Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon
The red soil of northern Arizona was something that always fascinated me. Who would’ve thought that a little bit of oxidized iron (aka rust!) would be enough to completely change how my home state feels.
The one thing that was familiar about Page, Arizona was it’s distinctive lack of vegetation. The view was immaculate, completely clear of trees, bushes, and even the weather was cooperating during this trip. It was in mid-March, meaning that the mornings were brisk enough for a jacket, but come afternoon, it was the perfect temperature to go swimming — even though I went swimming inside.
Our time in Page was spent exploring the tiny town, hiking up to the edge of Horseshoe Bend, taking a tour of Antelope Canyon and fishing in Lake Powell — Not entirely my cup of tea, but all a part of the experience! During this time, the water levels were a little lower than normal, which you can see evidence of in the lower left corner of the image above. The pale, white stone is an indicator of where the water once used to sit. Unfortunately, as droughts in the Southwestern states becomes worse, this phenomenon will become more and more common.
Simultaneously both the highlight and lowlight of this trip was the tour taken through Antelope Canyon. Much like the other natural landmarks scattered throughout northern Arizona, Antelope Canyon was formed over thousands — if not millions — of years through water and wind erosion.
What we have today is a beautiful, winding canyon that people like you and me are able to walk through. While I certainly admired its beauty, what I didn’t admire was the close proximity and high (unscalable) walls that stood around me.
By the time the tour was halfway over, I was beginning to grow anxious. I’m not someone who experiences claustrophobia all too often, but this was one of the times were I did. I’m incredibly glad I got the opportunity to explore this natural beauty, but — you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it a million times.
If you ever happen to find yourself along the border of Arizona and Utah and stop by in Page, I certainly recommend exploring these beauties and getting to experience them yourself. I love the photographs I captured there, however, my lack of appropriate equipment means I wasn’t able to do these locations justice. One day, I may return and be able to capture award-winning images!
https://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/horseshoe-bend.htm
https://www.antelopecanyon.com/
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