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Looking for a southwestern weekend getaway? Check out this guide for what to do in Page, Arizona for a weekend where you can hike, kayak, and explore local culture.
In mid-June, we stopped in Page, Arizona for a short 2 night stay. We had an absolutely blast and Page is a perfect weekend trip for you West Coasters or a great stop on your way to the 5 Utah national parks or Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument! Page is right on the northern border of the state near Utah and also home to the Navajo Native Americans. Page is full of charm and local culture.
This city is also home to Lake Powell, a huge lake set in a canyon with gorgeous blue water and views for days. Don’t worry, this itinerary includes plenty of time to enjoy the water!
This trip is easy for you to make for a weekend if you live in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, or any of the more western states. If you’re on the east coast, you’ll be doing a lot of traveling for a short stay so I would bundle this stop with a trip to other national parks or stops out west!
Without further ado, let’s hop in on what to do in Page, Arizona!
Before You Go
Page, Arizona Weather and packing
Page is considered desert, so it’s very hot in the summer and mild to cold in the winter. The best time to visit is late spring or late fall. During these “shoulder” seasons, you’ll avoid some crowds and the worst part of the summer heat.
Everything is pretty dusty and rocky because again, it’s the desert. Don’t plan on packing your nicest shoes and jeans for this visit. I’d recommend plenty of loose, comfortable clothes because you’ll want to spend all your time outside! Hiking boots, hiking pants/shorts, long sleeve t-shirts and tanks are appropriate. Don’t forget your hat and bathing suit! I also recommend sunscreen and a large water bottle (or multiple reusable bottles) to stay hydrated.
Related: What to see, eat and do in Payson, Arizona
Accommodations
Page, Arizona has a plethora of places to stay whether you’re looking for high-end or budget. The city is pretty compact, so you’re never too far from anything in town. Just keep in mind, some of the hikes and marinas are a bit of a drive due to the size of the lake and surrounding areas.
Campground: Page Lake Powell Campground – this is where we stayed, and we loved it! There’s a beautiful view of the canyons around the area as well as WiFi, laundry, showers, and plenty of room in each campsite.
Budget stay: Best Western View of Lake Powell Hotel
Moderate stay: Lake Powell Resort
Luxury stay: Rent a house boat! This is how people rent “on the lake.” Due to the canyons, you can’t really rent a house on the lake so the next best option is a house boat! Grab several friends and make your money go further. You can rent from VRBO or the marinas on the lake: Bullfrog, Antelope Point, or Wahweap. There are several other locally owned companies within Page as well.
Page is a compact town, so all of these stays will have you close to the action on all the things do in Page.
Day one
Arrive in Page, Arizona! If you are flying in, you’ll most likely have to fly into Phoenix (unless you want to fly into the tiny Page Municipal Airport) and then make the drive with a rental car. It’s about 4.5 hours and a relatively easy trip. Las Vegas is also only 4 hours and 15 minutes away too, if you want to tack on a trip to sin city! If you’re making this stop on a road trip, it’s easy to get here from the Grand Canyon, Phoenix, Payson, and the southern Utah parks and towns. I recommend trying to get here early afternoon so you can do some exploring before dinner.
As soon as you get settled, head to Horseshoe Bend. It’s right at the edge of town. Horseshoe Bend is a super easy, paved ¼ “hike” to the viewpoint. There is an area with a railing but you can also wander to the sides and get dangerously close to the canyon. Of course, use caution but I recommend going off to the sides to get away from the crowds and see the views unobstructed from other tourists.
Sunset is an absolute awesome time to go if the weather is clear!
There is a $10 fee to enter, and an annual national parks pass will not work.
After Horseshoe Bend, grab some dinner at BirdHouse for some fried chicken and craft beer.
Tuck in early because you’ve got a busy day on the lake tomorrow!
Day two
Today is all about hanging out on the lake!
Wake up super early and grab breakfast at Ranch House Grille, a to go breakfast burrito at RD’s Drive-In or pack some snacks and go. Hopefully you’ve made reservations ahead of time to either kayak or jet ski to Antelope Canyon.
I’m sure you’ve heard of Antelope Canyon. It’s the most popular slot canyon in the southwest and for good reason! It is on an Indian Reservation, so you have to go with a guided tour. As of summer 2021, the reservation is not allowing any tours in the upper canyon, so you cannot visit by land. (UPDATE: They are now allowing tour reservations but with ever changing COVID restrictions, know before you go!) However, the canyon extends into Lake Powell and you can get to it by water!
Hundreds of people have found out about the secret to getting to Antelope Canyon via Lake Powell. Most people opt to kayak, because it’s much cheaper and easier to get a kayak. I would definitely do this route if you’ve got patience and time. From Antelope Point marina, it’s about a 3 mile trip out to the canyon and 3 miles back against the wake. Part of the canyon is also wide enough for boats, so you’ll be dealing with some heavy wake.
If it were me, I would book a jet ski a few days in advance. They will fit in the canyon all the way to the “beach” where you can leave it and hike into the canyon. It will also take you a lot less time, giving you more time to get out and walk into the canyon or explore more of the lake!
Either way you decide to get there, you can beach your watercraft and get out to walk into the canyon.
Pack lunch or stop for lunch at Slackers for wings and burgers. We like to take PB & Js to save money and time 🙂
If you’re not tired of water, keep your bathing suit on because I’ve got an awesome relaxing afternoon for you! Head over to Lone Rock Beach to spend the day relaxing and swimming in Lake Powell!
Lone Rock Beach is about 12 miles outside of town. You’ll also pass the Glen Canyon dam on the way, so you can stop and take pictures. The beach is national land, so there is an entry fee but I think it’s worth it. Your annual parks pass will work as well. Once you get in, you can drive right down to the beach! Literally right to it. I recommend having a car with 4WD so you don’t get stuck in the sand. There is parking farther up from the beach, but you’ll have a bit of a hike in some deep sand otherwise.
You can also camp on the beach. Several people brought their campers and RVs down and there were a good bit of tent campers as well! Camping overnight costs an extra fee.
Bring some snacks, drinks, a beach chair, and your pups! Enjoy the day swimming in the lake. This was one of our favorite parts of this trip!
If you don’t want to spend the day on the water, an alternative way to spend your afternoon is visiting any of the MANY recreation areas or hikes in the area. You can also try to book tickets at Antelope Canyon (runs you about $100 per person) if you don’t want to kayak to it.
It’s been a long day, so grab some dinner at State 48 Tavern or Rimview Terrace… or grill out (our dinner of choice!).
Day three
Let’s go for a hike! This is my favorite activity to do anytime we’re traveling, and I’ll often pick a good hike over visiting a town or city. Depending on if you are leaving today or on the morning of day four will determine the length and location of your hike. Page is SO CLOSE to so many epic hikes, national parks, and monuments. You can close your eyes, point to a random spot on the map, and hike there and you probably won’t be disappointed.
Wake up early, grab an easy breakfast (our go to is oatmeal), and head out. An early start is especially crucial in the hot months. Pack plenty of water. A good rule of thumb is a liter for every hour of activity.
To keep this blog post from being fourteen thousand words long, I’ll list the hikes and their distances here by category of easy, moderate, and difficult so you can choose. I recommend doing a little bit of your own research on the trail you choose to ensure the terrain and difficulty will be a good match for you! I use AllTrails to research hikes. The comments feature is awesome to see what conditions are like and what hikers have experienced in the last few days on the trail.
Easy: Hanging Gardens Trail – a 1.2 mile relatively flat trail to an oasis. There is a fee to enter ($30).
Moderate: Paria Canyon from Lees Ferry – about 5.6 miles. There is a fee to enter.
Difficult: Cathedral Wash Trail – only 3.3 miles but is rated as difficult due to the terrain and possibility of river crossings. Please do not hike this if there is a chance of rain anywhere in the area. There is a fee to enter Glen Canyon Recreation Area ($30)
You are also SO close to so many national parks and monuments. If you have a longer day or want to stay an extra night, may I recommend hopping over to one of these locations? Honestly, you are right in the heart of some of the best slot canyons and otherworldly landscape you could stay for a month and not see it all. Here are some recommendations for things you want to see within 3 hours:
- Vermillion Cliffs National Monument (43 minutes): Home to The Wave, you’ll need a permit to do that particular hike but this monument is also home to Buckskin Gulch (the longest slot canyon in the world!), Paria Canyon, and White Pocket. People often choose White Pocket as an alternative to the Wave if they don’t get permits.
- Bryce Canyon National Park (2 hours 43 minutes)
- Kanab, UT (1 hour 10 minutes): The famous Wire Pass trail is here (and dog friendly!). You can also drive the scenic Cottonwood Canyon road, or head to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Zion National Park (1 hour 45 minutes)
- Toadstool Hoodoos trail (30 minutes)
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (30 minutes): Home to the Zebra slot canyon, Peekaboo Gulch, and a petrified forest
This is not even the half of it! There’s tons to see in this area. You’ll need to make a return trip 😉
After your hike, it’s time to hit the road and head home after the best weekend exploring Page!
As you can see, Page, Arizona is an amazing weekend destination. While you need way more time to explore the surrounding area, this little city is beautiful and worth exploring on its own! Hopefully this guide was helpful to plan your trip!
Did I miss anything? What was your favorite thing to do in Page, Arizona?
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