RV Tour Leg 27 - Page, Arizona, and Monument Valley, Utah
- Judy Carmein
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
At this point in our journey, the route became a bit, well, unconventional. We had been making our way around the U.S. in a clockwise direction, but once we hit the Southwest in late winter and early spring, things got a little squirrely. There’s simply too much to see in the Four Corners region (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado)—and the varying elevations meant we had to time our visits carefully. Some sites needed to wait until later in the spring when the snow had melted, while others were at lower elevations and could be visited earlier. The result? A crisscrossing, zigzagging route through the region.
Before and after our stay in Zion National Park, we began what I’m calling the “Ancients Tour.” This leg of our journey is all about immersing ourselves in the stunning landscapes and learning about the people who lived here thousands of years before European settlers arrived. Our first stop: Navajo Nation.
Page, Arizona – Land of Red Rock Wonders
Page, Arizona, is home to Glen Canyon Dam, a marvel of engineering that was completed in 1963 to create Lake Powell.
We stayed here twice—before and after Zion—and for the first time, we tried camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. These primitive campgrounds offer no reservations, no hookups, and no frills—just raw, open beauty. Our first site was nestled among striking rock formations, while the second was right on the shores of Lake Powell, where we could park anywhere that suited us.
While in Page, we walked across Glen Canyon Dam, an experience that left me both awestruck and conflicted. The sheer engineering feat is incredible, but the dramatic transformation of the landscape is undeniable. It’s a testament to human ambition, but it also makes you wonder what was lost.
Slot Canyons and Desert Hikes
Page is famous for its breathtaking natural wonders, and we made sure to hit the highlights.
Horseshoe Bend: A short, easy hike led us to an iconic viewpoint where the Colorado River curves around a massive rock formation.
Lower Antelope Canyon: This was one of the most mind-blowing places I’ve ever been. Accessible only via guided tours through the Navajo Nation, this slot canyon is a masterpiece of nature, with swirling red rock walls sculpted by wind and water. Every turn revealed a new, impossibly beautiful formation. We snapped countless photos before finally deciding to put the cameras away, take a deep breath, and simply soak it all in.
Lower Antelope Canyon Cathedral Wash: This was a hike that pushed my limits. It’s a challenging canyon trek that descends toward the Colorado River, with sections requiring scrambling over 10 to 20-foot rock drops. At one particularly tricky spot, I nearly turned back, but it became a mental puzzle—finding the best route down, one careful move at a time. In the end, the challenge made the final view at the river’s edge even more rewarding.
Hike in the Cathedral Wash to the Colorado River 
Colorado River at the end of the Catherdral Wash trek 
Balanced Rock, not too far from Cathedral Wash
Monument Valley – Where the Earth Touches the Sky
From Page, we continued east to Monument Valley, one of the most iconic landscapes in the American West. Towering sandstone buttes rise from the desert floor, standing as silent sentinels over the land. This is sacred ground for the Navajo (Diné) people, and many still live here today.
We dedicated a day to hiking in the park, giving us an up-close view of the West Mitten Butte.
The next morning, we joined a sunrise tour led by a Navajo guide, Carol. Since much of Monument Valley is only accessible with a guide, this was an incredible opportunity to go beyond the well-trodden tourist paths.
Carol shared the history and spiritual significance of the land, explaining how her ancestors found water, farmed in the harsh climate, and built a way of life that thrived for generations. One fascinating thing we learned was that the name “Navajo” is actually a misnomer. It was given to the Diné people by Spanish explorers who mispronounced a word from another Indigenous language. The Diné call themselves “The People.”
This part of the journey felt different—more than just sightseeing, it was about stepping into a living history, feeling the presence of those who came before us, and appreciating the land not just for its beauty, but for its significance.
Next up: More adventures in the Four Corners region!
Love this leg of your journey. Thanks for the deeper understanding of the peoples that made a communal life in this arid climate.