Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is located in the area around Lake Powell and lower Cataract Canyon, boarding the states of Utah and Arizona. Glen Canyon covers 1,254,429 acres of rugged, high desert terrain and the famous Colorado River. The nearest town is Page, where you will find places to stay, all your big chain restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations for filling with fuel.
Where To Stay
I recommend staying in the town of Page. There is a good selection of hotels to choose from. If you are camping, there are also a few different campsites to choose from too. I recommend booking early, especially if visiting in peak season, as they can get booked up.
Best Time To Visit
I visited Glen Canyon in May and in August. Both times were hot! But May is slightly more bearable than August. May was also less busy than August, which I preferred! July is supposedly the busiest time to visit. So unless you enjoy crowds, I would maybe avoid July. If you are looking for cooler temperatures, I would head over in winter.
Top Things To Do In Glen Canyon
Here’s how to spend your time in Glen Canyon:
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is a photographer’s dream! The Colorado River meanders its way through the canyon, forming the incredible, iconic landmark, the horseshoe. With a 300m drop down to the river, it is not for the faint-hearted!
To see the Horseshoe Bend, there is a car park off Highway 89, just outside of Page. You have to pay a small fee to park in the car park. At the time we visited in May 2022, the car park cost $10 per car. SatNav directions: Horseshoe Bend Overlook Parking Lot, Page, Arizona, 86040.
To get to the Horseshoe Bend viewing point from the car park, there is a short walk to do. The path is an easy-to-follow, paved footpath. The walk is just under a mile long, one way. If you are visiting on a hot day, wear a hat, wear high-factor sun cream, and bring a drink. There is very little shade!
Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is one truly incredible slot canyon! There are two different tours that you can do: lower or upper. We did the lower Antelope Canyon tour.
The difference between upper and lower:
Upper Antelope Canyon: it’s better for photography, capturing the light beams. However, more expensive and busier than lower Antelope Canyon.
Lower Antelope Canyon: it’s quieter and cheaper than upper Antelope Canyon. However, there are ladders to climb up and down.
Whichever canyon you choose to do, you need to book in advance as they do sell out quickly!
We booked lower Antelope Canyon through Ken Tours: https://www.lowerantelope.com/
Here’s what to expect:
- If you are travelling during the pandemic, you may be asked to wear face coverings inside the canyon as it’s located in the Navajo region.
- There is an $8 Navajo fee to pay each, on top of your tour ticket price.
- No videos are allowed, but photos are. They pick certain spots in the canyon where they give you a very short minute to take photos. In some spots, the guide will take your photo for you.
- Our guide also taught us all how to take the best photos in the canyon.
- Be prepared to be rushed through the canyon!
- Bags are not allowed into the canyon.
- You have to be ok at going up and down ladders and don’t mind small spaces, as the canyon is narrow in parts.
- At the end, be expected to tip your guide, as it’s a way of saying thank you.
Is the tour worth it? 100% yes! It’s one of the most impressive natural creations I’ve ever seen!
Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam. It opened in 1966 creating Lake Powell, costing $135million to build. It is 220m high and 480m wide. It is one impressive dam to visit! Based on the Colorado River, north of Arizona, just outside of Page. Lake Powell, the reservoir created from the dam, is one of America’s largest man-made reservoirs.
To visit the Glen Canyon Dam follow the sign to Carl Hyden Visitor Centre off Highway 89. This is where we parked our car. We had a wander around the visitor centre and a stroll across Glen Canyon Dam Bridge. For the best view of the dam, we walked down the steps from the car park and along the sandstone path. It’s only a short, easy walk away. I highly recommend doing it, the views of the dam were breathtaking!
Please note: photos are poor quality as taken back in 2014!
For another great view of Glen Canyon Dame, head over to the Dam Overlook Trail. The trailhead is located in the Glen Canyon Overlook Parking Lot. Sat Nav directions: Overlook Dr, Page, Arizona 86040. The walk is only 0.2 miles in length, along a well-marked path.
Hanging Gardens
If you fancy a short hike, I recommend the lovely walk through the Hanging Gardens. It’s a short 1-mile round-trip that leads you to the luxuriant Hanging Gardens on the mesa, high above the Colorado River and Lake Powell. It’s an easy to moderate walk, but it can feel more tiring in the heat as we experienced! Remember to drink plenty, wear a hat and a high factor sun cream.
To reach the Hanging Gardens, follow Highway 89 East over Glen Canyon Bridge for 1/4 mile. Turn left onto a dusty track. Travel for about 455m and you will see some parking. This is where the trail starts from.
Please note: photos are poor quality as taken back in 2014!
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Further Reading
My book, How I Tamed the Wolf, Living with Lupus is available on Amazon via this link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09M73X2JQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MWAF58981F0VVMNRV1WN
Other travel guides you may like:
Chicago – 48 Hours in Chicago
St Louis – Incredible Gateway Arch National Park, St Louis
Palo Duro Canyon State Park – Palo Duro Canyon: Hiking The Lighthouse Trail
New York – https://livingwiththewolf.co.uk/new-york/
