The new and improved visitor parking area at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook South of Page, AZ, is now open. Featuring public restrooms and designated parking areas for cars, RV’s, buses, the new entrance has helped alleviate overcrowding during peak visitation to this iconic attraction.
Operating hours: sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year
One-time entrance fee (determined by City of Page Resolution #1224-19):
*commercial and touring vehicle fees are determined by vehicle size, not number of passengers it is carrying; fees may be changed without notice by the City of Page
Cash or credit/debit cards are accepted, with the exception of busy holiday periods such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, President’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. Guests visiting during these US holidays should be prepared to pay their parking fees in cash to minimize wait times. The America The Beautiful/National Park Pass is NOT accepted for entry to Horseshoe Bend.
There is absolutely no parking anywhere along Highway 89! This is a 65 mph highway, and those who attempt to park on the shoulder will be ticketed and towed. The City of Page has passed also an emergency ordinance prohibiting passenger drop-offs and pickups at the Horseshoe Bend entrance or along the Highway 89 corridor.
The hike to Horseshoe Bend from the parking lot is .7 miles one-way and considered moderately difficult. The trail is partially paved and accessible to those with wheelchairs and strollers (with assistance). Dogs are welcome, but must remain on leash at all times. You must pick up after your pets, and bring sufficient water for them. Please remember you are in a desert environment, where summertime temperatures often exceed 110° (Fahrenheit). The trail to Horseshoe Bend is completely exposed, except for a small shade pavilion. Water, hats, sunscreen, and appropriate walking footwear should be worn. What To Bring to Horseshoe Bend
Those planning trips to Page, AZ, and Horseshoe Bend are reminded that if they find all official parking areas to be full at the time of their visit, they will be required to return at another time when they can find available space. Parking on the side of US89 is strictly prohibited. Those who do so risk having their vehicle towed and incurring fines. The Horseshoe Bend Overlook is busiest between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM when day visitors from Las Vegas, Phoenix, Flagstaff, and other gateway communities are arriving and departing. Visiting in the hours just after sunrise offers dual benefits of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds. What Is The Best Time to Visit Horseshoe Bend
Should you prefer not to deal with the potential inconvenience and expense of the new arrangements at Horseshoe Bend, other ways of seeing this unique curve of the Colorado River include:
Advance reservations are strongly recommended for all guided tours to Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Lake Powell.
630 Responses
Hi Alley,
Thanks for making such a great page. If you don’t mind could I run my itinerary with you as well ? I am actually traveling with my parents both of them are not much of hikers. So here is my tentative plan
Day 1 – Land in Vegas and drive to Flagstaff.
Day2- Leave early morning like 5:30 am to Horseshoe Bend explore the area and leave by 10:30 am /11 Max. On the way back, enter Grand Canyon through East Entrance and do the scenic drive and maybe a short hike if time permits. Then, leave the park by 7:00 Pm and drive back to Flagstaff.
Day3- Drive to Phoenix and Fly out.
Let me know if this looks too aggressive or you would suggest doing something differently.
-Abhi
Hi Abhi!
Using Flagstaff, AZ, as your base, it is theoretically possible to visit Horseshoe Bend and Grand Canyon South Rim all in one day. Still, it’s not ideal. It takes roughly 2.5 hours to drive from Flagstaff to Page, AZ (where Horseshoe Bend is located). That’s driving direct, no stops. It would then take ~2.5 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. Again, that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens because the drive is very scenic, especially between Desert View Point and Grand Canyon Village, where there are over half a dozen named viewpoints on the Grand Canyon, all with different perspectives and dominant features. A more realistic figure for the drive is anywhere from 3.5-5 hours, factoring in stops. It would then take approximately 90 minutes to drive back to Flagstaff. So, that’s 7-9 hours of driving you’re proposing to do in one day. Not my idea of a vacation!
There’s also the matter of the time of year you’re visiting, which I don’t recall reading. If you’re traveling in early-mid summer, namely the timeframe of June/July, you could pull this off because you have longer days to work with. Any other time of year, you risk making part of the drive back to base in the dark, which we strongly discourage. The reason for that is our local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife or livestock that can elevate your risk of an auto accident. That’s not something you want to experience in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, possibly cold (depending on the time of year you’re visiting), where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. To check sunrise and sunset times on the dates of your vacation, visit http://www.Sunrise-Sunset.org
If possible, try to add another night to your vacation so you can set aside one night to stay in Page, AZ and another to stay at the Grand Canyon. Then do the drive back to Phoenix from Grand Canyon South Rim, which would take approximately 5 hours.
Another possibly red flag is that you state your folks are not really “hikers.” Although the trail to Horseshoe Bend is partially paved and relatively flat, the round-trip distance is 1.5 miles. If that might be problematic for your parents, consider seeing Horseshoe Bend from the air. Fixed-wing airplane and helicopter tours depart daily from the Page Municipal Airport, weather permitting. For more information, click on Horseshoe Bend Flightseeing Tour.
Hope that helps! Please contact me directly at [email protected] if you have further questions.
Good luck and safe travels
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley! I was wondering if you could take a look at my itinerary that will be done in 2 weeks and let me know if I’m missing anything! I definitely want to do a tour (under $100) and was looking at Lower Antelope vs Waterhole Canyon vs X Canyon, if you have any insight on which is a must do. And perhaps the New Wave? I saw you mentioned that and it looks very cool!
And my last question would be if you would do 2 or nights in GC or 2 or 3 nights in Zion looking at these plans. Defitently hoping to hike a ton! Thanks so much!
Day 1: Land in PHX in the AM and drive to Grand Canyon (3.5 hours), camp at Mather Overlook Campground
Day 2: Day in Grand Canyon, day hikes /overlook, camp at Mather Overlook Campground, stay in GCNP
Day 3: Hike into canyon (6ish miles RT) – Kaibob trail, stay in GCNP at Mather Overlook Campground
Day 4: Leave GCNP, head to Page, AZ (3 hours, 27 mins), Horseshoe Bend quick hike, could see Lake Powell Dam / New Wave?
Day 5: Head to Zion (1 hour, 45 mins) – spend night in Zion Watchman Campground
Day 6: Whole day in Zion, spend night in BLM land outside park, hoping for Angels Landing lottery!
Day 7: Head back the way we came – go to Page (1 hour, 47 mins), Antelope Canyon / other canyon tour / New Wave ?, then drive 4 hours and 45 mins to Sedona and spend the night there (hotel)
Day 8: All day in Sedona, leave Sedona for PHX and get to airport by 8 pm and depart
Hey Hannah!
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, if you didn’t change a thing, you’d still have a wonderful time.
A couple of observations: the drive times you’ve acquired, from Google Maps, Mapquest, Waze, etc., are direct driving, no stops. That rarely happens around here because pretty much every mile of highway is very scenic and you will be stopping to take photos more often than you think! For example, the route from Phoenix to Grand Canyon South Rim will take you through expansive stands of saguaro cactus, then into more mountainous terrain as you get closer to Flagstaff. Between Flag (that’s what we call it) and the Grand Canyon are some good photo ops as well, especially if you take US180 through the San Francisco peaks. Long story short, don’t be surprised if the trip to the South Rim from PHX takes more along the lines of 5 hours or longer.
Ditto for the drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ. There are over half-a-dozen named viewpoints between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View Point, with varying perspectives and dominant features. They’re all worth a stop. Upon exiting the park, you’ll then be on Navajo Indian land, and there are sights that will no doubt pique your interest, and perhaps your appetite! The Cameron Trading Post, at the junction of AZ64 and US89, serves some delicious Navajo tacos, so you might plan on having breakfast or brunch there. Even if you don’t stop to eat, it’s perfectly situated for a leg stretch, bathroom break, refuel (if needed). Heading North toward Page, there are Chinle formation views, open-air kiosks where tribe members sell hand-made goods (weather permitting), and the Antelope Pass Vista as you head up the side of the mesa from Bitter Springs. 3.5 hours can easily turn to 4.5-5 hours on the trip to Page, AZ! Get an early start on the day so you can hit Horseshoe Bend, the New Wave, and Glen Canyon Dam.
Heading from Page to Zion, here again, lots of possibilities for photo ops and bonus hikes! The Big Water Visitors Center & Dinosaur Museum, ~20 minutes West of Page, AZ, has some cool displays of fossils, many of which were excavated in the local area. If hiking is the main focus of your trip, between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, at mile marker 19, the Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos Trail is an easy but beautiful hike you should definitely check out. In Kanab, the Moqui Sand Caves and the Belly of the Dragon are popular stops.
On Day 7, when you make your way toward Sedona, you can avoid some backtracking by heading South from Kanab, UT, and driving the Southern boundary of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument through Lees Ferry and Marble Canyon. Map While there, you can explore the Lonely Dell Ranch Historic Site, the balanced rock garden and Blanche Russell House, Navajo Bridge, and even dip your feet in the Colorado River. The downside to doing this is that you’ll bypass Page, so if you take me up on this, you should probably plan on touring Antelope Canyon first thing in the morning before you head to Zion. Good luck on that Angel’s Landing lottery – FYI if you aren’t successful in getting a permit, you can hike up as far as Scout’s Lookout without one.
As for the Lower Antelope vs. Waterholes vs. Antelope X question, they’re all beautiful, so you won’t be disappointed, whichever one you choose. Lower Antelope will be the most crowded of the 3, since it’s part of the main branch of Antelope Canyon and therefore widely photographed. Antelope X and Waterholes Canyon keep tour groups smaller, which you might pay a higher price for, but you might find that an equitable trade-off for a more personalized experience.
As for swapping a night at Grand Canyon for a night at Zion, you certainly might look into that possibility, or, into booking an extra night in Page. With more time in Page, you could get out onto the water on Lake Powell for a dinner cruise or other short boat tour.
Since I assume your campground reservations are already made, you’ll probably have a difficult time changing them. The time of year you’re visiting is the Spring Break holiday, so it will be a busy time. If you’re wanting to camp on BLM land, be sure to get to your preferred campsite early. These areas are first-come/first-served. Dispersed Camping near Zion National Park Even though the calendar says it’s spring, the possibility of a late-season snow or rainstorm moving through is something to keep in the back of your mind, especially at the Grand Canyon. Be sure your sleeping bags are rated for colder temperatures, or bring extra blankets in case the nighttime temps happen to dip down around or below freezing.
RE: Sedona, I’m 99.9999999% sure you’ll find the time you’ve allotted there to be insufficient to fully enjoy and explore it. It’s a huge area with lots to see and do, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning a return trip before you even cross the city limits! 3-4 days is what we usually recommend for a fulfilling visit to Sedona.
Last but not least, be aware of when sunrise and sunset occur in each place you visit, as well as the fact that while most of Arizona DOES NOT observe Daylight Savings Time, Utah DOES. In mid-to-late March, sunset in Arizona occurs at around 6:20 AM while sunset takes place just before 6:45 pm. Utah will be one hour ahead (7:20 am, 7:45 pm). The reason this is so important is because nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the country due to local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife or livestock that can ratchet up your risk of an auto accident. That’s something you don’t want to experience in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Hope that helps! If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at [email protected]
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley, what a great site of information! I’ve read through all of your responses and finalizing our itinerary for an upcoming road trip with a 6 & 9-year-old. Does this seem doable? Appreciate your feedback!
Day 1: PHX to Monument Valley stops at Petrified Forest, Hubbell Trading Post, and Canyon de Chelly. A long day of driving…
Day 2: Monument Valley to Page – Horseshoe Bend and Secret Canyon tour. If time – “new” wave or Big Water visitor center
Day 3: Page to Grand Canyon south rim – stay near Grand Canyon
Day 4: Grand Canyon to Sedona stops Wupatki NM, Sunset Crater if time pink jeep tour in Sedona
Day 5: Sedona to PHX stop at Montezuma Castle; depart afternoon PHX
Hey Sam,
Thank you for your nice compliments, we’re glad you’ve found our site helpful!
Your trip plan looks pretty fun, but a trifle rushed. Also, with a 6 & 9 YO in tow, you might have to scale down some of your plans, namely that first day. You are absolutely right that that’s going to be a LOOOOOOONG day of driving that might tax the patience of the kiddos, and you. Google Maps calculates the minimum drive time as ~7 hours factoring in all stops, but not taking into account the time you might spend sightseeing. Before you know it, the sun could be going down and you may have “miles to go before you sleep” to paraphrase Robert Frost. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the country due to local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife or livestock that can ratchet up your risk of an auto accident. That’s something you don’t want to experience in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
My advice, as much as I hate to say it, would be to take Monument Valley off the table this time around and on that first day, make Petrified Forest your primary destination. If you take the route through the Tonto & Sitgreaves National Forests, that’s a beautiful drive – weather permitting – that will take you ~4 hours. After exploring Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert, drive ~1 hour West on I-40 to the town of Winslow, AZ, and visit “Standing On A Corner” Park (homage to the Eagles song), then settle in for the night at the historic La Posada Hotel. Just a suggestion 😉 If you don’t opt to stay there, maybe treat yourselves to dinner at the Turquoise Room, or just stop by for a walk-through. It really is an exceptional place, that narrowly escaped the wrecking ball.
The following day, set out early for Page, AZ, visiting Meteor Crater, Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monuments and the Cameron Trading Post. Approximate drive time ~4-6 hours, factoring in possible stops.
The next day, do Secret Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend tour, visit “New Wave,” then head to Grand Canyon South Rim (~2.5 hours), overnight at the Grand Canyon, preferably in the park or Tusayan, the small community just 7 miles outside the park gates.
Then hit Sedona, ~2.5 hours from Grand Canyon South Rim, take Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour.
Phoenix would then be ~2 hours from Sedona.
Custom Trip Map
I don’t recall seeing what time of year your trip is taking place, but if it’s anytime between April and September, you might even consider dropping Petrified Forest and/or Monument Valley from your itinerary, going straight to Page, AZ, and staying 2 nights. That way your family could enjoy a water-based activity such as the Horseshoe Bend Raft Trip or Kayak Horseshoe Bend.
Whatever you decide, be sure to reserve all hotels, guided tours, dinners at higher-end restaurants, etc. well in advance of your vacation. Also, know when sunrise and sunset occur so you can time your drives to arrive at your final destination for the day well before nightfall. For day-by-day sunrise and sunset times around the world, visit http://www.sunrise-sunset.org
I hope that helps, I know it’s a lot to process. If you have further questions, please contact me directly at [email protected]
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley, I too am glad I found this site. May I also run our itinerary by you? We plan to leave from the Grand Canyon (where we’ll have spent a few days), between 8 and 9 am on Day 1.
Day 1 – drive from 15 miles north of Williams AZ to Four Corners. Drive north to enter Monument Valley via Utah. Take 17 mile loop through Monument Valley. Drive to Page AZ, check into a hotel and spend the night.
Day 2 – take tour of upper Antelope Canyon. drive to Horseshoe Bend/walk to view and return to car [these two can be in either order] Drive to Bryce Canyon arriving between 5 pm and sunset at 7:44 (this will be on April 2).
Do you think the above is do-able? I would love your thoughts!
Hi Laura,
We’re glad you found us, too!
Unfortunately, your proposed itinerary for Day 1 is not realistic IMO. It simply involves too much driving. The drive from Williams, AZ, to Four Corners National Monument takes ~4.5 hours, wheels turning, no stops. You’re then looking at approximately 2 hours to get to Monument Valley from Four Corners via Mexican Hat. To do the scenic loop of Monument Valley, we recommend setting aside 3 hours, 2 bare minimum. You’re then facing a 2-2.5 hour drive from Monument Valley to Page, AZ. So, 4.5+2+2+2, that’s at least 10.5 hours behind the wheel, 12 or more factoring in stops, bathroom breaks, meals, etc. Map Sorry, that doesn’t sound like a vacation to me!
Another consideration is that in early April, you barely have 11 hours of daylight to work with anyway. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be doing all or part of the drive to Page, AZ, after sundown of you go ahead with your plan as it stands. Driving after dark is to be avoided at all possible due to in this part of the country due to local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife or livestock that can ratchet up your risk of an auto accident. That’s something you don’t want to experience in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
If you have your hearts set on seeing Monument Valley and the Four Corners, I would recommend getting an earlier start on the day – as in, right after sunrise, which in Williams, AZ, occurs at ~6:00 AM. Spending that night in Monument Valley, then head to Page, AZ, the next morning. Tour Antelope Canyon on the way into town – by the way a guided tour is required, which must be booked in advance at http://www.AntelopeCanyon.AZ – visit Horseshoe Bend, then either spend the night in Page, AZ, or drive on to Bryce Canyon. Bryce is ~2.5 hours drive from Page, but it’s easy to stretch that into 3.5-4 hours if you take advantage of the opportunity to stop at the Big Water Visitors Center and Dinosaur Museum and the Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos Trail.
Earlier in your inquiry, you mention that you’ll have “spent a few days at the Grand Canyon.” How many days is “a few days?” Most visitors find that 2 days is sufficient to have an enjoyable visit to Grand Canyon South Rim, so if you were thinking you’d spend 3-4 days, drop 1-2 of those days and utilize it to visit Monument Valley, Four Corners, Page, and Bryce Canyon at a more realistic pace.
I hope that helps! Please contact me directly at [email protected] if I can be of further assistance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Alley, I really appreciate your reply. Will be staying near the Grand Canyon for four days with several friends, so I have little to no flexibility there. However, I will take the rest of your advice to heart and apply it. Best regards!
Laura
Hey Laura,
Best regards to you, too!
Please contact us directly at the email address given in the previous reply if any other questions arise during your trip planning process.
Have a great day,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I’m so happy I stumble on this tread as I’m struggeling with a part of my itinerary. My sister and I are from Canada and are planning an trip in the area in february. We’ve done Yosemite, Death Valley and Red rock Canyon in the past, but this will be our first time in this aera. I think I have a ambitious but doable itinerary for the most part but i’m unsure about Day 4.
We are spending 1 night in Monument Valley before going to Page. I was wondering if taking the detour to Grand Canyon Mathers Point, before heading to Page was something we could do in one day or not ?
Here is the full planning:
Day 1 – We fly in Las Vegas at 11AM, take our rental and drive all the way to Bryce Canyon for our first night.
Day 2 – We spend most of the day in Bryce, then in the afternoon drive to spend the night in Page. If possible catch the Sunset at Horseshoe bend.
Day 3 – We leave early to Monument Valley (after Sunrise at Horseshoe if we missed the sunset on day 2) then spend the day and the night in the Valley.
Day 4 – Drive back to Page for the night, but taking a detour via Grand Canyon Village.
Day 5 – Drive from Page to Hurricane, taking the scenic drive trough Zion Park.
Day 6 – Drive back to Las Vegas for the night, but stopping at Valley of fire to spend most of the day.
Day 7 – Fly back home (we have a pretty late flight so we still have a full day to spend in vegas area before bringing back the car)
Your input would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks, hope you have a great day 🙂
Kleo
Hey Kleo,
We’re glad you found us!
Sorry, but I can’t endorse your plan for visiting the Grand Canyon as a detour from Monument Valley en route back to Page, AZ, on that third night. Assuming that it’s too late to switch the order of your itinerary, you should rethink your plan slightly.
The drive from Monument Valley to Grand Canyon Village, “on paper” (aka Google Maps), takes at least 3 hours. That’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens because it’s a very scenic drive and there are many photo ops along the way that you shouldn’t miss, such as the Elephant’s Feet rock formations near Tonalea, the Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks near Tuba City, Chinle formation views between Tuba City and Cameron, and the Cameron Trading Post, which would make for a perfect breakfast/brunch stop, or at least a bathroom break/refuel/leg stretch. And that’s before you’ve even entered Grand Canyon National Park! Between Desert View Point and Grand Canyon Village, there are over half a dozen named viewpoints of the Grand Canyon, all with varying perspectives and dominant features. They’re all worth a look.
So, you shouldn’t be surprised if your trip from Monument Valley to Grand Canyon Village takes more along the lines of 5 hours. You’d then be facing a 2.5-3 hour drive back to Page, at a time of year when your daylength is still relatively short. Sunrise occurs at around 7:15 am and sunset takes place just after 6:00 pm at the time of year you’re visiting. Driving after dark is to be avoided at all possible due to in this part of the country due to local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife or livestock that can ratchet up your risk of an auto accident. That’s something you don’t want to experience in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
I would recommend simply staying at Grand Canyon South Rim that night, either inside the park, or in Tusayan, the small community just outside the park gates. Grand Canyon hotels That would make for a more relaxed experience where you can really enjoy your Grand Canyon sightseeing instead of racing against the clock. The drive to Hurricane, UT, the following day would be on the long side – 5-7 hours depending on stops. To avoid some backtracking, take a detour through Lees Ferry, Marble Canyon, and Vermilion Cliffs.
Unfortunately, you have not set aside enough time for Zion to really do it justice. 2-3 days minimum is what we tend to recommend for a fulfilling visit as that is a huge park with lots of good hiking trails and sightseeing opportunities. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be planning a return visit!
Another attraction that’s conspicuously absent from your itinerary is Antelope Canyon. You really should take the time to visit it while in the Page area! A guided tour is required, which must be booked in advance. For more information on that, visit our partner site, http://www.AntelopeCanyon.AZ
On your final day in Las Vegas, plan on visiting the Neon Boneyard Museum, the Art District, Fremont Street, maybe take a drive to Hoover Dam, or Red Rock Conservation Area. One Day in Las Vegas
Hope that helps! Please contact me directly at [email protected] if you have any other questions I can help with.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley!
I can’t believe this is such an amazing resource for visiting Page! I am planning to visit in Feb. Here’s my complete itinary-
8th Feb: fly to Vegas late at night and spend the night.
9th Feb: Leave around 7 to Hover Dam -> Route 66 and then finally to South Rim Grand Canyon. Hope to catch the sunset and then spend the night in Grand Canyon village.
10th Feb: Leave as early as possible(6:30am) towards Page. I hope to do both lower and upper Antilope Canyon. The Upper at 9:50 am and Lower at 2:15 pm and then sunset at Horseshoe Bend. Stay in Page.
Finally, Drive back to Vegas and then fly back home on a late-night flight.
I know I don’t have enough time allocated for the drive from Grand Canyon Village to Page but that is the only way I can do both Lower and Upper Antilope Canyon. Do you think it’s worth doing both in Feb? I don’t know if Upper Antilope Canyon would be worth it in Feb or if I should just do Lower this time and maybe plan Upper Antilope Canyon in the Summer, or vice versa. Also, do you think I have enough time between Lower and Upper Antilope Canyon tours?
Have a great day.
Thanks & Regards,
Aneer
Hi Aneer,
Thank you for your nice compliments!
Your trip plan looks pretty fun, a trifle rushed, but for the most part doable.
On February 10th, I believe you should consider making some modifications, namely, just do one slot canyon tour on that day. If you’re in shape to handle Lower, stick with that and maybe visit Upper another time. Here’s why: if your Upper Antelope Canyon tour goes out at 9.50 am, that means you need to be there between 9.15-9.20 to check in. The drive from Grand Canyon Village to Page, AZ, takes ~2.5 hours if you drive direct and don’t make any stops. That would be a shame, because it’s a very scenic route and there are lots of photo ops that you would unfortunately miss if you’re racing against the clock to get to Page, AZ, on time for your tour. For example, there over half a dozen named viewpoints of the Grand Canyon between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View Point. They all have varying perspectives and dominant features, so they’re definitely worth the time to stop. Upon leaving the park and entering the Navajo Indian Reservation, there’s the Little Colorado River Overlook (nominal fee charged for entry there), roadside souvenir stands where tribe members sell hand-made goods (weather permitting), and the Cameron Trading Post at the junction of AZ64 East and US89 North. That’s a good place for breakfast/brunch, or at least a leg stretch/bathroom break. Continuing North on US89 there are beautiful views of the Painted Desert Chinle rock formations, more roadside stands (weather permitting), and a breathtaking view of the Kaibab Plateau from the hillside (known locally as “The Cut”) above Bitter Springs. Should you take the time to really enjoy the drive, it could take anywhere from 3.5-4.5 hours. And there’s the issue of weather: February is wintertime, so best case scenario, it will be cold; worst case scenario, you could encounter a snowstorm, which could result in travel delays. For the 2:15 PM Lower Antelope Canyon tour, check-in is required at 1.30 PM, so that would give you plenty of time to make your way from Grand Canyon Village to Page without rushing or speeding.
Since you are flying home on a late-night flight out of Las Vegas, NV, the next day, you might consider doing an Upper Antelope Canyon tour first thing in the morning, then heading out to Las Vegas, which is ~a 5-hour drive. Bonus stop worth considering: Valley of Fire State Park, a stunning area that’s just a short distance North of Las Vegas, and wonderful for visiting during the cooler months of the year.
Hope that helps! Please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] if you have further questions.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hey, Alley! And wow, it’s so nice of you to answer everybody in this post!
As Jake said in his comment, I’m planning an ambitious NV > AZ > UT roadtrip from February 2nd to 5th!
It would be me and my partner, we’re not hikers (so we’re looking for quick and easy places we can go without getting too cold and still get to see cool landscapes).
Here’s what I’ve been thinking about:
*Feb 2nd (Fri)
– Fly to Vegas
– Get there at 10:45pm
– Rent a car
– Spend the night in Vegas
*Feb 3rd (Sat)
– Up with the Sun and leave at 7am
– Grand Canyon
– Horseshoe Bend
(Was thinking about Antelope Canyon but not sure if we can afford it / Would like to add some other places or cool things to do on this day)
– Sleep somewhere around Page
*Feb 4th (Sun)
– Zion
(Maybe Bryce Canyon too?)
– Sleep somewhere in between
*Feb 5th (Mon)
(Maybe Bryce this morning)
– Leave for Salt Lake City at 12:30pm
Do you think that’s possible? What places would you recommend visiting (or not visiting)?
Thank you so much!
Luana Scorsoni
Hey Luana,
Thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate them, which makes it all the more difficult to tell you that I can’t fully endorse your trip plan.
It pretty much falls apart on your 2nd day: it takes approximately 5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim. That doesn’t factor in any stops you might wish to make, such as Hoover Dam, Route 66 (Kingman/Seligman), bathroom breaks, meals, etc. Then, you’re proposing to drive another 3-3.5 hours from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page AZ?! Sorry, but that won’t work, especially at the time of year you’re visiting. The thing that’s working against you at the time of year you’re visiting is daylength, or more specifically, lack thereof. Sunrise in Las Vegas takes place at at around 6:30 AM and sunset in Arizona occurs just before 6:00 PM. Assuming that you hit the road at 7:00 AM, as you suggest, making no stops, you would arrive at Grand Canyon South Rim at around noon. After paying your park entrance fee, finding a place to park your vehicle and maybe grab lunch, you could spend 2-3 hours sightseeing around the Grand Canyon Village Area. That would put you back on the road to Page, AZ, at ~3-3:30 PM, best case scenario. I know that Google Maps gives the drive time to Page, AZ, from Grand Canyon South Rim as 2.5 hours, but that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens because the drive from Grand Canyon Village to Page is very scenic and it would be a shame to miss all the photo ops because you’re racing against the clock to get to your hotel before nightfall. Between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View Point, for example, there are over half a dozen named Grand Canyon viewpoints you can stop at, all with varying perspectives and dominant features, so they’re all worth a look. Upon exiting the park and entering the Navajo Indian Reservation, the Cameron Trading Post is a definite must. They have a great restaurant there that serves amazing Navajo Tacos, as well as a HUGE gift shop with souvenirs for just about every taste and budget. But as your plan currently stands, you wouldn’t have time to stop there except for maybe a quick bathroom break because you’re, as John Wayne would have said, “burning daylight.” As for “adding some other places or cool things to do on this day,” forget it. By the time you get to Page, you may be able to catch the sunset at Horseshoe Bend, but that’s about it. You’d then have to tour Antelope Canyon first thing in the morning, which in February, is less than ideal due to the lack of light.
Why all the concern about nighttime driving? It is strongly discouraged in this part of the country due to local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife or livestock that can ratchet up your risk of an auto accident. That’s something you don’t want to experience in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Another criticism I hate to level, but it’s the truth: you haven’t allowed enough time for Zion and/or Bryce. Zion is a HUGE and beautiful park that truly deserves at least 2 days time to do it justice. Seeing as though it’s ~a 2-hour drive from Page to Zion, then another 90 minutes+ from Zion to Bryce, trying to cram both parks into one day is unrealistic at best.
As much as it pains me to do so, I would suggest taking Zion and Bryce off the agenda and saving these parks for another trip, maybe one where you can do Utah’s Mighty 5?
So, if it’s not too late to make changes to your trip plan, here’s what I’d recommend:
February 2 – fly to Las Vegas, overnight in Las Vegas
February 3 – drive to Page, AZ (~5 hours), maybe stop to hike the Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos, tour Antelope Canyon mid-late afternoon, overnight in Page
February 4 – drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (3.5-4 hours factoring in stops), visit Horseshoe Bend on the way out of town, breakfast/brunch at Cameron Trading Post, stop at overlooks on Desert View Drive, overnight at Grand Canyon
February 5 – drive to Las Vegas (~5 hours), visit Seligman/Kingman for Route 66 memorabilia if desired, maybe Hoover Dam, fly home
If you’re already committed to flying out of SLC, simply reverse the order in which you visit the Grand Canyon and Page. The drive from Page, AZ, to SLC, UT, is ~6.5-7 hours.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Be sure to reserve all hotels, guided tours (such as Antelope Canyon, where they’re required), and flights well in advance of your visit.
If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at [email protected]
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
P.S. If you’re concerned about the cost of an Antelope Canyon tour, check out Antelope Canyon X, an alternate drainage of Antelope Canyon with a 2-part slot canyon where tours are generally less expensive. Click here
Hi Alley!
For starters, I can’t believe you go through and take the time to comment on everyone’s itineraries—so kind of you!! I’m jumping on the bandwagon and wanted to see your tips, tricks, suggestions for our time in AZ. We’re spending 7 nights split between Flagstaff and Page. We’re leaving our itinerary mostly open for now, with some ideal spots to hit while we’re in the area (understand we need certain entry permits beforehand). Have noted your mentions on night driving, sunset and sunrise times in the other comments. Also, we will have a dog with us, which we will leave in the AirBnb for the longer hikes that aren’t dog friendly, but definitely want to include him on certain excursions where he is welcome!
Here is what we are thinking:
MAY 23-27: Stay in Flagstaff
– Would love a full day exploring Sedona with the pup in tow (any suggestions you may have here would be great)
– Would love a day exploring the Southern Grand Canyon sans dog
– Free day for whatever else
Monday 27th – Drive to Page
– would love to see Horshoe Bend and/or Glen Canyon Dam
– want to dedicate a whole day to kayaking** into antelope canyon from lake powell (sans dog)
– would love to check out dog-friendly Buckskin Gulch with the dog
– possible day trips to Bryce or Zion
– entering the impossible lottery for The Wave this Feb and hope to enter the 2-day walk-in lotteries as well – this is a Hail Mary but we’re aware of the lottery system! — if this doesn’t work out, we read South Coyote Buttes could b a good alternative
That’s pretty much it! Very flexible on all the things so if there is anything dog friendly that we’re missing out on or any tips you have, that would be so appreciated!
Thank you,
Tanya
Hi Tanya,
Thank you for your kind compliments!
Your trip plan looks pretty fun, and you should be able to do most of it comfortably with your dog. Just be sure to keep him/her on a leash at all times in the parks, and be prepared to pick up after them where/when needed.
I don’t recall seeing the breed or age of your dog, but as I’m sure you’re aware, you’ll need to adjust expectations and day plans depending on your pet’s endurance level, physical fitness, etc. Also, you might pick up a set of protective booties for your dog since you’ll be visiting at one of the warmer times of the year and sandy trails can get very hot very fast. Then again, it’s also been known to rain or even snow in late May, so you might need to be prepared for colder conditions. The higher altitude areas especially have very unpredictable weather.
For Sedona, the trails most recommended as being dog-friendly are:
– Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Loop (~2.25 miles)
– Chimney Rock (1.5+ miles)
– Little Horse Trail (4+ miles)
– West Fork Trail (~6.5 miles)
Note that some of these areas will require the purchase of something called the Red Rock Pass, which costs $5/day, or if you have an America The Beautiful Federal Lands Access Pass, that will work, too.
On your Grand Canyon day, you might consider bringing your dog along, too. Dogs are welcome (leashed) on all paved rimside trails at the Grand Canyon. They just can’t go on any trails below the rim. They also cannot enter any buildings or ride on park shuttles, unless they are a certified service dog. What you might do here is pack a picnic lunch and go the “long way aroud” and enter the South Rim via the East Entrance at Desert View Point. From Flagstaff, you take US89 North, maybe stop at Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monuments just North of town. These two monuments, which are connected via a convenient loop drive, feature an Ancestral Puebloan village and a dormant volcano respectively. Dogs can walk on any paved trail with you. From there, continue north on US89 to Cameron, then turn West on AZ64 which will take you into the park. Between Desert View Point and Grand Canyon Village, there are over half a dozen named viewpoints you can stop at, all with varying perspectives and dominant features. There is also a picnic area near Buggeln Hill that you might stop at to grab a bite from your cooler. The only bummer is it doesn’t have a view of the canyon. In Grand Canyon Village, park your vehicle at the Canyon View Information Plaza, then walk across the road to Mather Point, where you can pick up the easy, paved Rim Trail. Head West to Yavapai Point and the Trail of Time for a fascinating look at the geology of the canyon, broken down into an easily comprehended visual format. Energy/time permitting, you could continue West to Grand Canyon Village Historic District, which you’d have to be content to observe from outside the buildings with a dog in tow, plus that would mean a long walk back to your vehicle. Another option would be to have one of you ride the shuttle back to your car, then come back and pick up whoever remains with the dog. Upon leaving the park, take the South entrance back to Flagstaff. Whether you bring your dog to the Grand Canyon with you, the drive in from Flag (that’s what we call it around here) via the East Rim Drive could take anywhere from 3-4.5 hours factoring in stops. The drive back to Flag via the South Entrance takes ~90 minutes.
On your free day in Flag, you might use that time to explore some of the attractions in the immediate area such as the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Arboretum, Walnut Canyon National Monument, the Riordan Mansion, the Arizona Snowbowl, just to name a few. Some of these you can bring dogs with, but they wouldn’t be allowed to enter any buildings. But overall, Flag is a very dog-friendly town, it even has several dog-friendly restaurants! Flagstaff: Our New Favorite Dog-Friendly Destination
For Page, AZ, dogs are welcome at Horseshoe Bend (on leash), and can walk across the Glen Canyon Dam Steel Arch Bridge. The Visitors Center at the dam would be a no-go, but there are a couple of trails nearby that you should also check out with your dog: the Hanging Garden Trail (on the Eastern flank of the Dam) and The New Wave (just past the Western flank of the Dam, across from the turn-off to Lake Powell Resort). If your dog likes to swim, you should definitely take the opportunity to take them for a dip in Lake Powell. Easier access points are the Wahweap Swim Beach near the Lake Powell Resort, which may be closed if the water level is too low. If that’s the case, take them up the road to Lone Rock Beach.
If you wish to take a day trip to Zion, you’d probably want to leave your dog at the Air B & B or at a licensed boarding facility such as the Page Animal Hospital. During peak season, day visitors are required to utilize the Zion Canyon Shuttle to access the main sightseeing areas of the park. The shuttle boards in Springdale, UT, and doesn’t allow dogs. It takes ~90 minutes to drive to Springdale, UT, from Page.
For Bryce, you can still drive your own vehicle into the park, and bring your dog with you on the majority of paved trails (no buildings). However, they could not accompany you on any unpaved trails or any path that goes below the canyon rim. A good pet-friendly hike in that area would be the 1/2 mile section between Sunrise and Sunset Points. Pets in Bryce Canyon
Another hike you could enjoy with your dog between Page, AZ, and Bryce and/or Zion is the Paria Rimrock/Toadstool Hoodoos Trail. This is an easy ~2-mile out and back trail situated between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT. The trailhead is at mile marker 19 of US89.
You are correct that the Wave lottery is going to be a “hail Mary” type of exercise, it’s quite competitive, especially at the time of year you’re visiting. South Coyote Buttes is beautiful, and a bit easier to get permits for. That time of year in those areas is typically very hot, so bring the dog booties, and plenty of water for yourselves and your pet!
Note that wherever you take your dog, you must bring adequate water for them. This is a desert environment, and dogs can become dehydrated quite quickly.
Also, be sure that the Air B & B you have chosen will be OK with leaving your pet unattended for long periods of time. Some property owners will not allow that, which means you must be prepared to board your dog, or have a sitter come over and keep them company, on days where you prefer to do your sightseeing without your dog.
I hope that helps! Please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] if you have further questions.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy New Year!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I am planning our first southwestern U.S. trip as a couple, and would love your feedback on our itinerary which includes Horseshoe Bend. Particularly, please let me know if we should spend at least one night in Page, AZ between our time in St. George, UT and Flagstaff, AZ. We know it is a lot of driving!
4 nights in Joshua Tree, CA
Day 1: Fly from NC to Phoenix, AZ. Drive from Phoenix to Joshua Tree (4.5 hours)
Day 2: Joshua Tree Nat’l Park
Day 3: Day trip to San Diego (2.5 hr/one way – to see Padres)
Day 4: Rest day (leisure site see)
5 nights in St. George, UT
Day 5: Travel from Joshua Tree to St. George (5 hr. 15 min)
Day 6: Zion Nat’l Park
Day 7: Bryce Canyon Nat’l Park
Day 8: AM – Rest, PM – Concert in Las Vegas (2 hr/one way)
Day 9: Rest Day, or visit Zion again
*3 nights remaining — would like to use our hotel points in Flagstaff, AZ. However, is it easier to access Grand Canyon from Page or can we split time between Page and Flagstaff?*
– Would like to see Horseshoe Bend (not sure if we will pay for Antelope Canyon)
– Grand Canyon
Day 10: St. George to Page or Flagstaff
Day 11: Grand Canyon
Day 12: Grand Canyon
Day 13: Flight out of Phoenix (not bought flight yet)
Thank you!
Hi Kayleigh,
Thank you for contacting us! I am sorry it took so long to get back to you.
Normally, we don’t advise doing a “shifting hub and spoke” approach to a Southwest vacation itinerary, but it sounds as though you’re trying to take advantage of hotel points where you can. It also looks like you have built some unscheduled time into your trip plan, which is definitely a good thing.
I don’t recall seeing when you were planning to make this trip, but I assume it’s in the summer because you’re going to see a baseball game, which is good because you’ll have longer daylight hours. This is especially important once you get to St. George and start exploring the parks such as Zion, Bryce, etc. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah due to local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife or livestock that can ratchet up your risk of an auto accident. That’s something you don’t want to experience in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. Familiarize yourself with the sunrise and sunset times in the area on the dates you’re planning to visit, and plan your sightseeing days so that you’re back to your hotel well before nightfall. Also note that while Utah will be on Mountain DAYLIGHT Time during the summer months, Arizona stays on Mountain STANDARD Time year-round. You’ll “lose” an hour traveling from California to Utah, but “gain” an hour crossing from Utah into Arizona.
As for the remaining 3 days of your vacation, one way you might tick the Grand Canyon off your wish list is to use your 9th day to make a day trip to Grand Canyon North Rim. It’s approximately a 3-hour drive one way from St. George, but the North Rim is less crowded and some even say more scenic than the South Rim. Along the way, you might also make a stop at Pipe Springs National Monument, but definitely stop at the Jacob Lake Inn to get a bag of their famous home-made cookies from their bakery! After sightseeing at the North Rim, you could drive back to St. George, or simply drive to Kanab, UT, or Page, AZ for the night. Kanab, UT, is ~1.5 hours from the North Rim; Page is ~2.5 hours.
In Page, AZ, allow at least 90 minutes to visit Horseshoe Bend. Antelope Canyon is beautiful, you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity to see it! If the prices of Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon tours is turning you off to it, consider touring an alternate slot canyon that is just as beautiful, less crowded, and often less expensive, such as Antelope Canyon X, Waterholes Canyon, Wind Pebble Canyon, or Mystical Antelope Canyon, just to name a few. For more information visit our partner site, AntelopeCanyon.AZ: Antelope Canyon Alternative Tours The drive from Page, AZ, to Flagstaff takes approximately 2.5 hours. Since Horseshoe Bend is located ~5 miles South of town, you could hit that on the way from Page to Flag (that’s what we call it around here). If you end up with an extra day in Flagstaff, there is plenty to see and do in that immediate area, such as Walnut Canyon National Monument, Museum of Northern Arizona, Lowell Observatory, the Arboretum, even a zipline.
The drive from Flag to Phoenix, via the most directly route, is ~2.5 hours. Time/inclination permitting, you could make a detour through Sedona, which is beautiful. The downside is that doing so will add another 2-3 hours to your trip time, and leave you wishing you had more time there. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be planning another trip to the Southwest before you get to Phoenix for your flight home!
You mentioned that you had not booked your flights yet; before you do, compare prices for flights out of Las Vegas. Using Las Vegas as your staging city won’t make much of a difference in your drive times at the beginning and end of your tour. You might find rental cars cheaper out of there as well.
Whatever you decide, be sure to book all hotels, guided tours, and dinner reservations at higher-end restaurants well in advance.
If you have further questions, please contact us directly at [email protected]
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂
I’ve got an ambitious idea of a trip planned in mid-August, but I’m curious if you think it’s a little too ambitious. I’d drive from Las Vegas and end late at night in Page, AZ before making the journey south of the canyon back to Vegas.
I’d like to drive by, or quickly stop at:
Valley of Fire
Zion Nat’l Park (tunnel road 9)
Detour to the North Rim and then
Marble Canyon/multiple spots near Page either that night or early next morning.
After staying the night in Page, I’d like to head south and check out the South Rim of the canyon and then make the loop back to Vegas, hopefully getting back there by 2pm at the latest.
I want to leave super early from Vegas, say 4 or 5am, to start the journey and was curious if you thought I’d have time to make that long drive and stop off at those places for maybe an hour at most and make it back the next day. I don’t plan on hiking far from where I’d park, mostly looking to take in the scenery. If you have any suggestions to make that trip any better, I’m all ears!
Hey Jake,
Sorry friend, I think that’s too ambitious an itinerary for two days. WAY too ambitious, in fact. You need an extra day and night to pull all this off and enjoy some quality time in each place.
Valley of Fire is a stunning area, and not too far a detour out of Las Vegas, but then you’re talking about ~6 hours to get to the North Rim, 2-3 hours just to drive through Zion, then another 2-3 hours to get to Page, AZ. From Page, AZ, Google Maps gives the drive time as 2.5 hours, but it ends up being closer to 3.5-4 when you factor in all the stops you’ll inevitably end up making at the half-a-dozen+ Grand Canyon viewpoints between Desert View Point and Grand Canyon Village. Las Vegas would then be about a 5-hour drive from there. Plus you’re not even allowing any time to see Page, AZ’s top attractions such as Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.
I totally understand being limited on time and wanting to see everything you can, but trust me, being behind the wheel all. day. long. is no one’s idea of a vacation! Another consideration is available daylight hours at the time you’re traveling. In late August, sunrise occurs at around 6:00 AM and sunset takes place at approximately 7:00 PM. Nighttime/early morning driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the US due to local roads being very dimly lit, plus the possible presence of deer, elk, and livestock animals can elevate your risk of an auto accident. Believe me, that’s not something you want to experience in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Seeing as though you technically have 2 days and 1 night to work with, you’re going to have to prioritize which attraction you’d most like to see, and if you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, that should be the place you focus on.
It takes approximately 5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim via the most direct route, which is the Southern entrance. Since you seem to be open to longer drives, you could take the “back way” in, via the East Entrance. This would take you through Flagstaff, the San Francisco Peaks, the Navajo Indian Reservation (where a stop at the Cameron Trading Post is highly recommended), and the Desert View Drive, where those 6+ Grand Canyon viewpoints are located. Using this route, the trip will take you ~7 hours, longer with stops. After spending the night at a Grand Canyon South Rim hotel (in the park or in the small community of Tusayan, just outside the park), you could head directly back to Las Vegas (~5 hour drive), or extend the trip with a slight detour on Historic Route 66 from Seligman, AZ, to Kingman, AZ, or a stop at Hoover Dam. Another way to possibly “have your cake and eat it too” with regards to seeing the North Rim would be to take an airplane or helicopter flight over it out of Grand Canyon National Park Airport. Tour flights would not land at the North Rim (no airstrip there anymore), but would give you enough airtime over it to get a sense of how different it is.
Sorry to sound like such a buzzkill, but I hope that helps.
If you have additional questions, feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
We just visited this place and the lady who was collecting the parking fee seems to be discriminating based on the color. She charged us $35 for the 12 seater ford transit vehicle and for the same vehicle who was parked next to ours was charged $10. When we asked about, she started saying like adults vs children, etc. in this website clearly says the parking fee is based on vehicle type, not based on the color or children vs adults. It’s is not about the money, it’s about the discriminatory behavior made us feel bad, we pay the taxes and we deserve to be treated like any others in US.
Discrimination based on color or any other factor is unacceptable, and it is important to address these issues. I want to share my experience in a public comment or review, as it raises awareness and helps promote equal treatment for all visitors. No one should be subjected to such unfair treatment, and it is crucial to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
Hi Satheesh,
We are very sorry to hear that you received less than hospitable treatment at Horseshoe Bend. You are correct that discrimination of any sort is unacceptable.
I would encourage you to report your experience to the City of Page, who is in charge of the parking lot, and gate attendants. If you happen to remember the person’s name who was involved, that helps even more. Their phone number is 928-645-8861.
Wishing you continued safe travels,
Alley
Hi,
I am planning solo trip to utah and Arizona Nation Parks, detailes itinerary is
Day 1 : drive from los Angeles to Hurricane, overnight in Hurricane
Day 2 : Zion National par and drive back to Hurricane
Day 3 : Zion National park then around 5 PM drive to Bryce Canyon, overnight stay at Pines inn Bryce
Day 4 : Half day Bryce Canyon, then 5 Hrs Drive to Moab, over night stay in Moab
Day 5 : Arches National park, overnight stay in Moab
Day 6 : Canyonland National Park, Overnight stay in Moab
Day 7 : Drive to Monument Valley, spend 3 to 4 Hrs then drive to Page, Overnight stay in Page
Day 8 : Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, Hourse Shoe Bend, The Wave trail, Overnight Stay in Page
Day 9 : Early leaving for Grand Canyon, then drive to Williams for night stay
Day 10 : drive to Las Vegas
Your Recommendations is highly Appreciated, As I Mentioned I am solo Traveler so do you recommend this trip ?
This is my first trip, is Gasoline available frequently in this route ?
Hi Jawaid,
Wow, your itinerary looks really fun, and well-paced.
Still a couple of minor reality checks are in order.
On Day 3, where you propose to sightsee in the Zion National Park area until around 5:00 PM, then drive to Bryce, depending on the time of year you’re visiting, you might want to hit the road a little earlier. Driving after dark is strongly discouraged in this part of the US due to local roads being very dimly lit, plus the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife does elevate your risk of an auto accident. The drive from Zion to Bryce is about 90 minutes. If you’re visiting during the summer months, you should be OK leaving Zion at 5:00 PM since sunset doesn’t occur until 8-8:30 PM. If your visit is scheduled for fall or winter, you should probably get an earlier start since sunset takes place around 6:00-630 PM at that time of year.
On Day 5, where you want to visit Arches, note that the advance purchase of a timed entry reservation is required between April and October. For more information on how to get one, visit Recreation.gov.
On Day 8, you indicate wanting to hit the “Wave Trail.” I can tell you with relative confidence that is not likely to happen. For one, hiking to The Wave requires a permit. These are disbursed by advance online lottery 4 months prior to your desired hike date, so in the month of May, entries are being taken for September permits. In June, October permits are given out. A limited number of permits are given out on a walk-in basis, 2 days prior to one’s desired hike date, via Recreation.gov’s smartphone app. To take part in the walk-in lottery, you must also physically be within a prescribed radius of Page, AZ, or Kanab, UT. If chosen, you would then need to attend an orientation and safety briefing in person at one of two designated locations in Page, AZ, or Kanab, UT. In the unlikely event you get a Wave permit via either system, that hike will take you all day, so you would not have time (or energy) to visit the Antelope Canyons, Horseshoe Bend, or anywhere else. At this juncture, it would probably be best to write the Wave off, and consider visiting an alternate site that’s more easily accessible and does not require a permit. It’s known as the “New” Wave, and it’s a relatively easy and fun hike, just a short distance from the Glen Canyon Dam.
Those were the biggest “red flag” items I could spot.
Note that the Antelope Canyons require a guided tour to visit, which must be reserved in advance. For more information on that, visit http://www.antelopecanyon.az
Horseshoe Bend is a place you might hit first thing in the morning on the drive to the Grand Canyon. It’s just South of town, so it’s right on your way. The parking lot opens right at sunrise, which is a good time to visit to take advantage of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
Staying in Williams after leaving the Grand Canyon is OK, but again, keep an eye on the time and know when the sun sets. Williams, AZ, is about 1 hour due South of Grand Canyon South Rim. Staying either inside the park or in the nearby community of Tusayan, AZ, would make for a more comfortable day, and enable you to see a Grand Canyon sunset and/or sunrise. Grand Canyon hotels The drive to Las Vegas, NV, from Grand Canyon South Rim is ~5 hours.
RE: your query about gas stations, they are readily available along your tour route. To find out where gas prices will be the most competitive, you might get the GasBuddy app.
Hope that helps! Please write in again if I can be of further assistance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley
Hi! We are planning a trip.in October 2023 with a few nights stay in Page. Is it better to book tours etc in advance or are there ample opportunities once we arrive in town? I don’t want to miss out on any of the sights, but I have also noticed the prices vary greatly in tours.
Thank you for this amazing Q & A, the most helpful advice on the internet
Hi Michele, and thank you for your kind compliments!
I would definitely recommend booking guided tours in advance of your arrival as October still technically falls within peak travel season. Although most kids are back in school, October is widely known to offer almost picture-perfect weather for sightseeing and hiking. It will be busy in Page, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and nearby attractions. If you’re using Las Vegas as your staging city, be sure to hit up Valley of Fire State Park just Northeast of town. October is a nice time to visit The Fire Wave.
But I digress… regarding the variations in tour prices, some include taxes, Navajo Tribal Park fees (for Antelope Canyon), and other fees; some only feature the base price then add the fees on later. It does help to shop around, but you definitely don’t want to just show up in town and assume you’ll be able to get on tours at a moment’s notice.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels, and if you have further questions, please contact me directly at [email protected]
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
We are planning a SW National Parks trip with a Nebraska Boy Scout Troop for late July. Heading to Colorado Springs Seven Falls for night one. Royal Gorge/Mesa Verde/Monument Valley night 2. North Grand Canyon/Horseshoe Bend night 3. Zion night 4. Bryce Canyon/Capitol Reef night 5. Canyonland/Arches night 6. Estes Park night 7. Home night 8. Are there any specific places you would hit for sure? Any specific tent camping spots? We would love to go to Antelope Canyon, but at $100/person I don’t know if that one is possible. Are there any group discounts?
Hi Tom, and thanks for visiting our site!
I hope your plan isn’t set in stone. I have to tell you honestly that your itinerary is overly ambitious and VERY rushed. Your Boy Scouts are going to spend most of their time on the road instead of on the trail.
You’re looking at drive times of:
Day 2 (Royal Gorge/Mesa Verde/Monument Valley) – 9-10 hours
Day 3 (MV/Horseshoe Bend/GC North Rim) – 5-6 hours
Day 4 (North Rim to Zion) – 2.5 hours
Day 5 (Zion to Capitol Reef via Bryce Canyon) – 4-5 hours
Day 6 (Capitol Reef to Moab) – 3 hours
Day 7 (Moab to Estes Park) – 8-9 hours
Trip map
Another thing to consider: the time of year you’re traveling. In July, a lot of road construction takes place, especially in areas that get a lot of snow (Colorado, Utah, Northern Arizona). This can result in unexpected travel delays. Plus, it’s HOT in the desert locales you’re proposing to hit. Tent camping in Monument Valley, for example, would be downright unbearable IMO when daytime highs can exceed 110 degrees and overnight lows may dip down to 80 if you’re lucky. Also, you’re allotting only one night to each place, when most of the destinations on your tour deserve at least 2-3 days of your time, especially Moab (Arches/Canyonlands), Zion National Park, Page, AZ (for Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon).
I strongly recommend you consider dropping some sites from your itinerary so you and your boys can enjoy some quality time instead of packing up and leaving every morning. Colorado has plenty to offer in the way of scenic, cultural, and historic sites, and the mountain parks will be much cooler than the desert. Maybe swing over as far West as Moab and Mesa Verde, but save the other parks of Utah and Arizona for another trip.
As for tent camping spots, most National Parks have them, but not all have group campsites, which I assume you’ll need? Those that don’t have campgrounds will require that you stay outside the parks in gateway towns. You might also consider boondocking (free/dry camping) on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, which is plentiful in the Southwest US.
Assuming that you stick with this very ill-advised itinerary, campgrounds along your route include:
Monument Valley – KOA, Goulding’s RV & Camp Resort, The View Campground
Grand Canyon North Rim – North Rim in-park campground, DeMotte Campground, Kaibab Camper Village
Zion National Park – Watchman Campground, South Campground, Lava Point Campground
Capitol Reef – Fruita Campground, Capitol Reef RV Park & Campground, Sunglow Campground, Thousand Lakes RV Park
Arches/Canyonlands – Devil’s Garden Campground, Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway, Sun Outdoors Canyonlands Gateway
Estes Park – Mary’s Lake, Rocky Mountain KOA, Glacier Basin Campground
For reservations at campgrounds located within the boundaries of any National Park, visit http://www.Recreation.gov
For information on free campsites, dispersed/at-large camping, boondocking, BLM camping, etc. visit http://www.freecampsites.net, http://www.campendium.com, or http://www.boondocking.org
Regarding group discounts for Antelope Canyon tours, you would need to contact the tour companies directly to inquire. Phone numbers for the companies that tour the main branches of Antelope Canyon (Upper and Lower) are as follows:
Lower Antelope Canyon
– Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours 928-606-2168
– Dixie Ellis’ Antelope Lower Canyon Tours 928-640-1761
Upper Antelope Canyon
– Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours 928-698-3384
– Roger Ekis’ Antelope Canyon Tours 928-645-9102
– Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours 928-380-1874
– Chief Tsosie’s Slot Canyon Tours 928-645-5594
– Tse Bighanilini Tours 928-310-94
Don’t get me wrong, the Antelope Canyons are beautiful, but instead of spending all that money, consider going to another slot canyon that doesn’t require a guided tour, just a $6/person day use pass through Recreation.gov. Wire Pass Canyon, which joins with Buckskin Gulch is located between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, and features classic slot canyon scenery slightly more rugged than Upper Antelope Canyon. The only caveat to that is that the trailhead is located down the House Rock Valley Road, which is unpaved, and can be rendered impassable if recent weather has brought any precipitation at all. In late July, you could encounter the beginning of the monsoon season, when afternoon thunderstorms occur frequently and can raise flash flood risk within formations like slot canyons.
But again, in light of how far you’re already traveling, and desert weather conditions, I would encourage you to skip Arizona and Southern Utah this time around, and take the time to really enjoy Colorado.
I hope that helps. Please contact me directly at [email protected] if I can be of further assistance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello Alley,
We are planning to visit Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon (Upper & Lower) in April or May 2023.
Few questions I would like to ask you as I am a bit lost… 🙂
–> How much time do we need to visit Horseshoe Bend? How much time do we need to visit Antelope (Upper & Lower) ?
–> If we book a ticket for Antelope, is the entrance for Horseshoe Bend also included? On your website it seems I can only book for Antelope Canyon.
–> I saw in the comments the visit is mandatory by foot (no car allowed), is it still the case? (maybe rules have changed since COVID?)
–> how much would it cost for 2 people?
Also I would like your opinion based on your experience about the trip we would like to perform (we would be driving from Las Vegas):
– Day 1 = Zion National Park
– Day 2 = Bryce Canyon
– Day 3 = Horseshoe Bend / Antelope Canyon
– Day 4 = Monument Valley
– Day 5 / Day 6 =Grand Canyon
We have unfortunately only 6 days… based on your experience does it seem a good plan? (taking also car drive into account…).
Would you have some recommendations or any other spots we should visit in this time frame?
Thank you in advance for your precious help and have a lovely day.
Yours sincerely,
Jean-Baptiste
Hi Jean-Baptiste and thank you for visiting our site!
To answer your queries in the order asked:
1. We recommend allotting 90 minutes to visit Horseshoe Bend, including parking your vehicle, walking to the rim, taking photos, then walking back to the parking lot. We also recommend hitting Horseshoe Bend at sunrise to enjoy cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. At the time of year you’re visiting, sunrise occurs between 5:30 and 6:00 am, Mountain Standard Time.
2. For Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, allot approximately 2 hours per canyon, factoring in advance check-in time and other logistics. Also, consider taking a break of at least 1 hour between tours so you can get lunch somewhere. Or maybe have a cooler on hand for a quick picnic lunch you can enjoy at your convenience.
3. “I saw in the comments the visit is mandatory by foot (no car allowed),” if you’re referring to Horseshoe Bend, that is indeed the case. The trail from the parking lot to the overlook is ~.7 miles, making for approximately a 1.5 mile round-trip walk. The trail is fairly flat and easy to navigate. Watch this YouTube video to see what it looks like.
4. The cost to park at Horseshoe Bend is $10/standard passenger vehicle, $35 for light commercial vehicles. This is a one-time fee. The cost to tour Antelope Canyon is approximately $80/person for Upper Antelope, and ~$50/person for Lower. Prices may vary depending on season, which outfitter you go with, and whether you choose a peak-hour departure (mid-day).
RE: your trip itinerary, I do have some observations. First and foremost, you’re not allowing enough time for Zion. This is a huge and beautiful park that really deserves 2-3 days time to do justice to. Page, AZ, should also warrant 2 days at the time of year you’re visiting so you can take part in a water-based activity such as the Horseshoe Bend Raft Trip or Kayak Horseshoe Bend. Crazy as it may sound, you can have a fulfilling visit to Grand Canyon South Rim with just a 1 night stay. You’d end up doing a good chunk of your Grand Canyon sightseeing on the drive down from Page, which would take you along the Desert View/East Rim Drive of the park where there are half a dozen named overlooks you can stop at. In light of these facts, and as much as I hate to say it, I’d recommend dropping Monument Valley. Not that it isn’t beautiful (it definitely is!), but your timeframe is too short. If you can possibly carve out another day or two to make this trip, I’d heartily recommend doing so. You won’t regret it!
I hope that helps, I know it’s a lot to process. If you have further questions, please contact me directly at [email protected]
Good luck, safe travels, and have a happy holiday season!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I have a question. My husband and I will be visiting Horse Shoe Bend next year. We are both photographers and would love to capture Horse Shoe Bend during sunrise and sunset. 🙂 We were wondering if the parking fee is for 1 visit only or if we can visit the Horse Shoe Bend for the second time llater that day with the same ticket?
Thank you in advance!
Greetings,
Dominique
Hi Dominique!
This is a great question, unfortunately, it doesn’t have that great of an answer.
Your parking fee for Horseshoe Bend is good for one visit only. Should you wish to visit a second time, you’ll have to pay the $10/vehicle (standard passenger car) parking fee again.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news in that regard. You’ll be glad to know that there are many other places you could go to see sunrise and/or sunset where no admission is charged. Good viewpoints include but are not limited to The New Wave, Wahweap Viewpoint, the White House Overlook of the Glen Canyon Dam, Grandview Overlook Park, and the Page Rim View Trail, just to name a few.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello:
I have a question related to the photograph of Horseshoe Bend. If I visit it 3 hours and 30 minutes after sunrise, that is, for example, on Friday May 27th , which sunrise is at 5:10 a.m. I visit it at 8:45 a.m., will there be shadow areas in the turning of the river or will it be completely illuminated?
From what time will be completely illuminated on that date approximately?
Thanks and best regards
Hi Javier,
If you’re wanting to photograph Horseshoe Bend at full illumination, meaning, without shadows obscuring any portion of it, 8:45 AM would probably be OK, but you might consider visiting closer to the noon hour, when the sun tends to be directly overhead.
For more suggestions, check out “The Best Time To Visit Horseshoe Bend”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley, is an authorization required for flying a Drone with no comercial purposes just amateur?
Hi Nicolay –
Sorry, no drones allowed at Horseshoe Bend – you will see a sign stating as much when you get there!
Alley
I am photographing two friends who are doing a proposal at horseshoe bend in a few weeks. Would I still need a permit to photograph friends? I realize ill have to pay the entrance fee regardless.
Hi Thomas,
From what you’re describing, photographing friends doing a proposal qualifies as “low impact filming,” which does not require a permit from the National Park Service. According to the Special Use Permit section of the National Park Service’s official page for Glen Canyon,
Still photographers require a permit only when:
1. the activity takes place at location(s) where or when members of the public are generally not allowed; or
2. the activity uses model(s), sets(s), or prop(s) that are not a part of the location’s natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities; or
3. a park would incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity.
You are correct that the parking lot entrance fee would still be collected regardless.
If you have any questions about this, please contact the administrative office of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area at 928 608-6200.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
thanks alot Alley for this great post
Hi, to enter Wahweap Overlook is the America the Beautiful annual pass valid?
br, Thomas
Hi Thomas!
The Wahweap Overlook is located on US89 just outside the town of Page, AZ. The America the Beautiful Pass, or the Glen Canyon Entrance Pass, is not required there since it is outside the park.
If you wish to enter the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, either at Lake Powell Resort, Antelope Point Marina, or Lone Rock Beach, then your America the Beautiful Pass would grant you access to these areas.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello, I want to photograph the horseshoe bend at twilight prior to sunrise next week (April 15/16). Sunrise is at 5.51, will the car park open early enough for me to park, walk and be at the bend prior to the sun fully being up?
Hi Luke,
The staff of the Horseshoe Bend parking lot typically gets there a few minutes early to open the fee booths, count the till, and get ready for the day’s operations. As to whether someone would actually be there before technical twilight, you would need to inquire about that with the City of Page. They can be reached at 928-645-8861.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello Alley. How much time is required to walk to the look out site for Horse Shoe Bend from the Parking Lot?? How much time should be allocated to get a good look and photos? How many “vistas” or look out sites are there? Thanks in advance…..very much appreciate your insight.
Hi Gary,
We recommend allotting anywhere from 60-90 minutes to visit Horseshoe Bend, including parking your vehicle, walking out to the rim, taking photos, then walking back to the parking lot. Although there is technically just one “vista,” the rim of Horseshoe Bend is actually quite large, allowing for several different perspectives on the Colorado River below. There is also a fenced platform for those who prefer an extra measure of safety, but it only encompasses a small fraction of Horseshoe Bend’s total real estate.
Hope that helps! If you require further assistance, please contact me directly at [email protected]
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hey Luke, was the car park open early enough for you to capture twilight?
Hi!
I have to bring a group of friends, but since I have already been there several times I will leave them at the entrance to the parking lot and they will enter on foot. Is this possible? Is there an entrance fee to pay?
Hi Fabio,
Sorry, but the City of Page (who manages the Horseshoe Bend Parking lot) has passed an emergency ordinance prohibiting passenger drop-offs and pickups at the Horseshoe Bend entrance or along the Highway 89 corridor. There is absolutely no parking anywhere along Hwy 89, as this is a 65 mph highway, and vehicles who do so will be ticketed and towed.
Alley 🙂
Hi Ally
My name is Markus and I come from Germany. It will soon take me to your beautiful area for the third time. I love Utah, Arizona and the whole desert landscape. This time, among other things, we want to go to the toroweap overlook. We require a 4WD car. I found you and your many reports here. I am fascinated by how well you inform people. That’s a big compliment to you. Maybe I’m a bit cheeky with my request, but maybe you have an info for me where I can rent a 4WD car. For two days in June. Many thanks and greetings from Germany. Markus
Hi Markus,
Glad that you’re getting a chance to return to the American Southwest!
Getting to the Toroweap Overlook definitely requires a 4WD vehicle. Many mainstream car rental companies (AVIS, Hertz, Alamo, etc.) rent SUV’s and similarly equipped vehicles. The problem is that driving off-road would void the insurance you have the option of purchasing through these companies. Should you get stuck or incur any damage, you would be on the hook for it, which will be VERY expensive!
You might want to consider renting a standard passenger vehicle for the majority of your trip, then rent a jeep or equivalent 4WD vehicle for your Toroweap day (or two). There are a couple of jeep rental companies in Page, Arizona. Kanab Tour Company in Kanab, UT, rents ATV’s, which might also be an option.
The safest way to go to Toroweap, quite honestly, is with a licensed tour guide. There are several tour companies in Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, who can get you to Toroweap, and more importantly back in one piece. They have the proper vehicles (with the proper insurance) and extensive knowledge of the area to help you make the most of your visit! Hire A Guide To Toroweap
Good luck, safe travels, and thanks for your compliments,
Alley 🙂
I would like to photograph Horse shoe bend at night with the moon and stars. Is that an option? And what is required of me to do so?
If there are restrictions then what are the visiting hours for May 17, 2022?
thank you in advance,
shawnie
Hi Shawnie,
To our knowledge, the Horseshoe Bend Parking Lot is only open from sunrise to sunset. If you wish to be there after hours for night photography, you would probably need to arrange that with the City of Page, AZ, who manages the parking lot. Their phone # is 928-645-8861.
In the event they cannot or will not help you, you’ll be glad to know that there are locations on the outskirts of Page, AZ, where good nighttime photography can be enjoyed. Lone Rock Beach is a place you might want to check out. It is within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so you’d have to pay the $30/vehicle entrance fee to access it, but that is good for one week’s time, which means you can also use it to enter the Lake Powell Resort or Antelope Point Marina Complexes.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi there !
Question – does the America The Beautiful Pass work for parking at Horseshoe Bend?
Hey Audra,
Sorry, the America The Beautiful Pass is not usable at Horseshoe Bend 🙁
The America The Beautiful Pass grants you access to all National Parks, Monuments, and Federal Fee Areas. Horseshoe Bend is managed as a Municipal Park by the City of Page, AZ. Parking fees are $10/standard passenger vehicles or $35/light commercial vehicles.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley…I have a time zone question…I am slightly confused and need some clarification. This spring (May) we will be in Page and plan to drive to Monument Valley to take the 1.5 hour quickie tour. I know AZ does not do Daylights Saving, but the Navajo reservations do. So we need to plan on an extra hour, because Monument Valley will be an hour ahead of Page in May? Is that correct? I want to make reservations for the tour and want to make sure I will be there at the correct time. I don’t want to arrive an hour late and miss my reservation…and I also don’t want to arrive an hour too early either.
Also, do you have any knowledge of the Monument Valley tour companies? Are they all pretty much the same? Price seem to vary by $5-10, but the description of the tour seem to be the same. Just curious if you have an opinion on one being better then the others?
And lastly…regarding Antelope Canyon tours…what do you think of the Ligai Si Anii Canyon tours? Seems easier to book than the tours of Antelope Canyon. Is it still pretty neat, even though it is not technically the Antelope Canyon every one raves about and has to enter lotteries for.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for this great information. My Fiancé and I plan on eloping at Horse Shoe Bend. It will just be the two of us in either Febuary or March.
Can you recommend the best options for us to do this as well as what is needed inorder to get a permit, which I believe that we need?
We will do our own picnic setup. Would just need an officiant and photographer. I also wanted to ask what are the popular locations to have a ceremony and intimate picnic.
Thank you so much
Hello Monique,
Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials!
It is possible to elope/marry at Horseshoe Bend with the proper permits, which can be obtained through either the National Park Service, or the Navajo Indian Tribe. The National Park Service manages the main viewing area, which is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and the Navajo Tribe oversees the Southern flank of the ‘Bend. The National Park Service as a general rule tends to be more particular about what activities take place at Horseshoe Bend. For example, they may frown on your desire to have an “intimate picnic” as this might interfere with normal visitation to a public overlook. The Navajo Tribe might be more flexible in this regard.
For more information on obtaining a Special Use Permit for Horseshoe Bend through the National Park Service, visit NPS.gov: Glen Canyon Special Use Permit For the Navajo Tribe, visit NavajoNationParks.org
Another option that will save you a lot of time, hassle, and headache is to consult a local professional wedding planner. These companies can assist with permitting (both on the NPS and/or Navajo managed areas), and handle other details such booking an officiant, photographer, caterer, and other services. We recommend Monumental Arizona Weddings, who are owned and operated by a long-time and well-connected area resident who can get it all done for you with a minimum of back-and-forth. For more information, visit HorseshoeBendWedding.com: Elopement Packages or phone 480-980-8121
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy New Year!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I was hoping you can answer a few questions for me. I’m planning a trip for my family and I to head out Arizona in April. From Vegas, our first stops would be Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Are reservations needed to enter Horseshoe Bend? For Antelope Canyon, it’s my understanding that booking a tour is needed, I’m traveling with my two kids ages 9 and 6, is there a specific tour you recommend at Antelope Canyon? Last question we plan to drive from Page, to the Scottsdale area and staying the night here for a couple nights, I do want to visit Sagauro National Park, are reservations needed here?
Thanks in advance, appreciate any help given!
Hey Jacqueline!
Reservations are not required to visit Horseshoe Bend. The parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset, which in April is 5:50 am and 7:00 pm respectively. You simply go at your leisure, pay the parking fee, and enjoy.
For Antelope Canyon, you are correct, a guided tour is required. With a 6-year-old in tow, Upper Antelope would probably be easiest, but if your child is active and enjoys climbing, they may enjoy Lower. Watch this video of a full walk-through of Lower Antelope to help you decide on that. Note that in the video the people are carrying backpacks, which is no longer allowed. Whatever you choose, be sure to make advance reservations for an Antelope Canyon tour.
As to the latter half of your trip, the drive from Page, AZ, to Scottsdale, AZ, is ~4.5 hours. Saguaro National Park is actually located closer to Tucson, AZ, which is a 90-minute drive, one-way, from Scottsdale. While reservations are not needed to enter, the park does have limited operating hours. In the Tucson Mountain District (west), the park is open to vehicles from sunrise to sunset daily (actual times vary throughout the year). In the Rincon Mountain District (east), the park is open to vehicles from 5:00 am-8:00 pm in the summer, and 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 pm in the winter. Due to the driving distance and shorter daylength at the time of year you’re visiting, you might consider booking a hotel for a night or two in Tucson to get the most out of your visit to Saguaro NP.
Hope that helps. If you need further guidance, please contact me directly at [email protected]
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley
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Hi Alley,
might be a stupid question, but I can’t find an answer anywhere. When coming from St. George on 89A can I turn left into the Parking lot? On Google maps it seems that there is a double line which wouldn’t allow the turn. Would I have to drive the whole way to Page and then turn around?
Thanks!
Penny
Hey Penelope,
No such thing as a stupid question around here!
Yes, it is possible to turn left from US89 into the Horseshoe Bend Parking Lot. Since many visitors to the area are coming from Grand Canyon South Rim, Flagstaff, Sedona, and other points South, that’s the most logical way for them to access the parking lot. In the unlikely event you had to go all the way to Page, AZ, and turn around, it would not be a far drive, maybe 5 miles tops.
Hope that helps. Please contact me directly at [email protected] if I can be of further assistance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
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Hi! We are visiting for the first time for Thanksgiving. Here is my plan, do you feel like this is going to work ok? THANK YOU for your help!!!
Stay in Sedona (2 nights). Travel to Page.
Page (3 night)
-11/25 Come in on Thanksgiving. Picnic dinner at Lone Rock Beach.
-11/26 Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
-11/27 Drive to Grand Canyon for a day trip.
We are excited!
Hey Tiffany,
That plan looks pretty fun, except when you get to the part where you propose to do a day trip to the Grand Canyon.
The drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim takes 3-3.5 hours. I know Google maps gives the drive time as ~2.5 hours, but that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens because it’s a very scenic drive and you will be stopping to take pictures more often than you realize, especially between Desert View Point and Grand Canyon Village, where there are half a dozen named Grand Canyon viewpoints, all worth stopping at! You’re also proposing to do this at a time of year when daylength is going to be short. On November 27th, sunrise occurs at 7:15 am and sunset takes place at around 5:10 pm. That’s barely 10 hours of daylight to work with, and you’re already proposing to eat up 5-6 hours of that behind the wheel. That doesn’t leave much time for sightseeing, and it is important to avoid driving back to Page, AZ, after sunset. Nighttime driving is generally discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit. The possible presence of deer, elk, other wildlife, and livestock animals can also elevate your risk of a collision. Trust me, that’s not something you want to encounter in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
If you can possibly alter your plans to stay overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim (easier said than done over Thanksgiving, I know!), that would enable you to enjoy your visit at a more relaxed pace. If you have no choice but to do it as a day trip from Page, it can be done, just get an early start on the day, keep your eye on the time, and make sure you’re back on the road by 2:45 PM at the latest. That would mean missing sunset at the Grand Canyon, unfortunately.
Hope that helps. Please contact me directly at [email protected] if I can be of further assistance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
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Hi there!
My family and I are traveling to Las Vegas January 3.
Our plan is to drive the 4.5 hrs to Antelope Canyon and do the sightseeing. Is it going to be open?
Then, we’d stay overnight in Page and next day hit the road to visit Horseshoe Bay.
Any other suggestions, like, can both places be visited on the same day?
Thank you so much!
Hey Leticia,
The Antelope Canyons will be open, barring anything totally bizarre, like a sudden uptick in COVID-19 infections. Let us pray that doesn’t happen! The more likely scenario at that time of year would be heavy snowfall, which, again, would be unusual. It’s a good idea to monitor local weather in Page, AZ, about 2 weeks before traveling. Since January is wintertime, it will be cold, so packing jackets and gloves would be a prudent step. Remember that a guided tour is required to visit Antelope Canyon, which must be booked in advance. For more information on these, visit our companion site, http://www.AntelopeCanyon.AZ
As to whether it’s possible to visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in one day, it is. It takes 60-90 minutes on average to tour Horseshoe Bend (which can be done anytime between sunrise and sunset), then Antelope Canyon Tours can take anywhere from 2-3 hours. The main priority is to avoid driving after sunset. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit. The possible presence of deer, elk, other wildlife, and livestock animals can also elevate your risk of a collision. Trust me, that’s not something you want to experience in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold (overnight lows typically dip below freezing in January), where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
I hope that helps. Please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] if I can be of further assistance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
http://horseshoebend.com
http://antelopecanyon.az
http://thewaveaz.com
http://antelopecanyonboattours.com
http://alstrompoint.com
http://towerbutte.com
http://canyonskywalk.com
Thanks for sharing these amazing travel alert hacks with us… Keep sharing the good work ahead…Bookmarked for the future read.
Is there oversized parking? We will be pulling our travel trailer from Zion to the Grand Canyon the day we visit so need parking for a camper.
Hi Kristen,
There are spaces designated for buses and other large and/or long vehicles, but they are first-come/first-served. They are usually full by 9:00 AM, so try to get to Horseshoe Bend as early as possible. If for some reason this is not feasible, you might consider going to Horseshoe Bend with a guided tour out of Page, AZ. Horseshoe Bend Tours goes to the rim via a private access road on Navajo land, which means a shorter walk to the overlook, and not having to hassle with parking.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi, my wife and I are planning on visiting the beginning of August. Can you tell me if a standard electric scooter (Pride type) can make it up the trail to horseshoe bend overlook. She is a photographer but I believe that is the only way to get her to the lookout, correct? She cannot walk the 3/4 mile
trail.
Hey Ralph,
You are correct that the only way to get out to the overlook is to navigate the .7 mile trail from the parking lot to the rim.
As to whether your wife’s scooter can make it, I cannot answer that from personal experience. Complicating matters is that second-hand reports of the trail vary from “yes, it’s wheelchair accessible,” to “are you kidding me?”
My suggestion would be to look to YouTube. People post videos of their visits to Horseshoe Bend all the time, and some will invariably devote some time to the actual hike on the trail. If you forward to the 2:45 mark on this video by Look Who’s Blogging, for example, you’ll see that the trail is partially chip-sealed, but half of it still remains unpaved. As you might be able to see also, the chip-sealed portion of the trail is slightly rough, which again, may not be the best surface for a scooter.
Only you can make the decision as to whether to attempt the Horseshoe Bend Overlook trail. If you decide against it, you might consider other ways of seeing it, namely, flying over it in a fixed-wing airplane or helicopter. These depart daily out of the Page Municipal Airport, weather permitting, and possibly contingent on a certain number of passengers traveling. Yes, it’s a pricey way to go, but physical exertion required on the part of the passenger is minimal.
Hope that helps. Please feel free to write me directly at [email protected] if you have further questions.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Can you tell me approximate address of parking lot? We will be driving from Grand Canyon tomorrow.
Hi Lynn,
The Horseshoe Bend parking lot is near mile marker 545 of US Highway 89, approximately 5 miles South of Page, AZ. It is very clearly signed and easy to see from the highway!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley! Thanks for your useful insights. Would you say that Horseshoe Bend would be crowded for RV parking still by mid September, is arriving by 11am? Alternatively, how much one needs to budget to take the RV to Page and arrange with LPowell Tourism a visit to the bend?
Hi Javier,
Tourism numbers in Page, AZ, are nowhere near what they were pre-COVID; not yet, anyway. So whether or not you would have trouble finding parking for your RV in September can’t be accurately predicted. As for what you need to budget, here again, that depends on gas prices, which are notoriously unpredictable. Currently in Flagstaff, AZ (the cheapest place to get gas in Northern AZ typically), gas is going for $3.02/gallon (US dollars). RV’s typically consume a lot of gas, so that must be factored in.
If you opt to take some kind of tour or transit to Horseshoe Bend from Page, AZ, Horseshoe Bend Tours offers shuttles 3x daily, at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM, for $59 + tax per ticket.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Is the $10 parking fee cash only?
Hi Lori,
Credit and debit cards, to my knowledge, are accepted, but it’s always a good idea to have cash on hand to tip servers, bar tenders, tour guides, etc.
Alley 🙂
Alley, do you know if there is any help for handicap people to get from the Horseshoe Bend parking lot down to the boats. We are booking a tour but I understand it is a trek from parking to the raft.
Hi Doug,
It would be a trek for an able-bodied individual to travel from the Horseshoe Bend parking lot down to the river! There is no tour that requires this.
The only access to the Colorado River in the vicinity of Page, AZ, is at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam, or Lees Ferry, 15 miles downstream. To get to the base of the dam, one must take a short motorcoach ride, then get off at a short ramp that leads down to the rafts that float through Horseshoe Bend. At Lees Ferry, there is also a launch ramp for kayaks, white water river rafts, and other motorized watercraft.
If you are asking this because you are taking a commercial tour, such as the Horseshoe Bend Float Trip, or a kayak trip from Lees Ferry, you should call your tour company to discuss this matter. If you are taking the Horseshoe Bend Float Trip, Wilderness River Adventures is who you should contact, at 928-645-3296. If you were doing a kayak rental and backhaul, there are several companies that offer this, in which case you would need to find out who your tour company is by name, and look up their contact information.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Understood. We will book through the tour company you recommend
I did have one other question. We have one other day that we were planning on renting a pontoon and just exploring from Wahweap where we are staying. Aarmark states that there are no pontoons available for the period 10/28-11/01. Trying to book one on line I find that only power boats are available. It got me to thinking, are there any other tours that you would recommend that we could take and get a flavor for the lake as opposed to a dedicated tour to the dam or a specific area. There are 8 of us. Thanks so much!
Hi again, Doug –
Any motorized boating activities on Lake Powell are going to be few and far between for the foreseeable future due to historically low water levels. National Park Service and ARAMARK are scrambling to get an auxiliary boat ramp up and running so smaller boats can launch, but it remains to be seen if that will even work. In the meantime, ARAMARK is offering private boat charters, but the maximum number of passengers they can carry is 6. Your group would probably need 2 boats. At any rate, this service must be booked by phone at 928-645-1027. Should such a thing be cost-prohibitive for your group, another excellent way to get a ‘flavor’ for the lake would be to fly over it. Fixed wing airplanes depart from the Page Municipal Airport daily, weather permitting. Some aircraft, namely the Cessna Caravan, can seat up to 8 people, depending on individual passenger weights. Air tours would not land anywhere on the lake, but you would get a truer sense of the size and scope of Lake Powell (even with low water level) by getting up above it. For more information on a scenic air tour, contact Grand Canyon Airlines at 928-645-0246 or 928-638-2407.
If the prospect of flying doesn’t appeal, another option worth considering is to take a 4×4 tour to Alstrom Point. While this tour wouldn’t get you on the water, it would get you to a stunning viewpoint that, by virtue of its altitude, takes in a good chunk of Lake Powell. Plus you’d get to see it from a vantage point experienced by only a small fraction of Page, AZ, visitors! Alstrom Point Tours
Have fun,
Alley 🙂
Hi there!
We plan to drive from South rim Grand Canyon do the bus tour and then drive to Horseshoe bend. Do we have to hike to get to the top of horseshoe bend or is there an area to park and walk to the view?
Hey Danielle,
It depends on what you define as a “hike.” 😉
Horseshoe Bend is located 5 miles South of the town of Page, Arizona. Page, AZ, is about a 3-3.5 hour drive from Grand Canyon South Rim. While the distance is only ~140 miles, which can be driven in 2.5 hours or less, that’s “wheels turning, no stops.” That rarely happens because the drive is very scenic and you will be stopping to take photos more than you realize. This is especially true of the section of AZ64 between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View Point, where there is over half a dozen named Grand Canyon viewpoints, all with varying perspectives and different features. You’ll want to stop at as many as possible.
Upon arrival at Horseshoe Bend, you pay your $10/vehicle entrance fee, then walk to the rim via a .7-mile (one way) trail. The trail itself is partially paved and graded. It has some mild uphill/downhill movement, but if everyone in your party is reasonably healthy, you should be able to manage it. Here’s a video of it you might watch to determine whether it’s appropriate for your group. Finley Holidays Horseshoe Bend Be sure to bring enough water for all members of your traveling party, wear sun protection, and appropriate shoes for walking.
Should you decide that one or more members of your party would not be able to manage the walk to Horseshoe Bend, you might consider flying over it. Fixed wing airplanes and helicopters depart from the Page Municipal Airport daily, weather permitting and contingent on a certain number of passengers flying. Morning is the best time to fly for lighting and lack of wind.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I understand that National Park, Monument or Recreation passes can’t be used for parking fees. It sounds to me like that’s the entrance fee anyway. Why? It’s within Vermilion Cliffs National Monument isn’t it? I’m a senior with a lifetime pass.
Hey Rick,
This is a really good question!
Although Horseshoe Bend technically falls partially within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and the Navajo Indian Reservation, the area where the parking lot is located falls under the jurisdiction of the City of Page, Arizona. Therefore, the parking lot is managed as a separate entity from the park, with its own fee structure, which unfortunately doesn’t include the National Park Senior Pass.
You are by no means the first person to express some frustration with this system, and we encourage you to make your concerns known to the City of Page by contacting them directly. For more information, visit http://www.cityofpage.org
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Me and my boyfriend are planning a last minute road trip and would like your advice. The rough plan is to visit Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon (Not sure which rim, possibly East Rim?), Bryce Canyon, and Zion. Will be in Phoenix on Saturday night, May 22, and would need to head back to California from Utah on Friday May 28th. Our dilemma is how many nights we should spend at each place or whether we should cut out some destinations. Your help is appreciated. Also, any other must see recommendations along the way?
Thanks!
Hey Annie!
From Phoenix, Grand Canyon South Rim would be the easiest area of the Grand Canyon to visit, but you will end up seeing part of the East Rim on the drive up to Utah.
In light of your timeframe, here’s what I’d recommend:
May 23rd: Drive from Phoenix to Sedona, AZ (~2 hours), overnight in Sedona
May 24th: 2nd day/night in Sedona
May 25th: Drive from Sedona, AZ to Grand Canyon South Rim (~2.5 hours), overnight at the Grand Canyon
May 26th: Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Bryce (~5.5 hour drive, stop at Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ, if desired), overnight in Bryce
May 27th: Drive from Bryce to Zion (~2 hours), overnight in Zion
May 28th: Leave Zion for CA
RE: the South Rim vs. East Rim, the drive from GC South Rim to Page, Bryce, or Zion will take you along the East Rim/Desert View Drive of the park, where there are over half a dozen named Grand Canyon viewpoints you can stop at if you want. That will add time to an already long drive, so you might rethink your plan and drop a night in Sedona, and instead of driving from GC straight to Bryce, spend the night in Page, AZ, in between. That way you can stop at Horseshoe Bend and enjoy a few other sights in the area before heading to your next destination.
Custom Trip Map
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
We will be staying in Page for the 4th of July. Can you see the fireworks from Wawheap RV Park? If not, is there a convenient place nearby to view?
Thank you!
Hey Jill!
This is a really good question. Typically, the 4th of July Fireworks in Page, AZ, are held at the Lake Powell National Golf Course. I believe that is the plan this year, too.
The Wahweap RV Park is situated in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area behind a ridge, so your view of the fireworks from there would be obstructed. I would recommend making the drive into Page, AZ (~20 minutes from the RV park), and trying to find a seat near the golf course, Rim View drive, or the area behind the National Park Service building.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Planning a trip to Horseshoe Bend and other areas to see the Grand Canyon. Driving up from Phoenix, will probably overnight in Page and then venture out to Vegas. What areas are available to sightsee?
Hey Keith!
Not trying to be sarcastic, but how long have you got?
Using Phoenix as your starting point and Vegas as your ending point, you could easily make an unforgettable 7-10 day trip that includes:
– Sedona
– Grand Canyon South Rim
– Horseshoe Bend
– Lake Powell
– Bryce Canyon
– Zion National Park
– Valley of Fire State Park
The Ultimate 7-Day Grand Circle Tour
If you want, write me directly at [email protected] and be more specific about your timeframe, time of year you’re traveling, who you’re traveling with (kids? seniors? both?), etc.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Alley
In Sept, we will spend three days in Zion and Bryce, then have booked a few nights in Sedona (instead of Page & all the Canyon closures) before heading to El Tovar/Grand Canyon for several days on our 10day loop from LV. My question is about fitting in Horseshoe Bend. I know we have a full day of driving from Bryce, but do you think it is worth a tour of Horseshoe Bend or doing something in the Lake Powell area before heading south to Sedona?
Hi Gail!
It’s ~a 5-hour drive from Zion National Park to Sedona, AZ. You pretty much have to pass through Page, AZ, anyway, so a visit to Horseshoe Bend would be a perfectly good way to break up the drive. A tour is not required to visit Horseshoe Bend, you simply go at your leisure between the hours of sunrise and sunset. You should allot 90 minutes to 2 hours to visit Horseshoe Bend, including parking your vehicle ($10-$35 parking fee depending on type of vehicle), walking to the rim, taking photos, then walking back to the parking lot.
Not sure when exactly in September your trip is, but in mid-September, sunrise occurs at 6:09 am and sunset takes place at 6:32 pm. You’ll want to allow ~3 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Sedona, and you want to be sure you do the entire drive in daylight. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit and possibly having deer, elk, and other wildlife around. A collision with a large animal is not something you want to risk in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, cold (nighttime lows can be chilly in the higher altitude areas), where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. The stretch of road between Flagstaff, AZ, and Sedona is particularly narrow and windy, and quite disconcerting to drive at night (I know, I’ve done it, and won’t do it again!). Be sure you hit the road out of Page, AZ, by 3:30-3:45 PM at the latest.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Thank you for all of your great comments here! My wife and I are going to be coming through Page AZ in June on a road trip and I am hoping you can give us some pointers for how to get the most out of our time in Page since it will be our first visit to the area. We will be hiking Bryce Canyon on the morning of Sun June 13 and then driving to Page in the afternoon. We will stay over that night and spend all day June 14 in Page and then we will leave early morning June 15 to drive east through Monument Valley and back into Colorado. We of course want to see Horseshoe Bend and I haven’t decided when makes the most sense to do that … possibly at sunrise on June 15 before leaving town? Some things I am considering doing with our full day in Page is a tour to the White Pocket, hiking Cathedral Wash and/or Toadstool Hoodoos trails and maybe a tour of Antelope Canyon if the sections on tribal lands happen to open by mid June. Do you know if there is any local talk of when Antelope Canyon may reopen? Any thoughts you have for us as we plan our time in Page would be great! We did Zion and Grand Canyon on a trip last fall so we are planning to skip those this time around.
Thanks!
David
Hey David!
I wish we knew for sure when the Antelope Canyons were going to reopen, but the Navajo Tribe has given no indication as to when that might be. All they’ve done thus far is reiterate that Tribal Parks are still closed. The best thing to do is to monitor the official website of the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation Department for current updates. In the meantime, consider upgrading any “plan B” options as “plan A” status. A popular alternative through all this has been to kayak into the waterside of Antelope Canyon, then hike into the “pre-slot” portion of the Lower Canyon, which is on Federal and not Tribal land. This activity is best done first thing in the morning for lack of wind and minimal chop from large boat wakes.
Another popular option — which is something you might do on the way from Bryce to Page — is to hike Wire Pass Canyon and Buckskin Gulch. This photogenic two-part slot canyon is a relatively easy hike that people of most ages and physical fitness levels can manage. The trailhead is located down the House Rock Valley Road, which is unpaved. While it is manageable by 2WD vehicles most of the time, if recent weather has brought any rain or snow, it will turn into a red clay slip-n-slide, in which case, you probably should pass on this activity. The Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos can easily be piggy-backed onto a hike into Wire Pass, like this young family did in this video. Again, both area conveniently located between Bryce Canyon and Page, AZ.
White Pocket is a stunning area, you won’t regret visiting that area at all! A guided tour is strongly recommended due to the access route being very sandy, people get stuck out there all the time. Be sure you reserve your seats ahead of time, this area has become very popular as an alternate to The Wave. Wave/White Pocket Guides In your case, Horseshoe Bend would be best visited on your way out of town as you head to Monument Valley. Custom Trip Map
You might want to pass on Cathedral Wash this time around as it would be somewhat out of your way. Or, set aside another day to visit it, as well as other sites nearby such as Navajo Bridge, Lees Ferry & Lonely Dell Ranch, Marble Canyon, and Cliff Dweller’s.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Alley,
A slightly different question for you than most have posted. I’m looking to propose to my girlfriend while in Page. Horseshoe Bend would be my fallback spot, but are there any not super busy, sandy beaches around Lake Powell where you can watch a good sunset? Will be there on a Wednesday and I’m staying at the Lake Powell Resort & Marina.
Hi Dan,
OMG what a wonderful idea!
Unfortunately, it’s kind of hard to find anyplace near Page, AZ, that isn’t crowded, especially those within easy vehicular access. If you want to avoid crowds, be at your chosen spot first thing in the morning. There will be people there, but not as many as what you’d find later on in the day. Lone Rock Beach and Wahweap Swim Beach are both nice, the latter will be closest in proximity to Lake Powell Resort. You might also consider reserving a table with a view at the Rainbow Room!
If you don’t mind doing a little driving or spending a little $$$ for a moment you’ll remember for a lifetime, you might consider going to Alstrom Point. This is a stunning viewpoint, not a beach, but more of a cliffside perspective with a 270 degree panorama of Lake Powell and the surrounding area. It is possible to drive yourself to Alstrom Point, but the road is unpaved and is best navigated by 4WD vehicles, a lot of patience, and a good map. To be on the safe side, going with a guided tour company is the best bet. Alstrom Point Tours
Then there’s this…
Good luck, safe travels, and happy hopeful nuptials,
Alley 🙂
I’m staying at the Wahweap Lake Powell RV park but would like to visit Horse Shoe Bend one early morning for sunrise. However I want to avoid driving my RV there. Are Uber’s relatively easy to come by for this distance between parks or do they have to pay in order to get into the Lake Powell park? If Uber’s aren’t an option, what would you suggest as my means for getting to Horse shoe bend early morning?
Hey Jessica,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Uber and Lyft have yet to make inroads into Page, AZ, at least not on a reliable basis. Supposedly there is an individual working with Lyft, but from what I heard, their availability is spotty. The only taxi service I’m aware of is a company called Buggy Taxi, and their ratings are also inconsistent at best.
Long story short, you need to be prepared to drive your RV to Horseshoe Bend. For the least difficulty in parking, I would strongly recommend getting there when the parking lot opens, right at sunrise. If you remain patently opposed to doing that — which I wouldn’t blame you for one bit — I’d recommend calling the Page/Lake Powell Tourism Hub at 928-608-5749 and see what guidance they may be able to provide.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I had a plan of 2 days to GC and PAGE from Las Vegas.
Day1: Start from Las vegas at 10 AM .. visit hoover dam and then to Horse Shoe Bend.
Stay and look around till sunset at horse shoe bend.
Antelope canyons ( upper, lower) – BOTH are closed now.
So, i will drive back to South Rim at 8 PM and then stay at SOUTH RIM, Grand Canyon.
Day2: Look all the scenic spots at South Rim and then start to PHX airport my return flight at 10 PM.
Need an advise on my plan.
Thank You.
Hi Pavan,
Sorry friend but I can’t endorse this plan.
For one, it doesn’t look as though you are fully aware of where things are actually located, or how long it takes to get there.
For example, Hoover Dam is located about 40 miles, one way, Southeast of Las Vegas. Then, you’d have to go back to Las Vegas to start the 4.5-hour drive to Page, AZ, to visit Horseshoe Bend. Then, you’re proposing to make the 3-hour or so drive to Grand Canyon South Rim after dark? Driving at night is discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to area roads being very dimly lit, and populated by deer, elk, and other wildlife that can elevate your risk of an auto accident. Plus you’re proposing to do 9-10 hours of driving in one day. Not my idea of a vacation.
If 2 days is truly all you have to work with, and you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, I recommend prioritizing it over everything else. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, it’s a must-see at some point in one’s lifetime! With the Antelope Canyons closed, and other limitations in place, a visit to Page, AZ, is best scheduled for the future when things reopen to tourists.
The drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim would naturally take you past Hoover Dam, so no huge deal including that in your itinerary should you cross Page, AZ, off the list. The drive would take ~4.5-5 hours. Stay overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim, then head to Phoenix the following day. That drive will also take ~4 hours, longer if you decide to stop off at some scenic spots, or perhaps detour through Sedona. Revised Trip Map
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Will a dually pulling a 45′ 5th wheel fit in the parking lot?
Hi Dan,
In theory, yes, but in practice, it’s not that simple.
I would recommend getting to the parking lot right at sunrise so you don’t have as many visitors to contend with for parking space. Another option, if you plan on staying at one of Page, AZ’s local RV parks or campgrounds, would be to park your 5th wheel, then unhitch your tow vehicle and head on down to Horseshoe Bend at your leisure. The parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I am taking a trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. We are flying in May 6th and staying in Vegas for the day. The morning of the 7th I plan on driving from Vegas to Zion for the scenic drive and head to page shortly after to hike Horseshoe bend. Afterwards, we will be heading to Williams to which we are staying. Any tips on that drive or road closures? We are eager to see the Antelope Canyons but i doubt they will be open.
Thank you!
Hi Louis,
The closure of the Antelope Canyons aside, this plan is not realistic. If a day/night is all you have to work with, you need to pick one place to go: Zion and Horseshoe Bend, or the Grand Canyon.
I’ll break it down into smaller chunks: the drive from Las Vegas to Zion will take ~3 hours. Even if you just drive through the park, you’re then looking at 2 hours’ drive to Horseshoe Bend. I take it you also wanted to visit the Grand Canyon somewhere on this trip? If so, that will take 2.5-3 hours from Page, AZ (where Horseshoe Bend is located), then Williams will be 1 hour South of Grand Canyon South Rim. So if you add it up, 3 + 2 + 3 + 1 = 9 hours behind the wheel, and that’s not even factoring in any stops to do any sightseeing, meals, fueling, etc.
Even though all roads along these routes are open and passable (the Navajo Tribe still discourages stopping on reservation lands), you should take two full days, bare minimum to accomplish all the goals on your list.
If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, you should prioritize it over everything else in the area. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, it shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought. It takes ~4.5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim, then 1 hour back to Williams. The return trip to Las Vegas from Williams would then be ~3.5 hours.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re supposed to be on vacation, and your present plan sounds more like a race against the clock than relaxation.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I want to do some night Milky Way photography at horseshoe bend in May. Is this possible given the parking lot hours? I’ve seen some beautiful shots in the past.
Hey Joel!
In the past, Horseshoe Bend was accessible 24 hours a day. That was before Instagram propelled it to bucket list status for just about every traveler to Northern Arizona. Today, the parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset. To my knowledge, they do allow folks to linger a bit after dusk, but not to stay all night. Overnight parking and/or camping is expressly prohibited. Since the parking lot is managed by the City of Page, AZ, you might contact them to see if you can possibly arrange to stay longer. The Economic Development/Tourism department can be reached at (928) 645-4310. If that doesn’t work, don’t worry: there are plenty of good places for night photography around here! One of my personal favorites just a short distance over the border of Utah is “The Moon” in the small town of Big Water. The drive to Big Water, UT, is also worthwhile for the opportunity to visit the local Visitors Center and Dinosaur Museum!
One word of caution: normally we do not recommend driving after sunset, and the area around The Moon warrants an extra degree of care NOT to drive too far off-road. If you get stuck or lost, help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley, Been searching through all your responses, Thanks so much. Thought I’d go ahead and ask for your assistance and or suggestions while in Flagstaff. Will arrive June 1st, 2021 leaving the 4th for Bryce Canyon, had scheduled Antelope and Horseshoe guided tour but Covid stopped that one. I see from your answers we can still see Horseshoe, what else would you suggest til the 4th when we leave?
Thank you again
Hey Barbara!
Instead of visiting Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon (yes, they are ‘technically’ closed, but there’s a potential workaround… more on that in a minute 😉 as a day trip from Flagstaff, AZ, I’d recommend overnighting in Page, AZ. For one, it’s a 2.5 hour drive, each way, from Flagstaff, AZ. Secondly, you have to pass through Page, AZ, anyway on the way to Bryce Canyon, so an overnight there would help you avoid a crapload (oops, pardon my French) of backtracking.
Another advantage to doing it that way would be that you could hit Horseshoe Bend on the way into town, then take a kayak tour into the waterside of Antelope Canyon the following morning (that’s the workaround). The waterside of Antelope Canyon, as well as the pre-slot section on the shoreline of Lake Powell, is on Federal and not Tribal land, so it is still accessible. However, kayaking is best done first thing in the morning for less wind and minimal chop from larger tour boat traffic.
Yet another advantage to scheduling an overnight in Page, AZ, is that you could take your time on the drive up and enjoy a cool little detour: the Wupatki/Sunset Crater Scenic Loop Drive. This will take you by a Sinagua Indian Pueblo complex (a rather sophisticated one that that) and a dormant volcano. That will add a couple of hours onto your drive time, but most who take me up on the suggestion count it as time well spent!
The drive to Bryce from Page, AZ, would then be ~3 hours, and on the way, you might stop to hike the very cool Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos Trail!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
We are planning a visit in August 2021 with our kids. Do you have any suggestions for other slot canyons since Antelope Canyon is closed?
Hey Kelly,
We’re crossing fingers and toes that the Antelope Canyons can reopen by August, but in the event they don’t, good alternatives would be:
– Kayaking into the waterside of Antelope Canyon from Antelope Point Marina, which includes some hiking into the pre-slot portion of the Lower canyon, on Federal and not Tribal Land. This activity is best done in the earlier morning hours for less wind and minimal chop from larger boat traffic. There are several companies offering this service, the one we’re most familiar with is Lake Powell/Hidden Canyon Kayak.
– Wire Pass Canyon/Buckskin Gulch: a photogenic two-part slot canyon that is short enough for intermediate-level hikers to enjoy, yet offers the option to delve further into Buckskin Gulch for those wanting more of a challenge. The walk to the entrance of the initial slot is via a typically dry streambed full of deep sand (usually). An 8-10’ drop a short distance into the slot canyon is one reason why Wire Pass Canyon may not be appropriate for those traveling with young children, the elderly, or individuals afraid of heights, but a ladder placed there recently has made this obstacle easier to manage. As the canyon walls become higher and closer together, they suddenly open up as the second slot connects with the Buckskin Gulch. If you’ve had enough at this point, you can simply turn around and head back to your vehicle. If you’d like to explore further, you can easily make a half-day hike out of the immediate area around the confluence with the Buckskin. Access to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch is off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, on the House Rock Valley Road. Hikers are required to pay a self-permitting fee either in advance or at the kiosk by the trailhead. The House Rock Valley Road is unpaved! While it is accessible to 2WD vehicles much of the time, if recent weather has brought any moisture whatsoever, the HRVR can turn into a muddy, impassable mess. Parties in rental cars should think twice about attempting this road since off-road driving is strictly prohibited by most rental car companies. A guided tour will get your family to Wire Pass Canyon and back in one piece, and turn you onto features you might have missed trying to find your own way. Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT based companies offering guided tours to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch include:
*Detours American West, 480-633-9013, http://www.detoursamericanwest.com
*Paria Outpost & Outfitters, 928-691-1047, http://www.paria.com
*Grand Staircase Discovery Tours, 928-614-4099, http://www.grandstaircasediscoverytours.com
– Red Canyon aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon: a family-friendly slot canyon located between Kanab and Mt. Carmel Junction, Utah, approximately 90 minutes from Page, AZ. With twists and turns on par with the Antelope Canyons, this short but memorable walk features classic slot canyon scenery, including occasional light beams in the summertime. While a guided tour is not required to get to Peek-A-Boo, we strongly recommend that you consider taking one, because while the walk through the canyon itself is usually not difficult, the drive to get there can be. 4WD vehicles with adequate clearance are a definite must, with tire pressure lowered to accommodate potentially deep sand. If you’re driving a rental car, You will void your insurance the minute your tires part with the pavement, which means you’d be on the hook for a very expensive rescue, should you need one, and have to foot the bill for any damage you’d sustain. Reputable tour companies are:
*Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
*TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
*Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
*Forever Adventure Tours, 435-644-5700, http://www.foreveradventuretours.com
*Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermilioncliffs.net
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi there!
First, I’d like to say how appreciative I am of the dialogue happening here and the helpful information getting passed on through your comments. My family and I are planning a trip on 4/10 and have never been to Page or the GC! If Horseshoe bend is only going to take us a couple of hours on Saturday morning, are there other spots that you recommend nearby or other activities that are not too expensive for us to get the most out of our day?
Thanks in advance! ☺️
Hi Bri,
Horseshoe Bend is indeed lovely, but only a small fraction of the myriad sightseeing opportunities the Page, AZ, area has to offer! Other sights you might explore include, but is not limited to:
– Page Rim View Trail
– Glen Canyon Dam/Steel Arch Bridge
– Hanging Garden Trail & The Chains
– Glen Canyon Dam/White House Overlook
– Grand View Overlook Park
– The “New” Wave and Radio Tower Rock
– Gunfighter Canyon
– Wahweap Overlook
– Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach (located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which requires a $30/vehicle entrance fee, good for one week’s time)
If you have the time and/or inclination to venture a short distance into Utah, there’s also:
– Big Water Visitors Center & Dinosaur Museum
– Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos Trail
Sure you can’t stay with us another day? 😉
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley
Hi Alley,
All your posts are super insightful. We will be in page on April 1-15th. It is my understanding the northern rim is closed until mid May as roads are sometimes covered in snow this time of year. Do you happen to know if that is correct? I would prefer to visit northern rim as opposed to taking the long route to southern rim due to the closure of east drive.
Hey Ryan,
You are correct that the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed through May 15th, and I totally get wanting to visit that side of the canyon vs. the South Rim in light of that very inconvenient road closure.
Aside from pushing your trip back another month, there still might be a way for you to “have your cake and eat it too:” fly over the Grand Canyon! Fixed-wing airplanes depart daily out of the Page Municipal Airport (PGA), weather permitting and possibly contingent on a certain number of people traveling. While aerial tours do not land at the Grand Canyon, they’ll still show you a ton of incredible scenery in addition to the Grand Canyon, in the course of just 90 minutes. For more information, visit Westwind Air Service: Page-Grand Canyon Flights
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I have a flight into Las Vegas booked for May 2 and am picking up a campervan about 1pm. Need to return campervan by May 10 at 11am. Here’s my plan:
May 2 – Fly in, pickup camper, drive to Sedona, sunset hike?
May 3 – Hot air balloon in Sedona at sunrise, explore Sedona, drive to GC South Rim. Suggestions on where to stay?
May 4 – Experience the Grand Canyon. Stay near Grand Canyon.
May 5 – Drive to Page, Antelope canyon (boat or kayak tour), horseshoe bend, time for something else? Stay in Page
May 6 – Drive to Bryce Canyon, explore for the day.
May 7 – Bryce Canyon exploring again. Drive to Zion.
May 8 – Explore Zion. Stay in Zion
May 9 – Explore Zion. Stay in Zion.
May 10 – Leave Zion early to Las Vegas.
Do you have any thoughts or suggestions? Am I leaving something out I could include or not giving a certain place enough time?
Hey Dan,
Your trip plan looks really fun!
The only thing I’d recommend changing is the timing of your Antelope Canyon kayak tour: afternoons on Lake Powell tend to be very windy, and by noon, private watercraft and tour boats are out in large numbers, creating a lot of “chop” on the lake. Most of the waterside of Antelope Canyon is also a wake zone, so you’ll feel every single wave in a kayak. If possible, scoot your kayak tour reservation for first thing the next morning, then drive to Bryce (~3 hours), maybe stopping to enjoy the hike to the Paria Rimrocks and Toadstool Hoodoos on the way.
One thing I need to forewarn you about: at the moment, a critical component of the shortest travel route from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ (AZ64 East from Desert View Point to Cameron, AZ) is closed due to COVID-19. It is not expected to open by the time you arrive. This means you’ll have to make a rather long detour through Flagstaff, AZ, to get from one place to the other. This has turned what used to be ~a 3-hour drive into more along the lines of 5 hours. Hit Horseshoe Bend on your way into town, maybe hike part of the Page Rim View Trail or hit the Glen Canyon Dam Steel Arch Bridge and Hanging Garden Trail.
In Zion, be aware that you’ll have to use the Zion Canyon Shuttle to access the main sightseeing area, and you’ll have to purchase tickets in advance for it.
On the way back to Las Vegas, get an early start so you can make the short detour through the stunning Valley of Fire State Park when the weather is still relatively pleasant.
Whatever you decide, be sure to make all hotel and guided tour reservations in advance, if you haven’t done so already.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂
Alley,
Thank you so much! This is really great info and that road closure is a real pain. We’re going to move the kayaking to the next morning. Would you suggest doing a guided kayak tour or just rent kayaks on our own and explore the canyon that way?
Hey Dan,
Guess what? As of yesterday, that road closure on Grand Canyon’s East Rim has since been lifted, woot woot! Nevertheless, I think it’s a good call moving the kayak activity to the following morning. As to whether a tour or rental is better, if it’s your first time at Lake Powell, I’d go with a tour. A guide can turn you onto features you might otherwise miss while your mind is occupied trying to find your way.
Have fun,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I’m driving to Zion from Phoenix and on our way back we wanted to stop at horseshoe bend. Are there any road closures? Also do you have any other hikes you recommend by horseshoe bend?
Hi Desiree,
The drive from Zion National Park to Phoenix, AZ, will take ~6.5-7 hours, not including the 90 minutes-2 hours you should allot to visiting Horseshoe Bend. If you’re planning on doing all that in a day, and want to make it to Phoenix by nightfall, you really don’t have time to do any other hikes around Horseshoe Bend unless you can alter your plans to include an overnight stay in Page, AZ. If you can do that, then there’s all kinds of opportunities to enjoy and explore this area, including, but not limited to:
– Page Rim View Trail
– Glen Canyon Dam/Steel Arch Bridge
– Hanging Garden Trail & The Chains
– Glen Canyon Dam/White House Overlook
– Grand View Overlook Park
– The “New” Wave and Radio Tower Rock
– Wahweap Overlook
– Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach (located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which requires a $30/vehicle entrance fee, good for one week’s time)
On the way to Page, AZ, from Zion, there’s also:
– Big Water Visitors Center & Dinosaur Museum
– Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos Trail
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley!
Will there be any road closures?
Hey again Desiree!
IIRC, you’re planning on driving from Zion to Phoenix, in which case, you will not be affected by any road closures. You will, however, be driving through Navajo Indian Reservation Lands, and the tribe wishes to minimize or eliminate contact between tribe members and outsiders due to COVID-19. Therefore, be prepared to drive straight through, no stops, between Page, AZ, and Flagstaff, AZ. Be sure your vehicle is fully fueled, and that you have adequate water and snacks to tide you over on this part of the drive (~2-2.5 hours).
Have a great trip,
Alley 🙂
Hello. I am planning to go to Page from Phoenix tomorrow 1st april 2021.
Is Horseshoebend open to tourist?. Can I park in the lot parking and walk to the horseshoebend?
My planned is to drive (starting 7:30am from phoenix) to Page, visit all I can around Page (Horseshoebend, Glen Canyon Dam, Antelope is closed right?).
How can I get to Paria Canyon? do you recommend it?
Friday 2 april drive back to phoenix. Stop in South Rim and the Sedona too.
Do you think it is doable?
Thanks
David,
Sorry, this isn’t realistic.
It takes ~4.5 hours to drive from Phoenix to Page, AZ to visit Horseshoe Bend. You don’t have enough time to visit Paria Canyon, and the Antelope Canyons are closed.
Normally it takes ~3 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim, but due to COVID-19, a critical component of the shortest travel route is closed to all traffic. This means you’ll have to detour all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then resume heading North on US180/AZ46N or I-40/AZ64N. This has turned what used to be about a 3-hour drive into more like 5 hours. Then you’re proposing to drive another 5+ hours back to Phoenix through Sedona? It won’t work.
If 2 days is all you have, as much as I hate to say it, I’d recommend skipping Page, AZ, and going to Grand Canyon South Rim. Again, that’s ~a 4.5 hour drive from Phoenix. If you wanted to go back to Phoenix through Sedona, that will add another 90 minutes, bare minimum onto your drive time. For that reason alone, you might also skip Sedona. It’s a big area, with lots to see and do, and really warrants 3-4 days time to fully enjoy and explore.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello Alley,
I’ll be in Page & Sedona from April 21-26.
In your opinion, what is the best time of day to visit Horseshoe bend for a photographer? I’ve heard sunrise and midday (so the river can be in the sunlight). I’ll be in Page for 2 days before heading to Sedona for 3 days.
Second question: is the drive save from south rim GC to Sedona after sunset? I plan on doing a pink jeep sunset tour and driving back to my hotel in Sedona.
Thank you in advance! 🙂
Hi Alex,
Apologies for the delay in response to your inquiry!
There is no such thing as a “bad” time to photograph Horseshoe Bend. In fact, one photographer actually took the time to sit at Horseshoe Bend for a full day and photograph it. As you can hopefully see, every time slot has its merits and drawbacks, visually speaking. Logistically speaking, we’ve found that just after sunrise is when you can enjoy cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
RE driving from GC South Rim to Sedona after sunset, this we have an actual opinion on: avoid it if at all possible. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife that can hike up your risk of an auto accident. That’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. The stretch of road from Flagstaff, AZ, to Sedona, AZ, in particular is very narrow and windy. I’ve personally driven it in the dark, and will never do it again.
One thing I feel the need to tell you is that, from your comment, I’m inferring that you’re planning on driving from Page, AZ, to GC South Rim for your sunset tour, then back to Sedona in the same day. This is going to take longer than you think. Due to COVID-19, a critical component of the shortest travel route from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ (AZ64 East from Cameron, AZ, to Desert View Point) is closed, necessitating a rather long detour through Flagstaff, AZ. This has turned what used to be ~a 3-hour drive into more along the lines of 5 hours. Then you’d be facing ~a 2.5 hour drive back to Sedona? No thanks. A better plan would be to stay overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim, or cancel that sunset tour so you can hit the park earlier and get back to Sedona by nightfall, which occurs just after 7:00 PM at the time of your visit.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I saw that the Navajo parks and roads are closed until further notice. Are the major highways through the reservation open though? We want to drive from Page to Moab, UT via Kayenta and Blanding (AZ 98, U.S. 160, U.S. 163, U.S. 191). And how much time should we allow for that drive?
Hi Pieter,
This is a really good question!
You are able to drive through from Page, AZ, to Moab, UT, even though some of these roads are on Navajo Indian Tribal Lands. The tribe just asks that outsiders avoid stopping while on reservation land, so make sure your vehicle is fully fueled and that you have adequate food and water to tide you over, at least until you get to Bluff, UT.
We recommend allowing 5-6 hours to make the trip. You might take advantage of the opportunity to visit Goosenecks of the San Juan State Park just outside of Mexican Hat. There are no services there and it’s a $5/per vehicle entrance fee, but a super neat view!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
We drove all through Kayenta yesterday, and the roads are open. The highways you mentioned are open.
Hi Ally,
Is the wheelchair accessible path at Horseshoe Bend completed?
Ray
Hey Ray,
This is a really great question, and I’d say “it depends on who you ask.” This video, for example, depicts a family with a wheelchair passenger navigating the trail with relative ease. However, a recent first-hand report indicates that a gentleman came perilously close to accidentally dumping his wife out of her chair trying to navigate the ups and downs of the trail. ‘
Naturally, only you can decide if this activity is appropriate for you and your family. If you decide that the walk (which is 1.4 miles round-trip BTW) is too much for you to handle, another way you might see Horseshoe Bend is to fly over it. Fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters depart from the Page Municipal Airport daily, weather permitting, and usually contingent on a certain number of passengers traveling. Mornings are the best time to fly for best light and lack of wind.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi, my boyfriend and I are planning to drive from Las Vegas to Horseshoe Bend, my question is, do I have to book a tour, or is this a place we can visit on our own. I only have 1 day to make it to Horseshoe Bend, and have rented a car. Any help will be greatly appreciated. 🙂
Hi Millie,
You can visit Horseshoe Bend at your leisure, anytime during operating hours of the parking lot, which are sunrise to sunset. No need to get a tour.
It takes ~4.5 hours — one way — to drive from Las Vegas, NV, to Page, AZ. You should allot anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours to park your vehicle ($10/standard passenger vehicles), walk to the rim, take photos, then walk back to your vehicle. Time permitting, you might also visit the Glen Canyon Dam Steel Arch Bridge and the Hanging Gardens Trail.
One thing that’s very important is that the majority of the drive back to Las Vegas, NV be done during daylight hours. Roads in the more rural areas of Northern Arizona and Southern Utah are very dimly lit, and surrounded by deer, elk, and other wildlife that could ratchet up your risk of a collision. That’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, possibly cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Between St. George, UT, and Las Vegas, NV is a pretty good-sized light dome, but the roads between Page, AZ, and St. George, UT, are definitely on the dark side. I would be sure that you time your arrival in St. George for at sunset, or before.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
To visit Horseshoe Bend, do we need to buy a $30 Glen Canyon Park Pass? Or is it just the $10 to park? TIA, Barbara
Hey Barbara,
This is a really good question!
Since Horseshoe Bend is currently managed as a City Park by the town of Page, AZ, it does not fall under the same jurisdiction as the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Therefore, you need not pay the $30/vehicle Glen Canyon park fee, just the one-time $10 fee for standard passenger vehicles. Light commercial vehicles such as camper vans, etc. may be subject to a $35/vehicle fee.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thank you!
Hi Alley, great orientations. Can you recommend a route with quick visits from Page to Flagstaff enough for one day? I will plan to be there first days of April and will departure home from Flagstaff.
Hi Jorge,
If by “quick visits,” you mean stops you can make between Flagstaff and Page, there are several possibilities for detours to make the drive more fun!
Just North of Flagstaff, AZ, you can take the Wupatki/Sunset Crater Scenic Loop Drive, which will take you past a dormant volcano and an Ancestral Puebloan ruin complex (a rather sophisticated one at that).
About 1 hour South of Page, AZ, you can take a short detour off US89 to Lees Ferry, where you can actually drive down to the banks of the Colorado River and dip your feet in, plus explore the Lonely Dell Ranch Historic District, or walk across Navajo Bridge, where you might spot some California Condors sunning themselves on the bridge struts below. Should you arrive around dinnertime, Cliff Dweller’s Restaurant has amazing food and a beautiful view!
Driving straight through, the trip from Flagstaff, AZ, to Page, AZ, typically takes ~2.5 hours. The Wupatki/Sunset Crater loop will add another 2 hours onto that. The stop at Lees Ferry/Marble Canyon area could add anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on how much time you spend exploring. Trip map
Whatever you do, make sure that you arrive at your day’s destination by sundown. You should driving at night around here, especially in the more rural areas of Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, where roads are very dimly lit, and populated by deer, elk, and other wildlife that can elevate your risk of a collision. That’s definitely not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, possibly quite cold, where cell service is going to be spotty (if you can get any bars at all) and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. During the early part of April, sunrise takes place just after 6:00 AM and sunset occurs shortly before 7:00 PM.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thanks Alley, I will travel the other way, from Page to Flagstaff, but I will follow your recommendation as much as possible. Do you think I can visit the Grand Falls or the Meteor Crater in that route? Or need another day?
Hi Jorge,
Grand Falls is on Navajo Indian Tribal Lands, which are closed to outsiders due to COVID-19.
Meteor Crater needs another day. It’s located ~1 hour East of Flagstaff, AZ, on I-40. If you visit Meteor Crater, you should also take the opportunity to visit Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, another hour further East. You might stop for lunch in Winslow, AZ, at the Historic La Posada Hotel and take a selfie at “Standing On A Corner” Park.
Trip map
Have a great trip!
Alley 🙂
Hi!
We are traveling to Grand Canyon on March 27th coming from Flagstaff. The idea we had was to stay on March 26th in Flagstaff, go on the 27th to Grand Canyon and from there drive to Page and stay there on the 27th, google maps says it takes ~2.5 hours, but I have seen in some of the comments that the road is closed due to covid and that it takes longer than that. Can you please let me know if that is still the case? Is it better then to return to Flagstaff and stay there and drive the next day up to Page or that area?
Hi Dianaly,
Unfortunately, the road closure I’ve been speaking of remains in effect, rendering what used to be a 2.5 hour drive into a 4-5 hour drive. So you might prefer to return to Flagstaff, AZ, after your Grand Canyon visit and simply make the drive to Page, AZ, and Horseshoe Bend the following day.
It’s ~a 2.5 hour drive from Flagstaff, AZ, to Page, AZ, one way. If you visit as a day trip, be sure you time your sightseeing so that you leave Page, AZ, no later than 4:30 PM. You want to avoid driving at night in Northern AZ, especially between Page and Flag (that’s what we call it around here) due to the bulk of the drive taking you through the Navajo Indian Reservation, and that section of US89 being very dimly lit. At night, you also run an elevated risk of colliding with a deer, elk, sheep, or feral horse, which is not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is iffy (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
If we happened to have surplus time going from Page to Bryce with time for zion covered, would you rather spend the extra time possibly going to Capitol Reef or the North Rim?
We plan on going in late July and my wife and i are going with two daughters aged 6 and 4.
Thanks!
Jon
Hi Jon!
Capitol Reef would be quite a long swing out your way, but a visit to Grand Canyon North Rim could fit in quite nicely between Page, AZ, and Bryce. With days in July still being relatively long (sunrise around 5:30 AM, sunset approximately 7:45 PM), a day trip is still feasible at that time of year. The drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon North Rim takes ~2.5 hours one way. Get an early start on the trip so you can stop at Navajo Bridge and possibly see some California Condors hanging around in the steel arch infrastructure. A visit to the bakery at the Jacob Lake Inn is a definite must for a bagful of their world famous home-made cookies! Upon arrival at the park, tour the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, then take the scenic drive to Cape Royal and Point Imperial. Plan your visit to the North Rim
Be sure that you plan your return trip to Page, AZ, so that you’re doing all of the drive during daylight hours. Local roads, as with the most roads in Northern AZ and Southern UT, are very dimly lit and populated by deer, elk, and other wildlife that pose a collision risk after dusk. That’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty, if you can get any bars at all, and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. You might consider overnighting in Kanab, UT on this part of the trip, since it is only ~90 minutes drive (one way) from Grand Canyon North Rim, and Bryce Canyon. Trip map
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi!! I’m visiting Las Vegas March 25 and I want to visit Bryce and Horshoebend in 2 days or one day (sunday 28- monday -29) and then return to LV! How do you recommend do plan it? Is there any other places to visit in Page? Thanks
Hey Kevin,
One day to visit Bryce Canyon and Horseshoe Bend is definitely not enough time, and two days is even pushing it.
It takes approximately 5 hours to drive from Las Vegas, NV, to Horseshoe Bend. The drive from Page, AZ (the nearest town to Horseshoe Bend) to Bryce Canyon is ~3 hours, then the return drive to Las Vegas, NV, would be approximately 4 hours. Trip map
Another thing working against you at the time of year you’re visiting is daylength. In March, it’s still relatively short with sunrise occurring at 6:15 AM and sunset taking place at around 6:45 PM. That’s 12.5 hours of daylight, and believe me, it goes by fast in this part of the US! What’s more, nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in the American Southwest due to local roads being very dimly lit, plus the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife that could hike up your risk of an auto accident. Trust me, that’s not something you want to risk in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, very cold (nighttime temps are still hovering around freezing on occasion), where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive!
If two days is all you can truly spare, I would recommend taking Bryce Canyon off the table this time around. Drive to Page, AZ, taking a detour through Zion National Park (~6 hours), then overnight in Page, AZ.
Visit Horseshoe Bend the following morning, then head back to Las Vegas, NV, with an optional detour through the stunning Valley of Fire State Park. Trip map
As for other places to visit in Page, AZ, there’s no shortage of sights to enjoy! Check out:
– Page Rim View Trail
– Glen Canyon Dam/Steel Arch Bridge
– Hanging Garden Trail & The Chains
– Glen Canyon Dam/White House Overlook
– Grand View Overlook Park
– The “New” Wave and Radio Tower Rock
– Gunfighter Canyon
– Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach (located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which requires a $30/vehicle entrance fee, good for one week’s time)
If you have the inclination to venture a ways into Utah, you might also hit the Big Water Visitors Center & Dinosaur Museum or the Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos Trail
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello! My mom and I are planning to go to the Grand Canyon for two days and then on the third day, plan on stopping by Horseshoe Bend before driving down to New Mexico. We are staying near the Grand Canyon Junction. I know that the Desert Drive to the East entrance of the Grand Canyon is closed and saw that you were advising people to go through Flagstaff. Is HWY 180 closed as well? I looked up on Google Maps and it said that the drive from GC Junction to Horseshoe Bend, even going through Flagstaff, would be 3 1/2 Hours. Is there a lot of traffic that you accounted five hours?
In terms of driving in the area of Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, I wanted to leave before sunrise to try to get to GC and Horseshoe Bend to catch the sunrise. I also wanted to try to see the stars at night. Is that not a good idea to drive around 5AM or after 9PM?
Thank you SO much for taking the time to read my email and help with travel plans.
Hey Becky,
If I’m understanding you correctly, you’re wanting to drive from Grand Canyon Junction (aka Valle, AZ) to Horseshoe Bend, then down to New Mexico in the same day? If so, that will not work. Unfortunately, you will be affected by a road closure on Navajo Tribal Land. Due to the inaccessibility of AZ64 East from Desert View Point to Cameron, AZ, it is necessary to drive all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then continue North on US89 to get to Page, AZ. This has turned what is normally ~a 3-hour drive into more along the lines of a 5-hour trip. US180 is still open (which is a beautiful drive, you should definitely take it), and I know that Google maps quotes the drive time including the detour as 3.5 hours, but that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens. It doesn’t factor in typical road hazards of the area such as getting stuck behind slow-moving RV’s or semis, variable speed limits in mountain areas, and the inevitable “ooh, look at that!” moment that you should indulge. If you’re of a mind to “make lemonade out of lemons,” you might take advantage of the opportunity to visit Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments, whose highlights are a Ancestral Indian Pueblo (quite a sophisticated one at that), and a dormant volcano. The two monuments are connected via a convenient and scenic loop drive. That would add more time to your trip, but the option is there for you 😉
A better plan so you can see sunrise and sunset at Horseshoe Bend would be to overnight in Page, AZ. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit, plus the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife that could hike up your risk of an auto accident. Trust me, that’s not something you want to risk in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive!
Hope that helps. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news in some regards, but we’d rather surprises that pop up on vacation be pleasant ones.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
First, thank you for all of your help and tips. I too am planning to spring break my girls, 15 and 17 through Zion, Bryce, Horseshoe, Grand Canyon, Winslow (because I have to stand on a corner) and then to Phoenix before heading back to NorCal. We plan on being in Mt. Carmel Junction on Sunday, 3/28 and then leaving Phoenix on Saturday morning 4/3. I really liked Kanab the last time I came through there (before kids) I know we will only have one day for Zion, one day for Bryce, a pass by Horseshoe, two days in Williams (GC) before rolling down to Phoenix. I will be toting a 32 ft 5th wheel and wonder about the parking lot at Horseshoe, can I get in there or would it work better to do the bus from Page? If so, who would you recommend. Once in a lifetime for my girls might mean helicopter, is that worthwhile? Does the helicopter also do North Rim? Thank you Jeffrey from Sacramento
Hi Jeffrey,
Camping in a 5th wheel at the time of year you’re visiting, you should definitely plan on staying at developed RV parks with electrical hook-ups. Nighttime temperatures are still dipping down around freezing in some areas, so you’ll want access to reliable heat, or you’ll have two cranky teenage girls come morning!
If by “NorCal,” you mean around the San Francisco Bay area, you should plan on two days driving to get to Mt. Carmel Junction, UT. Maybe stop over in Barstow, CA, for the night, or Las Vegas, NV. Just don’t stop in Baker, CA, that town’s hinky.
RE: the parking lot at Horseshoe Bend, if you don’t get there right at sunrise, when crowds are smallest, you might have a heckuva time jockeying a 5th wheel around that parking lot. Unfortunately, the shuttle service is not running due to COVID-19, so here, you might disconnect your tow vehicle in order to get there.
As for helicopter flights, they’re a blast! Helicopter flights that depart from Grand Canyon National Park Airport do make a pass over the North Rim, so you can get a sense of how different it is from the South Rim. They do not land at the North Rim (no place for it), but if you book the 40-45 minute flight, that will give you the most time over it. If possible, book your flight first thing in the morning for best light and lack of wind, on the Eco-Star EC-130 helicopter.
One thing I have to point out is that Winslow, AZ, is going to be a long swing out of your way. If you have your heart set on visiting it, you should also take the opportunity to hit Meteor Crater, and Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park.
With these considerations in mind, you could do something like this:
March 28th: Arrive in Mt. Carmel Junction after sightseeing in Zion, overnight
March 29th: Drive to Bryce Canyon (~90 minutes from Mt. Carmel Jct), overnight in Bryce Canyon area
March 30th: Drive to Page, AZ (~2 hours from Mt. Carmel Jct), overnight in Page, AZ
March 31st: Visit Horseshoe Bend first thing in AM en route to Williams (~3 hour drive from Page, AZ). Park RV, visit Grand Canyon National Park (~1 hour from Williams), overnight in Williams.
April 1st: 2nd day/night in Williams
April 2nd: Drive to Petrified Forest/Painted Desert (~2 hours from Williams), Standin’ On A Corner Park, Meteor Crater (~90 minutes from PEFO), overnight in Winslow, AZ area (there’s an RV park at Meteor Crater, never been there, but you might consider it)
April 3rd: Drive to Phoenix, AZ (~3 hours from Winslow, AZ)
Custom trip map
Whatever you decide, be sure to book overnight stays and guided tours in advance. Even with some attractions closed due to COVID-19, people are chomping at the bit to travel and we’re expecting a busy month.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
~tip of the hat to you.
We are goin to skip the Winslow jaunt and do it another time. I will be coming out of Mt. Carmel Junction when we come upon Horseshoe Bend, so parking the 5th wheel in the parking lot might be tough? I will heed your advise and look for a place I can unhitch for a couple of hours to get into Horseshoe Bend. One other question, can you do the Slot Canyons there alone or do we need to book a tour guide to get there.
thank you greatly. wanting to give my girls to get out of their normal routine and a spring break to remember.
Jeffrey
Hi Jeffrey,
Probably a good call to skip Winslow this time around. It tends to hold more appeal to *ahem* people of a certain age (of which I’m one, thank you very much!) rather than younger folks, so … maybe a good destination for an adults-only trip in the future.
As for the slot canyons on Navajo Tribal Land, you absolutely MUST go with a guided tour. If you try to get there on your own, that constitutes trespassing and all that that implies. Slot Canyons that are not on Tribal land and therefore not subject to the closure that affects Navajo sites are Wire Pass Canyon/Buckskin Gulch near Paria, UT, and Red Canyon aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon in Kanab, UT. While a guided tour is not required to visit these, we strongly recommend you take one, especially to Peek-A-Boo, because while the walk through the slot is not hard, the drive to get there is. It goes through a lot of deep sand, so a 4WD vehicle with tire pressure lowered is a must. Even then, people get stuck out there all the time. List of authorized tour guides
Have fun, and be safe!
Alley 🙂
Traveling March 21-26, is there no parking at horse bend or just limited?
Hey Bob,
The parking lot at Horseshoe Bend is quite large, and what with COVID-19 still putting a bit of a damper on travel, you shouldn’t have too big of a problem finding a place to park. The parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset. We recommend sunrise for smaller crowds 😉
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley
Hi Alley,
Thank you for all the advise on the questions. Apart from seeing the horseshoe bend, what are some other places I can visit with kids on March 23? I wanted to do the canyon x tour but looks like they are closed
Hey again, Viks 😉
You are correct that Antelope Canyon X, along with the other branches of the Antelope Canyons remain closed at this time. Fortunately, there is no shortage of things to see and do in Page, AZ, and the surrounding areas!
One piece of information I wish you’d supplied is the ages of the children you’re traveling with. If they’re over the age of 5, you might consider touring Antelope Canyon from the waterside by kayak. These depart from Antelope Point Marina, take approximately half a day, and include hiking into the “pre-slot canyon” portion of Lower Antelope on the shoreline of Lake Powell, which is Federal and not Tribal Land. There are several companies offering this type of tour, but the one we’re most familiar with is Hidden Canyon Kayak’s Antelope Canyon Tour.
If this sort of activity does not appeal, another good alternative to Antelope Canyon is Wire Pass Canyon & Buckskin Gulch. The trailhead is approximately 1 hour’s drive from Page, AZ. You must travel a short distance down the House Rock Valley Road, which you should not attempt if recent weather has been wet. You should also think twice if you’re in a rental car, and go with a guided tour. To get a first-hand look at Wire Pass Canyon, watch this video Look Who’s Blogging | Wire Pass Canyon | Paria Rimrocks Toadstool Hoodoos Trail Note that this video depicts a second hike you might take, time/inclination permitting.
Other sites open for visitation in the Page/Lake Powell area include, but are not limited to:
– Page Rim View Trail
– Glen Canyon Dam/Steel Arch Bridge
– Hanging Garden Trail & The Chains
– Glen Canyon Dam/White House Overlook
– Grand View Overlook Park
– The “New” Wave and Radio Tower Rock
– Gunfighter Canyon
– Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach (these are located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which requires a $30/vehicle entrance fee, good for one week’s time)
If you have the time or inclination to venture a short way into Utah, ~20 minutes drive from Page, AZ, you might also hit up the Big Water, UT, Visitors Center & Dinosaur Museum (or you can do this on the way to or from Wire Pass or the Toadstools).
Hope that helps — good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂
Thank you so much, Alley for your quick response and suggestions/recommendations. Much Appreciated.
🙂
Thank you so much, Alley for your quick response and suggestions/recommendations. Much Appreciated. This was very helpful.
Hi Alley, one more question. I’m in Page on 3/22 and am wondering how many hours drive is to see the Grand Canyon as I will be leaving Page on 3/23. I’m staying in flagstaff on 3/23. Do you have other suggestions for accommodations? Also, is Grand Canyon open? Thanks much in advance as it will help me lot of plan my trip.
Hey again, Viks 😉
First of all, Grand Canyon South Rim is open. For the best quality experience, it is best if you were to stay either at Grand Canyon Village, inside the park, or Tusayan, AZ, ~7 miles outside the park. Flagstaff is OK, but it’s a 90 minute drive each way from there to GC, at a time of year when your days are still relatively short (sunrise 6:25 AM, sunset 6:40 PM).
The biggest inconvenience right now is going to be the drive from Page, AZ, to the Grand Canyon. Due to the COVID-19 related closure of a critical component of the shortest travel route (AZ64 East from Cameron to Desert View Point), it is now mandatory to drive all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then back up North to GC via US180/AZ64N or I-40/AZ64N. This has turned what is normally ~a 3-hour drive into more along the lines of 5 hours. Seeing as though almost half of your usable daylight hours are going to be consumed by the drive, it makes even more sense to choose accommodations for that night closer to the park so you’re not driving at after sunset. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit, plus the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife that could hike up your risk of an auto accident. Trust me, that’s not something you want to risk in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive!
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I am planning to visit South Rim of GC from Page,AZ on 10th April. Just want to make sure that, when shortest travel route (AZ64 East from Cameron to Desert View Point) is going to open?
Hi Poonam,
So sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but AZ64 East from Cameron, AZ, to Desert View is expected to remain closed until further notice. Local officials are pushing for it to reopen, but whether their pleas will be heeded remains to be seen.
Long story short, count on having to detour down through Flagstaff, AZ, then proceed North to the Grand Canyon via US180/AZ64 North or I-40/AZ64 North. That will be ~a 4.5 hour drive for you. I know — yuck.
If you’re of a mind to “make lemonade out of lemons,” you might take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the Wupatki/Sunset Crater Scenic Loop Drive just North of Flagstaff, AZ. This will take you past an ancient Sinaguan Pueblo complex (a rather sophisticated one at that!), and a dormant volcano. This will add some time onto an already long trip, but the option is there for you.
Trip map
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Is there any parking open prior to April 13 at Horseshoe Bend Overlook Trail?
Hi Carolyn,
The parking lot expansion referred to in this article took place over a year ago! So yes, the parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset, which, on April 13th will be 5:50 AM and 7:00 PM respectively. Sorry for the confusion.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Really appreciate your effort in responding with all our questions.
We are a family of 8 adults and planning to visit Las Vegas from Southern CA for 3 days and another 3 days to see Horshoebend. I’m looking a hotel or airbnb accommodation in Page AZ. I am hoping that you can advise me on what other sceneries we can see without too much hiking as my parents are old. Want to be sure too that our way to Page AZ from Vegas then back to SoCal are all open. Thank you.
Hi Joahna,
You might encounter some road construction on I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge between Mesquite, NV, and St. George, UT.
The only road closure that might affect your family significantly is between Page, AZ, and Grand Canyon South Rim. Normally, the drive takes approximately 3 hours, but due to COVID-19, a critical component of the shortest travel route between Page, AZ, and Grand Canyon Village (AZ64 East from Cameron, AZ, to Desert View Point) is closed. This will require you to drive all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then back up North via US180/AZ64N or I-40/AZ64N. This has turned a 3-hour drive into more along the lines of 5 hours. If you are not going to the Grand Canyon, you should be good, but if you’ve never been there, you should at least set aside a day to go there. Everyone should at least once in their lifetime!
As for activities in the Page, AZ, area that don’t require a lot of high-intensity hiking, there’s
Glen Canyon Dam/Steel Arch Bridge
Hanging Garden Trail (~1 mile, relatively flat)
Grand View Overlook Park
Gunfighter Canyon
Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach (located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which requires a $30/vehicle entrance fee, good for one week’s time)
Glen Canyon Conservancy Museum
Big Water Visitors Center & Dinosaur Museum
If you determine that the Horseshoe Bend Overlook Trail is too much for your parents to manage, you might consider flying over it in a fixed-wing airplane or helicopter. Horseshoe Bend flights depart out of the Page Municipal Airport, weather permitting, and typically in the early morning hours for best light and lack of wind.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Do you think it will be a better idea to maybe spend a night in Flagstaff to see grandcanyon from Las Vegas then drive to Page,AZ for horsehoebend then back to Socal or vice versa? Again,thank you for your advices and patience.
Hi again, Joahna,
In March, I wouldn’t normally recommend using Flagstaff, AZ, as a “base camp” for visiting the Grand Canyon, but under the current circumstances, I can see why that may appeal. It’s about a 90-minute drive, one way from Flagstaff, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. In mid-March, sunrise occurs just after 6:30 AM and sunset takes place at around 6:30 PM. That gives you roughly 12 hours of daylight to work with. The main priority is ensuring that you do all your driving during daylight hours. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife that can ratchet up your risk of an auto accident. You don’t want to risk a collision with a large animal in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. Which means that if you’re staying in Flagstaff, AZ, after visiting the Grand Canyon, you’ll need to be sure you’re on the road no later than 5:00 PM. However, staying in Flagstaff, AZ, the night prior to visiting Page, AZ, does offer the advantage of cutting the drive time to the latter down to ~3 hours.
Hope that helps. Have a wonderful time!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley!
I am thrilled to have found this page. I am needing help with my itinerary, I think. I am seeing road closures but I am unsure if that will affect my trip.
So, here are our plans in a nutshell…
Day 1.Arrive early in Las Vegas, rent car, drive to Zion. Spend one night
Day 2. Either explore Zion a bit and leave by noon, or leave in the morning and go to Bryce for a while. Depart Bryce by 3pm and drive to Page, Az. for the night.
Day 3. Booked with Hidden Canyon Kayak in Page…depart when tour is over for Grand Canyon (south entrance). Arrive to GC, check in our room and relax/rest of evening.
Day 4. Explore GC. Spend one more night
Day 5. Depart GC and head to Las Vegas
Are there road closures within our itinerary? Do you have other suggestions?
Thank you so much!
Hi Brenda,
The one piece of information I really needed is when you were planning to travel. If your trip date is anytime before May 21st, you will encounter a road closure between Page, AZ, and Grand Canyon South Rim. Normally, this drive is about 3 hours, but due to a closure of a critical component of the shortest travel route (AZ64 East from Cameron, AZ, to Desert View Point – COVID-19, ’nuff said), it is currently necessary to detour down to Flagstaff, AZ, then back up North via US180/AZ64N or I-40/AZ64N. This has turned a 3-hour drive into more like a 5-hour drive. Grand Canyon National Park Service is currently planning (meaning wishing, hoping, and praying) that they can convince the Navajo Tribe (on whose land that section of AZ64 sits) to get the road back open by May 21st.
Otherwise, your trip looks pretty fun, and mostly feasible. The only glaring thing(s) I can point out are:
1. you’ll probably wish you’d allotted more time for Zion National Park. That’s a huge and beautiful park with lots to see and do. Most visitors prefer to stay in that area for 3-4 days, and still come away feeling as though they’d only scratched the surface. I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll be planning a return trip, which isn’t such a bad thing!
2. Visiting Bryce as a “pop-by” between Zion and Page is less than ideal. If that’s all you can manage, then I recommend spending the night prior in Kanab, UT, which will put you closer to Bryce (~90 minutes) that morning. The drive to Page, AZ, will then be 2.5 hours. Be sure you are aware of when sunset is that evening because you need to be sure that you’re doing that drive (and all others if possible) when it’s still light out. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife that can ratchet up your risk of an auto accident. Between Kanab, UT, and Page, AZ, is particularly bad for that, and you don’t want to risk a collision with a large animal in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Ally,
This is my draft plan for the trip from 3/28-4/3. Ideally is to make a circle.
Is anything we need to revise the plan?
I originally planned to go to the wave and antelope. But antelope is closed and the wave requires 4 month in advance.:(
Thank you so much.
3/29 Vegas to Zion
3/30 horseshoe bend
3/31 arches
4/1 canyon land
4/2 Bryce
4/3 home
Hey Stella,
That itinerary looks pretty fun, and well-planned, but just a trifle rushed.
Zion, for example, is a huge park that really commands 3-5 days to fully explore and enjoy. I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll be planning a return trip someday, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing 😉 But if you can possibly squeeze in an extra day to spend there, you wouldn’t regret it. Unfortunately, the most logical area to trim some time off would be Moab, UT (Arches/Canyonlands). Here again, 2 days is good, but 4-5 would be better! By taking Moab, UT, off the table this time around, that would free up time to maybe try your hand at the walk-in lottery for The Wave (takes place every morning in Kanab, UT, the day prior to when you wish to hike). Should you strike out on getting a permit, you could still enjoy the day by exploring one of many alternative areas around The Wave that are just as beautiful, but don’t require a permit. White Pocket is the most popular, and for good reason, it’s an absolutely stunning area, but hard to get to. A guided tour comes highly recommended for enjoying and exploring this area in safety. There are about a dozen companies offering such services, but the ones we are most familiar with are Paria Outpost & Outfitters, Dreamland Safari Tours, and Vermilion Adventures.
So a basic revised itinerary would look like this:
03/29 Vegas to Zion
03/30 Horseshoe Bend
03/31 Try for Wave permit
04/01 If successful: hike The Wave; if unsuccessful, tour White Pocket or alternate area
04/02 Bryce
04/03 Home
Revised trip map
Again, just a suggestion. But if you were to leave your trip plan as is, I know you’ll still have a great time! Just keep an eye on the weather (it can still snow that time of year, especially in Bryce) be prepared for drives to be longer than they say on Google maps, and be sure to reserve all hotels and guided tours ASAP.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Alley,
Thanks so so so much. You are so cool. 😃 Have a wonderful day.
You are welcome, Stella 🙂 Have a wonderful trip, and if you get a minute when you return home, write in again and let us know how it went!
Hi there, what is the easiest and maybe fastest route to Horshoe Bend overlook from Las Vegas?
Hi Kari,
This is the fastest driving route.
For a more detailed explanation, check out “How To Get To Horseshoe Bend From Las Vegas”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Our family( 4 adults & 2 kids 17 & 8) have 3 days ( 3/8 to 3/10) to visit Horseshoe Bend & Grand Canyon NP through South Rim entrance from Phoenix by car.
Probably add on Flagstaff as well ( to replace the closing of Antelope)
I did a quick read of other comments and just realize there are issues with road closing.
Can you please advise a best route for our short road trip, we will leave Phoenix on Monday 3/8 by early afternoon and driving back to Phoenix by Thursday afternoon.
We’re thinking of overnight @ either Page or Flagstaff and heading out to the Grand Canyon NP early morning & stay there 2 nights.
This is our first visit to these places, so not sure if the time frame for visit are doable along with the drive.
TIA!
Hi Tracy,
Glad you’ve heard about the closure of AZ64 from Desert View Point to Cameron, AZ. We would have hated to see that be an unpleasant surprise as you made your way around!
As to whether you have sufficient time to see the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend on this trip, the answer is “yes,” but be prepared for some long drives.
Assuming that 3/8 and 3/10 are not travel days, here’s what I’d recommend:
March 8th: Drive from Phoenix AZ to Page, AZ (~5 hours), visit Horseshoe Bend on the way into town, overnight in Page
March 9th: Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hours due to the necessity of detouring through Flagstaff), if desired, take Wupatki/Sunset Crater scenic loop drive just North of Flagstaff, that will add ~2 hours onto your drive time, overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
March 10th: 2nd day/night at Grand Canyon South Rim (or drive back to PHX in the afternoon)
March 11th: Drive back to Phoenix (~4.5 hours), fly home Trip map
If that sounds like too much driving to properly call it a vacation, I don’t blame you a bit. As much as I hate to suggest it, you might save Page, AZ, for a future trip when the Antelope Canyons reopen (we’re wishing, hoping, and praying it will happen by summertime!), and use the extra time to explore Sedona, AZ. That’s a stunning area with lots to see and do, and being only ~2.5 hours from Phoenix, makes for a good last stop for a little chill time on your tour. If you take me up on that suggestion, then plan to hit Grand Canyon South Rim that first day, spend 1 night there, then head down to Sedona, AZ (~2.5 hours from GC South Rim) for 2 nights, then back to Phoenix. Revised Trip Map
Priority #1 at this point should be getting your lodging booked. Your chosen timeframe is Spring Break for many US schools, so things will be busy, even with the COVID-19 restrictions.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley.
My husband and I will be visiting Horseshoe Bend next week on a week day. This is the week of our school’s Spring Break. What time of day would you say that the parking gets full?
Hi Beth,
In years past, it’s filled up between 9:00 AM-10:00 AM. Don’t know if that will hold true this year, hopefully you won’t have any problem when you visit!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Beth, how was experience during your visit to horseshoe bend? I’m traveling with 2 kids on March 22 and am wondering what time is good? Can we walk and take some good pictures by horseshoe bend?
Hi Viks!
Beth has probably already traveled and is most likely no longer monitoring this site. I can tell you, however, that Horseshoe Bend will be open for visitation on March 22nd (barring some totally bizarre occurrence LOL). Operational hours for the parking lot are sunrise to sunset, which are 6:24 AM and 6:40 PM respectively.
Allow approximately 2 hours to park your vehicle, walk out to the rim, take photos, then walk back to your vehicle.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi!
My father and I are coming from California the week of March 21st with the hopes of being able to see Horseshoe Bend. I know that parking can be tricky so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I don’t want to miss out on this opportunity if possible. Thank you in advance.
Hey Andrea!
Coming from California, hopefully, you and your Dad are planning on spending a night or two in Page, AZ. If so, then I would recommend visiting in the hours just after sunrise. That timeframe typically has fewer people to contend with. Otherwise, simply go when it’s convenient for you. Operating hours of the parking lot are sunrise to sunset. With the parking lot expanded last year, and people still a bit wary of travel due to COVID-19, I doubt you’ll have much of a problem finding a spot.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi there! I plan on visiting Horseshoe Bend on March 21st, driving from Zion to the Grand Canyon. Just wondering how parking has been recently and how busy it has been with COVID? Can you please let me know if there are a few ideal times of day to try and visit in order to get a parking spot in later March? Also, in the case that there are no parking spots, it looks like all the shuttle services/tour operators in Page are indefinitely suspended. Are there any other options to get to Horseshoe bend if the lot is full? Maybe a parking lot that’s further away where we can walk a farther distance? Thank you!
Hi Lindsay,
Since we are still in shoulder season, the parking lot at Horseshoe Bend has not been so busy that people have trouble finding a parking space. That could be a different story in late March what with that being the beginning of Spring Break, but if you time your visit for the hours just after sunrise, you shouldn’t have a problem.
As for the tour operators and shuttle services, you are correct that they are on temporary hiatus due to COVID-19. Unfortunately we don’t know when they should reopen, so if on the off-chance you find the Horseshoe Bend parking lot full, you’ll simply need to come back and try again.
Sorry I couldn’t be more specific than that.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello, your information is incredible, thank you very much! Based on your website, I have learned of a few more stops we need to take!
You seem to be closely tied into the area, any insight or rumors on when the Navajo Nation will reopen? We are visiting first week of July 2021 and Page, Monuments Valley, and Four Corners are all on the list. I am wondering if you think it’ll be open by the Summer?
Hey Mark,
I am indeed closely tied to the tourism industry in Northern Arizona/Southern Utah, including the Navajo Tribe, which means I’ve heard the same rumors you have. The operative word being “rumors.” Official word maintains that the Antelope Canyons, Monument Valley, and the Four Corners will stay closed until further notice. Unofficially, our associates in the Navajo tourism community are crossing fingers and toes that they can get back to business by mid-April.
I would suggest monitoring the official website of the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation Department. You might also visit our companion site, http://www.AntelopeCanyon.AZ and request to be place on our priority e-mail list so you can be notified the minute the decision to reopen comes down!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley, I’ve been reading all your fantastic advice and hope that you may be able to help. We will be doing a 1-week trip at the end of March, arriving in Vegas and heading out to the Grand Canyon South Rim for 2 days and then we are looking to drive north to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park with a stop at either Red Canyon or Wire Pass Canyon. I’ve been reading that AR64 is closed through the Indian reservations, but I haven’t been able to confirm that via other sites. Is this still the case?
I appreciate all your help!
Hi Rebecca!
Thanks for your compliments, I am sorry for the delay in responding, I was on an out-of-town work assignment over the weekend.
You are correct in that AZ64 from Desert View Point to Cameron, AZ, is closed at this time, and is expected to remain closed at the time of your visit. Projected opening date is late May, and that’s being optimistic.
Therefore, to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to the Kanab, UT, area, you will need to drive all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then bounce back up North via US89. This has turned what is normally about a 4-hour drive into more like 6 hours.
In light of this, I would recommend modifying your plans slightly: drive as far as Page, AZ, hit Horseshoe Bend on the way into town (it’s still open), spend the night in Page, AZ, then hit Wire Pass or Red Canyon and Coral Pink Sand Dunes the following day. The drive from Page, AZ, to Kanab, UT, is an hour and change in length.
Due to the access roads to Wire Pass and Red Canyon being unpaved, I would recommend you consider taking a guided tour to these areas. Many Kanab, UT, tour companies offer combination tours which include the Coral Pink Sand Dunes.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello there – I wanted to be at Horseshoe Bend before sunrise/be able to stay after sunset. Is that possible or are there limited hours with the paid parking? If I get there pre-sunrise will there be gates that are open?
Thank you!
Hey Glenn,
The “official” operating hours of the Horseshoe Bend parking lot are sunrise to sunset. If you were to arrive before sunrise, it’s very likely you would not be able to access the overlook because the gates of the parking lot would be closed. To be 100% certain that this would be the case, I’d recommend contacting the City of Page, who are contracted to oversee the parking lot and fee collection. Their phone # is (928) 645-8861.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thank you!
Glen, were you able to get in before sunset on your trip? We are here now and want to try. It is my favorite time of day there.
Hey Andy,
I imagine Glenn has already traveled, but we’d be interested in hearing about your experience!
Alley 🙂
We will be traveling from Grand Canyon South rim toward Zion National Park on June 2.. We plan to stop by Horseshoe Bend. We will be in 2 RVs.. one is 30′ and the other is 45′ plus towing a car. Can parking accommodate the larger RV? What time does it open? I understand that AZ64 is closed. Any hope it will open by June? We also would like to visit Antelope Canyon. I do know that it is currently closed also. If it is open, how far away is it from Horseshoe Bend? Do you know if they have adequate parking for the larger RV?
Hi Alva,
Both Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon tour companies have space to accommodate larger RV’s, but you’ll find that you’ll have an easier time of it by getting there early, maybe ditch the dinghy. Horseshoe Bend is open from sunrise to sunset, and in June, it’s a good idea to try and hit the overlook right at sunrise to take advantage of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
As for whether the Antelope Canyons will be open by June, we honestly don’t know. We’re hoping so, but in your case, you should have a “Plan B” in mind in the event the closure continues through the summer. The alternatives we recommend that are not affected by the closure of Navajo Reservation lands are Red Canyon/aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon and Wire Pass Canyon/Buckskin Gulch.
With twists and turns on par with the Antelope Canyons, Peek-A-Boo is a short but memorable walk offering up classic slot canyon scenery, and some unique geological features. Red/Peek-A-Boo is the also one of the most family-friendly slot canyons open to visitation right now. While a guided tour is not required to get to Peek-A-Boo, we strongly recommend that you take one, because while the walk through the canyon itself is not difficult, the drive to get there is. Even experienced 4×4 drivers get stuck out there on a daily basis, and if you’re in an RV, forget it. That would leave you on the hook for a very expensive rescue, should you need one, and having to foot the bill for any damage you’d sustain. Tour companies in Kanab, UT, that can get you to Peek-A-Boo Canyon are:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
– Forever Adventure Tours, 435-644-5700, http://www.foreveradventuretours.com
– Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermilioncliffs.net
Tour of Peek-A-Boo Canyon last approximately 4 hours.
If you think you’d be up for something a little more rugged, Wire Pass Canyon & Buckskin Gulch would definitely fill the bill. Wire Pass Canyon is a photogenic two-part slot canyon that is short enough for intermediate-level hikers to enjoy, yet offers the option to delve further into Buckskin Gulch for those wanting more of a challenge. The walk to the entrance of the initial slot is via a typically dry streambed, which is usually full of deep sand. An 8-10’ drop a short distance into the slot canyon is one reason why Wire Pass Canyon usually deters parties traveling with young children, the elderly, or individuals afraid of heights, however, a makeshift ladder was recently placed there to aid in navigating this obstacle. As the canyon walls become higher and closer together, they suddenly open up as the second slot connects with the Buckskin Gulch. If you’ve had enough at this point, you can simply turn around and head back to your vehicle. If you’d like to explore further, you can easily make a half-day hike out of the immediate area around the confluence with the Buckskin. Access to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch is off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, on the House Rock Valley Road, an unpaved road that is not recommended for RV’s to travel on. Here again, a guided tour will get your family to Wire Pass Canyon and back in one piece, and turn you onto features you might have missed trying to find your own way. Companies offering guided tours to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch include:
– Detours American West, 480-633-9013, http://www.detoursamericanwest.com
– Paria Outpost & Outfitters, 928-691-1047, http://www.paria.com
– Grand Staircase Discovery Tours, 928-614-4099, http://www.grandstaircasediscoverytours.com
Hope that helps! Good luck, safe travels, and Happy New Year!
Alley 🙂
Thanks. Your knowledge of the area and attractions is most helpful in our planning
Alva
You are welcome! Good luck and have fun 🙂
I want to come up this week. Will it be slow time of year and easy to park? Will I see snow around the bend from the recent snow storms?
Hey Rod!
You shouldn’t have any trouble parking at Horseshoe Bend, but it’s unlikely that you’ll see much snow. Weather in the next few days is predicted to rise up into the 50’s, which will melt most of the snow that occurred with last week’s storms.
East Canyon weather
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Thank you for your help to us all on this thread! Your time and effort here is greatly appreciated.
I am currently visiting the Grand Canyon (got here Wednesday), and I am deciding on whether to come by to spend a day in the Page, AZ area before heading back to Los Angeles.
Is the Monument valley scenic drive route open? If it is i think ill come by! Im just not sure if it is cos I read that it is on Navajo tribal lands and they currently observing a lockdown on all their national parks and the like.
Thank you !
Tolu
Hi Tolu!
Hope you’re having a great time at the Grand Canyon.
Unfortunately, the Monument Valley Scenic Drive remains closed by order of the Navajo Tribe. You can still see many of Monument Valley’s beautiful rock formations driving through on US163, but I still wouldn’t recommend going all the way there from the Grand Canyon at this time. You see, a critical component of the shortest travel route between the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, AZ64 from Desert View Point to Cameron, is also closed by the Navajo Tribe. This means that to go from Grand Canyon South Rim to Monument Valley, you’d have to travel all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then back North on US89 to US160 and US163. This has turned what is normally a 3.5 hour drive to more like 5.5-6 hours. Another important consideration is the Navajo Tribe wishes to minimize or eliminate all interaction between outsiders and reservation residents, so this means, no stopping at any restaurants, gas stations, hotels, or grocery stores.
If you are looking for another place to spend an extra day, we would love to see you in Page, AZ. Even with the Antelope Canyons closed, there is still plenty to see and do, plus Horseshoe Bend remains open. Bear in mind that you’d have to take the same detour through Flagstaff, which turns a 2.5-3 hour drive into more like a 4.5-5 hour drive, and part of it would take you through the Navajo Reservation (just North of Flagstaff to just South of Page), so you want to make sure your vehicle is fully fueled and that you have adequate snacks and water to tide you over until you get to Page, AZ. If you were to spend the night in Page, AZ, the drive back to LA the following day would take anywhere from 9-10 hours. If that doesn’t appeal, Las Vegas, NV, would be a good spot to break up the drive. If you take me up on that, you could make the short detour through the stunning Valley of Fire State Park just North of town. The drive to LA from Las Vegas would be ~4-5 hours. Trip map
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Oh wow. Thanks for the info Alley. Lots to think about. I really appreciate the info!
Hi there! My husband surprised me with a trip to the Grand Canyon from Feb 5-7. However, we will be flying into Vegas, then driving over to AZ. We know it will be a short, adventure packed, loads of driving trip! But I wanted to ask about your current COVID restrictions… will we be able to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim (cause we are bringing dogs), and then head over to Horseshoe Bend without any park/road closures? *We are renting an SUV … thank you so much for all your help!! We visited AZ in late 2019 and early 2020, but didn’t make it up to the Grand Canyon, so hoping we will for this trip!!
Hi Laura,
What a wonderful surprise! Unfortunately I do have a bit of bad news: there is a significant road closure and some other restrictions in effect that might affect your plans somewhat. More on that in a minute.
So it takes ~5 hours to drive from Las Vegas, NV, to Grand Canyon South Rim. The only lodge in the park that is pet-friendly is Yavapai Lodge. They do have some restrictions regarding leaving pets in the room unattended, etc., so be sure you are familiar with those before committing. Normally, if pet-friendly lodging weren’t available, I’d say call the Grand Canyon Kennel, but unfortunately, that’s closed due to COVID0-19. Otherwise, the only pet boarding facility somewhat nearby, should you need it, is the Grand Canyon Railway Pet Resort in Williams, AZ, 60 miles South of the park. To utilize this service, your dogs’ vaccines must be current.
Otherwise, there are some restrictions on food services, tours, and other facilities due to COVID-19. To familiarize yourself with these fully, suggest you read the NPS website on Grand Canyon National Park.
Not knowing if 02/05-02/07 includes your fly-in/fly-out dates, I’m not certain if you will have sufficient time to visit Horseshoe Bend this time around. Page, AZ, the community where Horseshoe Bend is nearest to, is ~150 miles from Grand Canyon South Rim. Normally, the drive from GCSR to Page, AZ, takes ~3 hours. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, a key component of the shortest travel route — AZ64 from Desert View Point to Cameron, AZ — has been closed by order of the Navajo Indian Tribe. That means to get from GCSR to Page, AZ, requires that you drive all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then slingshot back North on US89 to Page, AZ. This has turn what is normally a 3-hour drive into more like a 5-hour drive. The drive back to Las Vegas, NV, would then take roughly 5 hours. Trip map
If you can spend 2 nights at the Grand Canyon and at least 1 night in Page, AZ, that would be ideal. Page, AZ, does have several pet-friendly hotels. If you don’t have that much time to give, then prioritize the Grand Canyon, enjoy your stay there, and save Page, AZ, for another trip, preferably one when the Antelope Canyons (which are also closed) reopen and you can spend 1 week or more and really enjoy all that Northern Arizona and Southern Utah have to offer! Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary in Northern Arizona & Southern Utah
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy New Year!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley ! I’m planning a visit with a few friends in the middle of January . My plan was to visit horseshoe bend and antelope canyon but I heard antelope canyon is closed .any other place around horseshoe bend that you will recommend? Do I need to make reservations? .thank you
Hey Marvin,
You are correct that the Antelope Canyons remain closed due to COVID-19. Horseshoe Bend has stayed open, and can be visited without prior arrangement. Simply arrive at your convenience during normal business hours (sunrise to sunset), pay the one-time $10/vehicle parking fee, and enjoy at your leisure.
If seeing a slot canyon remains high on your priority list — and we wouldn’t blame you a bit if it does! — there are alternatives nearby that are not subject to the closure of the Navajo Reservation: Wire Pass Canyon & Buckskin Gulch near Paria, UT, and Red Canyon/aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon near Kanab, UT.
Wire Pass Canyon is a photogenic two-part slot canyon that is short enough for intermediate-level hikers to enjoy, yet offers the option to delve further into Buckskin Gulch for those wanting more of a challenge. After paying your self-permitting fee at a well-marked kiosk, the walk to the entrance of the initial slot is via a typically dry streambed, through deep sand. An 8-10’ makeshift ladder a short distance into the slot canyon is one reason why Wire Pass Canyon may not be appropriate for those traveling with young children, the elderly, or individuals afraid of heights. As the canyon walls become higher and closer together, they suddenly open up as the second slot connects with the Buckskin Gulch. If you’ve had enough at this point, you can simply turn around and head back to your vehicle. If you’d like to explore further, you can easily make a half-day hike out of the immediate area around the confluence with the Buckskin. Look for some bighorn sheep petroglyphs dating back hundreds, maybe thousands of years! Access to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch is off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, on the House Rock Valley Road, which is unpaved. While it is accessible to 2WD vehicles much of the time, if recent weather has brought any moisture whatsoever, the HRVR can turn into a muddy, impassable mess. Parties in rental cars should think twice about attempting this road since off-road driving is strictly prohibited by most rental car companies. A guided tour will get your family to Wire Pass Canyon and back in one piece, and turn you onto features you might have missed trying to find your own way. Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT based companies offering guided tours to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch include:
– Detours American West, 480-633-9013, http://www.detoursamericanwest.com
– Paria Outpost & Outfitters, 928-691-1047, http://www.paria.com
– Grand Staircase Discovery Tours, 928-614-4099, http://www.grandstaircasediscoverytours.com
Located between Kanab and Mt. Carmel Junction, Utah, approximately 90 minutes from Page, AZ, Red Canyon/aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon has twists and turns on par with the Antelope Canyons. This short but memorable walk features classic slot canyon scenery (including the occasional light beams in the summertime), as well as some unique geological features found nowhere else. While a guided tour is not required to get to Peek-A-Boo, we strongly recommend that you consider taking one, because while the walk through the canyon itself is usually not difficult, the drive to get there can be. 4WD vehicles with adequate clearance are a definite must, with tire pressure lowered to accommodate potentially deep sand. Even then, people get stuck out there on a daily basis. If you’re driving a rental car, forget it! You will void your insurance the minute your tires part with the pavement, which means you’d be on the hook for a very expensive rescue, should you need one, and have to foot the bill for any damage you’d sustain. There are several reputable companies to choose from in Kanab, UT, that can get you to Peek-A-Boo Canyon, including:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
– Forever Adventure Tours, 435-644-5700, http://www.foreveradventuretours.com
– Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermilioncliffs.net
Other activities you can pursue near Horseshoe Bend and Page, AZ, include, but are not limited to:
– Page Rim View Trail
– Glen Canyon Dam/Steel Arch Bridge
– Hanging Garden Trail & The Chains
– Glen Canyon Dam/White House Overlook
– Grand View Overlook Park
– The “New” Wave and Radio Tower Rock
– Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach (located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which requires a $30/vehicle entrance fee, good for one week’s time)
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy New Year!
Alley 🙂
Hello,
When will Antelope Canyon be open this year? I was hoping to visit Antelope and Horse Shoe bend sometime in February of this year.
Hi Romana,
The good news: Horseshoe Bend is open. It’s one of a few Northern Arizona attractions that never closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The short answer to the question about Antelope Canyon’s reopening is, we don’t know. According to one of the local tour outfitters, Spring 2021 is being optimistic, so I wouldn’t count on being able to visit in February 🙁
If seeing a slot canyon remains high on your priority list — and we wouldn’t blame you a bit if it does! — there are alternatives nearby that are not subject to the closure of the Navajo Reservation: Wire Pass Canyon & Buckskin Gulch, and Red Canyon/aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon.
Wire Pass Canyon is a photogenic two-part slot canyon that is short enough for intermediate-level hikers to enjoy, yet offers the option to delve further into Buckskin Gulch for those wanting more of a challenge. The walk to the entrance of the initial slot is via a typically dry streambed, which may feature deep sand. An 8-10’ ladder a short distance into the slot canyon is one reason why Wire Pass Canyon may not be appropriate for those traveling with young children, the elderly, or individuals afraid of heights. As the canyon walls become higher and closer together, they suddenly open up as the second slot connects with the Buckskin Gulch. If you’ve had enough at this point, you can simply turn around and head back to your vehicle. If you’d like to explore further, you can easily make a half-day hike out of the immediate area around the confluence with the Buckskin. Look for some bighorn sheep petroglyphs dating back hundreds, maybe thousands of years! Access to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch is off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, on the House Rock Valley Road. Hikers are required to pay a self-permitting fee at the kiosk by the trailhead. Fair warning: the House Rock Valley Road is unpaved! While it is accessible to 2WD vehicles much of the time, if recent weather has brought any moisture whatsoever, the HRVR can turn into a muddy, impassable mess. Parties in rental cars should think twice about attempting this road since off-road driving is strictly prohibited by most rental car companies. A guided tour will get your family to Wire Pass Canyon and back in one piece, and turn you onto features you might have missed trying to find your own way. Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT based companies offering guided tours to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch include:
– Detours American West, 480-633-9013, http://www.detoursamericanwest.com
– Paria Outpost & Outfitters, 928-691-1047, http://www.paria.com
– Grand Staircase Discovery Tours, 928-614-4099, http://www.grandstaircasediscoverytours.com
Located between Kanab and Mt. Carmel Junction, Utah, approximately 90 minutes from Page, AZ, Red Canyon/aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon has twists and turns on par with the Antelope Canyons. This short but memorable walk features classic slot canyon scenery (including the occasional light beams in the summertime), as well as some unique geological features found nowhere else. While a guided tour is not required to get to Peek-A-Boo, we strongly recommend that you consider taking one, because while the walk through the canyon itself is usually not difficult, the drive to get there can be. 4WD vehicles with adequate clearance are a definite must, with tire pressure lowered to accommodate potentially deep sand. Even then, people get stuck out there on a daily basis. If you’re driving a rental car, forget it! You will void your insurance the minute your tires part with the pavement, which means you’d be on the hook for a very expensive rescue, should you need one, and have to foot the bill for any damage you’d sustain. There are several reputable companies to choose from in Kanab, UT, that can get you to Peek-A-Boo Canyon, including:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
– Forever Adventure Tours, 435-644-5700, http://www.foreveradventuretours.com
– Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermilioncliffs.net
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy New Year!
Alley 🙂
Alley, you seem to be the resident expert for this part of the world. I have a few questions for you.
We have a week long trip planned for this spring through Southern Utah and Northern AZ and I understand that some of the places we hoped to visit are closed due to Covid…Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. But I am curious to see if the highways are still open. The last few days of our trip go through Navajo Reservation areas and I want to make sure my plans are viable.
We plan to be driving up 191 from I-40 to Blanding, Utah, is that highway open? What about any services along the way on Navajo lands? Gas/restroom/food?
We then plan to drive from Blanding to Page via 163 to 160 or 98. I know Monument Valley is closed, but 163 is open, correct? Gas/restroom/food open? If all these roads are open, which would be the better choice to Page, 160 or 98? 160 looks to be a bit longer, but I am curious which might be more scenic and safer.
And lastly, are both the Utah and AZ route of highway 89 between Page and Kanab open? I think maybe the AZ route would be a bit more scenic, although a few miles out of the way from Page. Just want to make sure it is open.
Thanks
Hi Patricia and thanks for the compliments 🙂
The only road that’s closed to through traffic is AZ64 from Desert View Point at Grand Canyon South Rim to Cameron, AZ. All the roads you’re proposing to take are open and passable. As for whether gas, restrooms, and food service will be accessible on the reservation, don’t count on that. In fact the Navajo Tribe is discouraging outsiders from stopping on Navajo Tribal Lands at all if they can help it, so make sure your vehicle is fully fueled, and that you have some food and water to tide you over until you get to your off-reservation destination.
It will take you approximately 3.5 hours to drive from I-40 to Blanding, UT, via US191. The drive from Blanding to Page, AZ, via US163/160 to AZ98 will take roughly the same amount of time. I would not recommend going all the way around via US160/US89 to Page, AZ. That would tack an extra hour onto your drive.
Both routes between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, are open, and if you wanted to go around via the AZ route, be sure to stop at Lees Ferry and enjoy the short hike to the Lonely Dell Ranch, and grab lunch at Cliff Dweller’s Restaurant. The food is amazing, and so is the view! For dessert, pick up some made-from-scratch cookies at the Jacob Lake Inn. Time/inclination permitting, you might also visit the fascinating Pipe Springs National Monument. Trip map
One last suggestion: things could change between now and Spring depending on how well COVID-19 gets contained, and what sort of weather we might get. Before you get ready to travel, be sure to check the status of all roads just to be on the safe side.
Whatever you decide, be sure to book all hotels and guided tours well in advance of your arrival.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy New Year!
Alley 🙂
Thanks so much Alley. Our trip is planned for the first week of May for our 30th anniversary. Since we can’t go on a South Pacific island vacation as originally planned because of Covid…we will just head off to one of our favorite places…the Desert South West. I have already made the hotel reservations and all can be cancelled up to the day before if Covid or weather issues arise. Although we are disappointed that a few of our planned stops (Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley, both of which we have visited on previous trips) will be unavailable due to Covid, there is still plenty to see and do in the area. I wasn’t worried at all about the roads being closed until I read here that AZ 64 was closed. That lead to a minor panic that maybe others would be as well…hence my questions. Thanks again for your assistance.
Hi Patricia,
You’re welcome! Hope you have a wonderful time. Feel free to write in again if you need to bounce any more ideas off us.
Take care,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Thank you so much for the detailed responses and helpful information! I wanted to ask for your opinion. My husband and I plan to go to Las Vegas January 14-January 17 and planned to take a day trip to either the Grand Canyon or Horshoe Bend and maybe stop by or drive by a couple of other beautiful places. Due to AZ64 being closed, would it affect the drive from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas to Horshoe Bend? Please let me know what you think the best option would be, we have never been to Arizona before.
Thank you,
Katy
Hi Katy,
With one day to work with, and seeing as though you’ve never been to Arizona before, I would recommend visiting the Grand Canyon this time around. The trip takes ~4.5 hours, one way. The drive would take you past Hoover Dam, as well as Route 66 towns of Kingman, Seligman (the real-life inspiration for the town of Radiator Springs in the “Cars” movie), and Williams, home of the Grand Canyon Railway.
The closure of AZ64 from Desert View Point to Cameron, AZ, wouldn’t affect you, per se, but one thing that you do have working against you is daylength, or lack thereof. Sunrise in Las Vegas occurs shortly before 7:00 AM and sunset takes place at around 4:45 PM (Arizona time is one hour ahead of Nevada). As you can see, that’s less than 10 hours of daylight, and you’re already proposing to spend that long behind the wheel of your car. That doesn’t give you much time for sightseeing, and you want to at least make it as far as Kingman, AZ, by sundown. Driving at night around the immediate vicinity of the Grand Canyon is strongly discouraged due to local roads being very dimly lit and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife that could increase your risk of an accident. Trust me, that’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. Once you get as far as Kingman, AZ, there’s a fairly sizeable light dome emanating from the Las Vegas metro area.
Long story short, if a day trip is your only alternative, you really don’t have time to “stop by or drive by a couple of other beautiful places.” You need to concentrate on getting to the Grand Canyon and making the most of your time there.
A better idea? Spend the night so you can experience a sunset and/or sunrise at the canyon! Grand Canyon hotels
If your time is limited as you indicate, the Grand Canyon should take priority over Horseshoe Bend. It’s one of the “Big Three” National Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a “bucket list” attraction. Save Horseshoe Bend for another trip when you have more time to spend, and COVID-19 is no longer making travel difficult.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy New Year!
Alley 🙂
Thank you so much for the response! Would you see the south rim is the best to visit if it is out first time?
Hello. What time does the parking lot entrance open? We are planning to enjoy the sunrise at horseshoe bend tomorrow morning!
Hey Angelica,
Sunrise in Page, AZ, on January 3rd takes place at 7:39 AM.
Enjoy!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I am planning 2 day trip outside of Las Vegas. My current itinerary is: dec 27th morning drive from Las Vegas to Hoover dam -> Grand Canyon-> drive to the hotel near horseshoe bend.
Dec 28th: sunrise at horseshoe bend and then drive to Zion national park(no
Hikes) After that stay near Zion national park.
29th morning : drive towards Las Vegas visiting valley of fire
Do you think this is doable. I read few of your comments and you have explained very well. It would be much appreciated if you could guide me.
Hi Swati,
Unfortunately, your plan for day 1 is not realistic.
It takes approximately 5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim. Normally, it would take you ~3 hours to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Horseshoe Bend, but because of COVID-19, a critical section of the normal travel route, which lies on Navajo Indian Reservation land, is closed to outsiders. It is therefore necessary to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim all the way down to Flagstaff, then proceed North on US89 to Page, AZ (where Horseshoe Bend is located). This rather long detour has turned a 3-hour drive into more like a 5-hour drive. Not something most of us would want to face after having made a drive of equal distance already.
Another factor working against you at the time of year you’re visiting is daylength. In late December, it’s very short, with sunrise in Las Vegas, NV, taking place at around 6:30 PM and sunset in Arizona occurring at ~5:15 PM. That’s less than 11 hours of daylight, and you’re already proposing to eat up 9-10 hours of it driving. If you’re thinking “I’ll just do the rest of the drive at night,” please think again. Driving at night is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to the fact that local roads are very dimly lit, and you might encounter deer, elk, or other wildlife, which can hike up your risk of an accident. That’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
A better plan would be to stay overnight at the Grand Canyon on your first day’s travels, then head to Page, AZ, on the 28th. Unfortunately, that doesn’t give you any time to hit Zion, which is just as well, because Zion is a huge park which really deserves at least 3-4 days to do it justice. Save it for another time, preferably when it’s warmer and you can enjoy more hikes.
The drive from Page, AZ, back to Las Vegas, NV, going direct would be ~4.5-5 hours. Add another 90 minutes to 2 hours onto your drive time to do the loop through Valley of Fire.
Trip map
Sorry to be the bearer of some bad news here, but we’d rather see you enjoy your trip rather than make it a constant death march to get to your next destination. Whatever you decide, be sure to book all hotels and guided tours in advance of your arrival.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Thank you so much for such a detailed response. One more question. 28th : Grand Canyon to horseshoe bend and then Zion national park( spend little time) and stay near Zion on that night.
29th morning drive around monument valley and then go to Vegas?
We have a check-in to a hotel in Las Vegas on 29th.
Let me know if this is doable ?
Thank you.
Hey again, Swati!
Sorry to be a buzz kill again, but your plan for the 29th is a no-can-do.
If you’re going to stay at Zion on the night of the 28th (which I don’t recommend per my previous reply), you’d be facing a 5-hour drive to get to Monument Valley. Right now, the Navajo Indian Tribe (on whose land Monument Valley sits) is actively discouraging people, namely outsiders, from traveling on the reservation. Their citizens have been affected in disproportionately high numbers by COVID-19 and the don’t want to risk further exposure through tourists. Even if the Navajo Tribal Parks were not closed, you would then be facing a 7-hour drive back to Las Vegas, here again, on a day when you don’t have much daylight to work with. Trip map
There might still be a way you can see Monument Valley without actually going there: fly over it out of Page, AZ. Fixed-wing airplanes depart out of the Page, AZ, Municipal Airport (another reason why you might want to stay there and not Zion), contingent on good weather and a certain number of passengers traveling. Aerial sightseeing tours (no landing) take approximately 90 minutes and morning is the best time to fly for optimal light and the least amount of wind. For more information, visit Westwind Air Service or call 480-991-5557, or 1-888-869-0866.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi. Is Horseshoebend open New Years Day? On website it says it is closed for Christmas and New Years day. Thanks!
Hey Thomas,
I sure wish I knew what website you were referring to, because the “semi-official” Horseshoe Bend website, run by the City of Page, AZ, makes no mention of holiday closures. In fact, they imply quite the opposite:
You should be able to visit without a problem during the normal parking lot opening hours, between sunrise and sunset.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy New Year,
Alley 🙂
Thank you so much. Do you have any recommendation to see any other places from horseshoe bend to valley of fire.
Hey Swati,
You absolutely can make a nice leisurely drive and see some interesting sights between Horseshoe Bend and Las Vegas!
A short distance over the border of Utah, in the town of Big Water (~20 minutes from Page, AZ), you’ll find the Big Water Visitors Center and Dinosaur Museum . If anyone in your party is interested in paleontology, they’ll love the exhibits of dinosaur specimens unearthed in the local area.
Further up US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, is the Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos Trail. The trailhead is located at Mile Marker 19, and a relatively easy hike (with a slight scramble) takes you to some gravity-defying rock formations. The second half of this YouTube video details what’s involved, plus the little boy narrating is just SO cute 😉
A short distance West of the town of Fredonia is Pipe Springs National Monument, an interesting glimpse into the lives of early settlers, including LDS missionaries and Native Americans, and the conditions they overcame to eke out a life in a rather hostile environment.
Trip map
Hope that helps! Have a wonderful trip,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Wow! Your comments have been very helpful! Thank you so much.
I am planning a trip where I leave Grand Canyon on December 28th and head to Page for 2 days. Is it still true that the 64 is closed so I should assume this will be a 5 hour drive instead of a 3 hour drive? I have been looking at your recommendations for what to do in Page since Antelope Canyon is closed. We plan on going to Horseshoe Bend, any other recommendations would be amazing!
Thanks again!
Corinne
Hey Corinne, thank you for visiting, and thanks for your compliments!
Unfortunately, that section of AZ64 is still closed from Desert View to Cameron, AZ, so that 3-hour drive is still a 5-hour drive 🙁
Horseshoe Bend, fortunately, is one of a few attractions that never closed during this whole COVID-19 mess, so you won’t have any problem visiting this spectacular overlook of the Colorado River! The parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset, and you pay a one-time $10 parking fee for standard passenger vehicles.
As for other places you might visit, check out:
– Page Rim View Trail
– Glen Canyon Dam/Steel Arch Bridge
– Hanging Garden Trail & The Chains
– Glen Canyon Dam/White House Overlook
– Grand View Overlook Park
– The “New” Wave and Radio Tower Rock
– Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach (located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which requires a $30/vehicle entrance fee, good for one week’s time; or the National Park Pass works)
– Big Water Visitors Center & Dinosaur Museum
Naturally, the above is a small sampling of what you might enjoy, but is by no means an exhaustive list. For more recommendations, visit the Page/Lake Powell Tourism Hub upon arrival. If you talk to Gordon, tell him that Alley from Horseshoe Bend sent you 🙂
Have a wonderful visit, and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Alley
Hi there! Is horseshoe bend open on New Year’s Day 2021? Thanks!
Hi Leah!
Barring super-bad weather or any other extreme circumstances, Horseshoe Bend will be open on New Year’s Day 🙂
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley
Hi Alley,
We are planning to visit Horshoe Bend on December 31st or Jan 1st, not certain yet, from Springdale, UT on a day’s visit and then return back to Springdale. We are primarily here for Zion National Park and want to include Horshoe Bend as a day’s visit. Do you think it is feasible to do a round trip without staying over at Page, AZ? Would parking be a problem on these dates at the parking lot? I know it’s hard to answer definitively but wanted to know your thoughts on it. We are primarily interested in the overlook only since the canyons down below are closed.
Thanks,
Hey Dan,
Visiting Horseshoe Bend as a day trip out of Springdale, UT, is possible, but less than ideal at the time of year you’re visiting.
It takes ~2.5 hours, each way, to drive from Springdale, UT, to Page, AZ. You should allot at least 90 minutes to 2 hours to park at Horseshoe Bend, walk to the rim, take photos, then walk back to your vehicle. As for how full (or not) the parking lot will be, that remains to be seen, but generally, just after sunrise is when you’ll have the least problem finding a spot. Although the Antelope Canyons, another popular Page, AZ, attraction, are closed, there are other sites you might want to visit while there, including, but not limited to:
– Page Rim View Trail
– Glen Canyon Dam/Steel Arch Bridge
– Hanging Garden Trail & The Chains
– Glen Canyon Dam/White House Overlook
– Grand View Overlook Park
– The “New” Wave and Radio Tower Rock
– Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach (located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which requires a $30/vehicle entrance fee, good for one week’s time)
– Big Water Visitors Center & Dinosaur Museum
Another fun little stop you might want to take advantage of on the way to or from Page, AZ, is the Paria Rimrocks and Toadstool Hoodoos. Situated between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, on US89, the trailhead is near mile marker 19. This is a relatively easy hike to some cool rock formations. Here again, this could use up about 2-3 hours of your time, but most find it time well spent.
Long story short, if you could spend the night in Page, AZ, that would free up more time to explore. If you are locked into your room reservations in Springdale, UT, the key to making a day trip work will be keeping an eye on the time and being aware of when sunset occurs. Driving at night is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to the fact that local roads are very dimly lit, and you might encounter deer, elk, or other wildlife, which can hike up your risk of an accident. That’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. Around the New Year’s holiday period, sunrise occurs at ~7:45 AM and sunset takes place just after 5:00 PM.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I have been reading all your comments, suggestions, and recommendations, and found them to be wonderful. We are currently in Page and following some of your go to sites. How and where can we do some star gazing?
Hey Abel,
Apologies for not replying to your inquiry sooner, I was on an out-of-town work assignment over the weekend!
For optimal star gazing, it is best to get outside of Page, AZ’s surprisingly sizeable artificial light dome. About a 20 minute drive West on US89 over the border of Utah, you’ll find a small town called Big Water. A short distance down an unpaved road across a small creek bed, which is usually passable to 2WD vehicles provided recent weather has been dry, is an area locals affectionately refer to as “The Moon” because of its predominantly gray rock formations and desolate, other-worldly appearance. Click here to view a rough map of how to get there from Page, AZ, and word of warning, NP230 is NOT in Kanab! If you’ve gone that far, you’ve definitely gone too far.
If you’d prefer to stay a little closer to civilization, Lone Rock Beach, just on the border of Arizona and Utah, is a good spot also. Just be careful not to drive too far into the sand so you don’t get stuck. “The Moon” is also pretty cool to see in the daytime, and has a fascinating history! You could piggy-back a drive there with a visit to the Big Water Visitors Center and Dinosaur Museum.
Hope that helps! Have a great rest of your trip, and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Alley 🙂
Thanks for the detailed response and all that valuable information Alley, really appreciated.
Dan,
You are welcome! Have a wonderful trip and if you get a minute when you return home, let us know how things went 🙂
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Alley 🙂
I’ll be in Page Dec 28th and 29th. Is it possible to park my e-bike at the Horseshoe Bend parking area? Will I just be charged the same fee as a motorcycle? Are there any bike racks there?
thanks,
mike
Hi Mike,
Yes, you may park your e-bike at Horseshoe Bend. You would simply be charged as if you were riding a motorcycle.
There are bike racks at the Horseshoe Bend parking lot, which is open from sunrise to sunset.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
Hello Alley !
I was reading your recent answers and was so amazed by your detailed answers and kindness.
My name is Joon, and I am a US ARMY soldier. My wife and I are trying to go on a short relaxing trip after COVID hit to las vegas and grand canyon.
We will be staying in las vegas until 30th December and will depart in the early morning of that day and come back to las vegas at night of 31th.
We booked a motel on 30th right next to the Horseshoe bend. We are trying to go to hoover dam, south rim and horseshoe bend at least and come back.
Do you have any suggestion when to depart and how to make the schedule? is there another place you suggest that we should visit within that 2 day trip?
I saw you mentioned also about road closing in Navajo Tribal Land area, could you kindly help us with a google trip map if you can along our trip?
We don’t need to hike a lot or stay in one place long this time.
Thank you so much and always be safe !!
Hi Joon,
Thanks so much for your service, and your compliments, both are much appreciated! Which is why it pains me to have to tell you that your plan is not realistic. You simply don’t have enough time to pull it all off.
It takes ~5 hours to drive from Las Vegas, NV, to Page, AZ (for Horseshoe Bend), so that will occupy the better part of your day on the 30th.
Normally, it would take you ~3 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. However, the closure of AZ64 from Cameron, AZ, to Desert View Point, an integral component of that route, is closed by order of the Navajo Tribe. Therefore, it is now necessary to travel from Page, AZ, all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then back up North to the Grand Canyon via US180/AZ64 or I-40/AZ64. This has turned what used to be a 3-hour drive into a 5-hour drive. You would then be facing a 4.5-5 hour drive back to Las Vegas, longer if you were to include a photo stop at Hoover Dam (I understand the visitor center and and exhibit halls are closed, but you can still drive over it). Not my idea of a “relaxing” vacation. Trip map
The way I see it, you need to a. free up another day to do all this or b. choose between going to Horseshoe Bend or the Grand Canyon. If adding another day to your trip isn’t an option and you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, then it should take priority over Horseshoe Bend. It is most desirable to stay inside the park, but I wouldn’t be surprised if those accommodations are all booked up. You might still be able to find availability in Tusayan (7 miles outside the park) or Williams (60 miles South of the park). Grand Canyon hotels
If you’d rather not cancel your existing hotel reservation in Page, AZ, and you’re still locked into returning to Las Vegas by December 31st, you could return to Las Vegas via Zion National Park. That will add another 90 minutes-2 hours to your drive, and you’d be limited to seeing it as a “drive by,” but mileage-wise, it’s not too far a detour out of your way.
Another option for a neat place to visit on your way back to Las Vegas would be the stunning Valley of Fire State Park. It’s just Northeast of Las Vegas near the town of Overton, NV, and winter is a nice time to visit since the weather isn’t ghastly hot like summertime!
Trip map
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news here, but I’d rather you go into your trip prepared rather than get hit with unpleasant surprises.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays!
Alley 🙂
P.S. Oops! Almost forgot: whatever you decide as far as your trip route, overnight stays, etc., go, you need to make sure you do the majority of your driving during daylight hours. Driving at night is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to the fact that local roads are very dimly lit, and you might encounter deer, elk, or other wildlife, which can hike up your risk of an accident. That’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. At the time of your trip, sunrise occurs at around 7:45 AM, sunset takes place just before 5:30 PM (in Arizona/Utah; Nevada will be one hour behind).
I’m staying in Sedona for two days, and have two days to make a trip to see something (anything!) beautiful. I was thinking of driving up to Horseshoe bend and staying the night. Is this advisable? Or is there somewhere closer to Sedona you’d recommend for a one night trip before going back to Sedona?
Hi Elizabeth,
Horseshoe Bend is located near the town of Page, AZ, which is ~a 3-hour drive, one-way, from Sedona. Assuming that you are visiting in the near future, you should be aware that the Antelope Slot Canyons are closed due to COVID-19, so these won’t be an option, but there is still enough to see and do in the area to fill up an overnight visit.
Other areas you might consider are Grand Canyon South Rim, which is ~a 2.5 hour drive, each way from Sedona, or Petrified Forest/Painted Desert, which is also ~a 2.5 hour drive from Sedona.
Another option? Simply remain in Sedona! Sedona is a huge and stunning area and many people report staying there for 4-5 days and still feeling as though they’d only sampled a small part of all the area has to offer.
Hope that helps! Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I’m planning the following itinerary and would like your expert opinion due that it seems covid is affecting some of the driving routes
Dec 26th: arriving to Las Vegas
Dec 27th 1: driving early in the morning from Las Vegas to Zion National Park, doing the scenic route explore a couple hours and leave around 3 or 4 PM to Kanab or Page for 2 nights stays.
Dec 28th: since Antelope Canyon is closed, we are planning to go to peek a boo in the morning hopefully the early morning tour and drive to visit horseshoe bend in the afternoon.
Dec 29th: check out the hotel early morning and drive from to the Grand Canyon south rim, then after drive to Sedona for a 1 night stay.
Dec 30th: spend the day in Sedona, still debating what to do from there (any suggestions are welcome) and late afternoon day drive to Phoenix.
Dec 31st: leaving from Phoenix airport in the morning.
open to do some itinerary changes , thank you!
Hey Sergio,
Your itinerary looks pretty fun and well-planned, except when you get to December 29th, where you plan to visit the Grand Canyon as a “drive-by” on the way to Sedona. That won’t work. Here’s why:
Normally the drive from the drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim takes ~3 hours. Unfortunately, that’s not the case right now, because an integral component of the shortest travel route (AZ64 from Cameron, AZ, to Desert View Point) is on Navajo Tribal Land, and it has been closed since COVID-19 hit. This means that all visitors are required to drive all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then back up North to the canyon via US180/AZ64 (or I40/AZ64). This has turned a 3-hour drive into a 5-hour drive. The drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Sedona would then be another 2.5-3 hours. Another consideration: You’re also visiting at a time of year when your days are going to be very short: sunrise occurs just before 7:40 AM and sunset takes place at around 5:15 PM. That’s less than 10 hours of daylight, and you’re already proposing to use up 7-8 hours of it driving? Not my idea of a vacation.
By the way, nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to the fact that local roads are very dimly lit, and you might encounter deer, elk, or other wildlife, which can hike up your risk of an accident. That’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
I would recommend staying at the Grand Canyon on the evening of the 29th, then driving down to Sedona the following day.
I know that seeing Sedona as a “drive by” on your way to Phoenix is less than ideal, in fact, as much as I hate to suggest it, you might even want to skip Sedona this time around. Sedona is a big and stunning area with lots to see and do. You really need 3 days bare minimum to do it justice, and even then, people report staying 5-7 days and still feeling as though they’d only scratched the surface of all the area has to offer. If you prefer to still include Sedona in your itinerary, know that 1. it takes ~3 hours to drive there from Grand Canyon South Rim, then ~2.5 hours to drive to Phoenix, AZ; and 2. I can pretty much guarantee that you will be planning a return trip to the area when you can spend more time!
A couple of other tips: try to get lodging in Kanab, UT, on the night of December 27th. That will put you closer to Peek-A-Boo Canyon. If you were to stay in Page, AZ, you’d have to backtrack another ~80 miles back to Kanab to tour Peek-A-Boo. After touring Peek-A-Boo, drive down to Page, AZ, to stay overnight, then you could hit Horseshoe Bend bright and early the next morning before heading down to the canyon.
At the time of year you’re visiting, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive will be closed to private vehicles. To access that area, which is the main sightseeing area of the park, you have to use a shuttle. Due to COVID-19, the Zion Canyon Shuttle is operating at reduced capacity, which means you now have to purchase tickets in advance. I wouldn’t be surprised if tickets for your travel date are already sold out, but you can go to Recreation.gov to check for cancellations. If all that sounds like a pain in the backside, frankly it is, but the good news is there are still sights you can visit just by traversing the park on UT9 from Springdale to Kanab, including the visitors center, Watchman Trail, Pa’rus Trail, the long tunnel, Canyon Overlook Trail, Checkerboard Mesa, plus the chance to see the mountain sheep, and many pullouts along the way where you can stop for the view, or hike down into the washes.
Trip map
Whatever you decide, be sure to book all hotels and guided tours ASAP, you’re visiting during one of the most popular travel weeks in the winter season, COVID-19 notwithstanding.
Hope that helps! Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
We are planning a trip to AZ from March 6-14, flying into and out of Phoenix. We will spend first and last night of our trip there. We want to go to Sedona, Horseshoe Bend, The Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion. What would be the best way to do this trip as far as where to go first, etc.? We are driving. Of course we would love to go to Antelope Canyon, but I’m not going to hold my breath with the ongoing pandemic.
Hey Denise!
Good call not to count on the Antelope Canyons being open during your vacation, because chances are they won’t be. However, if seeing a slot canyon remains high on your wish list (which we wouldn’t blame you for one bit!), there might still be a way to salvage that part of your vacation. More on that in a minute…
Using Phoenix, AZ, as your staging city, with the knowledge that the first and last days of your trip dates will be spent there, that gives you 7 full days to work with, which is great. As to what order you visit the parks in, I’d recommend getting the longer drive out of the way first, then landing in Sedona, AZ, for a couple days of “chill time” before heading back to reality.
Here’s what I’d recommend:
March 7th: Drive from Phoenix, AZ, to Kanab, UT (~6 hours), visit Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ, on the way (time/desire permitting). Overnight in Kanab, UT
March 8th: Day trip to Zion National Park (~30 minutes each way from Kanab, UT). ***FYI, at the time of year you’re visiting, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive will be most likely be closed to private vehicles. To access that area, which is the main sightseeing area of the park, you have to ride a shuttle. Due to COVID-19, the Zion Canyon Shuttle is operating at reduced capacity, which means you now have to purchase tickets in advance. If that sounds like a pain in the backside, frankly it is, but the good news is there are still sights you can visit just by traversing the park on UT9 from Kanab, UT, to Springdale, UT, including Checkerboard Mesa, the Canyon Overlook Trail, the long tunnel, Watchman Trail, Pa’rus Trail, and the Visitors Center. Plus you might get a chance to see the mountain sheep, or stop at one of the many pullouts along the way where you can enjoy the view, or hike a ways down into the washes, weather and trail conditions permitting.*** Drive back to Kanab, UT, for the night
March 9th: Drive to Bryce Canyon National Park (~90 minutes from Kanab, UT), overnight in Bryce Canyon area (or make it a day trip from Kanab, UT, if no lodging is available near the park) One Day In Bryce Canyon
March 10th: Drive to Flagstaff, AZ (~5.5 hours) via Marble Canyon/Lees Ferry (avoids some backtracking), have lunch at Cliff Dwellers Lodge, the food there is amazing! Overnight in Flagstaff, AZ.
March 11th: Day trip to Grand Canyon South Rim (~90 minute drive [one way] from Flagstaff), spend 2nd night in Flagstaff, AZ
March 12th-13th: Drive to Sedona (~45 minutes from Flagstaff), spend 2 nights. Perfect two day itinerary in Sedona, AZ
Trip map
Should the Antelope Canyons remain closed at the time of your visit, one slot canyon not subject to the closure of Navajo Indian Tribal Parks is Red Canyon/aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon near Kanab, UT. With twists and turns on par with the Antelope Canyons, this short but memorable walk features classic slot canyon scenery, as well as some geological features unique to it. Technically, a guided tour is not required to get to Peek-A-Boo, however, we strongly recommend that you take one, because while the walk through the canyon itself is not difficult, the drive to get there can be. People get stuck on this route on a daily basis. Reputable tour companies who can help you get to Peek-A-Boo Canyon are:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
– Forever Adventure Tours, 435-644-5700, http://www.foreveradventuretours.com
– Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermilioncliffs.net
Also, if you’re wondering why I’m suggesting you base yourself in Flagstaff, AZ, to visit the Grand Canyon, it’s because as of right now, an integral component of the shortest travel route to the South Rim (AZ64 from Cameron, AZ, to Desert View Point) is on Navajo Tribal Land, and it has been closed since COVID-19 hit. This means that all visitors are required to drive all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then back up North to the canyon via US180/AZ64 (or I40/AZ64). Coming from Bryce Canyon, this has turned what would have been a 5-hour drive into a 7-hour drive. You might as well just stay in Flagstaff, AZ, and visit the South Rim as a day trip. If by some miracle AZ64 from Cameron to Desert View reopens by the time you visit, you should plan on driving from Bryce to Grand Canyon South Rim, overnight in the park or Tusayan, then drive down to Sedona, AZ, from there the next day, which would take ~3 hours.
I hope this helps. If you have more questions, feel free to write in again if you need to bounce more ideas off us!
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
P.S. Oops! Almost forgot: whatever you decide as far as your trip route, overnight stays, etc., go, you need to make sure you do the majority of your driving during daylight hours. Driving at night is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to the fact that local roads are very dimly lit, and you might encounter deer, elk, or other wildlife, which can hike up your risk of an accident. That’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. At the time of your trip, sunrise occurs at around 6:45 AM, sunset takes place just before 6:30 PM.
Good night Alley!
We are a family that we’ll pass the Christmas break in Las Vegas, Great Canyon. We will in Las Vegas on Dec 23. till Dec 30. We want to visit Horseshoebend and area.
Our plan it’s to stay 29-39 in Williams and Great Canyon but for the rest of the days we are looking for suggestions.
Horseshoebend it’s open? Because I see that Antelope it’s close.
Thank you in advance
Good morning Rafael!
Firstly, Horseshoe Bend is open; it is one of a few attractions in Northern Arizona that never closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. You are correct in that the Antelope Canyons are closed, but if you still want to see a slot canyon, there might still be a way for you to do so. More on that in a minute…
To properly visit Horseshoe Bend and some of the other attractions in the immediate area that are still open, you should plan on spending the night in Page, AZ. Page, AZ, is approximately a 3-hour drive, one way, from Williams, AZ. Before you make the trip, make sure your vehicle is fully fueled and that you carry some snacks and water with you. The reason for this is because most of the drive will take you through the Navajo Indian Reservation, and they discourage outsiders from stopping on their lands or interracting with tribe members due to COVID-19.
After visiting Page, AZ, you might plan a stop in Kanab, UT (~70 minutes from Page, AZ), so you can tour Red Canyon/aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon. With twists and turns on par with the Antelope Canyons, this short but memorable walk features classic slot canyon scenery, as well as some unique geological features. While a guided tour is not required to get to Peek-A-Boo, we strongly recommend that you take one. While the walk through the canyon itself is not difficult, the drive to get there can be. 4WD vehicles with adequate clearance are a definite must, with tire pressure lowered to accommodate potentially deep sand. Even then, people get stuck all the time, plus if you’re driving a rental car, you will void your insurance the minute your tires part with the pavement, which means you’d be on the hook for a very expensive rescue, should you need one, and have to foot the bill for any damage you’d sustain. Tour companies that can get you to Red Canyon are based in Kanab, UT:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
– Forever Adventure Tours, 435-644-5700, http://www.foreveradventuretours.com
– Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermilioncliffs.net
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays!
Alley 🙂
Thank You Alley so much!
Definitely will be considered your advice and make some adjustments to our itinerary.
Happy Holidays as well and stay safe.
You are welcome, Sergio.
Happy Holidays to you, too, and if you get a minute when you return home, write in again and let us know how things went!
We are traveling to Horseshoe Bend on 11/22. Has it been as busy with COVID-19?
Hi Catherine,
Horseshoe Bend is one of a few attractions in Northern Arizona that has never closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is open from sunrise to sunset. You pay a one-time $10 parking fee to visit.
As for whether it’s been busy, yes, it has been relatively busy, but with some reduction in visitor numbers, which is to be expected at this time of year.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
Good morning! 1st time traveling to Horseshoe Bend and The Grand Canyon. Now that parking fees are required, where do we pay for the parking fee?
Hi Mia!
The Horseshoe Bend parking lot is located near mile marker 545 of highway US89 about 5 miles South of the town of Page, AZ. There is a small booth there that is very clearly signed and visible. It is open from sunrise to sunset.
For Grand Canyon South Rim, you pay a $30 per vehicle entrance fee that is good for 1 week’s time at the NPS Fee station on AZ64, which again, is very easy to spot. The entrance gate there is also manned from sunrise to sunset, but the gates remain open 24/7.
FYI, there is another entrance station on the Eastern border of the park, near Desert View Point, but that is closed due to COVID-19, along with the section of AZ64 on Navajo Indian Tribal Lands between DV and Cameron, AZ. This means that you have no option but to enter and exit the Grand Canyon via the Southern entrance gate. If you are driving from Grand Canyon South Rim to Horseshoe Bend (or vice versa), this means that you’ll have to drive all the way back to Flagstaff, AZ, then back up North via US89 (for Page) or I-40/AZ-64 (for the Grand Canyon). This has turned what used to be approximately a 3-hour drive into a 5-hour drive. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news if you weren’t aware, but we’d rather you not be blindsided by what would definitely be an unpleasant surprise.
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I am staying in Flagstaff arriving 11/20 and staying until 11/22. We will be coming from L.A. Is it feasible to visit the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend within that time span considering changes due to Covid? Thank you.
Hi Lauren,
It takes ~1.5 hours, each way, to drive from Flagstaff, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. It takes ~2.5 hours, again, that’s one way, to drive from Flagstaff, AZ, to Page, AZ, where Horseshoe Bend is located. If you were thinking you’d visit both attractions in one day, unfortunately, that’s not realistic in light of conditions in place due to COVID-19. Normally, the drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, takes ~3 hours, but due to the closure of a critical component of the normal travel route, it is now necessary to detour all the way back to Flagstaff, then proceed North on US89 to get to Page, AZ. This has turned what used to be a 3-hour drive into a 5-hour drive. 1.5 (Flagstaff to GC) + 5 (GC to Page) + 2.5 (Page to Flagstaff) = 9 hours of driving on a day where you only have about 10 hours of daylight to work with in the first place. All driving in this part of the U.S. must be done during daylight hours if at all possible due to local roads being very dimly lit, plus the possible presence of large wildlife such as deer and elk, as well as free range livestock such as cattle and even wild horses, ratchets up your risk of an accident. You don’t want to chance a collision with a large animal in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, extremely cold (nighttime temps are dipping down below freezing in the higher elevations), where cell service is spotty, and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Long story short: you need to take two separate days to explore Grand Canyon South Rim and Horseshoe Bend. If one full day is all you’ll have, then prioritize the Grand Canyon and save Horseshoe Bend for another visit. Whatever you decide, be sure to book your lodging in advance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thank you so much for your advice. Very informative. I appreciate it! Thank you again
🙂
Hello
Is there any hikes possible to do (3 miles or less, no more than 6) to see landscapes such as the ones we would see in Anteloppe canyons, cause i just learned that they are closed until end of year and I was planning to come next week to the area.
Many thanks for your advices
Hi Flore,
Sorry that you’ve been hit with an unpleasant surprise regarding the closure of the Antelope Canyons. If you’re able to hike distances of 3-6 miles, an alternate you would probably enjoy is Wire Pass Canyon and/or the Buckskin Gulch.
Wire Pass Canyon is a photogenic two-part slot canyon that is short enough for intermediate-level hikers to enjoy, yet offers the option to delve further into Buckskin Gulch for those wanting more of a challenge. The walk to the entrance of the initial slot is via a typically dry streambed, which may feature deep sand. An 8-10’ drop a short distance into the slot canyon is one reason why Wire Pass Canyon may not be appropriate for those traveling with young children, the elderly, or individuals afraid of heights. As the canyon walls become higher and closer together, they suddenly open up as the second slot connects with the Buckskin Gulch. If you’ve had enough at this point, you can simply turn around and head back to your vehicle. If you’d like to explore further, you can easily make a half-day hike out of the immediate area around the confluence with the Buckskin. Look for some bighorn sheep petroglyphs dating back hundreds, maybe thousands of years! Access to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch is off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, on the House Rock Valley Road. Hikers are required to pay a self-permitting fee at the kiosk by the trailhead. Fair warning: the House Rock Valley Road is unpaved! While it is accessible to 2WD vehicles much of the time, if recent weather has brought any moisture whatsoever, the HRVR can turn into a muddy, impassable mess. Parties in rental cars should think twice about attempting this road since off-road driving is strictly prohibited by most rental car companies. A guided tour will get your family to Wire Pass Canyon and back in one piece, and turn you onto features you might have missed trying to find your own way. Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT based companies offering guided tours to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch include:
– Detours American West, 480-633-9013, http://www.detoursamericanwest.com
– Paria Outpost & Outfitters, 928-691-1047, http://www.paria.com
– Grand Staircase Discovery Tours, 928-614-4099, http://www.grandstaircasediscoverytours.com
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
Good morning, does horseshoe Bend remain open during the second wave of COVID-19? I live in Phoenix and was planning on coming up to horseshoe Bend on Monday, November 16.
Hi Donovan,
Yes, it is open from sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hey Hey! Wanted to get your feedback on my trip idea with a friend coming up! We are flying into Phoenix (getting in around 10 am) and planning on getting a rental car and driving from the airport immediately to the Grand Canyon (at the south entrance) exploring for a while and staying in Williams for the night! We were then going to drive the next day to Horse shoe bend and stay out there for the day and stay in Page that night! We are prepared for some heavy driving, but I wanted to know if this sounded feasible and what type of park passes we should be buyiing ahead of time? Is the annual pass a good idea? Thank you!
Hey Hey Lyndsey!
First off, the Grand Canyon requires visitors to pay a $35/vehicle entrance fee, which is good for 1 week’s time. You can simply pay the fee upon arrival at the park, or purchase a digital pass through Recreation.gov. For Horseshoe Bend, a one-time $10/vehicle parking fee is assessed by the City of Page, and presently cannot be purchsed in advance. The annual National Park Pass does not work at this area, either, since fees are assessed by the local city government. The parking lot at Horseshoe Bend is open from sunrise to sunset. As for the America The Beautiful Federal Lands Acces Pass, at $80, it may not make much sense to purchase if the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend were the only two parks on your “wish list” for this trip. If you were doing the typical week-long Grand Circle Loop trip that included other parks such as Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches/Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, etc., then it would more than pay for itself under those circumstances. However, if you plan on visiting these or at least two other National Parks within one year’s time of purchasing the annual pass, then you might go ahead and pick that up on this trip. Here again, you can buy the ATB pass through Recreation.gov
Assuming that your trip is coming up here in the next few days or weeks, you might need to make a few modifications to your trip plan. If your flight does arrive on time in Phoenix, you will still be looking at at least another hour to 90 minutes at the airport to collect your luggage and get your rental car. It will then take another half hour or so to make your way out of the city, so let’s say, you’ll be on the road in earnest by 11:30 AM, optimistically. You’re then facing about a 5-hour drive to Grand Canyon South Rim. While that may not sound so bad so far, if your trip is taking place in the near future, you have one significant factor working against you: daylength. In November, it’s short, with sunset occurring at about 5:15 PM on average. Even if you were to get on the road by 11:00 AM, that would put you at the Grand Canyon at 3:30-4:00 PM. That leaves a little over one hour of daylight left for sightseeing, then an hour’s drive back to Williams in the dark, when you risk running into a deer, elk, or other large nocturnal animal.
IMO it would be better to just drive to Williams on the day of your arrival, relax for the evening, then drive to Grand Canyon South Rim the following morning so you have a good chunk of the day to spend sightseeing. The drive to Page, AZ, would normally take ~3 hours, but due to a critical component of the normal travel route being closed due to COVID-19, it is now necessary to detour all the way down to Flagstaff, AZ, then back up North on US89 to Page. This detour has turned a 3-hour drive into a 5-hour drive. In light of these issues, you might simply stay a 2nd night in Williams after sightseeing at the South Rim, then make the drive up to Page, AZ, the next morning when you’ve had a chance to rest. The drive from Williams, AZ, to Page, AZ, takes ~3 hours. The trip from Page, AZ, to Phoenix, AZ, takes ~5 hours.
Hoep that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
hello Alley, im planning a roadtrip from Denver to las Vegas… with a few stops.
first day: I´ll drive to Moab visiting Arches, deadhorse point and canyonland and stay there.
second day: I was planning monumental valley, antilope but as is closed, I reorganized and I thing visiting capitol reef, peek A boo, bryce canyon and sleep at kanab.
third day : thinking to visit horseshoe bend and then drive to the gran canyon. and finally around 3 pm take to Las Vegas
*Every day I´ll be on the road aprox 630am . any advice? thanks !
Hi Carolina,
Sorry to have to tell you, but this plan is not realistic.
It takes approximately 6 hours to drive from Denver, CO, to Moab, UT. You need at least 2 days there to even scratch the surface of Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, etc.
On that second day, you won’t have time to tour Red Canyon/Peek-A-Boo since it will take you at least 7 hours to drive from Moab, UT, to Kanab, UT, with stopovers at Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon. Tours of Peek-A-Boo Canyon take ~4 hours.
The third day, again, you’re seriously underestimating your drive times. It takes ~70 to drive from Kanab, UT, to Page, AZ. Normally, it takes ~3 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim, but due to the closure of AZ64 from Cameron, AZ, to Desert View Point, it is now necessary to detour down through Flagstaff, AZ, then back up North via US180/AZ64 to Grand Canyon South Rim. This has turned a 3-hour drive into a 5-hour drive. You’re then facing another 5-hour drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Las Vegas.
If you want to accomplish your original trip plan, you’ll need to carve out more time to do it — at least another 2 days.
If 3 days is truly all you have to spend driving from Denver to Las Vegas, your best bet is to get there via the quickest route possible, or as close as possible to it. Fortunately, you can still hit Moab, UT, if you want. You won’t be able to see all there is to see, so you’ll definitely want to plan a future visit when you can spend more time. Even though Monument Valley is closed, you can still drive through that way and get some good views, you’ll just need to do so without stopping as the Navajo Tribe want to discourage as much interraction with outsiders as possible. As much as I hate to say it, you’re better off skipping the Grand Canyon this time around due to that long detour being required, but there might still be a way for you to see it. More on that in a minute.
So here’s what I would suggest:
Day 1: Drive from Denver, CO, to Moab, UT (~6 hours), overnight in Moab
Day 2: Drive from Moab, UT, to Page, AZ, via Monument Valley (~6 hours) ***You’ll need to do this portion of the drive without stopping at any time on the Navajo Indian Reservation, so be sure your vehicle is fully fueled and that you are carrying water and at least some snacks so you don’t have to stop for food until you get to Page, AZ*** Visit Horseshoe Bend, overnight in Page, AZ
Day 3: Drive from Page, AZ, to Kanab, UT, take first AM tour of Peek-A-Boo Canyon (4 hours), drive on to Las Vegas (~4 hours from Kanab) ***OR*** take early morning fixed-wing airplane flight over the Grand Canyon from Page Municipal Airport, drive on to Las Vegas afterward (~5 hours)
Map of the trip
Whatever you decide, be sure to time all driving so that you’re doing the majority of it in daylight. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit, plus the possible presence of large wildlife such as deer and elk, as well as free range livestock such as cattle and even wild horses, ratchets up your risk of an accident. You don’t want to chance a collision with a large animal in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, extremely cold (nighttime temps are dipping down below freezing in the higher elevations), where cell service is spotty, and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. Driving back to Las Vegas, you can more easily get by doing the back half of it by night because the communities of St. George, UT, Mesquite, NV, and Las Vegas, NV, have pretty good sized light domes, plus the freeway is better lit over that stretch.
Hope that helps. Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays!
Alley 🙂
Thank you ! I apreciate this.
You are the best ! Happy holidays for you too.
Hi! Thank you so much for all of your information. I am trying to plan a Roadtrip currently for the first week or two of December. Unfortunately this is the only time I am able to make the trip. Initially I wanted to include Bryce Canyon and Kodachrome Basin, but I really do not want to end up caught in bad weather. My other options include: Valley of Fire, Horseshoe Bend/surrounding area, and Sedona. Do you think these other locations would be safe- driving/weather-wise- during these weeks? Also, we have a dog with us- which I know doesn’t fare well in Bryce Canyon. Any tips on other locations that may be better due to weather would be much appreciated! Thank you!! 🙂
Hi Carly,
Your chances of getting “caught up in bad weather” are certainly greater at Bryce Canyon and/or Kodachrome Basin, but you could just as easily encounter inclement weather in the Valley of Fire, Horseshoe Bend, or Sedona. While “White Christmases” are common in the higher elevations, it’s too soon to tell what this winter will be like in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. Monitoring local weather about 2 weeks before you get set to travel will give you the best idea of what to expect. If you do encounter a snowstorm, your best bet is to stay put, wherever you happen to be, and wait it out.
Meanwhile, I recommend that you make hotel reservations at all the sites on your “wish list.” If you end up having to cancel due to weather, the hotel management is usually pretty understanding under those circumstances and will let you do so with minimal to no penalty.
RE: bringing a dog to Bryce Canyon, or any National Parks, they are typically allowed on paved trails only, and must be leashed at all times. Owners must also be prepared to pick up after them.
Hope that helps! Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
Me and my friend are planning a 3 day trip Nov 19-22 we plan to drive back on the 22nd. We are driving down from Los Angeles and wanted to stop at Grand Canyon, Horseshoe bend, and Zion? We wanted to do Antelope Canyon as well but we heard its closed.
We originally planned to visit Grand Canyon first, arriving the 19th around noon. After visiting the GC we wanted to drive to Page, AZ and stay there that night. Then Friday the 20th visit horseshoe bend early morning, then not sure what else is there to do there before heading out to Zion that day. Saturday 21, we planned to visit Zion the narrows and im sure that takes the whole day. Most likely stay another night there, then Sunday head back.
What recommendations do you have for us? Is our plan doable?
Hi Maggie,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your plan is not realistic.
First off, it takes approximately 8 hours to drive from LA to Grand Canyon South Rim. You would have to get a VERY early start out of LA in order to make it to GC by noon. The drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, normally takes ~3 hours, but at the present time, a critical component of the shortest travel route (AZ64 from Desert View to Cameron, AZ) on the Navajo Reservation is closed due to COVID-19. This means that to get from GC South Rim to Page, AZ, you must drive all the way back to Flagstaff, AZ, then up North to Page, AZ, on US89. This has turned a 3-hour drive into more like a 5-hour drive, and you’re already proposing to spend 8 hours behind the wheel that day as it is. Map of trip
Another factor working against you at that time of year is daylength; in late November, it’s short, with sunrise taking place just after 7:00 AM and sunset occurring around 5:15 PM. This barely gives you 10.5 hours of daylight to work with, and you’ll have already eaten up 8 of those hours driving over from LA. That doesn’t leave much time for sightseeing, plus you want to be sure that you do all driving in Northern Arizona during daylight hours. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads being very dimly lit, plus the possible presence of large wildlife such as deer and elk, as well as free range livestock such as cattle and even wild horses ratchets up your risk of an accident. You don’t want to chance a collision with a large animal in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold (nighttime temps will be quite low at the time of year you’re traveling), where cell service is spotty, and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. Long story short, if you want to visit the Grand Canyon, best to spend the night there, then move on to Page, AZ, the following morning.
You are correct that the Antelope Canyons are closed, so touring there won’t be an option. If seeing a slot canyon remained high on your wish list, a good alternative would be Red Canyon aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon in Kanab, UT, ~70 minutes from Page, AZ. This short but memorable walk features scenery comparable to the Antelope Canyons, and some rock formations and other attributes unique to it. Although the slot canyon walk isn’t that difficult, the drive to get there is, so we recommend again a guided tour to this area. Tour companies that can get you to Peek-A-Boo are:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
– Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermilioncliffs.net
Since tours of Peek-A-Boo Canyon take approximately 4 hours, you should plan on either hitting Horseshoe Bend en route to Kanab, UT (which will lengthen the drive from GC), touring Peek-A-Boo that afternoon and overnighting in Kanab, UT, or overnighting in Page, AZ, and touring Peek-A-Boo the following morning. That would mean taking the Narrows at Zion off the table, but you could still enjoy any number of good hikes at Zion that aren’t as labor-intensive. One word of warning: due to COVID-19, the Zion Canyon Shuttle (which must be used if you’re wanting to access the main scenic area of the park) has reduced its capacity by 50%, necessitating advance purchase of tickets. Some friends of mine were recently there and said it was a pain in the backside. For this reason, you may want to skip Zion this time around and maybe visit Snow Canyon State Park near St. George, UT. It’s a beautiful area often referred to as “Little Zion” due to the similarity of its rock formations. Another great area to visit during the cooler months of the year is Valley of Fire State Park just outside of Las Vegas, NV. The scenery there is just stunning, and in November, it won’t be so ghastly hot as it would be during the summer months.
Trip map
Hope that helps, I know it’s a hard choice!
Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays,
Alley 🙂
Alley! I’ve spent the last 2 hours reading all the wonderful tips you’ve given and am so grateful I did. My husband and I will be visiting page and gc for the first time Oct 23rd. We will be driving from Dallas, TX and we’re originally planning on staying in page. We will arrive that Friday, explore that night, wake up bright and early to see sunrise at horseshoe bend, drive to the GC Stay a few hours and drive back. My worry is leaving the gc by 3pm and that 5hr or so drive back up to page. Will it be too dark and dangerous back to page that evening.. say the last 1.5hrs of our journey back will be after sunset. Our hotel is off US89.
Hi Serena,
Thank you for your compliments. That makes it all the more difficult to have to tell you that your plan is not feasible or safe.
Normally, the drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim takes ~3 hours. Due to a critical component of the shortest trip route being closed (AZ64 from Cameron, AZ, to Desert View Point) by order of the Navajo Tribe, this necessitates a very long detour down to Flagstaff, AZ, then back North via US180/AZ64 or I40/AZ64 to Grand Canyon South Rim (see map). This means that a 3-hour drive is now more along the lines of 4.5-5 hours. BTW Google maps lists the drive as taking 3 hours and 40 minutes, but this is not realistic; that figure is wheels turning, no stops, which rarely happens in this neck of the woods. Trust me, I lived and drived these roads for 20+ years!
In light of that fact alone, you should strongly consider spending the night at Grand Canyon South Rim instead of attempting to do this as a day trip from Page, AZ. Another mitigating factor: you’re dealing with days that area rapidly shortening. In late October, sunrise takes place at ~6:30 AM, sunset occurs just after 6:00 PM. That means you have about 12 hours of daylight to work with. With 9-10 hours of that eaten up by the drive to and from, that only leaves you a small window of opportunity for sightseeing, lunch, and other logistics.
In answer to your specific question about US89 being too “dark and dangerous” in the hours after sunset, that’s affirmative! That particular area is very dimly lit, and can be populated by large wildlife such as deer and elk, as well as free range livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, and even wild horses. You don’t want to risk a collision with one in an area that’s pitch black, possibly cold (nighttime temps can dip down around freezing this time of year), where cell service is spotty, and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Again, for your safety and enjoyment, plan on spending a night at the Grand Canyon.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi,
My friend and I will be hiking in Sedona and the Grand Canyon in November. I read that Antelope Canyon is closed due to the pandemic. Is Horseshoe Bend closed as well?
Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi Jane!
You are correct that the Antelope Canyons are closed. However, Horseshoe Bend remains open! It is one of the few attractions in the Page, AZ, area that never closed through the pandemic.
You mention that you will also be spending time in Sedona and Grand Canyon South Rim. Please note that it takes ~3 hours to drive from Sedona, AZ, to Page, AZ. It then takes ~5 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. Normally, the latter drive would only be ~3 hours, but the closure of Navajo Indian Tribal Lands to outsiders due to COVID-19, has resulted in the closure of an essential component of the shortest travel route. Therefore, it is necessary to detour through Flagstaff, AZ, to get from Page, AZ to Grand Canyon South Rim (or vice versa). Map Long story short, if you do wish to visit Horseshoe Bend, we would strongly recommend staying overnight in Page, AZ, so you’re not spending 6-8 hours behind the wheel of your car just to visit an attraction that takes at most 2 hours of your time.
Hope that makes sense, and helps in your planning.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi! Wow you are so informative.
My siblings and I are planning on coming to the Grand Canyon on Nov1st. We are traveling to Phoenix and driving down to Page, AZ for the weekend and returning back on Monday. We have two full days there and were planning on visiting the horseshoe bend and the Navajo Nation but now that we know the Navajo Nation is closed there is so much that we can see but we just don’t know where to go in just the two days we are there.
What would you recommend for a 2-day itinerary that would give us the best overall experience of the Grand Canyon? And which tickets should we purchase in advance?
Thank you so much in advance
Hi Minerva, and thank you for your compliments!
Here’s the deal: Page, AZ, and the Grand Canyon are two separate areas. With the closure of the Navajo Nation, they are even more “separate” than they were before. If you only have two days to work with, seeing both areas is going to require a lot of time on the road. Time and desire permitting, you could do something like this:
Day 1 – Drive from Phoenix, Page, AZ, ~a 5-hour drive. Overnight in Page, AZ.
Day 2 – Visit Horseshoe Bend first thing in the morning (sunrise in early November occurs ~7:00 AM), then drive to Grand Canyon South Rim. **Normally, the trip to Grand Canyon South Rim would be ~3 hours, but due to the closure of the Navajo Nation, it is now necessary to take a detour through Flagstaff to get there. This has turned a 3-hour drive into more like a 5-hour drive.** Overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 3 – Drive back to Phoenix, ~5 hours
If the prospect of packing up and driving for 5 hours a day doesn’t appeal, you’ll have to either carve out more time for your trip, or eliminate one of the destinations on your wish list. If you haven’t been to the Grand Canyon, that should take priority over Page, AZ.
Whatever you decide, all hotels and guided tours must be booked in advance. Just because COVID-19 has reduced traffic in the area somewhat, that doesn’t mean you’re free to “wing it.”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thank you so much.
We are traveling on Friday and returning on Monday, therefore we have Saturday and Sunday to fully get to explore the area. Horseshoe bend on Saturday and Grand Canyon South Rim.
Any suggestions for helicopter tours of the south rim? Or do you suggest a better type of helicopter tour?
What suggestions do you have for the Sunday? I hear the Wire Pass Canyon may be open but we are not familiar with the area.
Sorry for all the questions, we are just not familiar at all.
Hey again, Minerva,
For helicopter tours, Grand Canyon South Rim is the best place to do that. If possible, opt for the longer flight (40-45 minutes) on the Eco-Star EC-130 helicopter, and do it first thing in the morning for best light and lack of wind.
Regarding Wire Pass Canyon, it is open, but a few things to consider before you go: it is a moderately strenuous hike, with an 8-10′ drop a short ways into the slot canyon. This may be a deterrent to inexperienced hikers, or individuals afraid of heights. Another consideration is that the trailhead to Wire Pass Canyon is off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, on the House Rock Valley Road, an unpaved road. While it is regularly graded and accessible to 2WD vehicles much of the time, if recent weather has brought any moisture whatsoever, the HRVR can turn into a muddy, impassable mess. Parties in rental cars should think twice about attempting this road since off-road driving is strictly prohibited by most rental car companies. We strongly recommend looking into a guided tour that can get you to there and back in one piece, and turn you onto features you might have missed trying to find your own way. Reputable companies offering guided tours to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch include:
– Detours American West, 480-633-9013, http://www.detoursamericanwest.com
– Paria Outpost & Outfitters, 928-691-1047, http://www.paria.com
– Grand Staircase Discovery Tours, 928-614-4099, http://www.grandstaircasediscoverytours.com
Hope that helps and that you have a wonderful trip!
Alley 🙂
Thank you so much for your information. We are going to Page in early November also from Santa Fe and then to the Grand Canyon. It was good to learn that the 3 hour drive will now be a 5 hour drive.
Hi Margarita,
We know that vacations can be full of surprises, we’d rather they not be unpleasant ones!
Have a good trip, and a happy holiday season.
Alley:)
Hi, I am planning a trip to Page, AZ in April 2021. We want to paddle the lake and horseshoe bend. Is there a launching site where we wont have to hike down with our paddle boards?
Hi Trish,
This is a great question!
Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) has grown in popularity at Lake Powell, and for good reason. Lots of room to get away from the crowds, and no shortage of amazing scenery! The best places to launch out of, in no particular order, are Lake Powell Resort & Marina, Antelope Point Marina, Wahweap Swim Beach, and Lone Rock Beach. Some of these might involve a short walk, but nothing that would qualify as a “hike.” For more information about SUPing on Lake Powell, visit Lake Powell Paddleboards
Horseshoe Bend is a bit more complicated. To SUP through Horseshoe Bend, you must drive down to Lees Ferry, hire a backhaul service, get dropped off at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam, then paddle the 15-mile stretch through Glen Canyon back to Lees Ferry. For more information on this option, visit http://www.KayakHorseshoeBend.com
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi. Planning on visiting oct 16-17
Is the entrance ticket/parking fee first in first serve or can it be purchased in advance?
Any other activities (relatively) Nearby you can recommend?
Hi Maya,
Parking at Horseshoe Bend is strictly first-come/first-serve. Advance reservations are not taken.
As for other activities you can enjoy in the Page, AZ, area, there’s no shortage of them! Which one(s) you choose depend on your traveling party, how much time you have, and your trip budget, among other factors. These include but aren’t limited to:
– Grandview Overlook Park
– Wahweap Marina
– Antelope Point Marina
– The Chains & Hanging Garden Trail
– Lone Rock Beach
– Page Rim View Trail
– The “New” Wave and Radio Tower Rock
– Wahweap Overlook
– Glen Canyon Dam Overlook
– Alstrom Point
– Skylight Arch
– White Pocket
– Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch
– Lees Ferry & Lonely Dell Ranch
– Navajo Bridge & Interpretive Center
– Glen Canyon Conservancy Flagship Store
– Kayak Tours on Lake Powell & the Colorado River
– Private Boat Charters
– Airplane & Helicopter Tours
– Glen Canyon Dam Steel Arch Bridge
– Jeep/ATV Tours
– Electric Mountain Bike Tours
– Big Water, Utah, Visitors Center
– “The Moon”, Big Water, Utah
Whatever you decide, be sure to make advance reservations any and all hotels and guided tours.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
💎
Hello! I am very sorry to bother you. We are planning on renting a car and driving from Vegas to Horseshoe Bend at the end of October. Do we need some kind of sticker ( National Parks Sticker etc.)?
Thank you very much!
Hi Velina,
Goodness gracious, it’s no bother at all 😉
If you plan to just visit Horseshoe Bend while in Page, AZ, you do not need a National Parks Pass. The parking lot is administered by the City of Page, AZ, and a one-time fee of $10 is collected for standard passenger vehicles to park, walk to the rim, take photos, then walk back. Allot approximately 2 hours for this activity. Be aware that a construction project is taking place near Horseshoe Bend that may delay travel slightly.
Now if you want to go down to the waterline of Lake Powell, that is located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and in that instance, you would be required to pay a $30/vehicle entrance fee (one exception: more on that in a minute), which is good for one week’s time. Simply hold on to your original receipt if you plan to stay in the area for more than 1 day.
Regarding the exception to the entrance fee rule, that would be the Chains/Hanging Garden area, which is on the Eastern flank of the Glen Canyon Dam Steel Arch Bridge. There, you can park your vehicle and walk down to the water. It is a ways down, which means it’s a ways back up! At the end of October, the water may be too cold for swimming, but you can at least dip your feet in if you want.
One last thing: it does take approximately 5 hours to drive from Las Vegas, NV, to Page, AZ. That’s one way. For this reason alone, you should strongly consider staying overnight in Page, AZ, for optimal safety and enjoyment.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
You are amazing! Thanks for taking the time to answer
Patty,
You are welcome! Hope you have a wonderful time. If you get a minute when you return, write back in and let us know how things went!
Take care,
Alley 🙂
Hey Alley! We are planning a camping tour of northern Arizona, starting October 16th. Do you have some campsites you would recommend and advice on closures? We are renting an RV and driving up from Phoenix. Thanks!
Hey Manny,
If you’re renting an RV, I’d advise staying at campgrounds/RV parks with full hook-ups. In mid-October, daytime temperatures are mostly comfortable, but nighttime temperatures can dip down around/below freezing. You’ll want to have access to reliable heat to ensure a good night’s sleep!
Assuming you’re going to the Grand Canyon South Rim, developed RV parks in the immediate vicinity are Trailer Village inside the park, and Grand Canyon Camper Village in Tusayan, AZ, 7 miles outside the park.
Near Horseshoe Bend, there is the Page/Lake Powell Campground in the town of Page, AZ, and the Wahweap Campground inside the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. There are other places to camp nearby, but they’re mostly dry camping. AntelopeCanyon.AZ: Camping & RV Options Near Antelope Canyon
Closures to be aware of include, but are not limited to:
– AZ64 from Desert View Point to Cameron, AZ, on the East Rim of the Grand Canyon; this means that if you go to the South Rim, you’ll then need to detour back through Flagstaff, AZ, before going to Page, AZ. This essentially turns a ~3 hour drive into a 4.5-5 hour drive.
– The Antelope Canyons – slot canyons still open at this time are Wire Pass Canyon/Buckskin Gulch and Red Canyon, aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon, near Kanab, UT. For more information about touring these slot canyons, visit our companion site, http://www.AntelopeCanyon.AZ: Help! My Tour Got Cancelled
– Monument Valley Tribal Park – with the exception of Goulding’s Lodge and Forrest Gump Point
– Four Corners National Monument – completely closed until further notice
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Alley,
Do you know if Antelope Canyon is open or will be opened?
Hi TL,
We are very sorry to have to tell you that the Antelope Canyons are closed, and are expected to remain so for the remainder of 2020. If you wish, you can be placed on a priority e-mail list to be notified the minute Antelope Canyon reopens. Visit our companion site, http://www.AntelopeCanyon.AZ: Closure Alert E-mail
If your visit is occurring in the near future, and you still wish to visit a slot canyon while you’re here, you’ll be happy to know that there are alternatives not affected by the closure of Navajo Indian Tribal Lands. The most “family-friendly” of these is Red Canyon, aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon in Kanab, UT. Kanab, UT, is ~1 hour drive from Page, AZ, and Red Canyon is a beautiful slot canyon, and an easy walk. The hard part about getting there is the access road in, which a lot of people get stuck on, therefore, a guided tour is strongly recommended. Reputable tour companies who can get you to Peek-A-Boo are:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
– Forever Adventure Tours, 435-644-5700, http://www.foreveradventuretours.com
– Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermilioncliffs.net
If you’re up for something more rugged, Wire Pass Canyon is a photogenic two-part slot canyon that is short enough for intermediate-level hikers to enjoy, yet offers the option to delve further into Buckskin Gulch for those wanting more of a challenge. Located off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, on the House Rock Valley Road, the walk to the entrance of the initial slot is via a typically dry streambed, which may be composed of rather deep sand. An 8-10’ drop a short distance into the slot canyon is one reason why Wire Pass Canyon may not be appropriate for those traveling with young children, the elderly, or individuals afraid of heights. As the canyon walls become higher and closer together, they suddenly open up as the second slot connects with the Buckskin Gulch. If you’ve had enough at this point, you can simply turn around and head back to your vehicle. If you’d like to explore further, you can easily make a half-day hike out of the immediate area around the confluence with the Buckskin. Look for some bighorn sheep petroglyphs dating back hundreds, maybe thousands of years! Access to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch is Hikers are required to pay a self-permitting fee at the kiosk by the trailhead. Since the House Rock Valley Road is also unpaved, and any moisture whatsoever can render it a muddy, impassable mess, a guided tour is recommended for getting your party there and back without incident. Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT based companies offering guided tours to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch include:
– Detours American West, 480-633-9013, http://www.detoursamericanwest.com
– Paria Outpost & Outfitters, 928-691-1047, http://www.paria.com
– Grand Staircase Discovery Tours, 928-614-4099, http://www.grandstaircasediscoverytours.com
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂
We are planning to visit horseshoe bend on 17th October 2020. We are not sure if it is open or not? Can anyone who recently. visited can help?
Hey Sam,
Horseshoe Bend is open, and barring anything completely bizarre, will be on the day of your visit! It was one of the few attractions in Northern Arizona that never closed because of COVID-19. One thing you should be aware of, however, is that there is a construction project taking place nearby, that could tack on an extra 15-30 minutes to your drive time. They are building a much-needed dedicated turn lane into the Horseshoe Bend parking lot. Traffic will be managed by flagmen/women in both directions.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Can you see horseshoe bend from a pull off or do you have to hike to see it? We will be going in October and will be passing by it in our travels.
Hi Steven,
Horseshoe Bend is unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view 😉 not the sort of view you can get a quick glance at on a “drive-by” basis. You have to pull into the parking lot, hike the .7 mile trail to the overlook, then hike the same trail back to the parking lot. We recomend alloting 2 hours time to park, walk out to the rim, take photos, then walk back. Another potential complication: there is a construction project taking place near Horseshoe Bend (building a dedicated turn lane) that could result in delays. If for some reason you or any members of your party are unable to handle the walk to Horseshoe Bend, you might consider flying over it in a fixed wing airplane or helicopter. In just 30 minutes’ time, you can get a bird’s eye view of Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell, and much more! Horseshoe Bend flights depart from the Page Municipal Airport by prior arrangement.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley!
I’ve read through so many of these questions and your response’s, you are incredibly informative! I have been wanting to plan a trip around mid to late October, it will need to be pet friendly as my dog will be joining me. There are a handful of stops I’d like to make, more specifically, Dixie National Forest, Bryce, Zion, Horseshoe Bend, Monument Valley (or at least as much as I can see of it from, I saw you have said that US163 is open) and Grand Canyon South rim. I was just interested in your suggestion of what the order of stops should be, and approximately how many days this trip could be done in. I am coming from California, and thought my first stop would be in St. George and then make the loop down with the Grand Canyon being the last stop. I don’t have many restrictions as far as time/days, I just need to make sure my stops are pet friendly.
Thank you so much!
Kristyn
Hi Kristyn!
The order in which you visit the various attractions you list will depend largely on room availability. Using St. George, UT, as your staging city, you could easily do something like this:
Day 1 – Day trip from St. George, UT, to Zion National Park (~1 hour drive one way), overnight in St. George
Day 2 – 2nd trip from St. George, UT, to Zion if you feel as though you missed anything that first day, drive to Brian Head, UT, for overnight
Day 3 – Spend day in Dixie National Forest area, visit Brian Head, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Duck Creek Village, overnight in Brian Head
Day 4 – Drive to Bryce Canyon (~90 minutes from Brian Head), overnight in Bryce Canyon area
Day 5 – Drive from Bryce Canyon to Page, AZ (~3 hours), hike Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos trail on the way, overnight in Page, AZ
Day 6 – Visit Horseshoe Bend at sunrise, drive to Monument Valley, overnight at Goulding’s Lodge
Day 7 – Drive from Monument Valley to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hour drive IF AZ64 from Cameron to Desert View remains closed; 3.5 hour drive if it is reopened), overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 8 – Drive back to CA
Trip map
Regarding bringing your dog, hotels within most National Parks do not allow pets, so you will most likely end up staying in gateway communities. You’ll also be limited, in most cases, to staying on paved trails. In Zion, you’ll be limited to seeing what you can by vehicle; the Zion Canyon Shuttle (which is required to utilize to access the scenic drive through that area) does not allow pets, only certified service dogs.
As you can see, this itinerary can be managed in 7-8 days, but the longer you can spend in each place, the better. Again, it will depend largely on hotel availability in each place. If need be, you could reverse this itinerary, using St. George, UT, as the last stop on your tour. Your trip is just around the corner, and hotel inventory in many towns has been reduced due to COVID-19, so you’d best get some reservations made ASAP!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi, we have plans on visiting the horseshoe bend this Sept. 12 (Saturday). Is it open on that day? I have visited the place already before the pandemic so i am familiar with the place. My concern is what are the changes implemented during this pandemic time?
Hi Ernesto,
Horseshoe Bend is actually one of the few attractions in Northern Arizona that never closed or made any major modifications in operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I am not sure when you last visited, but per the article you commented on, a more formal parking lot has been installed, which operates from sunrise to sunset. An entrance fee of $10 per vehicle (standard passenger cars and RV’s) is collected upon entry.
As for what you might do to protect yourself from exposure to COVID-19, abide by personal hygiene and social distancing protocols as outlined by the WHO and CDC. Although Page, AZ, does not have a mask mandate in place, you are welcome and encouraged to wear a face covering if it helps you feel safer.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello, I will be there this weekend! I’m hoping to get some good astro shots at the bend. Does the parking lot close at night?
Hi David!
The Horseshoe Bend Overlook is open from sunrise to sunset. The parking lot typically closes at night, making astrophotography somewhat problematic. Another issue is light pollution; for such a small town, Page, AZ, has a rather sizeable light dome, which spills over to Horseshoe Bend.
Fortunately, one doesn’t have far to go to get away from all that artificial lighting and see the stars in all their glory. Just 15 miles West on US89 from Page, AZ, is the town of Big Water, Utah. There’s a slightly “off the beaten path” area affectionately known to locals as “The Moon.” That would be a good place to go for star photography, but ONLY if Wahweap Creek, which crosses the unpaved road to that area, has not flooded in recent days. If it has, you could find yourself stuck in the mud in an area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty, and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive!
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
We are coming to visit in late September. Are you able to come to horseshoe bend late at night to take astrophotography pictures?
Hi Doug,
Horseshoe Bend is open from sunrise to sunset, therefore, astrophotography would be problematic from that particular location.
Fortunately, you only need to go a short distance away from Page, AZ, to get good nighttime shots, and escape the rather sizeable light dome over the town. 13 miles West of Page, AZ, on US89 is the small town of Big Water, Utah. High cliff faces and moon-like landscapes are sure to compliment your star shots there. You’ll find a lot of dirt roads out there, just be sure that any path you venture onto is not on private property.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello! Is Horseshoe Bend open during this time? What are the operating hours? We were hoping to watch the sunset there when we visit later this month and get some good pictures.
Hello Natalie,
Yes, Horseshoe Bend is open from sunrise to sunset 🙂
Alley
Hi Alley,
My fiancee and I are planning on getting married on Oct 20 at Horseshoe Bend. We were going to do a private tour, but with the Navajo Nation shutdown (and we’re guessing it probably still will be by then) – we will need to go to the public area.
We were wondering what the crowds have been like there during the past month or so. Our plan was to be there around sunset time (5-6:30pm).
Do you think that we would have a problem finding an quiet area for ourselves (6 of us total including officiant and photographer). Or has it been pretty busy, and would you suggest postponing until we can do a private tour?
Also, we saw the note about parking possibly being full… but I guess if that were the case, we could have a driver just drop us off and pick us up later.
Thanks,
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan,
So sorry to hear that your wedding plans are being affected by COVID-19. We have yet to hear whether the Navajo Nation will reopen their attractions by the time you visit. In which case, you should probably prepare for the “worst case scenario” that the closure is extended.
Crowds at Horseshoe Bend have been lighter than in years past, but still steady. It’s one of the few attractions in Northern Arizona that never closed throughout the pandemic. The problem with using the “public” area is that it is technically a part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which means you’d have to get a special use permit from the National Park Service (probably). If all that sounds like a pain, frankly it is, which is why we recommend working with a professional wedding planner who can take care of those arrangements for you. We recommend Monumental Arizona Weddings. They are based in Arizona, have long-standing ties to both the Navajo Nation and Park Service, and we know the owners personally. For more information, call 480-980-8121 or visit http://www.HorseshoeBendWedding.com
Good luck and happy nuptials,
Alley 🙂
Thanks Alley.
We actually already are working with Monument Arizona Weddings – and put together a plan with them to have a private tour of Horseshoe Bend in Navajo Nation. But changing to the public side now since it’s closed. I don’t think they mentioned anything about a special use permit for the public area though. Is this something that would allow us to reserve a specific area?
Hi again, Jonathan,
To my knowledge, Monumental Arizona Weddings can help you arrange things on the public side of Horseshoe Bend as well. If not, they can at least steer you in the right direction as far as a contact goes.
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley，
Are pets allowed to visit Horseshoe Bend？
Hey Scott,
Pets are welcome at Horseshoe Bend as long as they are leashed at all times. Also, since it’s a desert environment, be sure to bring adequate water for yourself, your pet, and all members of your traveling party.
If you are visiting during the summer months, remember that sugar sand can get VERY hot. Therefore, we recommend investing in a set of protective booties to keep your dog’s paws nice and cool.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello, my wife and I are from Mississippi. We are driving cross country to try to relax after a spring and summer of COVID. Anyway, all I want to do is walk out to Horseshoe Bend and take a pic. Is, or, will Horseshoe Bend be open for me to do that on September 9???? I am getting conflicting info from the internet. And tour companies can’t answer my question because they are CLOSED. I just want to walk out and take a pic. Your info will be appreciated.
Hi Christopher,
Horseshoe Bend is one of the few attractions in Northern Arizona that never closed because of COVID-19.
The parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset. We recommend trying to visit in the hours just after sunrise to take advantage of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello,
I see that there is RV parking for horsebend. Is that correct? If so, how quickly do these spots tend to fill up? We’ll be staying at one of the RV campgrounds near by and are debating towing a car. It seems silly to tow a car just to simply park at horsebend and would like to just drive the RV over to horsebend and park.
Thank you,
Nicole
Hey Nicole,
There are designated parking spots at Horseshoe Bend for RV’s and larger vehicles. During the hours between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, these tend to fill up more quickly since you’re competing with day trippers and tour buses. Your best chance for visiting Horseshoe Bend with minimal difficulties parking is to get there in the hours just after sunrise. That way, you can take advantage of cooler temperatures, smaller crowds, and less competition for parking.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello,
We are driving from Zion to Page and staying the night. In the morning we will head to the Grand Canyon. I am wondering if gas stations are open in Page? And will they be open along the route to the Grand Canyon?
Thank you
Hi Sue,
Gas stations in Page, AZ, are operating as normal, or as close to it as possible under the circumstances. Assuming you are going to Grand Canyon South Rim, gas stations along that route are few and far between until you get to Flagstaff, which you have to make a detour through due to the closure of AZ64 between Cameron, AZ, and Desert View Point (East entrance of Grand Canyon National Park). This means that a drive that would normally take you ~3 hours will take you more along the lines of 4-5 hours.
Long story short: gas up your vehicle in Page, AZ. Avoid stopping anywhere in the Navajo Reservation (between Page, AZ, and Flagstaff, AZ) as they are discouraging outsiders from interracting with tribal residents to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Yes they are. Masking is strictly enforced. Traveling the route now. Please be advised that the east rim entrance road is closed and it is recommended that visitors use the south rim entrance accessable through Flagstaff. Happy and safe travels to you all.
I see the parking lot hours are sunrise to sunset. I would like to arrive an hour or so before sunrise. Is there a place to park then?
Hey Fred,
If you arrive an hour before sunrise, you may find the gate to the parking lot still closed and parking on the side of the road is strictly prohibited. The nearest place you would probably be able to park and wait for awhile is the local Super-Walmart, which is just a few miles up the road.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello Alley —
I’ve visited your area before — which is so beautiful — but never walked out to Horseshoe Bend. My wife and I will be driving through from Flagstaff to Moab in October, towing our shiny Airstream trailer. Any problem parking at Horseshoe Bend parking lot with the trailer? I see photos where people park RVs on the side of the lot, but I imagine that would be subject to vehicle traffic. It’s somewhat maneuverable but if the lot is jam-packed it could be an issue for us for sure. Thanks. (Also, any sense now when the E. entrance to the S. Rim might be re-opened? Or just in a holding pattern now?)
Hi Owen,
October is a great time to visit the American Southwest! While we are crossing fingers and toes that the East entrance to the Grand Canyon will be open by then, we’re not holding our breath on it. The Navajo Tribe has so far extended the closure of their lands to outsiders 3x now. To keep up to date on the status of this crucial travel route, I recommend bookmarking the National Park Service website for Grand Canyon and checking it frequently in the days leading up to your trip.
As for parking your shiny Airstream at Horseshoe Bend, there are parking spaces designated for RV’s, so that isn’t a problem, per se. During the busier hours between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, however, you might find yourself in competition with a lot of like-minded folks, which makes it even harder for those towing a trailer. That’s why we recommend trying to get there in the hours just after sunrise to take advantage of cooler temperatures (in October, it’s borderline jacket weather, so be ready for that), and smaller crowds. In October, sunrise occurs at around 6:30 AM.
Hope that helps — good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thanks so much, Alley. No worries on the East entrance; that’s for when we’re heading from Moab back towards Arizona and have a stay at Grand Canyon Village. We can always use the S. entrance, just a little extra driving. The truly important thing is tribal health and safety.
As for the RV parking, sounds like I’m going to be making my wife some very early morning coffee in Flagstaff to make Horseshoe Bend by sunrise!
Cheers,
Owen
Hi Alley,
I’ve been reading through your insights for people looking to visit the area and wanted to see if I could trouble you for some information. We’re glad to see that we can visit the Horseshoe Bend – it was one of our preferred stops in the area. Would you happen to know of a resource/website that might tell us what attractions in the area are considered part of the Navajo Nation? Or is there a good resource for major attraction status in the area?
Any info you might be able to provide would be appreciated.
Hi Will,
The best resource for information on the status of Navajo Nation Tribal Parks is their official website, NavajoNationParks.org All Navajo Reservation lands are currently closed to outsiders until August 31st, with the notable exception of Goulding’s Lodge in Monument Valley. Don’t ask me how, but they’ve managed to stay open.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
We are planing to visit Horseshoe bend in beginning of September and we want to take our one years old baby with us 🙂 Do you think is it good idea? And also, should we make reservation/tour ahead? Or we can visit Horseshoe bend without guide?
Hi Madina!
You are welcome to bring your little ones to Horseshoe Bend, as long as you are aware of a few important things:
There is a fenced viewing platform available, but it only encompasses a small portion of Horseshoe Bend Overlook’s total “real estate.” The rest of the viewing area is unfenced, and it’s a 700′ drop to the Colorado River! If your child has begun walking, please be sure they are under your control at all times. By the way, if you prefer to transport your baby in a stroller, you’ll be glad to know that the trail to Horseshoe Bend is now accessible to wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Video
Be aware that you are in a desert environment, and daytime high temperatures can and do get up around 110 degrees (Fahrenheit), even in September. That’s why we recommend, if at all possible, that you visit in the hours just after sunrise to take advantage of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
Again, you’re in a desert environment, so be sure that you bring enough water for yourself, your baby, and all members of your traveling party.
Horseshoe Bend does not require a guide to visit. The parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset, so you can simply go at your convenience, at any point during that timeframe.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley! Hope all is well! I loved reading all of your responses.
I will be driving from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon on August 14th with my boyfriend. We plan on driving to Grand Canyon (south rim since I see East rim is closed) and then want to see horse shoe bend (or first horse shoe bend then Grand Canyon) we are staying in Sedona at the enchantment resort so do you think it’s possible to do the Grand Canyon and horse shoe bend in one day? We want to do things in Sedona as well like cathedral rock devils bridge Boynton canyon vortex so I am trying to coordinate our itinerary if you can help me out! Thank you!
Carolina
Hi Carolina,
This is a good question, unfortunately, the answer is “no,” it’s not feasible to visit the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in a single day. You need to allot 2 separate days for each attraction.
It takes approximately 3 hours to drive from Sedona, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. You should allow for a full day to explore the park, even though some facilities are closed. You then have to deal with the 3 hour drive back to Sedona, and you want to be sure that you’re ‘back to base’ by nightfall. That drive takes place on some very dimly lit stretches of road, and the drive down Oak Creek Canyon between Flagstaff and Sedona is very windy/twisty. Another potential hazard is the presence of deer, elk, and other large animals such as free range cattle and wild horses. You don’t want to risk a close encounter with one in an area that’s pitch black, with spotty cell phone reception, and where help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. On August 14th, sunrise occurs at 5:46 AM and sunset takes place around 7:15 PM. You should be on the road heading back to Sedona by 4:30 PM at the absolute latest.
On a separate day, the drive from Sedona to Page, AZ, will also take approximately 3 hours. Since a large chunk of the drive will take you through Navajo Indian Tribal Lands, you should know that they discourage outsiders interracting with tribal residents, so be sure your vehicle is gassed up, and that you have basic supplies such as water and snacks purchased ahead of time. Allow approximately 2 hours to park at Horsehoe Bend, walk to the overlook, take photos and walk back to the parking lot. Under normal circumstances, I’d say book an Antelope Canyon tour, but unfortunately, these attractions are also on Navajo Indian Land, hence, they are closed. Other ways you might occupy your time while in Page, AZ, include, but certainly aren’t limited to:
– A walk along the Page Rim View Trail
– A scenic fixed wing airplane flight over Lake Powell
– Hike the “New Wave” trail to Radio Tower Rock
– Enjoy a dip in Lake Powell at The Chains, maybe hike to the Hanging Gardens area as well
– Shoot a few rounds at Gunfighter Canyon Indoor Shooting Range
Again, be sure you’re on the road headed back to Sedona, AZ, no later than 4:30 PM. If you fancy getting an earlier start back, you might consider swinging over to the Lees Ferry/Marble Canyon area and enjoying a late lunch/early dinner at the Cliff Dweller’s Restaurant. It’s one of Northern Arizona’s “hidden gem” restaurants! It’s ~1 hour from Page, then Sedona, AZ, would be a further 3 hour drive.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hey Alley,
Do you know if Antelope Canyon is still closed? If it is closed, are there any comparable canyons to see for two active adults. Also, we want to do the walk across the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge do you know where we should park? If there is anything else to see/do or places to eat that you recommend please share
Hi Jay,
Sorry to tell you that yes, the Antelope Canyons are still closed and will remain so through the end of August at the earliest.
However, there are comparable slot canyons in the semi-immediate vicinity that are not subject to the closure of Navajo Indian Tribal Lands! The main ones we recommend are Red Canyon/aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon, or Wire Pass Canyon, both near Kanab, UT. For more information on these, check out this piece on our companion site, http://www.AntelopeCanyon.AZ: “Help! My Antelope Canyon Tour Got Cancelled”
As for where you should park to walk across the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, there are two options: one at the Carl Hayden Visitors Center on the dam’s Western flank, one near the local swimming area known as “The Chains” on the Eastern flank. You might choose the latter option if you’re hot after the walk and wish to take a refreshing dip in Lake Powell. You could also piggy-back that with a short hike to the Hanging Gardens Area.
Other activities you might consider while in the area include, but aren’t limited to:
– A walk along the Page Rim View Trail
– A kayak tour of Lone Rock Canyon
– A scenic fixed wing airplane flight over Lake Powell or Monument Valley
– Hike the “New Wave” trail to Radio Tower Rock
– Drive down to Lees Ferry, rent a kayak, get backhauled to the base of the Glen Canyon Dam and paddle 15 miles through Glen Canyon back to Lees Ferry! KayakHorseshoeBend.com
– Shoot a few rounds at Gunfighter Canyon Indoor Shooting Range
Regarding good places to eat, you can take your pick of everything from fast-food to higher-end offerings. Services may be limited to outdoor or take-out due to COVID-19, so be sure to verify what’s available before you get your family all psyched for it. For suggestions based on recent experiences, check out “The Wandering Road” blog for specific recommendations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Page, AZ!
Now, if you’re open to taking a little trip to visit a wonderful restaurant that’s a bit off the beaten path, near the Lees Ferry/Marble Canyon area, you’ll find the Cliff Dweller’s Lodge. At first glance, it looks to be just a little “hole in the wall,” but in addition to an amazing view, you’ll find surprisingly sophisticated cuisine for such a remote location. It’s ~1 hour’s drive (one way) from Page, AZ, but well worth the trip.
Hope that helps.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
is this open now due to COVID and are there any other restrictions in place? also-do you know if the horse trail ride tours are still available? I cannot get a hold of anyone however from the the website it looks like they are still open and booking? thanks for your help, Veronica
Hi Veronica,
To coin a phrase, there’s good news and bad news:
The good news: Horseshoe Bend is open! It’s one of the few local attractions that never closed during COVID-19. We simply ask that you observe social distancing and personal hygiene guidelines as you would anywhere else.
The bad news: Horseshoe Bend Trail rides are closed. All attractions and activities on Navajo Indian Tribal Lands, including the Antelope Canyons, are off-limits to outsiders until further notice by executive order of the Navajo Indian Tribe.
If you’re interested in doing some horseback riding, you might head over to Zion National Park (~90 minutes from Page, AZ) and hook up with Canyon Trail Rides. They offer 1-hour and 3-hour rides through some breathtaking country, and while previous riding experience is not required, advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hey Alley…do u know if you can walk from the parking lot to the viewpoint with your dog on a leash?
Hi Garrison,
Yes, you can bring your dog to Horseshoe Bend! Just make sure they are leashed at all times, and that you bring enough water for yourself and your dog. Also, if you’re visiting in the summertime, you might want to invest in a set of protective booties for your dog’s paws. The trail and surrounding terrain can get VERY hot and burn your pet’s feet. We wouldn’t want to see that happen!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi, I wonder how far is the parking lot to the horseshoe bend view? Is it safe to park there? Thank you.
Hi Gibby!
The walk from the Horseshoe Bend parking lot to the overlook is .7 miles, or 1.4 miles round-trip. The average visitor takes anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours to walk to the rim, take photos, then walk back to their vehicle.
As for whether it’s safe to park there, we have not heard any reports of theft or other malicious acts, but encourage you to take the precautions you normally would at home: lock your vehicle, roll up your windows, don’t leave valuables such as money or jewelry in the vehicle, and store anything you don’t take with you to the overlook in the trunk of your vehicle, or leave it at your hotel.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi,
Does anyone know if the America the Beautiful parking pass works at Horseshoe Bend?
Thanks.
Hi Sandy,
Unfortunately, the America The Beautiful Federal Lands Access Pass does not work at Horseshoe Bend. The parking lot is managed by the City of Page, so you would need to pay an entrance fee of $10/car or RV or $35/light commercial vehicle.
The pass is also not valid at the Antelope Canyons since it is a Native American Tribal Park. The Antelope Canyons are closed at the moment due to COVID-19.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley. I drive a semi truck aka 18 wheeler.. Can I park there at the parking lot for about 30 minutes to take pictures and if so, how much would it cost? If not, wheres the closest I can park? Thank you!!
Hi Xavier,
This is a really good question, and unfortunately, the answer — I’m ~95% certain anyway — is “no.” There are some turns in the parking lot that may be difficult for a semi to navigate. Another complication is that there are no places to park that can accommodate an 18-wheeler within reasonable walking distance of Horseshoe Bend. Normally, I’d suggest you contact Horseshoe Bend Tours to book a shuttle to the overlook, but this service has been temporarily discontinued due to COVID-19.
The best I can tell you is to postpone your visit for another time when you are driving a standard passenger vehicle or RV to the area. Horseshoe Bend Parking Fees are as follows:
– Motorcycle: $5
– Car or RV: $10
– Commercial Van/Bus: (Passenger Capacity up to 14) $35
– Commercial Bus: (Passenger Capacity 15-35) $70
– Commercial Bus: (Passenger Capacity over 35) $140
Entrance fees are based on the passenger capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers. There is absolutely no parking anywhere along US Highway 89, as this is a 65 mph highway, and vehicles will be ticketed and towed. Passenger drop-offs and pickups at the Horseshoe Bend entrance or along the Highway 89 corridor are also prohibited.
If you’d like to discuss this with the authorities responsible for the parking lot and fee collection, please contact the City of Page at (928) 645-8861.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I read that you are open every day from sunrise to sunset. So your parking lot hours actually change from day to day? We are planning to drive in from Kanab in a week to watch the sunrise, and just don’t want to be sitting there waiting for the lot to open for a half hour. Is there somewhere I can find a more precise time? Or just, if the sun rises at 5:17, that’s when you open….. THank you. I have enjoyed all our responses and found out more information about traveling right now through northern AZ than on ANy other site!
Hi Mary,
They probably don’t change from day to day, they allow for a small “window” of time prior to sunrise and just after sunset. If you want to be 100% certain of what time to be at the parking lot, however, the best source for that information is the City of Page, AZ. They are the current entity in charge of running the parking lot and collecting entrance fees. Visit http://www.CityofPage.org/Horseshoe Bend or phone 928-645-8861.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi alley,
My fiancé and I want to do a small wedding ceremony (less than 20 people, less than an hour) in northern arizona later this year in October. Do we need to go through a tour guide/company to do so, or can we just purchase a special events permit like the grand canyon does?
Thanks
Hi Andrea, and congratulations on your upcoming nuptials!
While it is not necessary to go through a tour guide or professional wedding planner to get married at Horseshoe Bend, it can certainly save a lot of hassle for you. Bare minimum, you’d have to arrange for a special use permit through the National Park Service, similar to the requirement at the Grand Canyon, plus get a local marriage license, officiant, etc. If you do decide to employ a professional wedding planner, we recommend Monumental Arizona Weddings. We know the owners personally, and they know the in’s and out’s of doing special events in locations such as Horseshoe Bend, Grand Canyon, Tower Butte, Lake Powell, and much more. For more information, visit http://www.HorseshoeBendWedding.com
Good luck, safe travels, and have a beautiful wedding! If you have some time afterward, let us know how it went.
Alley 🙂
Hey there! What time does the parking lot open as of right now? I know it’s from sunrise to sunset, but what time does it exactly open as of right now? Thank you!
Allison,
Sunrise on July 16th/17th will occur at 5:18 AM!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello Alley,
I was wondering how accessible the trail from the parking lot to horse shoe bend is? Before I came on your site I wasn’t aware there was a trail to the view of horse shoe bend :), one of our friends has a fractured foot so I was wondering if maybe if she took a walker she would be fine? My question might be a little silly but we’re exploring all options to try to make it work hehe I would truly appreciate your outlook, thank you so much!
Hi Estela!
No such thing as a silly question around here 😉
The trail to the Horseshoe Bend Overlook from the parking lot is ~.7 miles one way, which means almost a 1.5 mile round-trip walk. While it is partially paved and graded to be flatter than in years past, the distance alone may be somewhat prohibitive for your friend with the fractured foot. She may wish to consider alternative means of seeing Horseshoe Bend, such as flying over it in an airplane or helicopter. Air tours depart from the Page, AZ, Municipal Airport daily, weather permitting and contingent on a certain number of passengers booking. Heck, that could be fun for the whole family! Horseshoe Bend Air Tours
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
We are planning a trip for the end of September, and are wanting to stay the night and camp at Horseshoe Bend. Are we able to park there and camp by the bend as dispersed camping/free? I can’t find anything that directly says yes or no, just other actual campgrounds. I don’t think we want to do the camping at Lake Powell where you have to take a boat over. Any other recommendations would be helpful!
We are doing a trip of Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Zion!
Thanks!
Hi Britt,
Camping is forbidden at Horseshoe Bend. Dispersed camping/boondocking is plentiful on BLM land near Page, AZ, but these opportunities are located on the far outskirts of Lake Powell, anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour’s drive away. The Stateline Campground off US89 on the House Rock Valley Road is a particularly nice one, but you may have competition for first-come/first-serve spaces from hikers to the Wave, Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch and other popular areas. Another word of caution is that the House Rock Valley Road is unpaved, so if you’re in a rental car, we discourage you from attempting it.
If you prefer to be closer to Horseshoe Bend, overnight parking is allowed at Page, AZ’s Wal-Mart Super Center, just a few minutes away from Horseshoe Bend, but you are limited to staying only 1 night and are not allowed to pitch a tent, use BBQ grills, or make any other indication that you’re intending to set up camp for longer than 24 hours.
Just to clarify, improved campgrounds at Lake Powell do not require that you take a boat to them. Campgrounds with vehicular access are available at the Beehives, Wahweap Campground, and Lone Rock Beach. These are not free campgrounds, but at least the latter two give you access to some amenities (restrooms, etc.). Beehive is dry camping, has picnic tables, but no restrooms, so you have to pack in and pack out all waste.
For more information on campgrounds and RV parks in the Page, AZ, area, visit our companion site, http://www.AntelopeCanyon.AZ: Camping & RV Options
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Are you still able to drive through the reservation to get to Horseshoe bend correct? Will be coming up through Flagstaff.
Hey Ronald,
Yes, you can drive US89 from Flagstaff, AZ, to Page, AZ, to visit Horseshoe Bend, even though it does go through the reservation. That highway is still a very important shipping corridor, so closure is not an option in that case. If you do pass through the Navajo Reservation, they ask that you avoid stopping there. If you must patronize any businesses within their borders, please wear a mask in order to protect the citizens of this area, who have been hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19.
The section of AZ64 from Desert View Point (Eastern boundary of Grand Canyon National Park) to Cameron, AZ, remains closed.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Is horseshoe bend open?
Dear Linh,
It sure is! Horseshoe Bend is one of a few attractions in Northern Arizona that never closed. Parking lot hours are sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week. At this time of year, we recommend visiting just after sunrise to enjoy cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hey Alley,
How are you? Do you know if US 163 is open? where we can see monument valley from the road ?
Hi Jessica,
I’m great, thanks for asking!
Although the Navajo Nation has closed their tribal lands and popular attractions to outsiders, US163 through Monument Valley remains open. You can actually see quite a bit of Monument Valley once you get a few miles North of Kayenta, AZ, including world-famous Forrest Gump Point. The Navajo Tribe asks that if you must exit your vehicle at any time during the drive, that you wear a mask, and try to avoid interracting with tribe members if at all possible, with the exception of Goulding’s Lodge, which remains open for business. That means gas up your vehicle, pack snacks or a lunch, and bring enough water for yourself and all other members of your traveling party.
If the prospect of driving through Monument Valley does not appeal for whatever reason, you might consider flying over it in a fixed-wing airplane or helicopter from Page, AZ, Municipal Airport. For more information on Monument Valley Air Tours, visit http://www.WestwindAirService.com
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thank you for all the info
Hey Alley,
Are we able to do the scenic drive on highway 163 through Monuments? I’ve heard conflicting information
Hi Emily,
US163 from Kayenta, AZ, to Bluff, UT, remains open. However, the 17-mile unpaved scenic loop drive through Monument Valley remains closed per executive order of the Navajo Tribe. Fortunately, a great view of Monument Valley can be enjoyed simply driving past it on US163. In general, the tribe asks that all non-reservation residents driving through avoid stopping and interracting with tribe members. If you must exit your vehicle and patronize a business, they ask that you wear a mask while conducting your business. One exception to the rule: Goulding’s Lodge has opted to remain open, and are operating tours using alternate routes.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley!
We are going to be coming from Vegas and stopping at the Grand Canyon south rim and then wanted to go to Horseshoe bend the next day and then drive out past Monument Valley. Is this possible and what would be the best route currently?
Hi Jenna,
Traveling from Grand Canyon South Rim to Horseshoe Bend, then onto Monument Valley is possible, but not terribly practical right now.
Due to the disproportionately high occurrence of COVID-19 on the Navajo Indian Reservation, a crucial component of the driving route from the South Rim to Page, AZ — AZ64 from Desert View Point to Cameron, AZ — is closed off right now. This means that to travel from Grand Canyon South Rim to Horseshoe Bend, you have to drive all the way back to Flagstaff, AZ, then proceed North up US89 to Page, AZ. This turns what is normally a ~3-hour drive into a ~5-hour drive. Therefore, you’ll probably want to plan on staying overnight in Page, AZ, before heading off to Monument Valley, which is another 2+ hour drive.
In Monument Valley itself, you’ll find the majority of businesses closed due to COVID-19, with the notable exception of Goulding’s Lodge. Otherwise, you should plan to have a full tank of gas, and take enough water and food with you so that you don’t have to stop on the reservation and risk interracting with tribe members. If you do, please be sure to mask up and clean your hands before entering any businesses or public facilities.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello!
We will be visiting/staying in Flagstaff 7/27 through 8/2. We are very interested and excited to see Horseshoe Bend. However there is a lot of conflicting info about Navajo/roads being closed. Can we still visit Horseshoe from Flagstaff? Thank you very much.
Hi Carol!
Sorry that you’re getting so many conflicting reports of road closures on the Navajo Reservation. The truth is, AZ64 from Cameron, AZ, to the Eastern entrance of Grand Canyon National Park (Desert View Point) is closed. However, US89 from Flagstaff, AZ, to Page, AZ, is open. It still passes through Navajo Indian Tribal Lands, but is a very important shipping corridor, so closure is not an option in that case. The Navajo Tribe still asks that you avoid stopping on their land, especially if it involves patronizing any businesses and/or interracting with tribe members. If for some reason you do have to stop, they ask that you wear a mask. It really shouldn’t be necessary to stop there since there are plenty of gas stations in Flagstaff, AZ, and Page, AZ.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Do I have to make reservation to drive from Sedona to Horseshoe bend? If yes, where do I make the reservation at? Thank you,
Hi Angie,
A reservation is not necessary to visit Horseshoe Bend. You simply go at your leisure, anytime between sunrise and sunset. Be sure to allow 90 minutes to 2 hours to park, walk to the overlook, take photos, and walk back.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello Alley,
I am visiting Phoenix next week and was planning to visit Horseshoe Bend (probably July 2nd or 3rd) since it has been a life long dream of mine. I’ve read several of your comments thoroughly and wanted to ask additional questions;
First off, do you think July 3rd will be super busy since 4th is observed on that day? or do you think July 2nd and 3rd will be pretty similar as to how busy it might get? July 3rd is our ideal day to visit but if 2nd is less busy, we wanted to come that day to avoid huge crowds.
When visiting, I’ve seen that you recommend spending the night at Page since driving back to Phoenix in the dark is highly not recommended but we only have one day to do this trip so here is our itinerary. Getting a rental car in Phoenix early morning (probably around 5/6am), get to Horseshoe Bend around noon (will limit stops and pack food to eat during the drive), spend 2-3 hours at Horseshoe Bend, leave around 4/5pm, hopefully at least reach Flagstaff before it gets dark (since the sun sets around 7:50pm) and then get dinner in Flagstaff and drive back in the dark to Phoenix. Does this kind of schedule sound possible? Is it okay to drive in the dark from Flagstaff to Phoenix? If not, do you have a timeline for someone driving from Phoenix that has to do it in one day but as safely as possible? I was super excited to visit Horseshoe Bend but reading about how it gets really dark after sunset and the fact that theres barely any cell service (I have T-mobile which doesn’t have the best coverage area to begin with lol) got me a little spooked. I would greatly appreciate your input.
Also, I saw that in a comment left back in May how the parking fee at Horseshoe Bend is waived during that time, is it still waived? or is the parking fee back now?
Thank you so much and looking forward to your reply.
Hi Steven,
Parking fees are being collected once again at Horseshoe Bend, last I heard, through an automated payment system, but that could have changed.
As for which day will be busiest, it tends to be six-of-one/half-a-dozen-of another on any summer day, but the 4th of July itself tends to be busier due to Page, AZ’s world-famous fireworks show. If you’re wanting to avoid crowds, you might indeed consider visiting on the 2nd, 3rd, or 5th, but realistically, don’t expect it to be a ghost town. It’s still summer, after all.
Due to the relatively long daylengths in July, a day trip from Phoenix is more feasible at this time of year than any other. Still, the plan to drive as far as Flagstaff, AZ, and spend the night is probably prudent. Once you get done at Horseshoe Bend, you’ll probably find other sights in the area that pique your curiosity, even though the Antelope Canyons are closed. You might head down to the Glen Canyon Dam Steel Arch Bridge and talk a walk across it, or enjoy a quick swim at The Chains, which can easily be dovetailed with a walk to the Hanging Gardens area (although the springs are probably dry).
If you really prefer to get back to Phoenix that same day, the stretch between Flagstaff and Phoenix tends to be a bit more brightly lit than the highway between Page and Flagstaff. From Flag to Phoenix is interstate, whereas from Page to Flag (that’s what we call it around here) is a two-lane, regional thoroughfare that also passes through the Navajo Reservation, which is closed to outsiders. Since the drive from Page, AZ, to Flag takes ~2.5-3 hours, I’d strongly recommend leaving Page, AZ, no later than 5:00 PM.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
We are coming to Page, AZ on July 14th and had planned on doing Horseshoe Bend, Lower Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell. Unfortunately, I will anticipate that the Antelope Canyons will be closed at that time. Can you recommend a tour for our family of two adults and 4 children that is similar to Antelope Canyon but can be done in 2-4 hours? Thanks!
Hi Divora,
So sorry that the Antelope Canyons will most likely be closed at the time of your visit to Page, AZ. However, the Navajo Tribe has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19, so we are behind them 100% on this.
The good news is that there are other slot canyons near Page, AZ, that offer beautiful scenery and family-friendly adventure, but are not bound by the closures of Navajo Indian Land. Since I’m assuming that your kids are relatively young, Red Canyon aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon (not to be confused with Peek-A-Boo Canyon near Escalante, UT!) would be the one I’d recommend. This beautiful slot canyon, with twists and turns on par with the Antelope Canyons, is located near Kanab, UT, ~1 hour from Page, AZ. It’s a short but memorable walk featuring classic slot canyon scenery (including the occasional light beams in the summertime), as well as some unique features such as ancient “moqui” steps, and “Shaman’s Needle,” a pencil-thin stone column located in a small sub-drainage near the canyon’s entrance. While a guided tour is not required to get to Peek-A-Boo, we strongly recommend that you utiize one, because while the walk through the canyon itself is usually not difficult, the drive to get there can be. There are several reputable companies to choose from in Kanab, UT, including:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
– Forever Adventure Tours, 435-644-5700, http://www.foreveradventuretours.com
– Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermillioncliffs.net
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley, my girlfriend and I will be visiting Page this weekend. And I was just wondering if there were hours that the parking lot is open or is it always open? Thanks!
Hi Mike,
The Horseshoe Bend parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset 7 days a week. During the hot days of summer, we recommend visiting just after sunrise to enjoy cooler temperatures and smaller crowds!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello! Is the smoke from Magnum fire pretty bad right now? Or would it still be ok to visit?
Hi Lisa,
The smoke from the Mangum Fire is pretty thick in the Page, AZ, area, and I’ve even heard reports of falling ash from local residents. There are other wildfires in and around Northern Arizona that could make matters worse. As for whether or not you visit, that’s up to you, but if you have respiratory issues or smoke sensitivity, you might want to reschedule your trip.
For the latest reports about the fire, visit LakePowellLife.com or the Page, AZ, Community Bulletin Board on Facebook. WildlandFiresSmoke.net is also a handy site to bookmark.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thank you! Is there anyway to get into Horseshoe Bend after sunset?
Not without a flashlight and advanced canyoneering skills 😉
Hi Alley,
Is the parking fee can accept the credit cards?
Hi Andy,
Yes, credit cards can be used to pay the parking fees at Horseshoe Bend!
Alley 🙂
Horseshoe Bend is open, correct?
Any Antelope tours taking place yet? Our Vegas trip is still on for July and we had a float trip planned for Horseshoe Bend. But, it was canceled in late March. We always rent and travel 100s of miles to sightsee while in Vegas. Any ideas what to do around the area of Page is the tours don’t open? Thanks much!!
Hi Heather!
The good news: Horseshoe Bend is open. It is one of the few attractions in the area that never closed. You can visit between the hours of sunrise and sunset, although we recommend hitting the overlook in the hours just after sunrise to take advantage of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
As for the Antelope Canyons, unfortunately, they are closed, and probably will remain so beyond their planned reopening date of July 6th, but that has yet to be confirmed. Fortunately, you’ll find plenty to see and do in and around Page, AZ, so that your visit will by no means be for naught.
If a slot canyon was on your wish list, you’ll be happy to know that there are several slot canyons near the “town next door,” Kanab, UT, that are not on Navajo Reservation land and therefore not bound by their closure. Not knowing the makeup of your party (kids? seniors? everyone in pretty good shape or not so much?), I’ll begin by recommending Red Canyon aka Peek-A-Boo Canyon (not to be confused with another Peek-A-Boo Canyon near Escalante, UT!). This family-friendly slot canyon is located between Kanab and Mt. Carmel Junction, Utah, approximately 90 minutes from Page, AZ. With twists and turns on par with the Antelope Canyons, this short but memorable walk features classic slot canyon scenery (including the occasional light beams in the summertime), as well as some unique features such as ancient “moqui” steps, and “Shaman’s Needle,” a pencil-thin stone column located in a small sub-drainage near the canyon’s entrance. While a guided tour is not required to get to Peek-A-Boo, we strongly recommend that you consider taking one, because while the walk through the canyon itself is usually not difficult, the drive to get there can be. 4WD vehicles with adequate clearance are a definite must, with tire pressure lowered to accommodate potentially deep sand. If you’re driving a rental car, forget it! You will void your insurance the minute your tires part with the pavement, which means you’d be on the hook for a very expensive rescue, should you need one, and have to foot the bill for any damage you’d sustain. There are several reputable tour companies to choose from in Kanab, UT, including:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
– Forever Adventure Tours, 435-644-5700, http://www.foreveradventuretours.com
– Grand Circle Tours, (928) 691-0166, http://www.vermillioncliffs.net
If you think you can handle something a little more adventurous, Wire Pass Canyon is a photogenic two-part slot canyon that is short enough for intermediate-level hikers to enjoy, yet offers the option to delve further into Buckskin Gulch (the Grand-Daddy of all slot canyons!). The walk to the entrance of the initial slot is via a typically dry streambed, which may present the challenge of deep sand. An 8-10’ drop a short distance into the slot canyon is one reason why Wire Pass Canyon may not be appropriate for those traveling with young children, the elderly, or individuals afraid of heights. As the canyon walls become higher and closer together, they suddenly open up as the second slot connects with the Buckskin Gulch. If you’ve had enough at this point, you can simply turn around and head back to your vehicle. If you’d like to explore further, you can easily make a half-day hike out of the immediate area around the confluence with the Buckskin. Look for some bighorn sheep petroglyphs dating back hundreds, maybe thousands of years! Access to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch is off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT, on the House Rock Valley Road. Hikers are required to pay a self-permitting fee at the kiosk by the trailhead. Fair warning: the House Rock Valley Road is unpaved! While it is accessible to 2WD vehicles much of the time, if recent weather has brought any moisture whatsoever, the HRVR can turn into a muddy, impassable mess. Parties in rental cars should think twice about attempting this road since off-road driving is strictly prohibited by most rental car companies. A guided tour will get your family to Wire Pass Canyon and back in one piece, and turn you onto features you might have missed trying to find your own way. Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT based companies offering guided tours to Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch include:
– Detours American West, 480-633-9013, http://www.detoursamericanwest.com
– Paria Outpost & Outfitters, 928-691-1047, http://www.paria.com
– Grand Staircase Discovery Tours, 928-614-4099, http://www.grandstaircasediscoverytours.com
Of course, no visit to Page, AZ, would be complete without a swim in Lake Powell. Fortunately, there are several areas where you can enjoy a refreshing dip. The closest area to Page, AZ, is The Chains, which is on the East flank of the Glen Canyon Dam Steel Arch Bridge. It’s a bit of a hike to get down to the water, and back up again, but the nice thing about this area is that you don’t have to pay an entrance fee. If desired, you can also “piggy-back” this with a hike to the Hanging Gardens area. Remember that in July, it will be very hot, so any labor-intensive activities should be undertaken during the early morning hours. Sun protection (hats, sunglasses, sunscreen) must be carried and/or worn, and water is a definite must for your day pack!
If you’re OK with paying the entrance fee to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach are both good places to swim. The Wahweap Swim Beach has shaded picnic tables with grills nearby. Lone Rock Beach does not have these amenities, and is very sandy, so be sure to keep to the graded/improved areas so you don’t get your vehicle stuck. Another thing to keep in mind about all 3 areas is that Lake Powell is a popular boating destination. The water may be quite choppy if a lot of boats, jet skis, etc., are out and about.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
1. For GPS purpose, what’s the physical address to have access to the main entrance?
Hi O A,
The GPS coordinates of Horseshoe Bend are 36.8792° N, 111.5104° W, but honestly, you don’t need these or a physical address to find this world-famous landmark!
The parking area is located near mile marker 545 on highway US89, approximately 5 miles South of the town of Page, AZ. It is very well-signed and easy to find. You literally can’t miss it. Just look for all the cars.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley! I just wanted to thank you for being so helpful. We are leaving tomorrow to head out that way and will be spending a lot of time in the surrounding area, including one night in Page. For us planners, this year has created a serious challenge, as information for a lot of places has been hard to come by. I’ve even taken to calling local businesses to see what they’re hearing and even befriended an employee at one of the parks I came across on Facebook to try to get good intel. Thankfully our trip has come together pretty well and other than the Navajo attractions, most everything will be open enough for us to visit as planned. But you are totally on top of it and the job you do and information you provide is so very helpful and appreciated by myself and countless others who come across this site. Can’t wait to see your beautiful area – keep up the great work!!
Dear James,
Wow, your compliments totally made my day, and it’s still early! LOL
You are spot-on in your observation that between COVID-19 and everything else going on in the world, vacation planning has been… shall we say, an interesting exercise.
While it’s a huge bummer that the Navajo lands-based attractions, particularly the Antelope Canyons, are closed, there are several slot canyons in the local area that are not situated on reservation lands. The closest ones are Wire Pass Canyon and the Buckskin Gulch, located off US89 down the House Rock Valley Road between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT; and Peek-a-Boo Canyon aka Red Canyon, near Kanab, UT, down BLM Road #102 off US89. While neither of these technically require a guided tour to visit, we strongly recommend taking one since both access routes are unpaved and visitors in rental cars would void their insurance by driving off-road.
For Wire Pass Canyon/Buckskin Gulch Tours, contact one of the following licensed guide services:
– Paria Outpost & Outfitters, 928-691-1047, http://www.paria.com
– Grand Staircase Discovery Tours, 928-614-4099, http://www.grandstaircasediscoverytours.com
For Red/Peek-A-Boo Canyon, contact:
– Dreamland Safari Tours, (435) 412-1790, http://www.dreamlandtours.net
– TC Tours, (435) 668-5262, http://www.slotcanyontourskanab.com
– Kanab Tour Company, (435) 644-5525, http://www.kanabtourcompany.com
Good luck, safe travels, and if you have some time when you get home, we’d love to hear how your trip went!
Take care,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
My family (me, husband and our 6 year old twin boys) are camping at the Wahweap campground this weekend and are wanting to visit horseshoe bend on Monday, 6/15/20. What is the best time to get there? How much time should we save to spend at horseshoe bend since we are hoping to visit other places that same day as well. Where do we park? Do you have any other recommendations for things to do and see (kids/family friendly) around the area that we do that day as well? Thank you so much for your help =).
Hi Tiffany!
The Horseshoe Bend Overlook is open from sunrise (~5:00 AM) to sunset (~7:45 PM). Because daytime high temperatures in Page, AZ, are getting up around 100 degrees Fahrenheit these days, we recommend that you try and visit in the hours just after sunrise to take advantage of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds. 90 minutes to 2 hours is the average time people take to park, hike out to the rim, take a few photos and hike back. The parking area is very well-marked and easy to spot, located near mile marker 545 on US89, about 5 miles South of Page, AZ.
As for other things you might do in the area, unfortunately, the Antelope Canyons and the Horseshoe Bend Raft Trip remain closed due to COVID-19, but popular swimming areas such as The Chains, Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach are open and would make for a fun way to round out your day. The Chains is located outside the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so no entrance fee is required; Wahweap Swim Beach and Lone Rock Beach are both located inside the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so an entrance fee is required to visit those areas. Again, sun exposure is an important consideration at these areas, so be prepared to protect yourself and your family with plenty of sunscreen, water, hats, protective clothing, etc.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello-
My family and I were thinking of coming for sunrise on June 11. So about what time should we arrive? Thanks so much!
Hi Kim,
Sunrise in June takes place around 5:00 AM. We definitely recommend getting there at sunrise or shortly after to take advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer people!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley, my family and I (consist of 3 RV’s) are driving through Horseshoe bend and Antelope Canyon(after Bryce Canyon)this coming July 4th. I called Navaho Tours and the lady said their not open for tours yet and she heard not until August of 2020. This leave’s us just Horseshoe bend. Do we need to purchase ticket ahead for us to even park there? I have 2 seniors that cannot walk that far but wanted to see the edge of horseshoe bend. How can I fulfill these life long bucket list of theirs?
Hi Dennis,
Wow, all the way until August, huh? I’d recommend waiting on official word from the Navajo Tribe before jumping to conclusions, but there’s no denying the fact that the Navajo Tribe has been hit extremely hard by COVID-19. If that’s what they need to do, we’re totally behind them.
The good news? There are other slot canyons in the area that are family-friendly and are not dependent on the Navajo Reservation reopening. For your group, I’d recommend Peek-A-Boo Canyon, aka Red Canyon, near Kanab, UT, about 1 hour from Page, AZ. While you technically don’t require a guided tour to go there, I strongly recommend that you use one. The drive there is very difficult, and definitely not meant for RV’s! Dreamland Safari Tours is a licensed, and very reputable outfitter that we have no problem recommending. TC Tours is another located in that same area; I am not personally familiar with them, but they seem to be well-rated.
As for Horseshoe Bend, you do not need to purchase tickets ahead of time. In fact, I don’t even think that’s possible — not yet, anyway. As for whether the seniors in the group can handle it, we see seniors successfully make this walk every day, and leave much younger people in the dust! The trail to the Horseshoe Bend overlook is ~1.4 miles round-trip. It has recently been graded so it is flatter than the ‘social’ trail from years past. However, the time of year that you’re visiting is hot, and the trail offers very little in the way of shade, so try to time your visit for the hours just after sunrise to take advantage of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds. Realize that it’s not a race; you can take the trail as slowly as you wish, and you might have a better time and learn a lot more by doing so! Horseshoe Bend: The Intimate Grand Canyon Experience Whenever you decide to go, be sure to carry enough water for all members of your party.
If for some reason you decide that these folks cannot make the hike to Horseshoe Bend, there might still be another way for them to see it, without so much exertion: fly over it. Airplanes and helicopters depart daily from the Page, AZ, Municipal Airport. They won’t land at the overlook, but they’ll get to see a lot of amazing scenery in addition to Horseshoe Bend! Horseshoe Bend Air Tour
Hope that helps. Good luck, safe travels, and if you have time afterward, we’d love to know how things went!
Take care,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley!
We are planning to visit Page (coming from LA to Vegas and then to Page and Bryce Canyon) with our children – twins aged 6 and toddler aged 3 – this weekend.
Is the horseshoe band trail will be difficult for them?
What other attractions are available this weekend for kids around Page and lake Powell by car in your opinion?
Is Page restaurants etc. are open?
Thank you in advance!
Hezzy
Hi Hezzy!
Only you can judge whether the hike to Horseshoe Bend will be too much for your kids. I’ve seen some kids need to be carried most of the way, I’ve seen others outpace their parents! I can tell you the following:
1. The trail to the Horseshoe Bend overlook is ~1.4 miles round-trip. It has recently been graded so it is flatter than the ‘social’ trail from years past.
2. This time of year is hot, and the trail offers very little in the way of shade, so try to time your visit for the hours just after sunrise to take advantage of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
3. Realize that it’s not a race; you can take the trail as slowly as you wish, and you might learn a lot more by doing so! Horseshoe Bend: The Intimate Grand Canyon Experience
3. Whenever you decide to go, be sure to carry enough water for all members of your party
As for attractions that can be visited around Lake Powell, there are several! You might try to visit The Chains, and maybe piggy-back that onto a hike to the Hanging Gardens. Wahweap Swim Beach and/or Lone Rock Beach would also be fun; these are both located inside the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so an entrance fee is required. You can visit The Chains for free. Whatever you decide, be sure to keep a close eye on the kids and bring some floaties for their safety! You can purchase these at the local Super Wal-Mart if needed.
Many Page, AZ, restaurants are open, but may be serving at limited capacity due to COVID-19.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂
Thank you very much!
Is the Glen Canyon dam open for visitors? and if so is it possible to get there by car rather than a hike?
Thanks again!
Hi Hezzy,
Unfortunately, the Glen Canyon Dam and Carl Hayden Visitors Center remain closed due to COVID-19. You are still welcome to walk across the bridge if you wish. For more information on what’s open and what isn’t, visit the National Park Service’s official website for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Alley 🙂
Is it currently possible to buy the “America the Beautiful” pass when entering the horseshoe bend park? If not, where can it be bought other than online?
Hey Simon!
This is an excellent question — since Horseshoe Bend is administered by the City of Page, AZ, it is not possible to buy the America the Beautiful Pass there. However, if you’re planning on going to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell), you can pick it up there, as well as at the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and other popular National Parks in the Grand Circle.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂
Hello Alley,
For my sons 34th birthday he invited us (mom, dad, siblings) to a road trip that includes a day to enjoy Horseshoe bend and play in the water. The general itinerary was to be in Paige NLT Friday June 26 early morning and planned to split the day between Horseshoe bend, Antelope Canyon, and Lake Powell. This assumes that Antelope is open by then and I’m able to get a reservation. Is there access from the scenic view to get to the water via e-bikes? If not, what are the options available to swim Horseshoe bend? We are leaving Saturday morning and heading to Sedona to spend the weekend at Devil’s Bridge Trail and Oak creek and heading back to San Diego and Ventura, CA Monday.
I appreciate your time and all the useful responses you’ve provided everyone.
Thank you.
Grace
Hi Grace,
This is a good question; unfortunately, the answer is “no,” there is no access from the Horseshoe Bend Overlook to the Colorado River. You can access the Colorado River for swimming at Lees Ferry, which is ~1 hour drive from Page, AZ. Time/desire permitting, you might also rent a kayak and get backhauled from Lees Ferry to the Glen Canyon Dam, where you could float back down to Lees Ferry through Horseshoe Bend. Kayak Horseshoe Bend
If that is not feasible, your best option for swimming would be to go to Lake Powell. There are a few good swimming spots about 15 minutes drive from Horseshoe Bend:
– The Chains, a favorite among locals, which can also be dovetailed with a hike to the Hanging Gardens, located outside the National Recreation Area, so you don’t have to pay an entrance fee
– Wahweap Swim Beach, inside the National Recreation Area (entrance fee required), between the Lake Powell Resort and Stateline launch ramp, has picnic tables and grills
– Lone Rock Beach, also inside the NRA (entrance fee required), popular spot for camping, but day use is permitted; has restrooms and outdoor showers
Unfortunately, the Antelope Canyons will be closed at the time of your visit. Another good slot canyon you might go to is Wire Pass, which is between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT. Access to the trailhead is off US89 on the House Rock Valley Road. It doesn’t require a guided tour, you simply pay a nominal entrance fee at the self-registration kiosk. The catch: the House Rock Valley Road is unpaved. Those in rental cars are discouraged from traveling on it as doing so would void your insurance, leaving you on the hook for any damage you might sustain. If recent weather has been wet, it can be rendered impassable, so be sure to check current conditions before attempting it, or call a local guide service who can escort you there in safety. Wire Pass Canyon also connects with the Buckskin Gulch, the longest slot canyon in the area (20+ miles). You might also explore part of it after finishing up in Wire Pass, should you go there.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Do you know if after sunset they tell people to leave? So if sunset is at 7:45, at 9p does everyone have to leave? How strict are they? Thanks!
Hi J,
They usually let people hang around for awhile after sunset for photos, but will encourage people to wrap things up once it gets dark.
Alley 🙂
Hi,
What time does Horseshoe Bend parking lot open and close? I want to go either really early in the morning or later in the evening so it’s not too hot and to see if we can catch some beautiful colors in the sky! I’m planning to get there tomorrow morning.
Thanks!
Maria
Hi Maria,
Apologies for not attending to your inquiry sooner. Hopefully you found that the Horseshoe Bend Overlook is open from sunrise to sunset and that you were able to get some great photos!
Take care and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
My friends and I will be visiting the Page area this upcoming weekend. We have boat reservations for Saturday, and were wondering what boating access was available into the water-filled parts of Antelope Canyon, as well as the access to Rainbow Bridge via boat were given the Navajo closures. In addition, it seems like there isn’t any issue with access to Horseshoe Bend, Lee’s Ferry, and the North Rim of the GC. Is that accurate?
Thanks,
Zach
Hi Zach,
You’ve timed your visit to Page, AZ, fairly well, with a few exceptions. The land-side segments of the Antelope Canyons remain closed, but you can still visit via the waterside. Antelope Point Marina, however, remains closed. As for Rainbow Bridge, the official website doesn’t indicate that it’s closed, per se. Since boat tours have yet to resume, however, the boat dock may be closed (although I can find no documentation on this), and unfortunately, the current level of Lake Powell doesn’t allow you to see the bridge from your boat, even if you can park it at the dock. It takes a 2+ mile round-trip walk (some of that uphill) from the dock to actually see the Bridge.
All that said, I honestly don’t recommend that you attempt to go all the way to Rainbow Bridge and back if you only have a one-day boat rental. Since Rainbow Bridge is 50+ miles one way uplake from Wahweap, where I assume you’re getting your boat, it will essentially take you all day to do this. Plus, you’ll have to make a fuel stop at Dangling Rope since smaller boats can’t carry enough gas to get you there and back on a single tank. And there’s the potential of getting lost, and having to make part of the return trip in the dark, which is disconcerting to say the least if you’re not an experienced boater. Therefore, a better plan would be to explore Lake Powell in a smaller radius from the marina. Don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of beautiful scenery to discover and enjoy! Just ask the staff at the boat rental desk for recommendations.
You are correct in that there is no issue with access to Horseshoe Bend or Lees Ferry. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon, however, is not scheduled to reopen until June 5th. You can still visit the South Rim if you want, albeit with a few stipulations. For more information, visit Grand Canyon National Park’s official website.
For current information on what’s accessible at Lake Powell, visit Glen Canyon National Recreation Area’s official website.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂