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There are many incredible places in the American Southwest, but few can compete with the sheer beauty of the Glen Canyon National Recreation area. Home to Lake Powell, the second largest manmade lake in the United States, it is considered one of North America’s premier boating destinations.

While most people who visit Glen Canyon come to spend time on the water or on one of the area’s many beaches, its prettiest viewpoint is located far away from any beach. Nestled on a cape that extends south into Lake Powell from Padre Bay and Warm Creek Bay is where you will find the iconic Alstrom Point viewpoint.

From Alstrom Point, you can see straight across Lake Powell. Looking down on a cross-section of the lake, you have a perfect viewpoint of the lake’s finger-like canyons. As you gaze across the horizon, your eyes will feast on the beauty of the hoodoo rock formations climbing out to rise above the water. And at sunset, you will marvel as the entire landscape seems to glow with the setting sun.

The best part is, there is seldom a crowd at the viewpoint. That’s because as pretty as it is, it is equally as difficult to get to. If you are ready to put in the effort to get to this spectacular viewpoint, I will provide you will everything you need to know to visit Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon in this guide.

What to Know Before Visiting Alstrom Point

Before you set off to see Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon, you need to make sure that you are prepared. Although Alstrom Point is one of the prettiest viewpoints in Glen Canyon, it is far from the easiest to get to. For a large stretch of the drive from Page, Arizona, you will be on a rough, unimproved road. You need to make sure that you have the proper vehicle and plan in place. You also need to be prepared in case you do get stuck or run into an emergency.

High Clearance 4WD Vehicle is Needed to Visit Alstrom Point

You need to have a high clearance 4WD vehicle. Believe me, you will not make it to Alstrom point without 4WD. Even with 4WD, you may bottom out in certain areas without a high clearance, so I would recommend using caution if your vehicle doesn’t have high clearance. Ideally, your vehicle should have at least 10-inches of clearance to be safe.

Make Sure Someone Knows Your Plan

Make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you plan on returning. There is spotty cell phone reception at Alstrom Point, so don’t count on being able to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. Should you have vehicle issues, you will want to have someone that knows where you are if you get stuck. If you have a GPS device, such as a Garmin inReach device, I strongly recommend bringing it.

How to Get There

Alstrom Point is located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Southern Utah. While the viewpoint is in Utah, one of the closest cities to the viewpoint is the city of Page in Northern Arizona.

The city is popular with outdoor enthusiasts because it is home to the largest marina on Lake Powell. The Wahweap Marina is where many of the Lake Powell and Glen Canyon tours originate. It is also where many visitors launch their boats.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Map

Page, Arizona is also in very close proximity to other popular attractions such as Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. I cover both of these attractions later in this guide if you would like to see them. It is also in fairly close proximity to Monument Valley in the East. And if you continue further up highway 163 North, you will head in the direction of Moab, Utah and its parks.

If you head up highway 89-North towards Big Water, you will get to the Alstrom Point turn-off. If you continue up highway 89, you will get to Kanab, Utah. The city of Kanab is another popular outdoor adventure hub that is in close proximity to a number of other popular attractions. These include the Red Canyon Slot and the Wave. Further up Highway 89 past Kanab you will eventually reach the Bryce Canyon National Park area.

How to Get to Alstrom Point Map

To get to Alstrom Point from Page, Arizona, you will want to follow these directions:

View Larger Map

When to Visit Alstrom Point

Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon is an amazing place to visit year-round, but the temperature and precipitation levels can make certain times of year much better than others. 

During the months of June thru September, temperatures can get quite hot, so visiting Southern Utah and Northern Arizona during this time of year can be quite uncomfortable in the daytime and very hot when camping at night. 

The months of August thru October also have some of the highest average precipitation levels for the year. When it rains a lot, the unimproved road to Alstrom Point can be quite difficult, if not impossible, to traverse. You definitely don’t want to try and drive to the viewpoint after a heavy rain.

I believe the best time to visit Alstrom Point is in the spring months of March thru May as the temperatures are reasonably warm, the precipitation levels are on average low, and the crowds in the area have not yet arrived for the peak season.

Average Temperature at Alstrom Point (°F)

For more information on the average temperatures in Page, Arizona throughout the year, I have included a chart for you to review in my Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon guide below.

Average Precipitation at Alstrom Point (Inches)

For those who are starting to plan their trip to see the Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon and would like to maximize their chances of having nice weather while there, I have included a chart that outlines the average amount of precipitation in the Page, Arizona area for you to review below.

Where to Stay

If you are visiting the Page, Arizona area to see Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon, then one of the most important decisions that you will need to make when planning your trip is where you will stay. If you love to camp, you will be thrilled to know that you can camp out right at Alstrom Point if you would like.

As long as you follow the National Park Service’s rules and regulations for camping in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, you can camp out near the viewpoint. Otherwise, there are plenty of wonderful hotel options at different price points available in nearby Page, Arizona if you would prefer to stay in a hotel.

In order to help you prepare for your visit, I have provided you with the information and recommendations you will need for either camping or a hotel stay below.

Camping at Alstrom Point

This is especially true when visiting Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon. One of the best times to visit the viewpoint is at sunset. During the peak golden hour in the evening, the sunsets at Alstrom Point paint the canyon brilliant warm colors and the reflections off the water are simply breathtaking.

Because the drive into Alstrom Point on the unimproved road is so difficult, it is not recommended to drive there after dark. This makes camping overnight near the Alstrom Point viewpoint after taking your sunset pictures the ideal way to visit.

Here are the general guidelines for Land-based Backcountry Camping in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This includes the area near Alstrom Point.

• Dispersed camping is not allowed near developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas, or trailheads (none of these apply to the area around Alstrom Point).
• Practice “Leave No Trace”. This is essential. All trash must be carried out, and this includes human waste.
• All human body waste solids shall be contained and carried out using a portable toilet or a specifically engineered bag waste containment system.
• Group size for hiking and/or camping should not exceed 12 people and 3 vehicles. Groups greater than 12 people shall split into groups of 12 or fewer, and camp at least 1/2 mile apart.

Recommended Hotels in Page, Arizona

If camping is not your speed, you need not worry as there are a variety of good hotels for you to choose from in the area as well.  In fact, the city of Page, Arizona has a wealth of reasonably priced hotel options for you to choose from.

If you are in the process of planning your trip to Page to see Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon, then you are in luck. I have included a map and list of recommended hotels at different price points for you to review in my guide below.

View Larger Map

Other Things to See in the Area

In addition to Alstrom Point, there is a wealth of other incredible things to see in the Page, Arizona area. If you are putting togther your itinerary and need some additional ideas, I have you covered. Here are some additional sights that I would recommend seeing while visiting Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon. Of course, this is far from all there is to see in the area, but these are the top sights I recommend.

Horseshoe Bend

I still can’t believe that Horseshoe Bend used to be an obscure, unmarked pullout on the side of the highway with a gravel path. Today, there is a paved parking lot and walking path with shaded benches because of how popular this spot has become. If you’d like to see this iconic viewpoint during your visit, please see my visitor guide below for more details.

Antelope Canyon

With the invention of Instagram, this iconic slot canyon quickly became all the rage with social media influencers. When I visited this canyon more than 15 years ago, there were very few people on our tour.

Today, the tours for this canyon sell out well in advance. If you want to learn more about this incredible place, check out my Antelope Canyon visitor guide below.

Waterhole Canyon

If you want to visit a beautiful slot canyon but aren’t able to find an open tour for Antelope Canyon, then Waterhole Canyon is a great alternative. Although it doesn’t get the famous light beams that Antelope Canyon gets, it is every bit as beautiful as its sister canyon and is much longer as well. For more information on how to view the Waterhole Canyon, check out my Waterhole Canyon visitor guide below.

Activities in the Area

There are a lot of beautiful and amazing things to see in the Page, Arizona area, but there are also a lot of really fun activities that you can do during your visit as well. If you are starting to plan your trip and are looking for some fun activities to enjoy while you are in the area, I have included some suggestions for you to review in my guide below.

Alstrom Point Photo Gallery

Alstrom Point in Glen Canyon is renowned for being one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in the American Southwest. I was lucky enough to be able to get there and capture some great photographs. If you would like to see some other pictures I took while visiting, I have included a gallery below.

If you would like to view some more of my top photos from this trip, as well as photos from some of my many other travel adventures, make sure you are following me on Instagram as well!

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