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.
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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.
as we step down into that crevice.
Once inside, he pointed out the canyon’s unique formations
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.
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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.
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