If you think helicopter tours are expensive, think again. We took a ride with Sundance Helicopter Tours, from the Page Arizona airport, and got an amazing view of Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, and the Glen Canyon Dam. Our pilot, Nathan, was very professional. The seats were comfortable, and the quality of the experience was unsurpassed. The pilot gave us commentary on some of the landmarks, and thanks to the design of the windows, we could see above, below, and practically all around us. We got some cool footage as well, on our new hand-held gimbal.
One of our absolutely favorite canyons to visit is the magnificent Zion. Its massive and naturally air-conditioned environment with unique terrain is unlike any other. Various forms of wildlife exist inside, including turkeys, deer, moose, chipmunks, mountain goats, and many birds. Occasionally, you may look on the canyon walls, and see professional mountain climbers scaling up and down.
This canyon is unlike many others in the area, as it features a lodge with hotel rooms, usually upwards of $200 per night, for two people. Because we’re just over a one-hour drive away, JennMarie and I like to go for day trips at Zion on a regular basis, and many of our guests do, as well.
The Narrows hiking trail is actually a wet and wild experience. You’ll be trekking through the Virgin River, as it flows through Zion. Highly recommended, for healthy and agile explorers.
When visiting, you may park at nearly any shoulder off the main road, which zig-zags through the canyon, or you might also park at the visitor’s center. Hop aboard the free shuttle to travel to many of the hiking trails. Popular trails include: Angel’s Landing, Emerald Pools, the Narrows, Observation Point, and Weeping Rock. Check out these great photos, here on our blog, as well as the video link of Weeping Rock, below. The sun light coming through the clouds, as drip water seeped in front of us like a veener, led to some beautiful video.
In early September 2018, Utah experienced a couple days of massive, monsoon rain, which caused flash flooding and rock falls in Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. Such rainfall is rare, but will render some trails unsafe. The park received nearly 3 inches of rain in three hours on a Wednesday night. Now, many of the hiking trails have re-opened.
[envira-gallery id=”689″]
REMEMBER: Hike on days when flash flood warnings are not in effect, to keep your risk to a minimum. Keep your balance when going up in elevation. Pack snacks and water. Get food, drinks, and beer at the cafeteria in the lodge. Take your trash with you as you hike in the trails, and don’t feed wildlife.
On busier days, multitudes of people come to visit Antelope Canyon, and whomever has promoted the walking tours has done an excellent job, as sometimes there are tourists turned away for lack of space. Perhaps, waiting for an hour or two for an opening, and then being squeezed in with a crowd of 25 people isn’t your idea of a great time? And perhaps you have the energy and endurance needed to get a good 2 to 3 hour paddle on a kayak? If so, do we have an idea for you…
[envira-gallery id=”541″]
Use your national parks pass to enter into Antelope Marina, just north of the walking tours on road #222, east of Page, Arizona. After you park in the lot, go down the ramp to the docks (and be early). You should be able to find single, double, and perhaps triple kayak rentals. You are able to rent them for a half- or full-day and then go west and south (left on the map, as a bird’s eye view) and then you’re entering the water-filled part of Antelope Canyon.
After paddling for about an hour, you should be able to park your kayak to the dried area of the canyon (perhaps some mud, at first) and then walk into it for much longer than a walking tour would allow. This area of the canyon is more remote and doesn’t have restroom or drinking water, so pack snacks and stay hydrated. If renting a kayak, be sure to give yourself up to 2 hours to return to the docks.
Rates are subject to change, but ask us for a brochure when you check in at Liberty Vacation Rentals. We still recommend this travel tip to all our guests, and they all tell us that it’s even better than just doing the walking tour.
