The Four Corners Area - American Southwest - page 124

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Finds Acrophobes, Beware!

If you have a fear of heights, there are a couple of places in the Page area that
you should never visit. On the other hand, if you want some great views, then
don't miss the following two scenic vistas.
As you drive down the hill from Page on Lake Powell Boulevard (the road
toward Glen Canyon Dam from Page), go straight through the intersection
instead of turning right toward the dam. Here you'll find a parking area and a
short path to a viewing platform perched on the edge of sheer cliff walls. Below
lie the clear green waters of the Colorado River, while upstream looms Glen Can-
yon Dam.
If you're up for a short hike, grab the camera and head to the Horseshoe
Bend viewpoint. Horseshoe Bend is a huge loop of the Colorado River, and
the viewpoint is hundreds of feet above the water on the edge of a cliff. It's
about a half-mile to the viewpoint from the trail head, which is 5 miles south of
the Carl Hayden Visitor Center on U.S. 89 just south of milepost 545.

trout stamp to fish for the rainbows. If you want a guide to take you where the fish are
biting, contact Bill McBurney at Ambassador Guide Service ( & 800/256-7596; www.
ambassadorguides.com).
If you're just looking for a good place for a swim near Lake Powell Resort, take the
Coves Loop just west of the marina. Of the three coves, the third one, which has a sandy
beach, is the best. The Chains area, another good place to jump off the rocks and other-
wise lounge by the lake, is outside Page down a rough dirt road just before you reach
Glen Canyon Dam. Although the desert may not immediately jump to mind when
considering a scuba-diving vacation, the view underwater at Lake Powell is as scenic as
the view above it. To explore the underwater regions of the canyon, contact Twin Finn
Diving Center, 811 Vista Ave. ( & 928/645-3114; www.twinfinn.com), which charges
$45 a day for scuba gear and also rents snorkeling equipment.

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OTHER OUTDOOR PURSUITS
If you're looking for a quick, easy hike with great views, head north on North Navajo
Drive from downtown Page. At the end of this street is the main trail head for Page's
Rimview Trail. This trail runs along the edge of Manson Mesa, upon which Page is built,
and has views of Lake Powell and miles of red-rock country. The entire loop trail is 8
miles long, but if you want to do a shorter hike, we recommend the stretch of trail head-
ing east (clockwise) from the trail head. If you happen to have your mountain bike with
you, the trail is a great ride.
At Lees Ferry, a 39-mile drive from Page at the southern tip of the national recreation
area, you'll find three short trails (Cathedral Wash, River, and Spencer). The 2-mile
Cathedral Wash Trail is the most interesting of the three day hikes and follows a dry
wash through a narrow canyon with unusual rock formations. The trail head is at the
second turnout after turning off U.S. 89A. Be aware that this wash is subject to flash
floods. The River Trail is a 2-mile round-trip hike along the river and starts at the boat
ramp. The Spencer Trail, which begins along the River Trail, leads up to the top of a
1,700-foot cliff for spectacular views of Marble Canyon. Lees Ferry is also the southern
trail head for famed Paria Canyon , a favorite of canyoneering backpackers. This trail