Navajo National Monument and Page, AZ area

Navajo National Monument -
Betatakin Ruins from overlook

Navajo National Monument - view
on trail to ruins overlook

As we drove from Aztec, NM to Page, AZ for our next base camp, we stopped at Navajo National Monument. This monument protects three villages of the ancestral Puebloans. One is the Betatakin cliff dwelling that was occupied from about 1250 to 1300. This can only be seen close-up  by guided tour, otherwise, you hike 1.3 mile round-trip to an overlook and look far down into the canyon - bring binoculars! One site is not open to the public and the third, Keet Seel, is accessed only via another guided tour that requires a strenuous 17 mile round-trip hike. Keet Seel is one of the best preserved ruins in the southwest and the pictures certainly show that. I may need to get back and commit to that hike. We, like most people, only did the overlook of Betatakin but the views on the hike, and of the dwelling are fantastic. The visitor center is small with a few basic exhibits and three films. We are glad we made the 18 mile (round-trip) side trip to the monument. 

Antelope Canyon

 

Antelope Canyon

In the Page, AZ area we did some close sights. First we did a tour to Antelope Canyon. This is on Navajo land and is only accessible via a guided tour (we used Antelope Slot Canyon Tours and were pleased). There are a number of companies that do tours so it is a busy place - be prepared for a crowd. The canyon is wonderful, even on an overcast day. It is amazing how it may seem a little dark in the slot but, if you angle the camera right, you can get some cool pictures.

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon

The next day we went to a couple areas in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Horseshoe Bend is just a few miles south of Page. You hike 1.5 miles, round-trip, up and down a hill to the river's edge for a spectacular view of Horseshoe Bend, an extended meander. We drove to the north side of town to an overlook of Glen Canyon Dam and then to a road, before crossing the dam, that goes north along Lake Powell to a parking area where you can walk on the sandstone and get a great view (see pic). This is a great place to just wander around and enjoy the view. 

Horseshoe Bend

Lake Powell