Last Updated on: 27th May 2023, 02:58 am
While Page, Arizona’s top attraction is undoubtedly Antelope Canyon, there are still plenty of outdoor activities to experience within easy reach of the town center. The following list of the top things to do in Page – almost all of them hikes – will help you escape the crowds while getting to enjoy some of the area’s most stunning views.
While long inhabited by the Navajo, the town of Page as we know it today was only established in 1957 upon the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam.
Presently, Page may only have fewer than 8,000 inhabitants, but it’s a huge hit with tourists – especially from Europe. In fact, you’re just as likely to hear French or German as you will English or Navajo. But as mentioned, it’s still relatively easy to leave the crowds behind.
For more information on reaching Page and the best places to stay, be sure to check the end of this guide.
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is easily Page’s most well-known site after Antelope Canyon, and it’s arguably one of the most iconic scenes of the American Southwest.
It’s also easy to reach, being just a 10-minute drive south of central Page. As part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, entry to Horseshoe Bend costs $10 per vehicle, while getting to the overlook requires an easy hike that’s about three-fourths of a mile each way.
The hike is mostly flat. But as there’s no shade, nor any amenities anywhere at Horseshoe Bend, be sure to wear a hat and ample water.
But when’s the best time to visit? Before my trip, I checked various sites to find the answer, but nearly every blogger or YouTuber seems to repeat the same old clichés: sunrise or sunset.
Just after sunrise, the sun will be too low to illuminate the bend at all, while the sun sets directly behind it during sunset.
I ended up arriving at 8:00 in the morning, well after sunrise. But it was still too early, as the sun wasn’t yet high enough to light up the whole canyon.
If you want to see Horseshoe Bend fully illuminated, try arriving around 10:00 am.
Upon my arrival, I was surprised to encounter a concrete platform and railings that I didn’t remember seeing during my first visit over a decade prior. Apparently, they were placed in response to some people falling off the cliff in recent years.
Seeing how steep and sudden the drop is, it’s not entirely surprising. The drop, in fact, is around 1,000 ft, or 300 m. And thankfully, the railings don’t obscure the view at all.
Nevertheless, adventurous visitors are still free to climb onto and along the rocky areas on either side of the official platform. That’s what I did, and I spend a large portion of my visit walking along the rocks to the north.
From here, I could also appreciate Horseshoe Bend from new angles. But just what is Horseshoe Bend, and how was it formed?
Millions of years ago, this area was quite flat, and what we now call the Colorado River meandered across the plain. But beginning several million years ago, the land gradually started to uplift, and the river became unable to change its course. And over time, it gradually eroded the canyon to form the horseshoe shape we see today.
Further east, the Colorado River also formed similar entrenched meanders at places like Goosenecks State Park, Utah.
I waited around for a while, hoping the sun would soon rise high enough to illuminate the whole canyon. But as I had a busy day ahead of me, I ended up leaving around 9:20 while the bottom portion was still partially obscured.
As mentioned, arrive at 9:30 or 10:00 for the best lighting (though this may change from season to season). It’s also a good alternative to sunset when Horseshoe Bend tends to get insanely crowded.
The Hanging Garden Trail
The Hanging Garden Trail is one of those trails that feels a bit like cheating. Not only is the trailhead easy to reach by vehicle (about five minutes from central Page), but the hike itself is almost entirely flat and quite short overall.
Nevertheless, you’ll be treated to beautiful views for little effort, making it easily one of the top things to do in Page.
The trail is just 1 mile, or 1.6 km roundtrip. It’s well-marked and very straightforward – at least until the end.
Simply follow the stones and head straight. As you make your way along, you’ll be greeted with amazing views of Page’s orange-hued surroundings.
Frankly speaking, Page itself is nothing remarkable on an architectural level. But just about everywhere you go in the region, you’ll encounter beautiful scenery like this.
Eventually, you’ll see some foliage along the rockface, but this isn’t yet the Hanging Garden. The trail will make a sharp U-turn, after which you’ll finally encounter the garden.
The Hanging Garden is a natural garden formed in an alcove thanks to nearby local springs. It’s not unlike the alcoves found at Mesa Verde National Park, though there are no constructions here.
The Ancestral Puebloans did, however, inhabit these lands, followed by the Navajo, who are still here today.
After enjoying the garden for a while (and the shade the alcove provides), you’ll get to enjoy the views again as you head back the way you came.
The Chains
Just a mile downhill from the Hanging Garden Trail parking lot is an area called The Chains. At first, I wasn’t quite sure what it was about, as I only saw a few other people near the parking lot looking down at Lake Powell.
Next to the parking area, however, is an expansive rocky area. I don’t recall seeing any signage, while there’s no official trail, either. Think of this as more of a self-guided hike in which you explore freely, searching for interesting vantage points on your own.
You’ll find some really interesting wavy rocks here, while the sandstone formations provide ample friction and are pretty easy to climb. All in all, I spent about an hour here and didn’t encounter a single other person in The Chains area itself.
Looking at a map, you’ll see that The Chains form a small peninsula. So another highlight, of course, are the various vantage points of Lake Powell.
The lake, which is actually an artificial reservoir formed by the Glen Canyon Dam, has been drying up rapidly as of late. You’ll notice a dramatic difference if you look at photos from just a decade ago.
This is a result of decades of drought, leaving the reservoir and the dam’s long-term futures uncertain.
The New Wave
When researching the top scenic hikes to do in Arizona, you may have heard about The Wave. That otherworldly sandstone formation, named after its distinct wavy stripes, has become so popular, in fact, that there’s now a strict lottery system in place.
While we won’t go into the details here, the odds of winning are said to be as low as 4%. But if you tried and were unsuccessful (as I was), you may be wondering if there’s anything similar nearby.
The New Wave in Page was obviously named as such to attract those who couldn’t make it to the real thing. And some of its rocks do indeed have similar wavy stripes. But they’re much more faint.
Simply comparing photos of the real Wave to the New Wave, I don’t think they’re in the same league. But if you can ignore the name and set your expectations aside, this is an enjoyable free hike that’s just a ten-minute drive from central Page.
While the New Wave is marked on Google Maps, I didn’t see any sign for it – only a sign for a nearby trail called the Beehive Trail. But after consulting Google Maps and AllTrails, I was pretty sure I was in the right place.
The New Wave is just a 0.8-mile loop trail. And while there is a trail marked by stones on either side, I saw some interesting formations in the center and decided to climb up them.
While I was able to make it to the top, I soon realized that there was no easy way down. While I did make it back to the bottom in one piece by being extremely careful, I’d recommend people just stick to the trail and don’t copy what I did.
Back on the ground, I began following the proper trail, enjoying the views of the main central butte as well as the distant desert. But I still wasn’t quite sure why this place was named after The Wave.
Making my way to the edge of the loop, I finally encountered the ‘wavy’ portion of The New Wave. Coming here at golden hour also made the scenery especially dramatic.
Further up on the main butte, meanwhile, I spotted yet more wavy formations. Again, this can’t compare with the real Wave (I assume), but it could still be considered one of the top things to do in Page.
From personal experience, the place I’ve been that most closely resembles The Wave is the Fire Wave in The Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.
Finally completing the loop, I managed to get back to where I’d parked. While sunset at The New Wave would surely be pretty, I decided to spend it at a different spot nearby.
The Wahweap Viewpoint
The Wahweap Viewpoint, along with the Navajo Mountain Viewpoint before it, is one of the best places to catch the sunset in Page – especially if you want to avoid the crazy sunset crowds of Horseshoe Bend.
While simply wanting to check out the viewpoint before heading back to my hotel, I was surprised to encounter a payment kiosk on the way there. They were asking for an exorbitant $30, which I presume would provide access to the Wahweap Marina as well.
But as the kiosk was a self-service machine and totally unmanned, I decided to ignore it.
I stood for a while and enjoyed the views of the Wahweap Marine in one direction, and The Chains in the other, as the sun began its descent in the sky.
While I only had time to admire Lake Powell from above, there are plenty of water-based activities to enjoy on the reservoir. Boat tours are often touted as one of the top things to do in Page. But when I looked at the official Wahweap Marina website, nothing could be booked.
Looking at it now, however, it seems like weekend dinner cruises are available once again.
Other activities on the lake, meanwhile, include kayaking excursions, such as to Antelope Island and other nearby landmarks.
Even More
While the above list covers both some of the more well-known (aside from Antelope Canyon, of course) and more obscure attractions in Page, there’s still plenty more to do in the area.
One quick stop worth checking out on your way to or from Horseshoe Bend, for example, is the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook. And there are surely plenty of more hikes in the area that I haven’t discovered yet.
While the above list of top things to do in Page focuses on attractions within a fifteen-minute drive or so from town, there’s a near endless list of things to do in the wider area.
Those on their way to or from Kanab, Utah and the Bryce Canyon area should be sure to stop at the Toadstool Hoodoos (more on that in a separate guide).
The Buckskin Gulch slot canyon is another popular hike that I was planning to do – that is until I learned that the water can get waist-deep (or higher) at points, and I didn’t want to risk ruining my camera.
Additional Info
I stayed at the Lake Powell Canyon Inn, a basic motel in a convenient location. Everything regarding my stay was fine, and the price was among the most affordable in Page.
The only issue is that they only seem to have one person working at the desk, and nobody answered the phone when I tried calling. They will, however, respond via the Booking messaging system. You’ll have to let them know if you’re arriving after 8:00 PM so they can leave your key in an envelope on the office door.
Other highly-rated options include Travelodge by Wyndham Page, Super 8 by Wyndham, and Baymont (also by Wyndham!).
Those looking to splurge a bit more may want to consider the Courtyard Page at Lake Powell.
While Page does have a small local airport with flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix, most people are going to come by car.
If you’re coming from the east, Page is a couple of hours from the Monument Valley area. The nearest town to the west, meanwhile, in Kanab, Utah, which is just about 70 minutes away (but there are plenty of great stops on the way).
The nearest proper city would be Flagstaff, Arizona, which is just about two hours away.