Page Too

2025-09-15
Page, AZ

It's another sunny day in Page, and by design it's a light day. I've hear that it's good to rest up occasionally so it's a new thing on this trip.

First up was a visit to Horseshoe Bend. It's just a bend in the river, but the town has put a parking lot at the road with a 0.75 mile walk down to the river. They charge $10 per car, so it's a bit overpriced. Unfortunately doing this first (at 7:30 or 8:30 depending on whether you believe my car or phone) was a mistake for photography. The light was terrible that time of day. But I did get to enjoy it in the moment.

Bad time of day.
Bad time of day.

I headed over to the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument where I was able to do a mine hike as a 2.5 mile out & back. The hike followed the old mine road so much of it was easy terrain albeit uphill the whole way. However, sections of the road had washed out over time leaving just a gully. The actual mine site didn't have much; an old truck and a grate over a hole in the ground.

The Vermillion Cliffs I am heading up
The Vermillion Cliffs I am heading up
Still waiting on that back-ordered part so they can get it running...
Still waiting on that back-ordered part so they can get it running...
That's the mine; just a hole covered with a grate. And the obligatory
That's the mine; just a hole covered with a grate. And the obligatory "piss off" sign.
One more bit of Vermillion. The color is beautiful.
One more bit of Vermillion. The color is beautiful.

On the way to the hike I had noticed a stop for the Navajo Bridge, where a newer road bridge had replaced the older, smaller bridge which is now usable for pedestrians. It's more of a touristy thing though; there really isn't any actual foot traffic to speak of since it is 20 miles from anything else. It just happened to be the best spot to build the bridges over the Colorado river, and they are the only bridges for many miles.

The old bridge on the left, and the new one on the right. They kept the same style.
The old bridge on the left, and the new one on the right. They kept the same style.
The Colorado upriver from the bridge.
The Colorado upriver from the bridge.
The new bridge. Engineering elegance.
The new bridge. Engineering elegance.

On my way back to the hotel, I finally remembered to pull down the Scenic View road just across the street. It required a tenth of a mile or so walk down the rocks to get to the viewpoint, but it was a great view of the Glen Canyon Dam.

Dam, I took one last picture before leaving Page.
Dam, I took one last picture before leaving Page.

The afternoon was resting and catching up on the blog and so forth.

Hiking Distance: 2.9 miles

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