Travel the Trails

Trip 4: US-89N: Cameron to Page/Lake Powell

81 miles (130 km) from Cameron to Page/Lake Powell

Disclaimer: NANACT trip guides are based on information from Native Roads: The Complete Motoring Guide to the Navajo & Hopi Nations, 2nd Edition by Fran Kosik (Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2005). Some information may have changed since the publication of the book. While NANACT will attempt to maintain current information, consider verifying the current operation/existence of businesses, accommodations, dining and similar interests before planning your trip.

Scenic & Historic:

MM 467 Cameron Trading Post (West)

The Cameron Trading Post, once known as the Little Colorado Trading Post, is now owned and operated by Joe Atkinson, the grand nephew of the Richardsons.

Cameron is named for Ralph Cameron, a former U.S. senator and friend of the Richardsons. Before becoming a senator, Ralph and his brother Niles supervised the 1899 construction of the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon. Originally developed to serve Cameron’s mines and others in the Grand Canyon, the trail was first taken over by Coconino County and, finally, by the National Park Service.

Services in Cameron

Cameron Trading Post and Motel: Rates are based on amenities and season. All rooms in the summer are booked by 4 p.m. (MST). Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available with access to the gardens and the Little Colorado River viewpoint. Check their website for accurate, up-to-date rates: www.camerontradingpost.com. For reservations, call (800) 338-7385, (928) 679-2231. RV Park: Full hookup includes water, electricity, and dump station, but there are no public restrooms or showers.

Cameron Trading Post Dining Room: Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 6 a.m.–10 p.m (MST) in the summer and 7 a.m.–9 p.m. in the winter.

MM 467 Little Colorado River

The Little Colorado originates at Mt. Baldy in Arizona’s White Mountains and travels northward to Joseph City, Winslow, and Wupatki National Monument before reaching the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

MM 467 Tanner's Crossing

Until 1912, the only way across the dangerous Little Colorado River in this area was Tanner’s Crossing, six miles (9.7 km) upriver from Cameron. The name for the crossing comes from Seth Tanner, one of the original Mormon settlers of Tuba City and an incessant explorer. In 1911, the Bureau of Indian Affairs hired the Midland Bridge Co. to build a one-lane iron suspension bridge over the Little Colorado’s gorge.

The original bridge still stands directly west of the modern highway bridge along U.S. 89 at Cameron.

MM 474 Ward Terrace (East)

Named for Lester Ward, a paleobotanist who found an extensive fossil field in this area in 1899. One of the dinosaurs he found was the water-dwelling phytosaur.

MM 474 Shadow Mountain (West)

This dark, mysterious-looking mound to the west is a volcanic cinder cone.

MM 486 Moenave (East)

Set against the backdrop of Moenave Sandstone cliffs, Moenave is a green oasis with springs fed from the Kaibito Plateau.

MM 486 Hamblin Ridge (East)

Composed of Moenave Sandstone, these red rocks serve as a backdrop for Moenave. Hamblin Ridge ends at The Gap, where the Echo Cliffs begin.

Mile 486.5 Badlands of the Painted Desert (East)

The Painted Desert is a swatch of color that runs northwest all the way from the Petrified National Forest near Holbrook, passes to the north of Winslow at the Little Painted Desert County Park, skirts around the edges of Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments, and extends to the Echo Cliffs on U.S. 89.

MM 487 Willow Springs (East)

A constant source of water from the Kaibito Plateau made Willow Springs a lush farming area for the Havasupai and a popular water stop for Mormon pioneers and prospectors.

Mile 488.5 Hidden Springs (West)

Hidden Springs is the home of the 240-member San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, which did not obtain federal recognition as a tribe until 1990, despite having occupied Hidden Springs since before Navajos arrived in this region.

MM 498 The Gap Trading Post (West)

“The Gap” refers to the huge break in the Echo Cliffs. In 1957, before completion of Highway 89 through Antelope Pass, the dirt road across from the trading post was the only route to the Glen Canyon Dam site.

The trading post is open from 7.a.m. to 9 p.m. (MDT). (928) 283-8932.

MM 504 Echo Cliffs (East)

This ancient monocline, running north-south along U.S. Highway 89, is the result of a major uplift rising more than 1,300 feet (396 m) through a vertical fault. The Echo Cliffs expose most of the geologic members of the Glen Canyon Group except the Wingate Sandstone. At the bottom of the cliff is the Moenave Formation, then the Kayenta Formation. At the top is Navajo Sandstone.

MM 525 Bitter Springs, Junction of US 89 AND US 89A (West)

Bitter Springs is a Navajo tribal housing project whose water, despite its name, really does not taste bad.

Bear right and proceed through Antelope Pass to go to Page/Lake Powell. To build Highway 89 to Page, this three-hundred-foot (91 m) cut was made through the Echo Cliffs at an elevation of 6,533 feet (1,992 m).

If you are continuing on U.S. 89A to Lees Ferry, Jacob Lake, and the North Rim, turn to page 73 to continue your tour.

MM 527 Scenic Overlook (West)

MANY Jewelry stands here This is one of several fine panoramic vistas along this route. Looking due west, you can see the Colorado River Gorge etched into the Marble Plateau of House Rock Valley. The cliffs to the north are the Vermilion Cliffs, named by John Wesley Powell for their bright red color.

MM 531 Navajo Mountain (East)

Navajo Mountain, just north of the Arizona-Utah border, has strong spiritual significance to all Indian tribes living on the Colorado Plateau. Rising to an elevation of 10,416 feet (3,177 m), Navajo Mountain can be seen throughout the Four Corners area.

US-89 Loop through Page

Situated atop Manson Mesa at 4,300 feet, Page got its start in 1957 as the staging site for the construction of Glen Canyon Dam. The land was part of the Navajo Reservation, but the Navajos traded the Page site for oil-rich land in Utah. The first homes built in Page were for Bureau of Reclamation employees. It wasn’t until 1975 that Page incorporated as a city on 16.7 acres (0.7 sq km) donated by the Bureau of Reclamation. The town is named for John Page, commissioner of the bureau under the Franklin Roosevelt administration from 1937 to 1943.

Powell Museum

At the corner of Lake Powell Boulevard and North Navajo Drive, open noon–5 p.m. (MST) on Sundays and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (MST) Monday through Saturday from June to September. The museum offers educational displays about Powell’s two trips down the uncharted Colorado River. Memorabilia about the founding of Page and the ethnohistory of native cultures are on display. River trips, jeep tours, and boat tours can be arranged here. (928) 645-9496.

Interesting Side Tour: Antelope Canyon

One of the rare geologic features of this region is the slot canyon. Sculptured salmon colored canyons the width of a hallway are formed when a crack in the sandstone allows water to flow into and enlarge the crack over thousands of years. As water passes through the irregular crack, racing water places force unevenly, leading to a hollowing effect. This is a wonderful challenge with great rewards for photographers. Slot canyons allow diffuse sunlight to filter through, filling them with pastel hues of incredible beauty. To tour slot canyons on the Navajo Nation, contact Navajo Parks and Recreation at (928) 698-2808. Commercial tours are also available from Antelope Canyon Adventures, (928) 645-5501 or www.jeeptour.com; or Duck Tours, (928) 645-2955.

Services in Page

Lodging and Restaurants Page has an excellent website at www.page-lakepowell.com, or call the Page Chamber of Commerce, (888) 261-PAGE.

Camping Page-Lake Powell Campground is located on Arizona Highway 98, less than one mile (1.6 km) south of town. Tents and RVs. Showers available.

Health Services Page Hospital, 24-hour emergency care, (928) 645-2424.

NOTE: Resume travel on U.S. Highway 89 North; turn right to continue to Lake Powell.

Glen Canyon Bridge

This suspension bridge stands seven hundred feet (213 m) above the Colorado River, making it the highest steel-arch bridge in the world. Completed in 1959, the bridge links Highway 89 in Arizona with the Utah side and spans Glen Canyon, named by John Wesley Powell.

The Navajos refer to the Colorado River below as “life without end.” It’s a female being who marries the male waters of the Little Colorado and the San Juan River.

Glen Canyon Dam

This was the last dam to be built on the Colorado River and is considered a major engineering triumph. Started in 1956, the dam rises 638 feet (194.5 m) above the Colorado River and produces more than 1,288,000 kilowatts of hydroelectric power per day. Self-guided tours of the dam are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (MST) every day.

Carl Hayden Visitors Center

Just over the Glen Canyon Bridge is the visitors center for the Glen Canyon Recreation Area. Perched on the very edge of the cliff, the center’s massive windows let you peer down into the canyon for a good view of the lake, Glen Canyon Dam, and the chasm of Glen Canyon. The National Park Service operates the information desk and will answer your questions about boating, camping, hiking, and fishing in the Glen Canyon Recreation Area. Open 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (MST) in the summer and 8 p.m.–5 p.m. (MST) the rest of the year.

Scenic Detour on Lake Shore Drive

Take a right out of the visitors center onto Highway 89, and follow signs to Wahweap Marina. There are no mile markers, so set your odometer to zero. Entrance fees per vehicle: $10 for seven days; if you bring a boat it is an additional $4 for seven days. The National Parks Pass ($50) is accepted here.

Lake Powell

The result of building Glen Canyon Dam was, of course, the birth of Lake Powell, named after John Wesley Powell, the one-armed Civil War hero who in 1869 became the first to navigate the entire length of the uncharted Colorado River. He repeated the feat in 1871, and ten years later he became the director of both the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Ethnology. Even though Powell was responsible for naming the Grand Canyon (almost named “Big Canyon” by another surveyor) and other landmarks on the Colorado Plateau, he did not place his own name on anything.

Lake Powell is more than 180 miles (290 km) long and has more miles of coastline than California. The lake dazzles the eye with its combination of blue water, white clouds, and red rocks. Fishing for striped bass is popular. Rainbow trout do not survive in the warm lake water. They live below the dam in the Colorado River. It is still possible to enjoy many of the back canyons of Glen Canyon via the lake. Some ruins and petroglyphs can be seen if you rent a boat or take the Wahweap tour boat.

Lake Powell Boat Tours

Make arrangements at Wahweap Lodge, or for advance reservations contact Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, 2916 N. 35th Avenue, Ste. 8, Phoenix, AZ 85017-5261, (800) 528-6154. All tours have water, coffee, and lemonade, and restrooms. No pets allowed. Paddle wheeler cruise around Wahweap Bay (one hour); dinner cruise on Canyon King paddle wheel (2.5 hours); all-day tour to Rainbow Bridge (7.5 hours, includes lunch); Navajo tapestry tour of Navajo Canyon (3 hours); Antelope Canyon (1.5 hours); Colorado River Wilderness float trips from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry (approximately 6 hours).

Lake Powell Lodging

Wahweap Lodge Luxurious accommodations with views of Wahweap Bay and Castle Rock from your room. Reservations: (800) 528-6154, or in Page, (928) 645-2433. The lodge has an excellent restaurant called The Rainbow Room, which overlooks the lake. Open from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner. Reservations are not accepted. (928) 645-2433

Lake Powell Motel Past the Glen Canyon Dam on U.S. 89 north, four miles (6.5 km). Moderately priced. Reservations: (928) 645-2477.

Lake Powell Boat Rentals

at Stateline Marina Drive five miles (8 km) north on Stateline Drive. Ski boats sixteen to twenty feet (5–6 m) long and wave runners can be rented at Stateline. It is a good idea to make reservations at least one or two days before you arrive at Lake Powell during the high season from May 15 through October 14. Houseboats 36 and 44 feet (11–14 m) long are available to rent for two, three, or five days. Prices vary depending on size and time of year. Reservations for houseboats are recommended at least six months in advance. Call Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, 2916 N. 35th Ave., Ste. 8, Phoenix, AZ 85017-5261, (800) 528-6154.

Fishing

The best fishing is for large mouth, small mouth, and striped bass, but you can also find northern and walleye pike, catfish, crappie, and carp. Depending on where you want to fish, you may need a license for both Arizona and Utah. The southernmost part of the lake is in Arizona and the rest is in Utah. If you rent a boat at Stateline Marina, you are in Utah. Fishing licenses are sold at Wahweap, Stateline Marina, or any sporting goods store in Page.

Camping

Wahweap Campground and RV Park: First-come, first-served; drinking water; no showers or hookups. RV Park: Coin showers and laundry with hookups. Reservations (800) 528-6154.

Lone Rock: (On U.S. Hwy. 89 North at Mile 556.5) Considered a party area by most locals, this primitive camping area is loud and crowded on weekends during the summer. No running water, outhouses only. Nearby hills make this an attractive place for all-terrain vehicles, which sometimes run all night.

Accommodations (Hotels/Camping/RV Parks):

Cameron: Lodging

Cameron Trading Post (West) – Motel

Note: Motel rates are discounted in March, April, May, Sept and Oct. For more information, call (928) 679-2231, 800-338-7385.

Page & Lake Powell: Lodging

Page has an excellent website at www.page-lakepowell.com, or call the Page Chamber of Commerce, (888) 261-PAGE (Summer hrs Monday- Saturday 8am-6pm Sundays 10am-5pm. Winter hrs Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.).

Wahweap Lodge

Luxurious accommodations with views of Wahweap Bay and Castle Rock from your room. Reservations: (800) 528-6154, or in Page, (928) 645-2433.

Lake Powell Motel

Past the Glen Canyon Dam on U.S. 89 north, four miles (6.5 km). Moderately priced.

Best Western Arizona Inn - 716 Rim View Dr 928-645-2466

Best Western at Lake Powell - 208 N. Lake Powell Blvd. 928-645-5988 or 888-794-2888

Courtyard by Marriott - 600 Clubhouse Dr. www.courtyard.com 928-645-5000

Days Inn and Suites - 961 HWY 89 887-525-3769

Lake Powell Resort - 100 Lakeshore Drive 928-645-2433 1800-528-6154

Quality in at Lake Powell - 287 N Lake Powell Blvd, 928-645-8851 or 866-645-8851

Holiday Inn Express - 751 Navajo Drive, 928-645-9000

Motel 6 Page/Powell Blvd. - 928-645-5888

Super 8 Gateway - 649 S. Lake Powell Blvd., 928-645-5858

Cameron: RV Parks

RV Cameron Trading Post (West)

RV Park Full hookup includes water, electricity, and dump station, but there are no public restrooms or showers.

Page & Lake Powell: RV Parks

Wahweap Campground and RV Park

First-come, first-served; drinking water; no showers or hookups. RV Park: Coin showers and laundry with hookups. Reservations (800) 528-6154 (Message machine that will direct caller). Also, visitors can make a reservation at lakepowell.com.

Wahweap Trailer Village

928-645-1004 Page-Lake Powell Campground is located on Arizona Highway 98, less than one mile (1.6 km) south of town. Tents and RVs. Showers available.

Campgrounds

Wahweap Campground and RV Park

First-come, first-served; drinking water; no showers or hookups. RV Park: Coin showers and laundry with hookups. Reservations (800) 528-6154 (Message machine that will direct caller). Also, visitors can make a reservation at lakepowell.com.

Wahweap Trailer Village

928-645-1004 Page-Lake Powell Campground is located on Arizona Highway 98, less than one mile (1.6 km) south of town. Tents and RVs. Showers available.

Tours:

Page & Lake Powell

Antelope Canyon

~5 miles east of Page on Hwy 98. Slot canyon tours on the Navajo Nation, contact Navajo Parks and Recreation at (928) 698-2808 (message machine).

Glen Canyon Dam

This was the last dam to be built on the Colorado River and is considered a major engineering triumph. Guided tours of the dam are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (MST) every day.

Lake Powell Jeep Tours

108 Z Lake Powell Blvd. www.jeeptour.com 928-645-5505

Grand Circle Tours

www.grandcircleshuttle.com 928-645-5088 Also offer taxi services 928-645-6806

Antelope Canyon Adventures

22 S. Lake Powell Blvd 928-645-5501 or 1-866-645-5501

Navajo Tours

928-698-3384

Overland Canyon Tours

695 Navajo Drive www.overlandtours.com 928-608-4072

Boat Tours a.k.a. Aramarks Lake Resort and Marina

Offers house boats of various sizes to rent. Make arrangements at Wahweap Lodge, or for advance reservations contact Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, 2916 N. 35th Avenue, Ste. 8, Phoenix, AZ 85017-5261. For more information visit www.lakepowell.com, or call (800) 528-6154. This phone number had a message machine that offered options to be directed to different accommodations.

Boat Rentals at Stateline Marina

Drive five miles (8 km) north on Stateline Drive. Ski boats sixteen to twenty feet (5–6 m) long and wave runners can be rented at Stateline. Reservations for houseboats are recommended at least six months in advance. Call Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, 2916 N. 35th Ave., Ste. 8, Phoenix, AZ 85017-5261, (800) 528-6154 (message machine will direct caller, or go to www.lakepowell.com to make reservation).

Food & Dining:

Cameron

Cameron Trading Post (West)

Dining Room: Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 6 a.m.–10 p.m (MST) in the summer and 7 a.m.–9 p.m. in the winter. For more information, call (928) 679-2231, 800-338-7385.

Page & Lake Powell

Bella Napoli

810 N. Navajo Drive, 928-645-2706. Serves Italian dishes: Pizza, past and fresh fish. Hours 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm. Serves beer and wine only.

The Dam Bar and Grill

644 N. Navajo Drive, 928-645-2161. Sports Bar serving chicken, steak, pizza and seafood. Open at 3 pm

Ken’s Old West Restaurant and Lodge

718 Vista Ave, 928-645-5160. Upbeat western atmosphere with live county music and serves steaks, prime rib, BBQ check and seafood. Open 3pm-11:30pm

The Rainbow Room, Lake Powell Resort

100 Lakeshore Drive, 928-645-2433. Serves luncheon buffet and dinner favorites like steak, chops , pasta and trout.

Zapatas

614 N. Navajo Drive, 928-645-9006. Good selection of Mexican food.

M Bar H Café

819 N. Navajo Drive, 928-645-1420. Great Breakfast.

Strombollis Pizza

711 N. Navajo Drive, 928-645-2605. Italian food and outdoor seating.

Services (Auto/Gas/Repair/Emergency):

Cameron

Cameron Trading Post (West)

Gas station and general store. For more information, call (928) 679-2231, 800-338-7385.

Page & Lake Powell

Scenic Airlines

928-645-2494            

Great Lakes Airlines

800-554-5111 (Only airline that will take you from Phoenix to Page).   

Page Hospital

24-hour emergency care, (928) 645-2424.

Police

547 Vista Ave 928-645-2463

Arizona Game and Fish

801-596-8660

Art & Culture (Galleries/Trading Posts/Museums):

Cameron           

Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise (West)

Owned and operated by the Navajo Nation. It offers quality handmade Navajo jewelry, rugs, and pottery, as well as unusual T-shirts and sweatshirts. Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (observes DST).

Cameron Visitors Center (West)

If you are planning to camp or hike on the Navajo Reservation you must obtain a permit. Camping permits are $5 per person per night. A backcountry permit for hiking is $5 per person, $10 for 2–10 people, and $20 for more than 10 people. The permit is good for 14 days. For more information, contact Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 308, Window Rock, AZ 86515. (928) 871-6645, 928-679-2303, www.navajonationparks.org.

Cameron Trading Post (West)

For sale are unusual items like a Spanish silver horse halter, silver jewelry, and concho belts dating back to the 1860s. Every October, the trading post holds an auction of old beadwork, pottery, rugs, baskets, dead pawn, and modern Navajo rugs and jewelry. Also has a motel, restaurant, gas station, and general store. For more information, call (928) 679-2231, 800-338-7385.

The Gap – Hwy 89N

MM 498 The Gap Trading Post (West)

Not really a trading post, they have few items. There is no gas, but there is a station across the road. Summer hours 8am-8pm (MDT). Winter (can change) 8am-6pm (928) 283-8932.

Page & Lake Powell

Navajo Village Heritage Center

531 Haul Rd. Three hour “evening with the Navajo Grand Tour” includes 2 hrs of cultural entertainment and a Navajo taco dinner around a camp fire. Open April – October. 928-660-0304

Permissions

• Trip information is condensed with permission from Native Roads: The Complete Motoring Guide to the Navajo and Hopi Nations, by Fran Kosik, Rio Nuevo Publishers, Tucson, Arizona, 2005. Trip numbers generally coincide with chapter number in the book. Fran's full book contains much more wonderful information on traveling our Native roads. For more detailed information, the book can be purchased from:

  Museum of Northern Arizona bookstore, 3101 N. Ft. Valley Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001; phone #: 928-774-5213 or direct 928-774-5211 + Ext 261. Or, contact the publisher, Rio Nuevo Publishers, PO Box 5250, Tucson, Arizona 85703; phone #: 520-623-9558 or 800-969-9558. Trip numbers generally correspond to chapter numbers.