Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Page, Arizona
There is so much to do in the Lake Powell, Page, AZ, and Lees Ferry area, and much of this is within the National Park Service’s Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This historic area was once just the Colorado River working its way through southern Utah into Marble Canyon and the Grand Canyon of present day Arizona. When the first western explorers such as John Wesley Powell started their journey down the Grand Canyon from this area, they made note of the glens feeding off of the river, later leading to the name, Glen Canyon.
Before we get into visiting Glen Canyon National Recreation Area we want to remind you to practice the LEAVE NO TRACE principles. Please remember to stay on trail, pack out all trash, and explore prepared. Do not carve into rocks or canyon walls. It is illegal!
We’ve done multiple weekend trips from Phoenix to here. Over time we’ve curated a list of outdoor activities, stays and more to help build your ideal itinerary. Please know that Glen Canyon National Recreation Area does require an entrance fee.
Table of Contents
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is one of the most iconic destinations within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Spanning the Arizona-Utah border, this massive reservoir offers stunning views, hidden coves, and access to incredible slot canyons and desert landscapes. Whether you’re boating, kayaking, or relaxing on shore, Lake Powell is a great way to experience the beauty of Glen Canyon.
Antelope Canyon Boat tour
Antelope Canyon boat tour is only an hour long, but it takes you through one of the most famous slot canyons from a unique perspective by boat on Lake Powell, within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It’s a great way to see scenic views of Lake Powell, especially if you’re short on time. Our tour was through Antelope Point Marina. This tour is on Navajo land, and there is a fee to enter. The America the Beautiful Pass is accepted. To reach the marina, you’ll either walk down a very steep ramp or take a golf cart. Give yourself extra time—there can be a short wait for a golf cart both down and back up.
Rent a boat at Wahweap Marina
We booked a full day rental and enjoyed exploring Lake Powell by power boat; multiple size boats are available. It was a great day on the water and we went down different canyons you can only get to with a watercraft. On our day on the lake we brought food and drinks to enjoy in the calmer waters during lunch, jumped in the water, and marveled at the spectacular views and canyon walls of the nation’s second largest reservoir.
Tip: boat rental needs to returned by 4:00pm so get to your boat rental when they open! Make sure you go to the correct marina. The marina North of the hotel is the one that offers rentals.
Stay Lakeside at Lake Powell Resort
We stayed lakeside on Lake Powell at the Lake Powell. The resort was conveniently located near the marinas and had spectacular views. Through the hotel staff you should be able to book excursions and rentals that Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas offer. This resort is located inside of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Eat at Rainbow Room
The dining room at Lake Powell Resort is stunning, with panoramic views of the lake and surrounding red rock cliffs inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. They’re open for breakfast and dinner, and we highly recommend making a reservation if you want a window seat at sunset. The food and drinks were delicious. Perfect after a day of exploring the area!
Lees Ferry
Lees Ferry is located within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and is named for its historical ferry crossing point operated by John D. Lee for some “interesting” reasons to say the least. It is the gateway to Marble Canyon and officially recognized by the NPS as the eastern gate to the Grand Canyon; in fact, Grand Canyon NP Law Enforcement rangers patrol the area because of its relation to the Grand Canyon. At Lees Ferry you can camp, hike, fish and get on the water with the correct permits.
Lees Ferry Campground
First come first serve campsites and a camping fee is required. A ranger did come by daily to confirm. We loved the sound of the river rapids at night and the starry sky.
$20 per site/per night. 54 designated sites. No hookups. RV dump station. Grills provided, no open fires. Quiet time 10pm-6am. Modern bathroom/comfort station, potable water available, launch ramp 2 miles. Gas and supply store at Marble Canyon, about 5 miles away.
Kayak Horseshoe Bend
We took a backhaul boat through Kayak Horseshoe Bend where they dropped us off at Petroglyph Beach along with rental kayaks. We had the first time slot of the day and left the backhaul boat at 6:15 am. From there we kayaked 9 miles to Lees Ferry. Along the way there are beaches. Some are day-use areas, and others are for camping. There are composting toilets at some of the beaches. Please remember only to put human waste into the toilets or they won’t work properly! Please remember to Leave No Trace when exploring.
You can always get dropped off at the dam and kayak 15 miles to Lees Ferry. We opted for the shorter one because we didn’t want to kayak for that long. We highly recommend starting early in the summer! When we started it felt nice, but by 10:00 am it was hot. We finished around noon and it was in the 90’s.
Everything we brought:
- Yeti soft shell cooler with water inside
- Yeti water proof backpack with snacks, jetboil, mountain house meal, small trash bag
- Sun shirt + sunscreen
- Dry bags
Raft Horseshoe Bend
We did a half-day guided rafting tour with Wilderness River Adventures from Glen Canyon Dam to Lee’s Ferry along the Colorado River. The raft is motorized with bench seating, meaning we were able to just enjoy the scenery, take pictures, and listen to our guide. We took the morning trip around the middle of September and it was absolutely gorgeous! Our tour included an amazing morning glow of the canyon walls, calm waters, and the right amount of sun.
This is the only tour that allows you to take off from the dam. You take a bus from Wilderness River Adventures headquarters and drive through a tunnel that takes you to the base of Glen Canyon Bridge. From there you have to wear a hard helmet and walk towards your raft. No pictures are allowed until you are on the raft!
2024 UPDATE: We learned that the tour no longer starts from the dam as of October 2023. The rafts now launch from Lees Ferry.
Spencer Trail
Spencer trail within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is very close to Lees Ferry Campground. Although relatively close, we drove to the parking lot so we didn’t add any extra miles on to our hike. This hike is rated as difficult and there are steep drop offs on the side of the trail. Additionally, some of the trail is fairly sandy, which makes traction difficult.
This trail is 3.8 miles out and back with over 1,600 ft in elevation gain. From the top you have an incredible view of the Colorado River.
Cathedral Wash Trail
Cathedral Wash is right off the road that brings you into Lees Ferry. This trail follows a wide slot canyon to the Colorado River. Although the trail does not have major elevation change, it is challenging to find the best route. We recommend going slow, checking to see if there are better options, and watching your footing with good footwear. The rule of thumb we followed on our hike: can we come back up this way? The full trail is is 3.3 miles out and back and the trail ends at the Colorado River. We saw some rafters going by!
Important: be sure to check the weather forecast before hiking. Flash floods are common in this area
Other Things to Consider in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Horseshoe Bend Viewpoint
If you have time, visit the famous Horseshoe Bend! It is a fairy quick stop and there is a fee to enter. Horseshoe Bend itself is in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, but the parking lot is on City of Page land so there is a fee; a Glen Canyon NRA pass or America The Beautiful Pass doesn’t work. Car or RV: $10. For more information visit the City of Page’s website.
For more information on Glen Canyon National Recreation Area we recommend to visit the NPS site. Check out our in-depth blog post on Lees Ferry Hikes and on the Arizona Camper Van Rental.
Helicopter Ride Over Horseshoe Bend
This helicopter tour is a great way to see Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell from a different perspective. It is an hour long and you land on Tower Butte on Navajo Land. When we landed on Tower Butte we could get out and walk around. No other tour company lands here! The entire experience was cool.
Stay at Roam America RV Resort
Roam America is located in Page, only a few minutes from Horseshoe Bend. There are electric hookups, nice restrooms + showers, laundry, a pool, and more. It has the nicest RV shower and restroom we’ve ever seen!
To learn more about the gear we bring on our hikes and in some of the photos above, CLICK HERE
