Horseshoe Bend (Credit: Where's Weatherby)

Cities

Page

Head up Highway 89 to explore this outpost at the far northern reaches of Arizona.

Located near the Arizona-Utah border, Page sprang up as a housing camp for workers during construction of Glen Canyon Dam in the 1950s. The city today welcomes visitors who pass through while touring the area’s iconic Southwest landscapes. After a full day of hiking and sightseeing in the region, visitors stay the night in Page to map out the next day’s outdoor adventures. With so many natural wonders in the area, Page offers brand hotels and plenty of camping and RV sites to accommodate visitors year-round.

Scenic Attractions

In this remote part of the state, Page offers a convenient launching point for touring the iconic landscapes of the Southwest. Rafting trips on the Colorado River below the dam lead to Horseshoe Bend, where the river makes nearly a full circle turn around a sandstone butte. At Antelope Canyon and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, slot canyons and swirling rock formations attract hikers and photographers. Many sites on Navajo Nation require permits to visit and some require visitors to join guided tours — a perk considering the wealth of information local guides bring to the excursions.

Scenic Drives

The main route to Page, Highway 89, continues north of town as it enters the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. That route features a birds-eye view of the canyon while crossing the steel-arch bridge that hovers over the Colorado River. Back in Page, head east to connect with Highway 160 — the Navajo Trail passes through Monument Valley landscapes on the way to the Four Corners region. Or take Highway 89A west to reach the north rim of the Grand Canyon and Jacob Lake, a gateway community near the northern terminus of the Arizona National Scenic Trail.

Lake Powell

Glen Canyon Dam is the second-largest arch dam in the U.S. after nearby Hoover Dam. North of the dam, Lake Powell backs up into Utah. Below the dam, fishing and water recreation offer outdoor adventures year-round. Many area outfitters set up shop in Page, offering visitors guided expeditions on and around Lake Powell. See the stark natural beauty of the area from a raft, a helicopter, a Jeep or a horse. Or get on the water by rafting the rapids of the Colorado River or taking a leisurely pontoon-boat cruise on Lake Powell.