Monument Valley Drive By and Lake Powell
Monument Valley, a Navajo Tribal Park, is a cluster a sandstone buttes that have appeared in numerous films and an array of still photographs, making them very recognizable. I drove in from the Utah border down route 163 watching as the flat, high desert became punctuated with blazing red outcroppings hundreds of feet tall.
Monument Valley, Arizona-Utah border
By mid-afternoon I arrived in Page, Arizona, a town which occupies an unexpectedly beautiful location on the rim of a dramatic canyon and at the head of the gorgeous Lake Powell. Much of the sandstone around Page is cross-bedded, meaning its visible layers have been tilted and swirled, making for some beautiful walks and short hikes around the canyon. After walking around the rim I crossed the dam and entered the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area which I had not been aware of. The blue and green waters of the lake were surrounded by rusted and cream swirled sandstone, a real treat.
Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
Overlook of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, Arizona
Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, Arizona
Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, Arizona
Of course I was incredibly excited to learn I could go swimming, which I did both days I was in Page. The water was a perfect 73 degrees, the beach sandy, and the views incredible.
View from the beach, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
View of the opposite shore from the water, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, Arizona
Shallows of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, Arizona
Oh the sun! Underwater at Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
Moored boats, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Center, Arizona
Excellent post!
Hi Paige! Monument Valley was gorgeous to drive through. I tried to do the off-road loop but my car wouldn’t handle it and I had to turn around. I’m sure driving in between the buttes would have been spectacular. I use an underwater camera, not my phone for the underwater shots. I had a Panasonic Lumix TS20 which I was pretty happy with until it broke.
It broke?! What are you using now?
I have a Nikon Coolpix Aw110 now. So far so good. It’s a better camera all around in theory…
Absolutely amazing shots! I’m so glad you took the route through Monument Valley! Do you use an underwater camera or your iphone in a lifeproof box? I’ve been meaning to ask you this every time you post on Instagram!