Our trip over to Page, AZ was quite nice. Mostly dry, prairie with scrub bushes. Following a line of mountain ranges, either close by or in the distance. As we approached Page, there was this beautiful outcropping of formations, out from the main range. But what was so striking was the color. They were purple, with white layered stripes. We were going too fast to stop and there were no turn outs. So, I just appreciated them.
We set up in our RV campground, another parking lot -- entirely gravel with a tree at each site for some shade. The weather is a comfortable sunny 70's day. We then decided to go exploring. I first tried to get a tour of the Upper Antelope Canyon, as that is the only way you can access the canyon--with a Navajo tour group. However, all of the tours were booked for this weekend. So I found a tour for Sunday, late afternoon, for the Lower Antelope Canyon. These two canyons are the ones where the famous photos are taken, showing red, swirly sandstone in slot canyons. We stopped first at the visitor center, and was given the name of another slot canyon tour --the Waterhole Canyon, and so made a reservation for Saturday.
We drove to the nearby Horseshoe Bend trail and overlook. This was a half mile hike out to the canyon rim. But as you walk the trail, along the prairie, unless you knew there was a steep canyon ahead, you wouldn't know it was there. But once there, what a view! This is an oxbow bend in the Colorado River, similar to the one at Dead Horse Point in Utah. Incredible view. Only after looking down into the canyon bottom for a bit do you realize that those tiny images are kayakers and a few tents at the bottom.
Next, we drove out to Antelope Point Marina. Lake Powell is a very long, narrow lake, created by a big dam here in Page in the 60's. It has lots of several wide areas and many more narrow ones. This marina was on a narrow, almost river-like portion. It also has a floating restaurant. In order to get to the restaurant, you have to walk down a long, 1/4 mile steep metal ramp, down to the water. We had a very nice dinner out on the patio, overlooking the water. In order to get back up to the parking area, we needed to call the complimentary ATV rides. The one that came for us had the passenger seat on the back, looking backwards. Well, when it started to ascend the steep road, we really needed to hold on, or we would have fallen off. Then, on the steepest part of the road, the engine just quit. After backing up and trying several times, with the engine failing each time, and the driver saying "this never happens", he had us get off and was told another ATV would pick us up. So, there we are, standing in the dark, on this steep side road. Of course, another ATV came and picked us up. This time, with us sitting forwards. A unique adventure.
Horseshoe Bend photos:
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