Stop #16: Antelope Point RV Park & Marina, Page, AZ
- Denisse Storti
- Jul 25, 2023
- 11 min read
Updated: Jul 31, 2023
Page, Arizona awaited and we were so excited to get there. There were many amazing sights that we wanted to visit in the Page area. Some, like The Wave, were dream destinations for many, including us. Others like The White Pocket, were places we had never even heard of till recently. Our list was long but we needed to be wise with our time, as we needed to make our way back to Colorado by the third week of May to store our RV for the summer.
We booked our stay at Antelope Point RV Park and Marina. It's a fairly new campground, that overlooks gorgeous red rock formations that light up during sunset. The roads at this campground are paved and sites are concrete, and each has a small area of artificial grass for setting up your camping chairs or have picnics. No picnic tables at each site but they have a large gazebo with seating, as well as BBQs for people to use. This and a small putting green are the only amenities offered here. I believe they have plans to add more in the future but don't let that keep you from staying here. The views and epic sunsets from this location more than make up for it. We loved going for bike rides within the campground and down to the marina parking lot which is adjacent. The weather was just right in the morning and late afternoon to sit outside, so on various occasions we did school out on our fake lawn and had picnic dinners. In addition to its proximity to the marina and Lake Powell, Antelope Point RV Park is also just a few minutes away from Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon which is one of the biggest attractions of the area.
Our number one priority when arriving to Page was to start applying for The Wave permits. You can apply for these permits either four months in advance or by entering the daily lottery, which grants you a permit to visit two days later. Side note: you do not want do this hike without a permit. The fines are HEFTY with a possibility of jail time. So just don't. To enter the daily lottery you need to be physically present within the defined geofence perimeter, otherwise this option will not appear for you at all. This is all done online at Recreation.gov and the entry fee is a non-refundable $9. When entering the daily lottery you will get an email at 7p to let you know whether or not you won. Both Paul and I applied for three consecutive days. We arrived to Page on a Friday and started applying the day after. Every evening we'd check our email only to be disappointed when seeing we didn't win. On Monday, I was sitting outside enjoying the view when Paul came out to tell me that once again, he didn't win. I had not lost hope but also knew about other people that tried and tried during their stay and never got their permits. I went in the RV to check my email on my laptop and a rush of cautious excitement ran through me when noticing that the email from recreation.gov had a 'Congratulations!' at the end of the usual lottery results announcement subject line. Was it what I thought it was? I won the lottery folks and let me tell you, I screamed with excitement when reading that email. lol
Leading up to this moment, we had been leaving our schedule wide open, only booking/committing to any activities after knowing we had lost the lottery for said permit date. On the days prior to winning the lottery, we drove around to see Lake Powell from a lookout point nearby, as well as down at the marina. Both views were beautiful. From the lookout, the canyon looked impressive juxtaposed to the dark blue color of the lake. At the marina, we drove to where boats used to be launched back when the water levels weren't so low. We saw people hiking down to the water to launch their kayaks and paddle boards. From this point of view, the water looked very clear down below. It's a gorgeous lake. Hopefully the snow melt from this year will bring the water level back up and a plan is implemented to keep it that way.
After confirming on Saturday evening (after getting the results email from Recreation.gov) that we weren't hiking The Wave on Monday, we booked a slot canyon tour for that day. Paul and I had visited Lower Antelope Canyon fours years ago, which is a must see, and while we wanted our kids to experience it we also wanted to try something different. We were initially planning to book the Upper Antelope Canyon tour but the more we drove by the crowds waiting to do these (we had to drive by this area when leaving the campground) the less excited we became about it. When we visited 4 yrs ago we splurged on the private tour (we were celebrating our 10yr anniversary) but we weren’t doing that this time around. When searching online to see if there were other options we came across an ad for the Ligai Si Anii slot canyon and per the reviews this was not as popular and therefore much like a private tour. We booked it and we didn't regret it. When we got there, we were the only ones scheduled for that time slot. A couple was just wrapping up their own tour. Our guide, Ron, shared a wealth of knowledge not only about the canyon but also about their family history (the slot canyon is on his wife’s family land), Navajo traditions, customs, and how it was growing up in this area. We visited two slot canyons, climbed rocks in between, stopped for tons of pictures, and learned about the local plants and herbs. Ron was kind, loved engaging with our kids, and never rushed us. This slot canyon is not as long as Lower Antelope Canyon (and prob Upper Antelope Canyon), and also not as mind-blowing, but it's still really beautiful. So if you wish to experience a slot canyon at a lesser price and with not as many people, reach out to Antelope Valley Tours. They also offers tours to other slot canyons - they have a few on their property. But overall this was perfect for us.
Now back to the more exciting news: we were hiking The Wave! You need to accept the permit and pay fees by no later than 8am Utah time on the following day of receiving the email confirmation or else the permit will void. You also need to pick up your permits and attend a safety briefing at a permit pickup location at 8:30a. Arriving too late will also void the permits. Being near the Utah border during daylight savings means there was a time difference between Arizona and Utah and clocks don't always show the accurate time. To be on the safe side, we arrived extra early. We didn't want to screw up this amazing opportunity. Following the briefing, we headed straight to the market to stock up on drinks (we got water, gatorade, and coconut water), snacks (salty and a few sweet ones), and anything we were missing for our packed lunch. We rested that day, knowing it was best to conserve our energy for the long day ahead.
During the briefing you get maps and a step by step guide with pictures showing things to look for to ensure you stay in the right direction. There isn't a marked path, but there are a few signs along the way that mark the trail, however, it can certainly be confusing so the pictures do come in handy. I happened to take pictures of most of these when at the briefing, just in case, which was a good call because by mistake, we left the map in the RV on the day of our hike. I know. We couldn't believe we made that mistake. But I had all but 2-3 steps saved on my phone which we consulted throughout.
This is a 6mi round trip hike through uneven terrain, uphill and downhill, with a bit of climbing, and parts where you are walking in deep sand. It’s not an easy hike but it’s totally feasible with kids as long as you prepare well. The night before I started reading posts from other folks that warned this was not a kid friendly hike and started worrying a bit. Don't do this. If you know your kids are capable then just work on being prepared. We had done another 6mi hike before so we knew our kids could do this. We packed plenty of fluids (each child had their own hydration backpack which carry 1.5 liters of water, plus a coconut water, and a gatorade… and we had more water in our car for when we returned), snacks (salty and a few sweet ones for motivation on the way back), plus, our packed lunch. We went on May 3rd, so not too hot yet (would not attempt this in the summer as there’s little to no shade), plus we lucked out with relatively cool weather. On IG and TikTok I shared a video of the actual hike there, so check it out to get a better idea of what it looked like.
While they recommend starting your hike around sunrise, we opted to not wake the kids early. Having well rested kids was far more important for us to have a successful hike. We started our hike at 11a and it took us approx two hours with our breaks. The hike is beautiful which helped in making it not feel as long. We took short rest breaks in order to break it up a bit for the kids. Keep in mind that there is only a restroom at the trailhead, so take supplies in case you need to go in the wild and remember to pack out any tissue paper/wipes. Since most people start their hike at sunrise, by the time we got to The Wave most folks were ready to head back. While we enjoyed talking to the different hikers, we also loved that we ended up having the place to ourselves for a good chunk of time. The kids loved exploring, playing, and walking around. Paul hiked further up (there's a smaller wave further on and some places you climb to in order to see The Wave from higher ground) while I stayed behind with the kids. We stayed for at least 2 1/2 hrs and only left because we saw gray clouds heading our way (we knew there was a slight chance of rain late in the afternoon). Thankfully we just got a sprinkle and the way back felt much easier and shorter. The kids did it all on their own, which they were so proud of. This hike is the highlight of this first leg of our RV journey.
The day after our hike to The Wave we were spent. We had planned for this to be a rest day but the fisherman with whom we booked a boat ride along the Colorado River on the following day, reached out to let us know that the wind was picking up so we had to either go that day or cancel all together. There was not much walking involved on that tour so we obliged. This was a Lee's Ferry --> Glen Canyon Dam roundtrip ride. When we visited Horseshoe Bend four years ago we saw boats and kayaks down below and knew it was something we'd love giving a try the next time we visited. Rafting tours and kayak rentals (plus back haul services) are offered but we didn't feel our kids would be up for kayaking for that long and we didn't love the idea of rafting with 15+ other people. So before going that route we looked up local fishermen and reached out to a few. Not only was this less expensive than the rafting tours, but this was a private experience. We booked with Kelly Outfitters and it was the best decision. He brought a comfy boat, not his usual fishing boat since we were just sightseeing, and he shared a ton about the history of the area, the construction of Glen Canyon Dam, and even took us to Petroglyph Beach. It was amazing to see the towering cliffs and Glen Canyon Dam from down below. We had the best time and confirmed that it was the way to go since we were still too tired to paddle following our hike to The Wave.
Having seen it from down below, following a rest day, we visited Horseshoe Bend so the kids could experience it from above. This attraction is busy at most times. There's a parking fee of $10 for cars and RVs, $5 for motorcycles. Prob first thing in the morning is the best time to go if you want to avoid crowds. We arrived close to 11a and it was already super busy. It's worth a visit though. It's a beautiful view. After taking in the sights from the main lookout, we walked to the right towards the hill. Paul climbed up to take in the views and the kids and I hung out below in a shaded spot for a while. Again, this place is probably hard to be at during the summer. There's little to no shade and even in May the sun was strong even though the wind was a bit cool.
The other place that was top on our list was The White Pocket. It's not as coveted as The Wave and a permit is not required, but we’d say it’s just as special. Unlike The Wave, the most challenging part of getting to The White Pocket is the drive there. It takes approx 2 hrs to get to the parking lot but the unpaved, rough roads will make it seem much longer. On the way there we followed Google maps and it sent us through a more adventurous route (the ‘This is not the rd to The White Pocket’ sign was a good hint that we chose to ignore) which was very narrow and uneven. From Page it’s best to take Pine Tree Rd (via 1065 House Rock Rd) and then take Big Sink Rd to White Pocket Rd. You need a 4x4 high clearance vehicle as there’s parts with deep sand and others with rocks that you’ll need to cross. The good news is that once you reach the parking area you are basically there, as the White Pocket is a short walk away. The landscape here is otherworldly, with brain-like formations and red-toned wave patterns. It’s a very family friendly hike that our kids enjoyed a ton. We hiked up and down the hills, rested in shaded areas, and took some awesome photographs. No restrooms at all here (including at the parking lot) so plan accordingly and as always remember to pack out all trash.
There's so much to see in the Page area! We wouldn't cover it all on this trip, but the one thing we did want to do before leaving was visiting the Grand Canyon. We had attempted the North Rim earlier on but it was still closed. The day before leaving Page, we visited The South Rim. While certainly jaw dropping, all we did was spend the afternoon driving from one view point to another, so not as fun as some of the other sights we've visited. The visitor center was closed (they’ve had limited hours since COVID) but our kids were able to get Junior Ranger books and badges at the gift shop. We visited The Geology Museum which provided some very interesting information about the different layers of rock that are visible to the naked eye at the canyon. We saw elk hanging out in the green areas outside of the museum and the gift shop, and also squirrels that are very much used to being around people. Due to the crowds, it felt a little like being at Disney, but we came, we saw the beautiful views, and we checked it off our list. It’s no doubt a bucketlist location. But maybe if we returned we’d stay in the area to maybe do a little bit of hiking (not all the way down as it’s too long of a hike to do with kids - although the hike to Havasu Falls is so tempting!), biking (biking trails are available throughout), and perhaps mule rides.
So Page was amazing. Add to your itinerary if you have not done so.
Comments