2006.03.31 Northeast Arizona.
Day 3:
Early in the morning, we went for a 1.5 mile/rt hike to the
Horseshoe Bend viewpoint on US 89 just south of milepost 545. From the edge of the cliff, you see the Colorado River making a huge bend hundreds of feet below. The sheer mass of the rocky walls are awe inspiring. The water is green and calm. It's fun to jump or crawl around the edges.
Antelope Canyon is located 3 miles east of Page on US 98 (at milepost 299). It can only be viewed with a Navajo guide. $20 + tax + $6 entry fee gets you an 1.5 hour tour from downtown Page (you can linger in the canyon for about 50 minutes). It's also possible to drive to the gate of the tribal park and hire a guide there (to save $5 and some time). This slot canyon is only 1/4 mile long, a couple of feet wide. Curved sandstones glow with light, even though it was overcast when we were there. (I've timed to come here around noon, but no one can plan the weather.) You'll encounter many would-be photographers with their fancy lenses and tripods.
Navajo National Monument is about 1.5 hour east of Page, 9 miles on a side road of US 160. A short hike leads to an overlook of the 13th century
Betatakin cliff ruin across from a valley. (I do not recommend this if you've seen or will go see a cliff dwelling closer, like what we would do the next day.)
One hour later, we arrived at
Monument Valley Tribal Park in Utah shortly before 5pm, and the gate was already closed. Unable to drive in, we walked to the viewing platform. What a sight!
Although many of the towering monoliths can be viewed along the road, it's nothing like being closer. Too bad, no sunset.
Early in the morning, we went for a 1.5 mile/rt hike to the Horseshoe Bend viewpoint on US 89 just south of milepost 545. From the edge of the cliff, you see the Colorado River making a huge bend hundreds of feet below. The sheer mass of the rocky walls are awe inspiring. The water is green and calm. It's fun to jump or crawl around the edges.
Antelope Canyon is located 3 miles east of Page on US 98 (at milepost 299). It can only be viewed with a Navajo guide. $20 + tax + $6 entry fee gets you an 1.5 hour tour from downtown Page (you can linger in the canyon for about 50 minutes). It's also possible to drive to the gate of the tribal park and hire a guide there (to save $5 and some time). This slot canyon is only 1/4 mile long, a couple of feet wide. Curved sandstones glow with light, even though it was overcast when we were there. (I've timed to come here around noon, but no one can plan the weather.) You'll encounter many would-be photographers with their fancy lenses and tripods.
Navajo National Monument is about 1.5 hour east of Page, 9 miles on a side road of US 160. A short hike leads to an overlook of the 13th century Betatakin cliff ruin across from a valley. (I do not recommend this if you've seen or will go see a cliff dwelling closer, like what we would do the next day.)
One hour later, we arrived at Monument Valley Tribal Park in Utah shortly before 5pm, and the gate was already closed. Unable to drive in, we walked to the viewing platform. What a sight! 
Although many of the towering monoliths can be viewed along the road, it's nothing like being closer. Too bad, no sunset.
