures. They offer a half-day trip that includes a river-side trip around Horseshoe Bend and a short hike to petroglyphs.
Explore the Inner Workings of Glen Canyon Dam
Get a close-up look at Glen Canyon Dam. The tour walks across the top for a unique view of the lake and then down inside the 710-foot structure to see the inner workings of the hydroelectric plant.
The Carl Hayden Visitor Center sits at the edge of the dam. The informative displays and helpful National Park rangers make this a great (and cool!) place to learn more about the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Kids can also earn a Glen Canyon Junior Ranger badge at the visitor center.
Enjoy a Scenic Desert Sunset
Take your pick of viewpoints. You won’t have the view to yourself, but that doesn’t diminish the beauty as the sun sets over the arid desert landscape.
The most popular viewpoints are Wahweep Overlook with a vista over Lake Powell, Studhorse Point with unique hoodoos, and Horseshoe Bend overlooking Glen Canyon and the Colorado River.
Hike to a Hanging Garden
Hanging Garden Trail is a family-friendly 1.2-mile hike. The hike crosses sand and sandstone with rock borders marking the path. At the end, you make a short “scramble” to a lush hanging garden of ferns nestled under a sandstone ledge.
Don’t skip the short (maybe half-mile?) side trail to the scenic lookout. You can enjoy a view of part of Lake Powell.
Remember sun protection and water for the hot, unshaded trail. In the hot summer months, try to time your hike for the cooler parts of the day.
Where to Stay in Page
We stayed at the Courtyard Page at Lake Powell. The downtown location made it easy to drive to all the marvelous activities above. The kids loved the huge outdoor pool after a day in the hot sun.
Page has lots of accommodation options to suit your budget and style.
Tips for Visiting Page, Arizona
With so many great things to do in Page, Arizona, you want to make sure you’re prepared. Here are a few things to help make your trip as smooth as possible.
What Time Is It?
What time is it? Whatever time my phone says. Right? Wrong…maybe.
The borders of Utah, Arizona, and Navajo Nation are extremely close in Page. You never know which tower your mobile phone is using. The trick is that Arizona is the only one of the three that does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
If you visit Page during Daylight Savings Time (roughly early March to early November), you will be one hour EARLIER than nearby Utah or Navajo Nation. Please don’t miss your Antelope Canyon tour because you misunderstood the time.
Tip ! Don’t miss a tour or reservation. While in Page, turn off “set time automatically” on your mobile phone. Just remember to turn it back on when you leave.
How Long Should We Stay in Page, Arizona?
We spent 3 nights and 2 full days in Page. We spent a full day going to Rainbow Bridge National Monument and the second day visiting slot canyons and the dam. Hikes, Horseshoe Bend, and sunsets were easy to fit into our time.
Minimum, I would recommend one day and one night. This should give you time to visit a slot canyon and get out on the lake plus Horseshoe Bend and a sunset.
If you have any other things you would recommend to do in Page, Arizona, drop us a comment below. We would love to try them on our next trip. For us, our next trip will hopefully include hiking The Wave and watching a California Condor release at Vermillion Cliffs National Monument.
