One Day in Page, Az | What to Do in Page
Everyone probably knows Page, Arizona for its slot canyons and Horseshoe Bend.
But there are several additional interesting things that this town has to offer!
Don’t worry, we’ll still cover Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. But you’ll also learn about some other cool things to do in Page and I’ll give you an itinerary you can use for how to spend one day in Page, Arizona!
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Things to do in one day in Page, Arizona!
Before we get started, if you’ll be taking a road trip through this area, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Fodor’s Arizona & the Grand Canyon or Lonely Planet’s Southwest USA travel books. They will give you a ton of extra suggestions & ideas that extend the scope of this blog post.
The Town of Page, Az
Page is a little town that originally started with a small population consisting of the families of those who worked building the Glen Canyon Dam.
Today, Page is a popular vacation spot thanks to the growing popularity of Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, and Antelope Canyon.
The city itself isn’t very interesting (just being honest), but its beautiful and amazing nearby outdoor attractions draw in growing numbers of tourists each year.
When to Visit
Summers in Page get hot. Like HOT hot.
My suggestion would be to visit in spring or fall to avoid being miserable in the heat.
I’ve visited in February and October. Both times it was a little cool but I’d rather be a little cool than sweating profusely.
See the chart below for the monthly highs and lows.
Don’t forget your sunscreen!!
Carl Hayden Visitor Center
When driving on Highway 89 from Page, the visitor center will be about 2 miles north, just across the Glen Canyon Bridge on the right.
The visitor center is currently closed due to COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still plan your trip when you do get to visit!
This visitor center serves as one big educational resource on the attempt to manage water distribution among the western part of the United States. It is full of videos, maps, and models showing how the Glen Canyon Dam generates hydroelectricity.
You can also purchase tickets for a tour of the Glen Canyon Dam.
Glen Canyon Dam
Tours of the Glen Canyon Dam last about 45-minutes, are $5 per person, and are offered by the Glen Canyon Natural History Association. Reservations are first-come, first-served, and can be booked up to 24 hours in advance.
Standing at 710-feet tall, the Glen Canyon Dam is a huge source of hydroelectricity and also distributes water to the Lower Basin States from the Colorado River during times of drought.
It also forms Lake Powell.
Lake Powell
Part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Lake Powell is the 2nd largest man-made lake in the US and is a hot spot for vacationers and boaters.
May thru September are the hottest months here, where the heat can reach the high 90’s in July.
If you have more than one day in Page, renting a boat on Lake Powell sounds super fun. It’s something I would like to do when I go back. The pictures look beautiful!
The Wahweap Marina was recommended to us by the staff at Dixie Ellis while we were touring Antelope Canyon. I haven’t personally rented from them but feel free to click the link above and check them out! They also said their restaurant is a great place for lunch!
And if you’re into kayaking, check out Antelope Point Marina for kayak rentals.
If you do rent a boat, check out Rainbow Bridge National Monument or check out a boat tour! Boating to Rainbow Bridge is MUCH easier than hiking to it.
Both times I’ve visited Page, we didn’t have time to do anything lake related. We did drive to Wahweap Overlook though. It was a very cool view of Lake Powell but was insanely windy!
Hanging Garden Trail
This easy 1.4-mile round-trip trail located off Highway 89 leads to an interesting sight of greenery growing out the side of a large rock face. It’s not everyday you see lush greenery flourishing in the desert environment.
Fed by springs, the water eventually seeps out layers of the rocks and provides hydration for the garden.
Trailhead Location: Heading south on Highway 89 from the Glen Canyon Visitor Center, turn left 0.25-miles after the Glen Canyon Bridge. It will be the first gravel road on your left after the bridge. It’s only marked with a brown “hiker” sign.
The NPS has this page about more hikes in the area if you want to check them out!
Horseshoe Bend
No trip to Page would be complete without visiting Horseshoe Bend!
I’ve visited 3 times now and it’s still one of my favorite places. Each time I go I could sit there forever and just take in the view.
Horseshoe Bend is located just 5 miles south of Page. Take Highway 89 south, you’ll see the signs about 5 miles down on the right!
I created a whole post dedicated to visiting Horseshoe Bend so read that post for more info!
Antelope Canyon
Another must do in Page, Arizona…. Antelope Canyon!
I’m sure you’ve seen the jaw-dropping photos of this unique slot canyon.
While a lot of the pictures do this canyon justice, I HIGHLY recommend everyone see it in person. You get a deep appreciation for how tall the canyon walls actually are
There are actually several slot canyons in the area and you should get a similar experience at all of them. You will, however, need to book a tour through a touring company because the slot canyons are located on private, Navajo-owned land.
We chose to tour Lower Antelope Canyon with Dixie Ellis tours and I cannot recommend them enough.
The entire experience was amazing and our tour guide was literally the best! She grew up in the area and told us all kinds of history, gave us tips for photographing the canyon, and even took pictures for us.
Again, I’ve created an entire blog post on Antelope Canyon. Please reference that for more pictures and tips for visiting!
Alright, let’s throw it all together!
Map
Just for reference, below is a map of all the places I mentioned in this post.
How to Spend One Day in Page, AZ
One Day Itinerary for Page, Arizona
- Start the morning out at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center and check out the views of Lake Powell at Wahweap Overlook if you’d like. (1-1.5 hours)
- Tour the Glen Canyon Dam. Option to view the dam from Glen Canyon Dam Overlook. (1-1.5 hours)
- Visit Horseshoe Bend during mid-morning or midday. There will be less shadowing in the canyon this way. This is also a great place to enjoy a packed lunch! (1 hour, more if you eat lunch there)
- Take a tour of Antelope Canyon! (2 hours)
- Go on a hike! Do the Hanging Gardens Trail like we did or pick another hike in the area. (1+ hours depending on the hike)
- Finish out the day with dinner at one of the local restaurants
Alternate Itinerary
- Visit Horseshoe Bend in the morning (1 hour)
- Take a tour of Antelope Canyon (2 hours)
- Spend the afternoon boating or kayaking on Lake Powell (however long you want!)
Of course, you can mix & match/substitute any of the ideas listed in this post to create your ideal day in Page.
There’s definitely a lot to see and do in this area, but the two things I consider must-sees are Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
If you have more than one day in Page, try driving two hours to Monument Valley or drive down to the Grand Canyon for a day trip!
Fun things to do if you only have one day in Page, Arizona!
