Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and The Wave are just a few of the places you probably think of when picturing Page, Arizona. This little town has exploded in popularity mainly due to social media, but it makes an amazing home base for exploring the unique geological features of northern Arizona.
While the most popular attractions are incredible and definitely worth the visit, Page is also home to some amazing, lesser-known attractions as well. Even if you don’t have a coveted permit to visit The Wave, there are plenty of other fantastic things to do in Page.
My husband and I spent 3 days exploring Page and the surrounding area at the beginning of April 2024. We hit all the main attractions and some of the hidden gems that I will be sharing with you in this post!
This post is all about the 12 best things to do in Page, Arizona.
The Best Time to Visit Page, Arizona
The best time to visit Page, Arizona is in the spring or fall. Summer is the busy season for boating and swimming on Lake Powell and it is brutally hot during the day. Page sits at 4100 feet, so it’s not as hot as Phoenix or other parts of central/southern Arizona, but it still gets hot.
Spring and fall bring pleasant temperatures, cheaper prices, and a lot less crowds. We also found that Lake Powell was delightfully empty for our boat tour, which made for a much more enjoyable experience.
It’s also important to note that many tours and restaurants don’t open for the season until April 1st. We hit Page the first week of April after visiting Flagstaff, Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and Petrified Forest National Park the week before, and it was pure coincidence that we were there the week everything opened!
Plan your visit in April or May or between late September and October.
Related: How to Visit the Grand Canyon in Winter (Weather, Hiking, & More!)
How Many Days Do You Need in Page, Arizona?
Plan to spend at least 2 full days in Page to see the highlights. Most of the attractions are just a short drive away, so it is possible to do multiple activities per day. If you’d like to spend more time, there are plenty of things to keep you busy here for a week, easily.
Visit the Glen Canyon Dam, go on an Antelope Canyon tour, and hike to the iconic Horseshoe Bend on day 1. Spend day 2 doing a morning hike and then book an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Powell.
If you enjoy hiking, rafting, off-roading, scenic drives, and/or if you got lucky enough with a Wave permit, plan to spend at least 3-5 full days in Page.
How to Get to Page, Arizona
Page is located at the very northern end of Arizona nestled right at the southern end of Lake Powell. It’s about 4 hours north of Phoenix and 4.5 hours east of Las Vegas. Your best bet is flying into Phoenix or Las Vegas and renting a car.
Page does have its own airport, but all flights connect through Vegas or Phoenix, so flying directly here won’t save you any time. You’ll want to have a car in Page anyway plus layover times can be long, so it’s best to just rent a car from Phoenix or Las Vegas and drive.
There is no shortage of incredible attractions in the American Southwest, so adding Page to a Utah National Parks or northern Arizona road trip is highly suggested.
Driving times to Page from popular nearby areas:
- Phoenix, AZ: 273 miles / 4 hours
- Flagstaff, AZ: 129 miles / 2 hours
- Las Vegas, NV: 273 miles / 4.5 hours
- Zion National Park: 117 miles / 2.5 hours
- Grand Canyon South Rim: 131 miles / 2.5 hours
- Moab, UT: 273 miles / 4.5 hours
Related: Utah Scenic Byway 12 Road Trip Itinerary: Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon
Where to Stay in Page, Arizona
Page is a relatively small town, but there are plenty of chain hotels and local restaurants to make a great home base for exploring the great outdoors. We stayed at the Best Western Plus at Lake Powell and would recommend it. There is another Best Western right next to it with a view of Lake Powell, but it is slightly pricier.
Another cool option is to rent a houseboat on Lake Powell and stay there. Beware that this is a pretty expensive option and there are often minimum stay requirements. Airbnb and VRBO have houseboat rental options as well.
Entrance Fees & Passes Information
The main attractions near Page are mostly located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It will cost $30 per vehicle to enter and the pass is good for 7 days.
If you plan to visit multiple National Parks and/or Monuments on your trip, it will be worth it to purchase the America the Beautiful Pass. It costs $80 and will get you into all federal lands for one rolling calendar year. This pass is a great value if you plan to visit the Grand Canyon and/or any of the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks along with your visit to Page.
Horseshoe Bend will also require an additional $10 to park (the parking lot is on city land and not located within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so your National Park Pass will not work here).
There are a lot of Navajo lands surrounding Page that will also require a separate Navajo Nation permit to visit. If you book a guided tour, the ticket price will include this permit, but if you want to visit the backcountry you will need to purchase a Navajo Nation permit. Info on permits for Page and the surrounding area can be found on the Navajo website here.
Related: Petrified Forest National Park: The Ultimate Itinerary & Guide
12 Best Things to Do in Page, Arizona
1. Tour Antelope Canyon
Let’s be honest, you probably planned your entire trip to Page because of Antelope Canyon. And for good reason, it is absolutely breathtaking!
The most important thing to know about Antelope Canyon is that it is actually 2 separate parts of the same canyon: Upper and Lower. Both canyons are located on Navajo land, so you have to book a guided tour with a Navajo guide in order to visit. You cannot visit either canyon on your own.
Upper Antelope Canyon is the most famous portion. It’s got the famous light beams, taller walls, and is wider and more accessible than Lower Antelope. To get photos of the famous light beams in Upper Antelope Canyon, you’ll want to book your tour when the sun is highest in the sky, between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm. Not surprisingly, these tour times sell out the fastest so book in advance if this is a priority to you. A tour to Upper Antelope Canyon will cost you about $95.
Lower Antelope Canyon is a bit more adventurous, narrow, and requires climbing down a few steep ladders. A tour here costs about $55 vs. the $95 you’ll spend touring Upper.
Both canyons are amazing in their own ways, and you can definitely visit both! Just give yourself plenty of time between tours. Tours last about an hour each.
We decided on Lower Antelope with Ken’s Tours because it was cheaper and we were up for the more adventurous experience.
Book your Upper Antelope Canyon tour here and your Lower Antelope Canyon Tour here.
HELPFUL TIPS FOR VISITING ANTELOPE CANYON:
Memorial Day to Labor Day are the busiest times for Antelope Canyon tours and tickets will sell out many months in advance. The popularity of these canyon tours has exploded over the last few years. Both canyons will be extremely crowded in the summer, so book well in advance, bring your patience, and plan for the tours to take a little extra time.
Book a tour first thing in the morning if you really want to avoid the crowds (our tour was at 8:30 am in early April and there were only 5 other groups in the canyon at the same time). Our guide told us that they actually have to tell people to stop taking pictures at some points to keep the groups moving!
Note: I have also recently seen tours for “Antelope Canyon X” that is cheaper and supposedly less crowded than Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon. I don’t have firsthand experience with Canyon X, so if anyone books a tour and wants to report back in the comments, I will update this post with your information!
2. Visit Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is a famous, 270-degree bend in the Colorado River with a 1000-foot drop. It’s accessible by a short, 0.75-mile hike to the rim.
This view was the most breathtaking scenery we experienced in Page. Unlike the scenery at the Grand Canyon and other parts of Arizona, you really feel up close and personal with the view. I haven’t experienced anything like it before!
There isn’t any fencing around the dropoff to the canyon, so make sure you watch your footing and don’t stand too close to the edge. There were multiple adults and children (yikes!) dangling their feet and cameras off the edge and it was really anxiety-inducing to watch. Be smarter than this, please!
Even though Horseshoe Bend is located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the parking lot is owned by the city of Page and requires $10 to park.
Horseshoe Bend gets insanely busy during the summer months, especially at sunset. We did end up going at sunset and were able to get a parking spot without trouble in April, but I imagine this being a huge problem during the busy summer months.
If you want to avoid the crowds and have a more peaceful experience, I would recommend going at sunrise instead of midday or sunset.
3. Hike to The Wave (Permit Required)
Let’s be honest, the reason you’re probably reading this post is because you saw an Instagram photo of The Wave and immediately started researching how to go there yourself (guilty).
If you haven’t heard of The Wave, it’s a world-famous photography and hiking destination located in the Coyote Buttes North area of Vermillion Cliffs. The Wave is famous for its red and orange “wave-shaped” geologic formations.
The TLDR on a visit here is that it is extremely difficult to get a permit, it is extremely difficult to get to the trailhead, and the hike is extremely difficult, especially in the summer. This experience is not for beginners, so make sure to do your research before visiting if you’re lucky enough to get a permit!
There is a lottery that takes place 4 months in advance and a daily lottery. According to BLM data, your chances of getting a permit on any given day are about 4-8%.
Sorry for the bad news, but it is extremely unlikely that you will plan a trip to Page and also happen to get a permit for the same time. If The Wave is on your bucket list, you’re better off entering the lottery constantly, and then planning your trip if/when you get a permit.
I’ve heard that people have better luck with the daily lottery, but you already have to be located in Page/Kanab/the surrounding areas to enter. If you’d like to try your luck at snagging a permit, more info is located on the BLM website here.
The good news is that there are plenty of other incredible things to do in Page that you can still have an amazing trip even if you don’t get a Wave permit.
4. Take a Boat Cruise on Lake Powell
Lake Powell Marina offers a variety of different boat cruises on Lake Powell. Boating on Lake Powell is the only way to truly understand how deep the lake is. Take in the towering sandstone walls from water-level and marvel at how small you feel!
There are lots of tours that range from 90 minutes to an all day excursion. We did the Navajo Canyon tour and thought 3 hours was the perfect amount of time. The tours do change based on the water level of the lake, so the ones we were offered might be different from the ones today. See what tours are available and book on the Lake Powell website here.
Boating is also the only way to visit Rainbow Bridge National Monument, (unless you want to do a 28-mile backbacking trip, more on that below). The Rainbow Bridge tours sell out very quickly months in advance, so book early if you are interested in this tour.
All tours provide free water, lemonade, and coffee on board. You are allowed to bring your own snacks and backpacks while roaming the boat as you please during the tour. Don’t forget sunscreen (there is an enclosed section of the boat but you’ll want to be in the open air for most of your tour).
What I loved about doing a boat tour in April was how empty the lake was since the true boating and swimming season is in the summer. Lake Powell is packed with yachts and houseboats in the summer, which would severely detract from the experience. This is one of the main reasons I recommend visiting Page in the spring and fall vs. summer.
5. Go Hiking
There are a lot of short, unique hikes to do in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. They are super accessible to Page and will only take a few minutes to drive to the trailheads.
Here is my list of favorite hikes near Page:
- Beehive Trail (used to be called “The New Wave”): Easy, 1.4-mile loop through some incredible sandstone formations that are similar to The Wave. The photo opportunities out here are outstanding!
- Hanging Gardens Trail: Short, easy, hike to a hidden cave-like alcove where ferns grow on the side of the alcove. The shade of the alcove combined with the lateral movement of water through porous stone creates the perfect conditions for vegetation to grow in the middle of the desert.
- Toadstools Trail: This hike is in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, so it will take you about 30 minutes to drive to the trailhead from Page, but it is definitely worth it! The hike is 1.8 miles round trip to some unique sandstone hoodoos.
- Cathedral Wash Trail: Moderate, 3.3-mile hike through a wide slot canyon to the Colorado River. It’s located near Lee’s Ferry.
- Sun Valley Mine Trail: 2.4-mile, out-and-back hike up through the Vermillion Cliffs to an abandoned uranium mine with panoramic views of Glen Canyon. The trailhead is located off of scenic Highway 89A and is easy to to miss, so double check your maps before heading there.
We absolutely loved hiking in this area of Arizona! Most of the trails are short and easy, so you can do multiple in a day without getting too tired.
Most of these trails are through flat sandstone formations and don’t have shade, so bring plenty of water and sun protection. If rain is in the forecast, avoid hiking as flash floods are common and are very dangerous.
6. Visit the Glen Canyon Dam
The Glen Canyon Dam is located in the heart of Page and is the second-largest concrete arch dam in the world (behind the Hoover Dam). It stands 563 feet high and supplies over 7 states with hydroelectric power from the turbines.
The visitor’s center has an impressive museum where you can learn all about the Colorado River Storage Project, how the dam was constructed, and Lake Powell’s importance in supplying water and electricity to the surrounding areas.
There is also a wonderful dam overlook outside of the visitor’s center. A quick stop to see this engineering feat should definitely be on your list of things to do in Page!
7. Have Dinner at the Rainbow Room at the Lake Powell Marina
The Rainbow Room is the upscale, but still casual, restaurant at the Wahweap Marina on Lake Powell. There are absolutely gorgeous views of the lake that surround the whole restaurant, so there isn’t a bad seat. The food and drinks were incredible too!
The dress code is casual, which was my favorite part. Follow up your Lake Powell boat cruise with dinner here and come as you are.
The Rainbow Room is open seasonally from April 1st to October 31st and requires reservations ahead of time (book a reservation online here). We had no trouble getting one just a few hours in advance, but I imagine it is busier in the summer months!
8. Do the Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Drive
One of the more lesser-known but highly underrated things to do near Page is the Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Drive. Highway 89A will take you from Bitter Springs to Fredonia on an 85-mile drive along the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. Most of this drive is on BLM land, but you’ll also pass through the Kaibab National Forest once you get to Jacob Lake.
Something unique about this area is that the Peregrine Fund and the BLM released California condors here. These giant, endangered birds roost on top of the Vermillion Cliffs and there is a specified viewing site along Highway 89A.
This drive is absolutely beautiful and was surprisingly devoid of people. Some of the highlights you’ll see along the way are Lee’s Ferry, Marble Canyon, the Historic Navajo Bridge, the Sun Valley Mine Trail, the House Rock Valley Overlook, Condor Viewing Site, and the Le Fevre Overlook.
Lee’s Ferry actually has a beach along the Colorado River, which makes for an incredible lunch spot to dip your toes in the water.
The Le Fevre Overlook on the north end of the Kaibab Plateau was probably my favorite part of the whole drive. At this viewpoint, you can see the different layers of rock that make up the Grand Staircase of northern Arizona and southern Utah. You could literally see Zion and Bryce Canyon, plus all of the colorful layers of rock way out into the distance!
Jacob Lake is the junction where Highway 89A meets the Grand Canyon Highway and will take you to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
There are no restaurants and minimal facilities along this drive, so pack plenty of water, lunch, and snacks! I recommend using the restroom at Marble Canyon as it will be your last chance until you hit Kanab, Utah.
It will take 2.5 hours to drive from Page to Kanab via Highway 89A and then another 1.5 hours to get back to Page via regular Highway 89. Doing the scenic drive and taking time at the viewpoints and/or to hike one of the few trails will take an entire day.
It is actually faster to return to Page via Highway 89 through Kanab, but the scenery is much less exciting. However, if you come through Kanab you will drive right by the Toadstools Trail in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, which I highly recommend. We stumbled upon this short, easy, trail and it was definitely worth the stop!
9. Tour White Pocket
White Pocket is an incredible geological marvel located on BLM land in a remote part of the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. It’s similar to The Wave, but you don’t need a permit to visit!
The map below shows where White Pocket is compared to Page and The Wave.
Getting to White Pocket will be a challenge. It’s one of the most difficult destinations to get to in northern Arizona. You will need an off-road 4×4 with experience driving in deep sand, there is no cell service, and it will take you at least 2 hours to drive to the area, provided you don’t get lost or stuck! I’ve read that tow bills for getting stuck out here can cost four figures, so make sure you know what you’re doing! I highly recommend doing your research on this experience before choosing to visit.
If visiting White Pocket is on your bucket list, but the risks of off-road driving make you nervous, there are White Pocket guided tours available that leave from Page.
A trip out to White Pocket will take all day, so don’t plan any other adventures for the same day!
We highly considered booking a tour but ultimately decided to pass (this time) because of the cost and amount of time needed for the trip. However, if you’re looking for the ultimate off-roading and remote adventure that doesn’t require a permit, a visit to White Pocket is for you!
10. Hike or Boat to Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Rainbow Bridge is one of the world’s largest natural bridges located along the Utah side of Lake Powell. There are no roads that lead to it- you have to visit via boat on Lake Powell or hike 14 miles (one way) to get here.
If you plan to go boating, there are guided tour options or you can rent your own boat and visit on your own time. There are boat docks, walkways, and restrooms located at the trailhead. There is a short 1-mile hike to Rainbow Bridge from the docking area.
If you’re ambitious and planning to hike the 14 miles one-way to Rainbow Bridge, you will need a Navajo Nation backcountry permit. Plan to camp for 2 or 3 nights on this trail to get the most out of the experience. This would be an epic backpacking experience, but make sure you do your research and are prepared for the adventure.
More info including maps, boat rentals, tours, and more can be found on the NPS website here.
11. Go Rafting on the Colorado River
Another one of the more exciting things to do in Page is going rafting on the Colorado River. You can book a half-day or full day tour to Horseshoe Bend or do a multi-day tour into the Grand Canyon.
Most tours depart from Lee’s Ferry, located 45 miles from Page because it is one of the few places where you can easily access the Colorado River. It also marks the very beginning of Grand Canyon National Park where the Paria River meets the Colorado River.
The best time to book a rafting tour will be in the summer when it is hot out. Water is released from the Glen Canyon Dam at 47 degrees F and roughly warms up 1 degree for every 20 miles it travels downstream. Which means it will be cold!
More info on Horseshoe Bend rafting tours can be found here.
12. Rent a Houseboat on Lake Powell
If you search “best things to do on Lake Powell,” renting a houseboat is usually at the top of the list. Combine entertainment and lodging into one and explore all that Lake Powell has to offer!
There are some important pros and cons to consider before booking your houseboat rental.
THE CONS:
- The best time to rent houseboats is in the summer when the water is warm for swimming. However, the lake gets really busy in the summer so navigating a large boat can be a bit tricky, especially if you don’t have experience.
- The average depth of Lake Powell is over 500 feet, so keep that in mind when swimming. You won’t be able to touch the bottom of the lake or anchor your boat anywhere you want.
- Houseboat rentals are expensive and often require a minimum stay.
THE PROS:
- You have the freedom to explore every nook and cranny of Lake Powell on your own time.
- Easy access to the lake for swimming.
- You can dock in a new place on Lake Powell each night.
As with most items in this list, make sure to do some soul-searching before deciding your plans. Renting a boat in the spring or fall will mean the lake is less busy, but it will probably be too cold to swim.
In addition, you can also rent pontoon, powerboat, and jetskis too if a house boat is a bit too intimidating.
Find more information on boat rentals on the Lake Powell website here. Airbnb and VRBO have a nice selection of houseboats for rent as well.
Top 5 Things to Do in Page With Limited Time
Hopefully after reading this post you understand just how many cool things there are to do in Page. In case you’re overwhelmed with options, here is my list of essential things to do in Page if you have limited time:
- Horseshoe Bend
- Boat cruise on Lake Powell
- Tour Upper and/or Lower Antelope Canyon
- Hike the New Wave and/or Toadstools trail
- Glen Canyon Dam
If you have more time, I also highly recommend adding on the Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Drive and hiking the Sun Valley Mine and Toadstools Trails along the way.
You really can’t go wrong with a trip to Page. Whether you’re a seasoned outdoor adventurer or just a casual tourist, there is something here for everyone. I hope this list of the best things to do in Page helped you plan and prioritize your visit!
Comment below and let me know what you’re most excited about for your trip to northern Arizona!
-Megan
More Information on Arizona
There are plenty of incredible places to see in Arizona and southern Utah. Here are some other places to check out if you’re planning an American Southwest road trip:
THE GRAND CANYON: One of the 7 wonders of the world, a trip to the Grand Canyon is a must. This post explains how to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim in the winter.
FLAGSTAFF, AZ: Located in the heart of northern Arizona, Flagstaff is a neat little town that makes a great home base for exploring the nearby attractions. Make sure to check out the brewery trail while you’re in town!
PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK: Petrified Forest is a highly underrated National Park that you can visit in one day with fascinating geology and unreal scenery. It’s a 3.5-hour drive from Page and makes a great road trip stop. Check out my guide to Petrified Forest here.
SEDONA, AZ: Sedona has some of the best hiking trails I’ve ever seen. It makes a great stop on your way to or from the Phoenix airport or a day trip from Flagstaff. Hike to Devil’s Bridge or do the Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Loop trail.
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK: Located in Tucson, walk among the nation’s largest cacti. It is a 6 hour drive from Page.
UTAH MIGHTY 5: The Utah Mighty 5 include Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks. All of them are within a 2-5 hour drive from Page. If you want to visit all 5, I’d recommend earmarking at least 14 days for this trip. If you have less time, spend a few days visiting Capitol Reef, check out Factory Butte, make a day trip to Bryce Canyon, or string some of them together on an epic Utah road trip.
MONUMENT VALLEY: Incredible scenic drive full of sandstone buttes. It’s located 2 hours east of Page and will be on your way to Moab, Utah.
