Carved by Time: The Colors, Curves, and Canyons of Page, Arizona and Southern Utah

As we continue our Southwestern United States road trip, we've enjoyed a few return visits to iconic places like Death Valley and the Grand Canyon ... and we were excited to see that some "new-to-us" bucket-list destinations happened to be perfectly aligned with our travel route. This time around, a stop in Page, Arizona and Southern Utah rewarded us with ...

colors,

curves,

and canyons

... along with a few

hoodoos

thrown in just for fun.

These works of art have been meticulously carved over time by wind, water, and climate into some of nature’s finest masterpieces!

Page, Arizona

After leaving the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, we traveled north towards the town of Page, Arizona. Located halfway between the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park, this small town's wide range of hotels, restaurants, and businesses cater to the steady stream of passing tourists. The city of Page lies on the border of Navajo Nation territory, and it is there that we found this area's crown jewels.

Horseshoe Bend

The flow of the Colorado River has carved out an impressive masterpiece just south of Page, Arizona. With the help of social media, Horseshoe Bend has turned into a popular attraction ... but its natural beauty sells itself. 

Thousands of travelers take a quick detour off the highway every day in order to see the artistic curves of the river in person. Because the parking area is on Navajo land, it's nice to know that the $10 parking fee helps support that local community. From the parking lot, a short ¾-mile hike brought us to the iconic photo spot for our own Instagram-worthy shot.

A little farther up the road, we stopped to check out the Glen Canyon Dam. This dam, built in 1963, created Lake Powell, an important water reservoir for the southwestern region.

Antelope Canyon

After years of travel, there aren’t many U.S. destinations left on our bucket list ... making it all the more rewarding to finally visit Antelope Canyon, where wind, water, and time have carved an underground masterpiece.

Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo tribal land and is considered a sacred place within their culture. Thus, the only way to see this natural work of art is to take a guided tour led by one of the Navajo-operated companies who have access to the canyon ... Dixie’s or Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours. We paid $80 each for the guided hour and a half tour.

Our visit began with a short tribal dance before we were led 75 feet down via a metal stairway into the canyon by Jordan, our young and enthusiastic Navajo guide.

A magical world awaits us

as we step down into that crevice.

 Once inside, he pointed out the canyon’s unique formations 

Can you see the image of

The Lion King?

... while also sharing stories of his heritage and offering insight into the Navajo culture, beliefs, and philosophy.

At the end of our tour, Jordan gave us a short concert on his handmade bi-tubular flute, an ancient wind instrument featuring two parallel pipes that can produce a melody and harmony at the same time.

The colors,

the shapes,

and the cultural insights

... filled us with awe, and we are grateful to have our visit to Antelope Canyon became a memorable part of RVentures.

The New Wave and Beehive Trail

That evening we were able to camp outside of town at the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area Campground. Adjacent to the campground were two trails that once again, gave us a sample of the colorful artistry of the area.

The New Wave Trail led us across ancient sandstone formations whose surfaces have been carved into graceful, wave-like ridges giving us the impression of walking on water.

The Beehive Trail led us to massive, rounded rock formations that resembled the homes of these important honey-producing creatures. 

Blooming cacti added elegant finishing touches to the hike ... and no doubt kept the local bees very happy.

Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument

Continuing our journey toward Zion National Park, our route wove through Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. The name comes from the striking layers of multi-colored rock that resemble a massive staircase stretching across the landscape. These “steps” span more than 100 miles, beginning with the lowest layers of exposed rock in the Grand Canyon and rising to the highest formations found in Bryce Canyon National Park.

     Along the way, we enjoyed two trails that showcased these multiple layers of colorful rock formations.

Toadstool Hoodoos Trail

Wildflowers greeted us along the trail,

toadstool hoodoos showcased Mother Nature's artistic "humor",

and sweeping views of the multi-colored “staircase” were the surprise bonus.

The Nautilus Trail

A little further down the road, a short trail led us to a uniquely-shaped canyon. I imagine that all we need is a little water to transform this spiral canyon into a fun and refreshing desert attraction.

Kanab, Utah

Before heading into Zion National Park, we spent three days in the town of Kanab, Utah, excited to check out the "cousin" of Antelope Canyon ...

Peekaboo Canyon

While one doesn't need a guide to hike through this colorful canyon, getting there is another story. I'm sure that the ride along the sandy 3.5 mile road leading to the canyon would be a delight for off-road adventurists, but we decided that we weren't up for the challenge. Besides, there are many local tour companies with the expertise and the AWD vehicles needed to transport us to the canyon.

Although it was a bit bumpy at times, our guide got us there safely, and shared a few stories about his love for this canyon as we walked through. While beautiful, this canyon definitely lacked the sense of "sacredness" that was evident in Antelope. In fact, silly pictures were encouraged.

The following day was rainy and cool, so it was designated "chore" day as it's always important to take advantage of some of the "luxuries" that can be found in small towns like laundromats, grocery stores, and a welcoming church community.

Located between Zion and the Grand Canyon, Kanab definitely delivered some of the "Greatest Earth on Show".

Both with our campsite view,

and the views during a sunset walk around town.

The stretch between Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah is filled with amazing rock formations, beautiful natural wonders, and delightful hiking trails. Every new view offers a stunning reminder of how wind and water over time has carved out a beautiful landscape.

It's also a great place to relax and recharge before heading into the slightly more chaotic nearby national parks ... including a few that we’re especially excited to revisit.

When the Engine Falters ... Las Vegas and Mother Nature Deliver

We've been dealing with a bit of "Baby Beest" drama over the last few weeks. With the "check engine" light becoming more of a regular occurrence, we were grateful to make it to Las Vegas where there was a RAM dealer with a knowledgeable repair team who were willing to delve into her "issues".

After her “spa” visit, we were hopeful the issue was behind us ... and quite happy that most of the repair was covered under the warranty from last September’s engine replacement. With that bit of good news, we carried on with our original travel plans. First stop ... a three-day stay at

Valley of Fire State Park.

This destination has been on our travel radar for many years. Located about an hour and a half east of Las Vegas, this geologic wonderland is famous for its ...

 massive red sandstone formations,

... as well as 2000+ year old petroglyphs.

Hiking among these breath-taking rock formations was the relief that we needed after the slightly stressful last month of vanlife. After three days of dwelling among these precious works of art, we were reminded once again that ...

Life is better with a little bit of nature.

Sunlit arches,

colorful canyons,

and the spectacular art of Mother Nature,

seemed to be the "fix" that we both needed.

On to Zion National Park?

Feeling confident that we were good to continue our travels, we did just that ... until the "check engine" light came back on 15 minutes after we left Valley of Fire on our way to Zion National Park.

Nope ... Back to Las Vegas

After a quick chat with our service rep, we decided that it was best to head back to Las Vegas for the weekend ahead of Baby Beest’s second “spa” appointment on Monday. We took the opportunity to explore a "new to us" section of Las Vegas,

Fremont Street.

In this vibrant, pedestrian-only, five block entertainment district we found ...

energetic light shows under the massive canopy,

plenty of "interesting" street entertainers, music, and dancing,

and an old childhood favorite!

Are you on "team White Castle" along with me, or ...

is a local brew more your style?

Spa day #2 started out with a new engine "noise" as we drove to the repair shop.  The not-so-happy verdict ... our transmission decided to bite the dust.

When it rains, it pours ... even in the desert!

After a long day at the shop and a hefty credit card charge, we now had a new transmission and battery and were hopeful that Baby Beest was good to go ... only to have the "check engine" light come back on just three blocks after we left the dealer.

Well, will the 3rd time be the charm?

The next day, the dealer decided to replace the camshaft since the "creative" workarounds did not seem to be holding. The good news: this repair would be covered under our engine's warranty. The bad news: we were "homeless" for another two nights. The good news: Las Vegas is a fun (and relatively inexpensive) place to be "homeless" in. We decided to hang out on Fremont Street once again and give Doug a proper birthday celebration that included ... 

a zipline flight high above the music and madness,

 a breakfast of champions,

all-you-can-eat sushi,

and an IPA with a view thrown in for good measure!

The next day at the repair shop, they were confident that all was fixed. But by now, could you blame us for feeling a little less convinced that our engine woes were truly behind us? Wanting to “test” the repair, we started scouting destinations within a couple hours of Las Vegas to help put our minds at ease.

Our "test drive" included a one day return visit to repeat two of our favorite hikes, The Fire Wave and White Dome Loop, at

Valley of Fire State Park,

... and then a drive back to Las Vegas for an overnight stay at our favorite Vegas RV park, and thankfully, no repair shop stop.

We continued our "test drive" the next day by heading west for an overnight stay at

Death Valley National Park 

... where we visited Zabriskie Point, hiked the Badlands Loop Hike,

... and admired the Great Artist's talent at Artist's Palette.

Heading back east, we decided to bypass Las Vegas and continue our road trip with a visit to the nostalgic "Route 66" town of

Kingman, Arizona.

Feeling more confident in Baby Beest's performance, we continued on the next day to once again marvel at the scenic jewel known as ...

Grand Canyon National Park.

Spectacular views as we biked along the rim to Hermit's Rest,

... hiked a mile down into the canyon on the South Kaibab Trail,

... or just sat and gazed at the masterpiece created by a small but powerful river.

It hasn't been the easiest two weeks, but with every new destination that Baby Beest successfully gets us to, our confidence grows. We're grateful for the Las Vegas mechanics' ability to reboot Baby Beest's faltering engine and for Mother Nature's ability to calm our anxious minds. With every fiery rock formation, colorful canyon, and sweeping desert view, we are continually reminded that ...

Life is better with a little bit of nature.