See the top family-friendly sights that make Page, Arizona worth visiting!
Page is a small town in northeastern Arizona that is best known as being the gateway to local attractions such as Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Recreational Area, and the vast shores of Lake Powell. With such a variety of fun family-friendly adventures like hiking, canyon-exploring, boating, camping, and fishing, it is no wonder that this area has become a hot spot for adventurous families during all seasons. Read below for the best things to do in Page, Arizona for families!
How to Get to Page, Arizona
The closest international airport to Page is the Las Vegas McCarren International Airport, about a 5 hour drive. Alternatively, Page Municipal Airport is a small airport bordering Lake Powell with daily flights to Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is the largest airport in Arizona and offers many flight options to Page.
But don’t let the secluded feeling of this small town fool you, this town packs a punch with rugged outdoor activities, beautiful landscapes, and out-of-this-world experiences. See why 4 million visitors come to Page Arizona each year!
What makes Page a great place for a family vacation?
Whether your family enjoys a laid-back vacation on a houseboat touring along a river’s edge, hiking inside a deep slot canyon, fishing for mountain-fresh rainbow trout, or swimming in cool turquoise-blue water, Page, Arizona is the perfect spot. Located near the Grand Canyon but without all of the crowds, Page can make you feel like you are in a completely new and un-touched world. Great for people of all ages, there are so many exciting things to do in this “hidden gem” of Arizona!
The best things to do in Page, Arizona for families
Explore a Slot Canyon
A slot canyon is a crack in the earth formed by millions of years of wind and water erosion. This creates a beautiful tapestry of shapes and lines in the rocks, twisting and curving and jutting out with sharp edges all at the same time. Arizona is home to 32 canyons and gorges, some as big as the Grand Canyon and some so small you have to crawl through parts.
Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is one of the most famous slot canyons in Arizona, located 9 minutes from downtown Page on the Navajo Reservation. Antelope is divided into five sections: Upper Antelope Canyon (or “The Crack”), Rattle Snake Canyon, Owl Canyon, Mountain Sheep Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon (or “The Corkscrew”). The two most popular to visit are Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon.
We chose the Upper Antelope Canyon tour since it is slightly easier than the lower (great for kids!) and it took about 90 minutes to complete. They do offer longer guided tours for photographers, but for our family we felt like our time in the canyon was sufficient enough. There are several spots during the tour to stop and take photos of the landscape and posed family shots.
Note: The Lower Antelope Canyon tours require several areas with steps to get down into the canyon, about five flights of metal stairs total. The stairs have handrails and are not difficult to climb but may be tricky with small children.
Slot Canyon Permits
It is required to have a permit to visit some of the slot canyons in Arizona for several reasons. Most of the slot canyons are located on Navajo land and they require that you have a Navajo guide in order to help protect the land. Also, slot canyons can be very dangerous for tourists due to flash flooding, and having a guide will ensure the safety of your family.
Other Slot Canyons
There are other just-as-amazing slot canyons worth visiting in Page as well, such as Canyon X, which is also part of the Antelope Canyon system but is a little more secluded and therefore has smaller tour groups. Waterholes Canyon has a wider section and then narrows into a true slot canyon, and takes about an hour and a half to complete.
No matter which slot canyon you choose to explore as a family in Page, the natural unscathed beauty of these rugged landscapes are sure to impress!
Hike to Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is one of the most recognized locations in Glen Canyon, named for where the Colorado River makes a 180° turn through the canyon. The family-friendly hike to the Horseshoe Bend overlook starts in a paved parking area located about an 8-minute drive from downtown Page. The trail is an easy 1.5 mile out-and-back hike on hardpacked ground that is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
We took our kids when they were 6 and 12 years old and the hike was easy, the only issue we ran into was all of the people! So plan ahead for crowds if you want that perfect shot, the most popular time to visit is during sunset.
Since the time we visited, new guardrails have been placed around the viewing platform and some of the higher ledges of the Horseshoe Bend overlook. This makes it a little less nerve-wracking for parents visiting with kids, but it is still extremely important to stay on the correct side of the railings and to keep your kids close by at all times.
Note: It is a 1,000 foot drop down to the Colorado River below, and the majority of the overlook remains unfenced. We took in the views by scooting out as far as we felt comfortable, and made sure our 6-year-old stayed well away from the edge. I wouldn’t recommend this hike for kids under 5 years old.
Visit the Glen Canyon Dam
The Glen Canyon Dam is the second highest concrete-arch dam in the United States after the Hoover Dam. The dam is a major source of hydroelectricity (power provided from water), and also fills the man-made Lake Powell. Worth a stop, the visitor center teaches kids all about why using water as a source of renewable energy is important. The dam overlook is impressive with views of Lake Powell and the Colorado River, and best of all it is free to experience!
Fun fact: It took 17 years to fully fill Lake Powell to its full elevation of 3,700 feet above sea level once the dam was completed.
Rent a Boat on Lake Powell
Lake Powell is one of the largest man-made lakes in North America. The lake has 1,960 miles of shoreline, is 400 feet deep, 186 miles long, and has 96 side canyons. The perfect deep blue setting for boating, fishing, kayaking, jet-skiing, and swimming, Lake Powell has so much to offer for a family vacation.
Houseboat rentals are very popular, as a way to explore the shoreline while simultaneously playing in the water. The Lake Powell Resort and Marina rents houseboats from 45-75 feet in length depending on the size of your family. Rentals can be picked up at the Wahweap Marina outside of Page, Arizona or the Bullfrog Marina in Utah. They also offer guided boat tours, and powerboat and jet-ski rentals.
Swim at Lone Rock Beach
Near the Wahweap Marina, Lone Rock Beach is a great place to enjoy Lake Powell and the shoreline without having to rent a boat. The long stretch of sand is perfect for launching a paddleboard or kayak, and the cool water of the lake is super refreshing in the summer.
Lone Rock Beach also offers showers, a public restroom, and primitive camping right along the water’s edge. Since it is located inside the Glen Canyon Recreation Area, the entry fee does apply along with a small nightly camping fee. If you have an America the Beautiful Parks Pass, entry to the recreation area is free!
Take Pictures from the Wahweap Overlook
For a 360° viewpoint overlooking Glen Canyon and Lake Powell, head up to the Wahweap Overlook. Just 3 miles north of Page lies a small sign marked “Scenic View” to the Wahweap area, where visitors will find a tiny parking area, a picnic table, and stunning views.
There is no hiking required to get to the overlook, and it is easily one of the most underrated spots in Glen Canyon. Watching the sunset from up here over the lake, cliffs, and mesas is amazing! We came to watch the sunset on St. Paddy’s Day and were the only ones up here.
Go Paddling or Fishing in the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area
The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area covers 1.2 million acres stretching from the Grand Canyon to Southern Utah, and is filled with opportunities for both land and water activities. Over 3 million people visit this area annually, and Lake Powell fills 13% of the recreational area.
Along with Lone Rock Beach, the Wahweap Marina and Padre Bay are popular places for kayaking and paddleboarding near Page, Arizona. With plenty of quiet coves to explore and sandy launch areas, Glen Canyon is a paddler’s paradise. Just be sure to wear your personal floation device, the lake can get choppy and there are motorized boats touring the lake. Several companies offer rentals and guided kayak tours of Lake Powell.
Fishing in Glen Canyon
Glen Canyon is known as one of the best fishing locations in Arizona. Fishing is allowed from almost anywhere along the extensive shoreline of Lake Powell except for in the marinas. Anglers can catch trout, all kinds of bass, walleye, carp, bluegill and catfish. Half- and full-day fishing trips are also available for booking inside the park, providing all of the rods, bait, and tackle you will need for a successful day of fishing.
Camp at Lake Powell
The Wahweap RV & Campground was one of the highlights of our Utah family road trip. Centrally located by the Wahweap marina just steps from the shores of Lake Powell, this campground was a great location for all of the fun things we experienced in Page, Arizona. Minutes from Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Lone Rock Beach, we couldn’t have chosen a better spot to spend several nights.
The campground has coin-operated laundry and shower facilities, free wifi, fire rings, and they are pet-friendly. It was quiet and clean, which is not always the case in a campground this large!
Note: Primitive camping is allowed on Lone Rock Beach and gets you even closer to Lake Powell in your camper, but be cautious as many campers have gotten stuck in the sand!
Tip: The campgrounds are located inside the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Even if you have a camping reservation, an America the Beautiful Parks Pass or a daily park entrance fee is required.
Go rafting on the Colorado River
The Colorado River is 1,450 miles long, beginning in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and passing through seven states until finally reaching Mexico. Beautiful when seen from above, it is even more magnificent to check out from deep inside the canyons below. From smooth water float tours to full-blown white-water rapids, there are several options for family-friendly fun on the Colorado River.
If you have more time...
Because Page is in such a central location between many great parks, if you have more time during your travels then you could easily add in a visit to one of the parks listed below!
- It takes less than two hours to get to Zion National Park in Utah, so with an extra day in Page and an early start you could spend a day exploring this gorgeous park.
- Page, AZ is a 2 ½ hour drive from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and under 3 hours to the South Rim. The canyon is so close to Page that some actually label Horseshoe Bend as the “East Rim” of the canyon!
- The Vermillion Cliffs National Monument is less than an hour drive from Page. The monument is a remote geologic masterpiece filled with plateaus, cliffs, canyons, bluffs, the endangered California condor, and the Instagram-favorite “The Wave” trail. Note: This trail is not recommended for children as it is a strenuous 6.4 mile hike in the desert, and it requires a permit given by lottery system.
Common questions about visiting Page as a family
When is the best time to visit Page, Arizona?
Arizona has a desert climate, which means summer temperatures are hot, with highs consistently in the upper 90°F range. It is also the busiest season, since kids are all out of school. If the heat doesn’t bother you then this can be a great time to visit and do some of the water activities like swimming, boating, paddling and rafting.
In the spring the weather is more temperate, although early-March not everything is open around Lake Powell. When we visited during Spring Break the hikes were great, but it was still too cold and windy for anything on the water. Early fall seems to be the best for visiting Page, with less crowds and cooler temps.
How many days should I spend in Page?
Ideally, you would have a few days to explore Page and the surrounding areas. With one day in Page, you could see Antelope Canyon in the morning and hike to Horseshoe Bend before sunset, stopping at the Wahweap Overlook during the afternoon. With a second day, plan a kayak or boat trip on Lake Powell and explore Glen Canyon by fishing, swimming, hiking, or biking.
Where should I stay when visiting Page, Arizona?
Campgrounds:
- Wahweap RV & Campground (full hook-ups)
- Lone Rock Beach Campground (primitive camping, no reservations)
- Under Canvas Lake Powell (20 minutes east of Page in Utah, “glamping” at it’s finest!)
Can kids go to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend?
As we’ve mentioned above, both of these places are great for kids! For Upper Antelope Canyon, a few things to note: The canyon is about 300 feet long so your child must be able to walk this distance or be carried, strollers and backpack carriers are not allowed due to the narrow walls. Also, the tour company picks your family up at the parking area and there is a bus ride to the canyon where car seats are required for young children. And at Horseshoe Bend, watch the younger kids around the overlook ledges!
Note: There are no bathrooms at the canyon or Horseshoe Bend, so plan ahead!
We stayed in Page, Arizona on the first few nights of our epic Utah National Parks road trip, which ended up being the perfect starting point for our family trip. We packed everything we could into just a few days in Page and it was time well spent. This little town ended up being quite the amazing adventure!
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Safe travels!
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Fab post! I would love to visit the Grand Canyon, the slot canyons and attempt to hike around that gorgeous scenery! It is really strange to see the landscape around Lake Powell. I guess I have never really seen such a decertified landscape with such a large lake! I guess it is easy to see that it is man-made!
Wowwww!! Slot Canyon almost looks like the Wave in Nevada. How incredible. Thank you for sharing all these great places in Arizona. I’ll definitely check them out.
The landscapes of Arizona are just incredible and so unique! I’m hoping to save this guide for our US road trip next fall and cannot wait to see the canyons and lake in person.
Can’t believe how much there is to do in Arizona! I’ll have to come back soon to discover more of this beautiful place 😍
Thanks for this very informative post about the area in Page/ Arizona. I did not know that this kind of polished canyons is called slot canyon. Lake Powell looks like a good place to be based for a few days. Apart from the houseboats, is it possible to rent canoes or kayaks as well?
I always wanted to visit Arizona for the canyons. I even intended to visit a gorge in Gran Canaria because it looked a little bit like those in Arizona, but on the way there, I broke my leg. But that’s a whole different story. Anyway, from your post, I think that I wouldn’t enjoy just the canyons but certainly also the lakes – just beautiful!
Page, AZ looks like a great place to visit for families! Or anyone!
Great tips for families on how to spend time in Page area. I love this place, the scenery and lots of activities. My favorite place is Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon.