Travel Blog 23
Northern Arizona Part 2
Travel Blog 23
I booked 7 nights at the Navajoland Hotel and RV Park in Tuba City, AZ as a launch point to visit a number of landmarks covering a large area. The campground has a few amenities including a coin operated laundry room, Shower and Bathroom House, small Dog Park, and a picnic table at each site. There is a Restaurant, Coffee Shop and Convenience Store nearby. I had site 6 which was level and my leveling blocks were not needed. My full hookup site was $32.00 per night. Unlike some of the negative reviews I read, I found Navajoland RV Park to be very comfortable and reasonable priced. The historic Tuba City Trading Post is adjacent to the property. The Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree are all within walking distance, and Bashes grocery store is just 1.6 miles away. There are a few restaurants in town and many fast food options. The city is in the Navajo Nation so there are no alcohol sales in the entire area. Although this was a good launch point for many destinations, I think next time I'll try and stay a little closer to Page and Glen Canyon to do more in the immediate area.
Site 6 Navajoland RV Park
Navajoland RV Park Bath House
Navajoland RV Park Dog Park
Navajoland Hotel & RV Park
Hogan Restaurant at Navajoland
There is perhaps no greater awe-inspiring view in the entire world than The Grand Canyon. At each viewpoint along the south rim the vastness and depth can be seen but difficult to comprehend. I entered the National Park at East Visitor entrance at Desert View and continued west along the south rim some 39 miles to Hermit Rd taking Village Loop Dr back the way I came in. This round trip along the rim is nearly 80 miles with countless viewpoints and pullouts including 4 large parking lots at the Visitors Center and Mather Point. Viewpoints include Desert View, Navajo Point, Moran Point, Grandview Point, Duck on a Rock Viewpoint, Pipe Creek Vista, Mather Point, and more. The Grand Canyon Village has a little bit of everything including a grocery store, train station, picnic areas, restaurants and pubs, the world famous El Tovar Hotel, The Yavapai Lodge, and The Bright Angel Lodge. There are also camping options for RVs and tent campers including Mather Campground inside the Grand Canyon Village and Trailer Village just outside of the village. A third option is the more secluded Desert View Campground near the east entrance. This was a day trip for me but I defiantly plan to camp here soon because the south rim deserves several days to a week.
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The South Rim Trail is dog friendly and Barron hiked along with me. It was a cool day and I had plenty of water for both of us. Pets are not allowed on the inner canyon trails due to dangerous conditions and likely encounters with wildlife. He did take an interest in a few ground squirrels on the South Rim Trail. The Grand Canyon, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, is around 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep. The rock layers exposed in the Grand Canyon span nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history. Several Native American tribes, including the Havasupai, Hualapai, and Navajo, consider the canyon their ancestral home. The Grand Canyon offers a variety of hiking trails, from the popular Bright Angel Trail to the challenging and remote North Kaibab Trail. The only lodging in the inner canyon is Phantom Ranch located at the bottom of the canyon and only accessible by hiking, mule, or raft. There are helicopter tours and rafting trips available as well. Summers can be scorching at the bottom and winters at the rim often see snow so be prepared. On our day trip it was 22 degrees cooler at The East Entrance than it was in the valley in Cameron just 37 miles away.
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
Horseshoe Bend is stunning and the most recognized place in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Although officially in the National Recreation Area, the Horseshoe Bend parking lot is operated by the city of Page so there is a $10.00 entrance fee and the National Park Pass is not accepted. Located just 2.5 miles from the Hwy 89 roundabout in Page, Horseshoe Bend has a large parking lot but when the parking lot is full, the City of Page operates a shuttle. The hike down to the viewpoint is 1.5 miles round trip and is Dog Friendly. The Colorado River cut roughly 1000 feet deep here over the past 5 million years forming a horseshoe shaped meander around a gigantic sandstone peninsula. You can do all you need to do here in about 45 minutes and capture one of the most iconic views in the southwest. Highly recommend!
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend
Lone Rock, a large sandstone formation standing alone in Lake Powell, was created through millions of years of erosion by wind and water. Lone Rock is located north of Page Arizona just across the state line in Kane County, Utah. Lone Rock Beach, operated by the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, is one of the most iconic boondocking spots in the country allowing you to camp on the shores of Lake Powell. It is mostly accessible but it is a beach and there are no shortage of RVers who have needed a tow to return to the pavement. Be warned. Lone Rock Beach is a hub for various recreational activities, including swimming, boating, paddleboarding, kayaking, and fishing. During our visit several boater were pulling skiers in circles around the giant rock. During periods of high water, Lone Rock can appear partially submerged, while in periods of drought, water around Lone Rock can completely disappear.
Lone Rock
Boondocking at Lone Rock
Lone Rock Beach
Lone Rock Beach
Welcome to Utah
The Glen Canyon National Recreation is massive with an area of 1,254,429 acres in southern Utah and northern Arizona stretching from Canyonlands National Park on the north to Marble Canyon south of Horseshoe Bend. Like The Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon's size and sheer number of attractions make it possible to only scratch the surface on a day trip. Just north of Page sits the 710 foot Glen Canyon Dam whose massive power generating structure created Lake Powell. The lake provides much of the activities and visitor interest in the canyon. Antelope Canyon, one of the best slot canyons in the world, is located just 7 miles west of the Hwy 89 roundabout in Page. There are two separate sections of Antelope Canyon; Upper Antelope Canyon (The Crack) and Lower Antelope Canyon (The Corkscrew). While you can take your dogs on a short walk to the overlook, no tours allow dogs so I'll do Antelope Canyon another time. There are four different visitor centers in Glen Canyon; Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen Canyon Dam, Bullfrog Visitor Center, Glen Canyon Conservancy Flagship in Page, and The Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center. Next time I'm in the area I think I'll stay a week. Too much to see and too little time.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam
