Lake Powell & Lower Antelope Canyon - Page, AZ

This is the last post of our 3 part series of our Memorial day weekend trip. Read about our experiences in Zion National Park here and an account of the first half of our stay in page, Arizona here.

The last couple of days in Page were spent speedboating on the magnificent Lake Powell and exploring Lower Antelope Canyon.

Day 4:  Lake Powell  is not a regular lake with a vast expanse of water. It meanders through stunning red rock canyons that create a very unique and dramatic experience. We first saw the lake from the lookout point of our hotel. It is difficult to gauge the actual size of the lake without getting in it. We rented our speed boat for the entire day from Wahweap Marina. When you are on the lake you get a sense of the size of the canyons and the lake. The boat was very comfortable for the 4 of us, and was super fun to drive really fast. Our original plan was to go upto the Rainbow bridge. However,  the rental company told us that it could take upto 8 hours as it is easy to get lost between the many twists and turns of the canyons. In the 90 degree weather, it was just perfect to hit other boats' wake and let the water splash on us. You navigate using a map and the mile markers on the lake. We spent most of our time in the Navajo Canyon region of the lake. The lake narrows in that area and the blue water turns into a gorgeous emerald green. The red canyons and green lake create a magical contrast. There were huge rock formations in the middle of the lake as well, and some side canyons were quite narrow. Carry lots of water, sunscreen and food as it gets very hot and dry.

The lake is extremely clean, thanks to the Trash Tracker program that comes together every year to cleanup the lake. We met a lady who helps run this program where people volunteer to spend 5-7 days on a houseboat that has been donated by Lake Powell resort and Marina.

http://beautifulplacestovisit.com

http://beautifulplacestovisit.com/ - Alain hulot

http://beautifulplacestovisit.com

hqwallbase.com

Day 5: This was the last day of the trip, and turned out to be the most unforgettable part. We went to the Lower Antelope Canyon, and the formations are just unbelievable. We took the 9:30 am tour and were able to see a variety of colours because of the sunlight. There are many tour operators for Upper Antelope Canyon. However, Ken's guided tours is the only one company that operates in the Lower Antelope Canyon. Advanced booking is not required and tours run every half hour. Tickets can be purchased at the Canyon entrance that you can drive to. 

We loved both the Canyons, but if you have time for only one, we strongly suggest going to Lower Antelope Canyon. The entrance is just a small opening in the ground that you jump into to see this incredible hidden beauty. This canyon is narrower and has many more twists as well as levels. The myriad of colors and formations at every turn is mesmerizing. There are a few flight of stairs at certain places and also some narrow crevices to squeeze through but overall the walk is easy. 

This canyon has more light than the Upper canyon, making photography easier without a tripod. Our tour guide Ray was absolutely awesome. He knew a lot about DSLRs and helped us with the settings. He was fun and athletic, sliding down the handrails and jumping down the different levels. He was willing to take our photos, and we were very happy to oblige.

The picture below is my favorite. Love the medley of colors.

Hope you had fun reading our posts about our experiences in Utah and Arizona. We will be back with more posts soon!

- Dee

Upper Antelope canyon and Horseshoe Bend - Page, AZ

Our next stop after Zion National Park was Page, Arizona. It was about a 2 hour drive from Zion National Park. The City of Page is located in northeastern Arizona. It is one of the youngest communities in the United States, established in 1957 during the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado river. The dam creates Lake Powell, the second largest lake in the US ( the first being Lake Mead created by Hoover Dam also on the Colorado river). Page is the perfect base for exploring all the attractions the Glen Canyon recreation area has to offer. Lake Powell laps 1900 miles of shoreline. The sculptured red sandstone canyons on either side of the lake are breathtakingly beautiful and can best be enjoyed speed boating on the lake. Glen Canyon dam creates a flat stretch of emerald water, perfect for kayaking or jet skiing. 

Our first stop in Page was Horseshoe bend. It is about a 10 minute drive from Page. We parked, and hiked for about a mile downhill on sandy and rocky surfaces. Throughout the hike  all you can see is the vast expanse of the flat desert. It unexpectedly ends in a crater with dramatic views. From the rim of the canyon, you can see the jaw-droppingly beautiful Horseshoe bend. The colors of the rocks change throughout the day and the shadows move in and out of the canyons.  The cliffs are very steep with no guard rails, and it is a bit scary at the edge. Keep away from the hanging ledges as the sandstone might be fragile. Below is the Colorado river meandering around a huge sandstone escarpment. As the river flows, it sparkles and shines in different shades of green and blue. As the Colorado river cut through layers of red rock, the 270 degree horseshoe bend was formed. 

In a few million years, this might be the site of a brand new natural bridge formed the same way as nearby Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Before the rainbow bridge was formed, the Colorado river  circled around a narrow fin of sandstone and with time cut through it and formed a bridge.

http://www.majiclamp.com/photosfromfantasticaz.html

On the way back to Page, there are signs for a Scenic Drive that leads to great views of the river and the dam.

We drove to Wahweap overlook that is located along Lakeshore Drive. The scenic view drive goes up the hill and offers 360 degree panorama of Wahweap bay, Glen Canyon dam, Navajo Canyon and surrounding areas. Carl Hayden visitor center at the Glen Canyon dam offers guided tours of the dam and powerhouse.

We booked a guided trip to the upper antelope canyon in the afternoon with Antelope Canyon Tours. It was a 1 hour sightseeing tour. If you are interested in photography, we would recommend the longer photography tour. The canyons are dark at places, and a tripod is very useful and it is not allowed in the regular tour. You need to assemble at their office in Page, and they take you in a truck in groups of 12. The land is owned by Native American Navajos. Only guided tours of the Canyon are allowed. There are other tour operators that are located closer to the main entrance and you can go till there, and then they drive you.

The Antelope Canyons are formed over millions of years mainly by flash floods sculpting the soft sandstone. This is one of the most beautiful natural formations we have seen and no  wonder it is a photographer's delight. The sunlight falling on these incredible formations makes it glow in different colors according to the time of day. Tour operators offer a 11:30 am tour that is most popular because of the sunlight beams creating magic on the canyon walls. This is also the most crowded time. We lucked out as there was a huge group ahead of us that wanted to be together. We had a very small group and our guide helped us with the camera settings, photo tips, and told us about the history and formation. 

Only guided tours are allowed due to the danger of flash flooding. Rain does not have to fall on or near the Antelope Canyon slots for flash floods to occur. Rain falling miles upstream  can funnel into them without prior notice. This is good to remember while planning a trip so that you can avoid the monsoon season. We were there in May, and highly recommend that time as it is dry with very low flash flood risk. Also, it is very comfortable weather wise as it is about 10 degree cooler inside the canyon.

Photography tips: Best pics can be clicked standing in dark areas, and avoiding the sky and any sunlight that will wash out your pictures. Take vertical pictures to capture the depth of the canyon in front and horizontal pics of the roof of the canyon. Tip the guides generously as the land is Navajo owned and operated. 

Let your imagination run wild while clicking pictures. We fell in love with the bear we found there:)

The guide threw some sand to create some beautiful waterfalls:

What to Eat?: We had dinner at this great Mexican restaurant called Fiesta Mexicana that night. They had some really authentic dishes, and the service was great too.

Where to Stay?: We stayed at the Lake Powell Resort and Marina. It is located right on the Wahweap Marina with great views of Lake Powell. The marina where boats can be rented is a short walk. Enjoy a drink on the patio, take a dip in the rooftop pool or relax in the Jacuzzi overlooking the lake and Navajo canyon. 

You could also rent a houseboat, more information about which can be found  here.

Overall, it was a beautiful day and Horseshoe bend and Upper Antelope Canyon are indeed some of Nature's wonders. Lower Antelope Canyon was even more amazing and just unbelievable. We saved the best for the last and will share the beautiful pictures with you in our next post.

- Dee