RV Traveler Guide to Page AZ: Adventure & Dog-Friendly Activities

The Road to Lake Powell: A Journey Through Monument Valley

Our journey to Lake Powell began with a drive from Durango, Colorado — about six and a half hours on the road. Along the way, we debated whether to detour to Mesa Verde or Monument Valley. We ended up choosing Monument Valley, famous for its towering sandstone buttes and the stretch of Highway 163 where Forrest Gump famously stopped running. It was a cool experience to see such an iconic landscape in person, though for us, it was a “one and done” kind of stop — memorable, but probably not a detour we’d take again if pressed for time.

Arriving at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area felt like a whole new world opening up. Managed by the National Park Service, this recreation area spans 1.25 million acres across northern Arizona and southern Utah. It’s a paradise for outdoor lovers, offering everything from water sports on Lake Powell to remote hiking, off-roading, and stargazing in some of the darkest skies in the country.

To enter the area, there’s a $30 entrance fee per vehicle, which is valid for a week. If you’re planning to visit multiple national parks or recreation areas in the same year, it’s worth considering the “America the Beautiful” annual pass($80) — it pays for itself quickly.

A bit of background helps frame the experience. Lake Powell was created when the Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1966, flooding a vast canyon system and forming one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the United States. It took 17 years for the lake to fully fill. At full pool, it stretches 186 miles long with nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline — more than the entire U.S. West Coast. Today, the dam provides water storage, hydroelectric power for about 400,000 homes, and recreational opportunities for millions of visitors each year.

For travelers, Glen Canyon offers a ton of variety:

• Water activities: Rent kayaks, paddleboards, houseboats, or powerboats from Wahweap or Antelope Point Marina. A guided boat tour is one of the easiest ways to explore the hidden coves, narrow canyons, and massive rock formations.

• Scenic highlights: Don’t miss Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the largest natural stone arches in the world, accessible by boat or a strenuous hike. Antelope Canyon, with its world-famous light beams, requires a guided tour on Navajo land.

• Hiking: There are plenty of short hikes around Page — including Horseshoe Bend, Beehive Loop (The New Wave), and the Sand Caves behind Big Lake Trading Post. For more solitude, consider slot canyons or trails within the recreation area itself.

• History & culture: The region is rich in Ancestral Puebloan archaeology, with ancient dwellings and petroglyphs scattered across the canyon walls.

• Stargazing: Designated as a Dark Sky area, Glen Canyon offers some of the clearest night skies in the Southwest.

For RV travelers like us, Glen Canyon is a dream. There are developed campgrounds like Wahweap RV Park with full hookups, as well as more remote primitive camping along the lake. If you’re traveling with pets, most of the area is dog-friendly — though keep in mind the heat and lack of shade during warmer months.

Arriving here felt like stepping into an intersection of water, stone, and sky — a place that’s both adventurous and peaceful, with enough activities to fill a week or the option to just relax lakeside and soak in the views.

Setting Up Camp: Wahweap RV Park and Marina

We set up camp at Wahweap RV Park & Campground. Although it's one of the pricier options, the location is unbeatable. The park offers full hookups, showers, laundry facilities, and a camp store. The Wahweap Marina, just a short walk away, is a hub for all kinds of water activities. You can rent powerboats, kayaks, paddleboards, or even houseboats. As we settled in, the sun set behind the cliffs, making for a stunning evening walk with our pups along the shore.

A quick tip: Lake Powell straddles the Utah-Arizona border, so be mindful of time zone changes when booking activities. We found ourselves double-checking the time throughout our trip.

Exploring Page AZ: Dog-Friendly Hikes and Iconic Sights

Our first adventure in Page was the Beehive Loop, also known as the New Wave. This dog-friendly trail offered a fantastic way for our pups to run around while we admired the unique rock formations. Next, we drove to Horseshoe Bend. The $10 parking fee is well worth it for the 1.3-mile round-trip hike to the overlook. The view of the Colorado River wrapping around a sandstone formation is breathtaking. If you're bringing your dog, be cautious of the hot ground and the sheer drop-offs at the overlook.

We also explored Lone Rock Beach, where our dogs could run off-leash and splash in the water. Watching them play in such a beautiful setting was a highlight of our trip.

Water Adventures and Historical Insights at Lake Powell

Lake Powell offers endless opportunities for water adventures. While we didn't get to kayak to Antelope Canyon this time, it's on our list for the next visit. The best time to go is early morning to avoid the afternoon winds. Interestingly, kayaking is the only dog-friendly way to see Antelope Canyon.

We also passed by Glen Canyon Dam, a marvel of engineering that took 17 years to fill Lake Powell. The Carl Hayden Visitor Center nearby is worth a stop if you're interested in the dam's history. Lake Powell itself is a marvel, with nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline and countless hidden coves and beaches to explore.

Hidden Gems: Sand Caves and Antelope Point Marina

Our second RV stop was Antelope Point Marina. While it has fewer amenities, its location is perfect for exploring the Antelope Slot Canyons. We chose a guided tour of Lower Antelope Canyon, which was breathtaking but felt more like a photo op than a nature tour. Next time, we’ll try kayaking into the canyons for a more adventurous experience.

Before leaving, we visited the world's largest floating restaurant at Antelope Point Marina. The marina store and the golf cart shuttle to the docks added to the fun. We also discovered the Sand Caves behind the Big Lake Trading Post. This quick stop offers a unique photo opportunity and a chance to fuel up before hitting the road. Grab some jerky and fuel and check out the arches behind the gas station.