Page, Arizona

Arizona and Utah collide in Page, creating landscape magic. And the dramatic scenery starts as soon as you hit town, behind an otherwise unassuming Shell station. This gas station is special in two ways. First off, it had great snacks, like Navajo tacos. These delicious creations have everything you love about tacos, served on fry bread instead of a tortilla. Second, it serves as the gateway to a short but excellent hike. We headed out behind the gas station to walk up to a sandstone cave. Right as we arrived, a storm brought the wind up, kicking tumbleweeds around the cave floor like they were on their very own racetrack. We continued past the cave, heading up the cliffs to watch the dramatic skies and take in expansive desert views.

The sandstone provides incredible traction, making us feel like climbing heroes. Even our little corgis and their tiny legs had no problem scaling the cliffs. The twisty, wind-carved rock and glowing red sand provided a great start to our adventures in Page.

We spent hours hiking on sandstone, exploring the textures, patterns, and shapes created by ancient wind and water.

We found arches and rock formations, views over Glen Canyon, and pastel landscapes mellowed by the sun. We drove down dirt roads, thinking we were heading in one direction, only to get lost in the very best way, which led us to beautifully unexpected destinations.

This was our second visit to Page. We stopped here on an Arizona vacation back in 2022 to fulfill my dreams of seeing Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, two truly incredible natural wonders.

This time, we returned to Horseshoe Bend to catch a glorious sunset. It drew a large, reverential crowd. We joined the audience to take in the show as the setting sun painted streaks of color above this dramatic, nearly 360-degree bend in the Colorado River.

Glen Canyon and the Vermillion Cliffs are near Page as well, and both are huge areas to explore. There was more to do than we had time for, so we started looking forward to seeing this area again from the Utah side during our visit to Kanab. Best places in Page, AZ Beehives Trail Daylight Arch Trail Wahweap Overlook Horsehoe Bend Antelope Canyon (to visit, book a tour with a Navajo guide) Great places to eat Grand Canyon Brewing

BirdHouse (fried chicken!) Where we camped Roam America, Horsehoe Bend