Campground.
Site #55. Full hook up (139 sites with); A nicely planned out campground ¼ mile above the adjoining marina on Lake Powell. This is a superb campground when considering the level concrete pads, the views, and access to Lake Powell. The sites are laid out so that your curb-side hookups are facing each other. While this puts you close to your neighbors on that side, there is a fair amount of room our your door side where you need it. There is a picnic table and fire pit.
Lake Powell can be seen in the background.
Clean level pull-thru with picnic area. Not bad.
View from the campground towards boat ramp.
There is a nice overlook above the campground for sunset views. The sacred Navajo Mountain can be seen in the distance.
View of Navajo Mountain. This is one of the four sacred mountains to the Navajo.
Faint rainbow over a butte with the Navajo power plant to the right. Beauty and the Beast.
Houseboats and yachts at Wahweap.
Wahweap Marina
Navajo Mountain at twilight.
Lake Powell area.
We greatly under-estimated the options and the time needed to explore this area. This is one of a handful of places we want to make a real effort to return. In particular we missed touring Antelope Canyon. This is such a popular slot canyon, and because it is on Navajo tribal land, access is limited and you must go via a Navajo guided tour. This is one of the most photographed slot canyons in the country.
Another option we didn't consider was to park the RV and head out on a multi-day house boat trip. There are two large marinas nearby which provide long term rentals: one at Wahweap and one at Antelope Point off of Navaho route 222 in the Navajo Nation Park. Access to this is between Page and the overbearing Salt River Project Navajo Generating Station – a coal-burning power plant whose story could have it's own blog entry.
The number of private and rental houseboats at the marinas was shocking. Once on the water - when we saw the beauty of the landscape and the innumerable canyons that bid exploring - we just wanted to abandon our trip and head out on one. We would highly recommend others consider spending a week or so here on any trip to the southwest. The lake is up to 186 miles long!
There is a large visitor center at the Glen Canyon Dam.
Glen Canyon Dam.
The Colorado River reforms after the dam
Rainbow Bridge.
We opted to take a tour boat out of the Wahweap marina to Rainbow Bridge. This is one of the top highlights of this or any trip we've ever taken. This is the largest natural bridge in the world and seems even more special due to its remoteness and travel to reach it. After boating 50 miles (2 hours) up Lake Powell from the Glen Canyon Dam, the guide boat twists and turns – sometimes having to fishtail to make it – through increasingly narrow canyons that rise higher and steeper. At times you can almost touch the sides. Shadows form even at midday.
Wahweap Marina is just north of the dam
Lots to explore. The boat ride to Rainbow Bridge went left to right through here.
On Lake Powell:
Off shore at the marina
Rows of houseboats at the Navajo marina
These steps were carved in the 1800's as part of a Mormon trail.
A woman's profile in the sandstone wall
Squeezing through the canyon approaching Rainbow Bridge
Once you arrive at a dock (with bathroom!) and disembark, you take a one mile hike along side Bridge Creek and steep canyon walls that can radiate some intense heat. Then the bridge appears before you in a theatrical and majestic manner. One can stop in several spots for photos or walk up under and slightly beyond the bridge. The area beyond that is tribal land and requires a permit for hiking. In fact, one can obtain a permit and hike to the bridge from the land side, but as much as I like to hike, the boat ride was exceptional and I would to it again.
Rainbow Bridge peeking out on the right
Page, UT
Page is a small city with everything a city has. There is a good looking golf course that I didn't try. We did go in town twice for a good Mexican meal at El Tapatio. I took photos to demonstrate the size of the dishes! Also to document the smiles after the second margaritas.
