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5 Reasons to Love Winter in Page, Arizona

To visit the city of Page, Arizona, five miles from the Utah border, is to visit another planet. There, surrounding the city of 7,000 are sandstone slot canyons the color of sunsets, impossible-looking rock formations, and 270-degree bends in the Colorado River. And that’s just one day of adventure.

The natural wonders get plenty busy in summer—but there’s a lot to love about winter in Page. High temperatures can reach a brisk 50ºF, with bluebird skies providing the perfect contrast to the area’s red-rock landscapes. Mother Nature occasionally covers those sites in blankets of snow—most of which melt away before lunch. And with fewer crowds, its wide-open overlooks, slender slot canyons, and beloved hiking trails are never more peaceful or striking than between December and February.

Of course, Page sits at about 4,200 feet above sea level—which means the possibility of occasional snow and ice. Prepare by having snow chains, checking road conditions ahead of time and driving at slower speeds when encountering winter weather. You’ll also want to bundle up—ideally with multiple layers, gloves, a hat and a windbreaker—any time you’re heading outdoors. Finally: Some attractions and restaurants may limit their hours or close entirely in winter, so call ahead to ensure your desired activities are open.

So as you plan the perfect winter getaway, here are five reasons to love the quiet season in Page, Arizona.

Photo Ops Abound at Horseshoe Bend

If you've spent even five minutes on social media in recent years, chances are good you've been awed by Horseshoe Bend—an appropriately named, U-shaped curve in the Colorado River that's drawn worldwide curiosity through the likes of Instagram and TikTok.

Each year, more than 750,000 visitors make the 1.5-mile (round-trip) hike to an overlook that peers down into the 1,000-foot-deep bend in Glen Canyon at the edge of Page.

But the vast majority arrive between spring and fall, leaving behind a largely empty overlook that rewards wintertime travelers with more solitude and the rare chance to view the world-famous canyon blanketed in early-morning snow. If you're angling for a few photos at sunset, keep in mind that the sun may fall by 5:00 p.m.—so plan a late-afternoon outing to account for the limited daylight.

Slot Canyons Showcase Quiet Magic

If you've heard of one natural wonder around Page, it's probably Horseshoe Bend. But if you've heard of two, the other is almost certainly Antelope Canyon—a slot canyon carved in Navajo sandstone that twists and turns its way through the Colorado Plateau near Page.

Antelope Canyon tours routinely fill to capacity between spring and fall, while it's not unusual to stand amid the canyon's wavy walls all by yourself in the middle of winter. You won't see the canyon's famous light beams—which occur when the sun shines directly down into the canyon each spring and summer—but for many, that quieter experience is worth the trade-off.

Antelope Canyon is on the Navajo Nation, so you must reserve a tour through a tribal outfitter. Numerous groups offer tours through Upper and Lower Antelope canyons; one of the best is Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours, whose guides lead 80-minute trips through Upper Antelope Canyon while sharing the history of the area—and alerting visitors to particularly photogenic scenes.

Dazzling Desert Features at the Heart of Local Hikes

Dozens of miles of hiking trails head into the Mars-like landscapes around Page—and while they're most popular in summer, the desert treks are never more peaceful than in winter. And since many of those trails offer precious little shade, they're far more bearable in the cooler season.

Around Page, there is no more famous hike than Coyote Buttes North in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness—more popularly known as The Wave. The star attraction of the 6.4-mile (round-trip) hike is a series of curvy pink-and-orange sandstone formations that seem to ripple through an ancient sea of khaki-colored outcrops. The Bureau of Land Management issues 64 permits per day to hikers wanting to experience The Wave—and with fewer people applying for those permits, your chances of obtaining one increase in winter.

Even if you miss out on a Wave permit, you'll find plenty of outstanding hikes near Page.

One popular alternative to The Wave is the Beehive Trail, which boasts its own wave-like slickrock formations. The 1.9-mile (round-trip) hike gains about 275 feet while heading across the colorful slickrock, passing the bulbous rocks for which the trail is named and offering occasional views of nearby Lake Powell.

An Easy Hike Heads Through Surreal Hoodoos

Roughly 30 miles northwest of town, just across the state line in southern Utah, sit the Toadstools within the nearly 1.9-million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The Toadstools are a collection of mushroom-shaped rock formations—called hoodoos—where rocks appear to balance atop longer, cinnamon-hued spires. A 1.5-mile, out-and-back hike gains about 125 feet while cutting through a canyon, traversing a wash and heading into the heart of the desert scene—all of which has been shaped by centuries of erosion. Taking photos is encouraged, but please refrain from climbing on or touching the delicate formations.

Indoor Attractions Dive Into Local History, Culture

Whether you’re looking to warm up or have had your fill of the outdoors, you’ll enjoy plenty of indoor attractions across Page.

Page sits at the edge of Glen Canyon, a 170-mile stretch of the Colorado River that spans two states. Gather your bearings at one of a few visitor centers managed by the Glen Canyon Conservancy—where you can learn about the region’s past and outdoor recreation through interpretive exhibits, pick up books and souvenirs at on-site gift shops, watch for local wildlife (including California condors) and savor views of nearby extraterrestrial-like environments.

The city sits on the traditional homelands of the Navajo people, and perhaps the best way to engage with the tribe's history and culture is through a night at Red Heritage. The Navajo-owned-and-operated dinner theater brings together powwow dancing, live flute-and-drum music, storytelling and a dinner menu that includes Navajo tacos served on fresh fry bread. This seasonal show opens in March every year (check website for date), so it’s a perfect activity for a late winter trip.

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