Page, Arizona, near the Utah border, is surrounded by an incredible variety of desert landscapes and outdoor recreation. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Lake Powell, Grand Staircase–Escalante, the Grand Canyon, and the vast Navajo Nation all lie nearby, offering far more hikes than could ever fit into a single trip — or a short blog post.
It could take years to explore everything the area has to offer. These six hikes stand out as some of our favorites, ranging from slot canyons and hoodoos to dramatic cliff-top viewpoints.
Buckskin Gulch
Buckskin Gulch is one of the longest and deepest continuous slot canyons in the world. Hiking between its narrow, flowing sandstone walls feels like stepping into another planet, with endlessly shifting colors and sculpted rock.
The most direct access is via Wire Pass, a short but spectacular slot canyon that joins Buckskin Gulch about 1.5 miles in. The Wire Pass trailhead also serves the famous Wave hike in Coyote Buttes North — an extraordinary formation that requires a highly competitive permit.
For those with time and logistics sorted out, Buckskin Gulch can be hiked end-to-end through Paria Canyon to White House Campground. This 20.6-mile journey requires a shuttle and a backcountry permit, taking backpackers a few days to complete. We chose a shorter out-and-back day hike, which only requires a self-issued permit. Patrick, the friend with whom I kayaked Maligne Lake with completed the whole hike along with a bike ride back to his car in a day. That made for a hell of a long day.
Mary and I planned to hike the canyon a second time. We changed our minds after a ranger reported sections of waist-deep mud. Flash floods are a serious and life-threatening hazard, so checking the weather and conditions with the ranger station is essential. Other risks include heat, slippery rock, and the occasional rattlesnake — we spotted a very small one ourselves.
With its otherworldly beauty, sense of adventure, and rich colors, Buckskin Gulch ranks as my favorite slot canyon and my favorite desert hike.
Nautilus Slot Canyon
The Nautilus Slot Canyon trailhead sits just half a mile north of White House Campground, making it an easy add-on to a Buckskin Gulch visit.
While not as deep or dramatic as its famous neighbor, Nautilus is uniquely beautiful, with swirling patterns and colorful sandstone walls. The main slot is only about a third of a mile up a wide, open wash — short enough that there’s really no reason not to explore it. You can continue farther up the canyon if you want more mileage.
When we visited in May, we encountered no one on the trail and no one at the campground — a rare and wonderful kind of desert solitude.
Toadstool Hoodoos
Convenience is the theme here. The Toadstool Hoodoos trailhead is only about two miles down the road from Nautilus, making it easy to combine multiple hikes in a single day.
This 3.6-mile round-trip hike follows another shallow canyon carved by the same creek system. Near the end, the landscape opens to reveal whimsical mushroom-shaped hoodoos and layered sandstone cliffs. It’s an easy, family-friendly hike with a big payoff.
Alstrom Point
Perched high above Lake Powell, Alstrom Point offers jaw-dropping views of multicolored sandstone cliffs and deep blue water far below. The destination itself is spectacular, but getting there is a big part of the adventure.
Access requires a remote 25-mile dirt road. Most of it is passable by car in dry conditions, but the route includes stream crossings, slick clay sections, and multiple unmarked intersections. Wet weather can make the road impassable.
The final miles are typically a hike unless you have a high-clearance 4WD — which we did. Visiting in near-100°F heat, we opted to drive the entire way, though not without some nervous moments about breakdowns in such a remote location. Crawling over bedrock and plowing through deep sand kept things interesting.
We had planned to camp and watch the sunset, but decided to move on due to the heat and a long drive the following day. While the views were stunning, the rugged drive itself turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of the experience.
Horseshoe Bend
At just 1.5 miles round trip, Horseshoe Bend isn’t much of a hike, but it delivers one of the most iconic views in the Southwest. This is not to be confused with the much more lush and less famous Horseshoe Bend rapids and trail in Washington.
From the cliff’s edge, the Colorado River makes a dramatic 270-degree bend nearly 1,000 feet below. Both times we visited, we paid the parking fee and joined the crowds for sunset, and despite the number of people, the view was still absolutely worth it.
Antelope Canyon X
Antelope Canyon X is a lesser-known section of the famous Antelope Canyon system. Opened to tours in 2016, it offers a calmer alternative to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, which have hosted tours since the 1980s and saw more than a million visitors in 2019.
After watching videos and hearing complaints about rushed tours and crowds elsewhere, we chose Canyon X and were glad we did. The experience was relaxed, and our Navajo guide was friendly and knowledgeable.
The canyon itself is indescribably beautiful — flowing sandstone walls, narrow passages, and constantly changing light. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Like Horseshoe Bend, the tour covers about 1.5 miles, making it a short but unforgettable walk.
Conclusion
With its central location and easy access to some of the Southwest’s most remarkable landscapes, Page, Arizona makes an ideal base camp for desert adventure. From narrow slot canyons and hoodoos to sweeping lake views and river-carved cliffs, these six hikes offer a memorable introduction to the area — and just a hint of how much more there is to explore.