Good evening from sunny (for now) Page, Arizona!

Today has been a day of highs and lows for me, so this post is gonna be kind of all over the place from an emotional standpoint. An unexpected weather front is moving in, so it looks like I am going to have to cancel my Rainbow Bridge National Monument hike.

I am not phased by the night time temperatures in the low 30’s (been there and done that). However, a 32-mile round trip hike with 6,600-feet of elevation in sleet sounds absolutely miserable. Especially with an overnight.

So instead of heading out on my hike today, we decided to visit a lesser-known, and much less frequented slot canyon in the Page, Arizona area while the weather is still nice. Tours for Water Hole canyon have only been offered for the last few years, so it is far less busy than nearby Antelope Canyon.

Yet, it is just as beautiful! Previously you had to get permission to hike in on your own, which you are now not allowed to do. It was a great pick-me-up after having to cancel my Rainbow Bridge hike.

I was also able to drive out to see the breathtakingly beautiful Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. I have tried to reach this viewpoint the last three times I have been in Page, Arizona and I finally had the time and vehicle to do it.

It took me nearly two hours to drive the 31-mile unimproved road (if you can call it one) to this viewpoint, but the views were worth it!! Made it just before sunset. The drive back in the dark was an adventure.

On our way back from the slot canyon, we also stopped by to see Horseshoe Bend again as it was on our way back to Page. I remember when the trailhead was just a gravel pullout with a rough path to the viewpoint.

Now, there is an official entrance gate and an admission fee of $10/vehicle to see Horseshoe Bend. While part of me is happy to see the park service able to collect money to make improvements to the site, I was a little bummed to see they have also installed guard rails by part of the viewpoint.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the safety aspect. No one likes to see people get hurt, especially me. However, it really hurts the aesthetics of the viewpoint and people just climb to the edge on the sides of the railing anyways. Sigh….

Tomorrow we get up bright and early to head back into Southern Utah to explore Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument before heading to Bryce Canyon. I do hope the weather passes thru as I have my Reflection Canyon overnight hike on Thursday. Having to cancel that hike as well would be devastating.

Fingers crossed!

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