I moved to Arizona nearly nine years ago. I’ve been an avid explorer of the state, visiting many places. But I had not been to Page, one of the most photographed places in the world, until this past weekend.
Sure, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Band had been on my list. But at a 4-hour drive from Phoenix, it’s a little off the beaten path, and deserving of an overnight trip, so it had been on the back burner until I could make time.
A fellow explorer friend was due to come into town over the long President’s Day weekend, so finally, what better reason that to make a weekend of it?
Unfortunately, his flight was CANCELED (Frontier, you piece of sh*t airline). Fortunately, I have no hesitations flying solo (with my travel companion pup!).
Horseshoe Bend
Page, located in northern Arizona, just south of the Utah border, is an easy 4-hour drive from Phoenix. A must-see stop on the way to Antelope Canyon is Horseshoe Bend, a U-shaped red rock canyon resembling a horseshoe.
Cost: FREE
Difficulty: EASY
Parking: YES
Dogs allowed?: YES
Afterwards, I traveled a couple miles north to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area… or… Tatooine. Take your best guess!
Overnight, I stayed in Sleep Inn & Suites in Page for $80. Thanks Hotwire!
Antelope Canyon
The next day I readied for the descent into Lower Antelope Canyon.
Since Antelope Canyon is on Navajo Nation land, you need a tour guide to enter — I booked Ken’s Tours. (Be sure to reserve a spot in advance on their website. There was a loooong wait for walk-ups!)
To enter the canyon, you travel down several steep flights of stairs. And then it’s time to capture all the stunning moments. Overall, you’ll spend about an hour navigating the winding, narrow slot canyon. Dress warmly, it’s quite a bit cooler at the bottom — around 40 degrees in February.
I won’t bother describing what you’ll see; mere words do not do it justice. Video slideshow below!
Difficulty: MEDIUM (easy for me, difficult for anyone who may suffer from claustrophobia, who is excessively overweight, or who may have a physical handicap)
Parking: YES
Dogs allowed?: NO
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