PAGE, ARIZONA – Quick Weekend Getaway
When I studied abroad in the UK, I made it my mission to go to different countries over the weekend. I managed to go to Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France in one semester. Since then, I wondered, “If I can do this in Europe, why can’t I do this in America?” Well… it’s obviously less practical to go to different countries over the weekend while in America, but going to different states should be doable!
Arizona is a state where you can see and do so many things in only three days. I went to Page, Arizona over Labor Day weekend with three friends from Chicago, Illinois. We landed in the closest airport (Phoenix Sky Harbor International - 4 hours away) on Friday night.
After we landed, we attempted to pick up our rental vehicle. However, there were many problems along the way and it took us hours to solve them. Prior to landing, we reserved a cheap, compact car. Somehow, our reservation got lost, all cars were sold out, and we had no choice but to get a pricey truck. This was a blessing in disguise because eventually, we realized that driving around Arizona in a truck is worth it and so much better!
We highly recommend renting a truck so you can drive off-road, find more hidden gems, and use the trunk to store your kayaks and paddle boards!
When we finally got our vehicle, it was already 2am. Then, we headed for the road and drove overnight from Phoenix to Page. We did so much, that we felt like we were there for a week. Here are some of our adventures!
1. Hiking at Horseshoe Bend
After driving for 4 hours, we finally arrived at Page in time to catch the sunrise! We drove through the most beautiful roads surrounded by red rocks, cliffs, mountains, and valleys. Then, we made our first stop at Horseshoe Bend. The 15 minute hike to the bend was easy.
The bend wasn’t the only thing to see, as there were many interesting rock formations all around. Just look how tiny we all are!
2. Walking Through Glen Canyon Dam Bridge
“Do not throw objects from the bridge. Thrown objects can kill.” The Glen Canyon Dam Bridge allows you to see an overhead view of the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. The bridge holds pedestrians and drivers. Standing on the bridge is a little scary for pedestrians because they will be able to feel the bridge shake as vehicles pass by.
3. Climbing on Marble Canyon
(We’re not sure if this is actually the name.)
We found a hidden gem! On the way to Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, there was a mysterious F-road with signs for more scenic views and hiking trails. We followed it and ended up at this secluded spot. However, we did see 2 or 3 people swimming in the lake.
Prior to this, we were disappointed to find out that we didn’t win the lottery to visit Arizona’s “The Wave” in Vermilion Cliffs. But when we found this spot, we joked around and said, “Who needs The Wave when we have this?!” Of course… I’d still love to see The Wave some day, but this hidden gem was also a great alternative!
Directions: Drive on i89 West. Right before Dam Access Rd, there is an unnamed F-road. Drive on the F-road and follow it until you reach the parking lot.
4. Photographing Upper Antelope Canyon
Here’s the legendary and breathtaking… Antelope Canyon!!
Visitors are not allowed to enter without a tour, so booking can get really competitive, as tours sell out quickly. Although we waited only two weeks before our trip to book, we got extremely lucky to find only four spots available with Antelope Canyon Tours by Roger Ekis. However, if we booked weeks earlier than that, we could’ve gotten cheaper tickets for Lower Antelope Canyon tours. So, I highly recommend booking months in advance.
Our session with Antelope Canyon Tours by Roger Ekis was informative and interesting. In addition to telling us the history of the canyon, our guide also taught us how to photograph it. She showed us that in specific camera angles, you will be able to capture shapes that the canyon forms. Some shapes include Abraham Lincoln’s face, a heart, an eye, and more!
5. Kayaking and Cliff Jumping at Lake Powell
This was my absolute favorite activity!! There is no photograph that could capture the beauty of Lake Powell between Antelope Canyon. It was also difficult to take photos because we were busy enjoying the water.
We rented a double kayak, a single kayak, and a paddle board with Lake Powell Paddle Boards. They had excellent customer service. They gave us a free map of the lake and directions, advised us on how to keep ourselves and our belongings safe, and were overall very friendly. They also sold waterproof equipment at their shop and required us to wear life jackets.
We kayaked through the massive Antelope Canyon. The farther you kayak through it, the narrower it gets. However, we only kayaked halfway, as we wanted to go back to the cliffs and jump off of them. Kayaking was mostly peaceful and sometimes challenging when the waves crashed intensely. Jumping off of the cliffs was extremely thrilling and totally safe (if you know what you’re doing)!
And that’s a wrap! Although we did a lot in 3 days, it wasn’t enough. I’m planning to come back here to do everything all over again and more!
