On Sunday we left Durango and headed back West to Glen Canyon, Arizona. We shared the driving as it was the longest drive between places we’d done thus far. The drive basically consisted of one long straight road after another, with very little traffic, so it is very easy. 

We did go through Monument Valley on our route which is full of towering rock formations. It is often used in Hollywood movies to depict the American West. In fact one of the scenic points we stopped at was called “Forrest Gump Point” which is where Forrest Gump stops running in the film. The backdrop of Monument Valley can be seen from here too. 

Once we arrived in Page, a city close to Glen Canyon and Lake Powell, we unloaded the car and headed to the local brew pub down the road…we are very consistent in what we like.

On our first full day we opted to visit some of the popular view points and do a few walks. 

First on our list was Horseshoe Bend, which is a horseshoe shaped part of the Colorado river. There is a short 1.5 mile round-trip walk to get to the viewing area, and there were a lot of tourists once we got there.

We stopped off at the overlook point for the Glen Canyon Dam (and we walked over the dam bridge itself later in the day – not for anyone who doesn’t like heights!). 

We then did two walks – Beehives Trail and Hanging Garden Trail. 

Beehives takes you through sandstone rock formations that could resemble the shape of a beehive. There is a lot of walking up/along slick rock too which could be tricky if you didn’t have proper walking boots, which fortunately we do. 

Hanging Garden Trail takes you to a row of plants growing in the alcoves of the cliffs. As it was winter we didn’t see the “green oasis of lush plants” as described in the guide book, but we got a rough idea of what it would look like. We have borrowed a picture from the internet to give you more of a visual of what it would be like. 

Our last stop of the day was Lake Powell, which really was stunning. It feels very unique seeing a giant lake, surrounded by desert and canyons. 

In the summertime it is obviously heaving with visitors enjoying the many water sports that are on offer. We did walk along the beach and see a lot of the commercial boats that were docked. It was unlike any of the places we have seen on our NP trip so far. 

Finally onto the chicken…if you are into fried chicken (and are ever in Page) you have to go to “Bird House”. It serves the best fried chicken ever. We ordered 5 tenders with fries and it was by far the best we’d ever tasted…and we have tasted a lot! I know it’s not the healthiest of meals but we are seriously thinking of coming here tomorrow too it was that good. 

We have another day in Glen Canyon today and then will be moving on to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.

Lucy