Best Things to Do in Page, Arizona in One Day

In this article, we’ll help you plan the perfect one day itinerary, covering all the best things to do in Page, Arizona. Page is a sleepy town on the Arizona-Utah border from which you can access a number of popular destinations, including Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell. Beyond serving as a base for these epic destinations, there isn’t much in Page itself, but Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell are all must-see attractions on any trip through northern Arizona or Southern Utah.

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Best things to do in Page, Arizona: One Day Itinerary

One day is enough time to complete all the best things to do in Page, Arizona. In this post, we’ll lay out exactly how to spend your day to get the most out of your time here:

• Morning | Antelope Canyon Tour
• Early afternoon | Horseshoe Bend
• Late afternoon | Lake Powell, Hanging Garden trail hike
• Evening | Dinner at Big John’s Texas BBQ

Map of the best things to do in Page, Arizona

The map below displays the location of each of the best things to do in Page, Arizona:

1. Antelope Canyon: tour departure point
2. Horseshoe Bend
3. Hanging Garden Trail
4. Lake Powell: entrance to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
5. Big Johns Texas BBQ

Morning | Antelope Canyon

Start your morning with a tour of Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon. P.S. if you are in need of good coffee to get your morning started, we stumbled upon this awesome coffee shop LP Espresso in the center of town.

Time frame | 90 minutes for one canyon, 3 hours for both

Should I visit the Upper or Lower canyon, or both?

There are two popular slot canyons near Page: Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. The two canyons are similar, with the key difference being that Upper Antelope Canyon sits at ground level, while Lower Antelope Canyon is below ground and requires you to descend into it.

Both canyons are worth seeing, but if you are on a budget (tickets aren’t cheap!) seeing one or the other will suffice, as they provide a similar experience.

We had plans to visit both canyons, but ended up only seeing Upper Antelope Canyon because overnight rain had flooded the lower canyon, causing our tour to be canceled. Although we were disappointed, we still felt satisfied seeing just the upper canyon.

When is the best time of day to visit Antelope Canyon?

People typically aim for the noon tours in order to catch a glimpse of the light rays. Don’t be dissuaded if the noon tour is booked or doesn’t work with your schedule – the canyons are still incredible at any time of day.

About the Antelope Canyon Tour

Tickets | $90 per person (book your tickets here)

In order to visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, you will have to take a tour – you cannot visit the canyons on your own.

There are several options for tour companies in Page. We went with a Navajo owned and operated company Antelope Canyon Tours, and had a good experience. Tickets cost $90 and include transportation to and from the canyon.

The entire tour lasts an hour and a half, with about 30 minutes inside the canyon. You meet at the Antelope Canyon Tours office in Page before being transported via a van to the canyons. We were in a tour group with about 10 other people.

There will likely be several other tour groups visiting the canyon at the same time, so you may have to wait a few minutes to enter. The tour companies typically do a good job spacing groups out, so you can enjoy the canyon and take photos without too much of a crowd (or stragglers in your photos!).

A few tips before you go

• Please note that these tours often book up well in advance, particularly during peak season, so book your tour early!
• Antelope Canyon Tours operates on Arizona Time (even though the canyons are on Navajo land). Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings time, while Utah and Navajo Nation do, meaning there may be a time difference. Keep this in mind when planning your travel to Page! We were coming from the Grand Canyon the morning of our tour, and were quite confused when the clock on our phones kept changing!
• Bags of any kind are not allowed in the canyons or on your tour bus. Be prepared to leave everything except your phone and camera in the car.

Early Afternoon | Horseshoe Bend

Time frame: 1 hour
Cost: $10 per car

As the name implies and is evident in the pictures, Horseshoe Bend is a….wait for it…horseshoe shaped canyon carved by the Colorado River, located just a quick 10 minute drive from Page. If you know of a more aptly-named place, let me know. All jokes aside, it is an epic vista that is easily accessible and a popular spot for pictures and picnics.

Expect a large crowd along the rim. However, there is plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the view. It actually was entertaining to see how close to the edge people were willing to get. Some folks are far more adventurous than us in that regard!

Parking for Horseshoe Bend

You will have to pay a $10 fee per vehicle to park at the Horseshoe Bend trail. There are no other parking options. From the parking lot to the view point is an easy 3/4 mile walk, for a leisurely 1.5 mile roundtrip hike. We recommend packing a lunch and enjoying it with a view overlooking the bend.

Late afternoon | Lake Powell

Time frame | 1 – 2 hours
Cost | $35 per car

Lake Powell is one of the largest man-made lakes in the North America, with a total shoreline of 1960 miles. It took 17 years to fill the lake!

We stumbled upon Lake Powell after our morning tour of Lower Antelope Canyon was canceled, and we were pleasantly surprised! We were shocked by the beauty of the red and purple mountains reflecting onto the crystal-clear lake. It was definitely worth a visit.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

We saw Lake Powell from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a huge protected area of land covering 1.25 million acres across Arizona and Utah. We saw just a tiny part of it, right across the river from Page. When you first drive in, pull off to the side for an incredible viewpoint.

On the other side of the park, there is a nice beach with views of the lake and the stunning rock formations behind. Spend your afternoon walking along the shore, relaxing on the beach and cooling off in the lake.

Glen Canyon entrance fees

The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area requires an entrance fee of $30 per car. You may also purchase an annual National Park Pass for $80, which gives you access to any national park for one year. The annual pass makes financial sense if you are planning to visit at least two other parks, such as the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, or Zion National Park.

If you aren’t sure, be sure to hang on to your receipt – you can upgrade your Glen Canyon entrance fee for an annual pass later on if you change your mind.

What else can I do in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area?

• Kayaking | there are several companies that offer kayak rentals or tours of the surrounding waterways.
• Visit Rainbow Bridge | To get to Rainbow Bridge, there are two options – hike 14 miles (one way) or take a boat. The boat departs from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
• Camp | There are multiple campsites, with fees that vary by site. Find more information here.

Late Afternoon | Hanging Garden Trail

Hike Stats

Hiking distance | 1.2 miles
Elevation gain | 62 feet
Total time | 20 minutes – 1 hour
Epic-ness rating | 4
Difficulty | easy

• Find this hike on AllTrails: Hanging Garden Trail

This short hike was another late addition to our itinerary when we found out our Lower Antelope Canyon tour was canceled. If you are looking for something quick to fill a little time, take this easy 1 mile roundtrip hike to a lush green garden clinging to the side of a red cliff.

The trail also features views of Lake Powell in the distance. To the left hand side of the trail (the Lake Powell side), you can climb up a rock formation for an even better view of the lake below. The “garden” itself is not huge, so don’t expect too much, but the views of Lake Powell are really cool!

The trailhead is located here, just a few minutes from Page and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, making it a convenient place to stop.

Evening | Dinner at Big John’s BBQ

If you have time, drive down near Lake Powell to watch the sunset. Watching the sky light up with bright pinks over the orange stone is truly spectacular.

There aren’t a ton of food options in Page. For dinner we highly recommend Big John’s Texas BBQ. The barbecue is delicious and they’ve got a nice covered patio under a vintage gas station.

Other useful resources

Planning a trip to Arizona? Be sure to check out the following articles to help you plan your trip:

• Arizona road trip | Adventurous One Week Road Trip in Arizona & Southern Utah
• Grand Canyon: How to Hike to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon
• Arizona: 4 Can’t Miss Easy Hikes in Sedona
• Arizona: How to Hike to Soldier’s Pass Cave in Sedona, Arizona
• Bryce Canyon: How to Hike the Figure Eight Loop in Bryce Canyon
• Zion: Zion West Rim Trail: Backpacking Guide

For all things Arizona: Arizona Travel Guide

Although its a small town, there are so many great things to do in Page, Arizona and the surrounding area. Especially if you are planning a road trip though Arizona or visiting the Grand Canyon, Page is definitely worth a stop.