Wednesday, June 17, 2015

From Page to Navajo National Monument

 

After leaving the North Rim, in the rain of course as a fitting ending to our week there, we headed toward Page, AZ  where we enjoyed staying on Lone Rock Beach a couple times previously. The drive was just beautiful. It seems we always forget how scenic this area is.

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This time we knew we would need to run the air conditioner so we stopped at Page- Lake Powell Campground, which actually wasn’t a bad place to spend the night. I forgot to take photos, but we got a water and electric site for $23.97, and used their very nice and cheap laundry room, fitness center, which actually had some decent equipment, and showers. It was 97 in Page that afternoon so in the early evening we took a drive to the Glen Canyon Dam and Colorado River overlook, where we took a short walk.

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The following day we headed off east to check out Navajo National Monument. I’ve read about it on a couple other blogs, including our friends Don and Dorothy, who said good things about it. We have a standing joke that if they like a place, we won’t, and vice versa, but we agree with them on this one. For a free place to spend the night and learn about the Ancestral Puebloans who inhabited the canyon cliffs it’s definitely worth the 9 mile drive off Highway 160. The 30 site campground has paved sites with maybe a half dozen that we would fit in and get relatively level, but it is better suited for tent and van camping. They offer drinking water, flush toilets, and trash cans. The sign at the turn off on 160 states RV length limit is 28’ but we had no trouble getting our 30’ around the loop, and I read a review from someone with a 35’ motorhome who stayed there. The trick is to arrive early in the afternoon before people start coming in for the night. And we had a few bars of 4G with the booster.

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At 7,300’ we were hoping for a little cooler weather, but it actually got into the mid 80s. We walked to the visitor center and looked at the exhibits, then took the trails to the Betatakin overlook and canyon view. The ancient peoples picked a lovely canyon to build their cliff dwellings, where they lived from 1250-1300. It is thought that drought may have contributed to their leaving, but food was left in the dwellings indicating they may have planned to return.

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The ruins in the alcoves across the canyon were barely visible with the naked eye.

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The park offers guided ranger hikes to the Betatakin ruins, but I couldn’t get myself moving to make the 5 mile round trip 8 AM hike. There was another more strenuous 3 mile hike at 10 but it was already so hot we decided against that, too. You can also hike down to the Keet Seel ruins for a 14 mile round trip hike. There’s a primitive campground down there so it doesn’t have to be done in one day but does require a permit and a ranger will meet you at the ruins for a tour. There must be a way to drive down.

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Our day ended with a beautiful sunset. This is a good place to spend a night or two if you’re traveling between Page and the Four Corners area.

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15 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos. I had not heard of the Navajo NM so I was glad to learn about it from you.
    Thanks.
    I hope your tick bite has healed well.

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  2. Been out of Internet contact for a while but finally Catching up. Have totally enjoyed your trip past Grand Canyon to here. Hope you bought a big beer stash.

    Nina

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    1. We have beer but unfortunately just not as good as what we found in SD.

      Jim

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  3. Been out if Internet contact for weeks, but finally catching up. Have totally enjoyed your trip past Grand Canyon to here. Hope you bought along a big beer stash.

    Nina

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  4. Oh how I don't like the looks of that bridge.

    The sun reflecting off the rock is gorgeous!

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  5. Some great canyon shots…
    And, I hope I'm wrong about Cedaredge :)

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  6. Looks like some very intact ruins, they even look like they have roofs! That is just too hot, I hope you find cooler weather soon.

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  7. Gorgeous pictures. Page is on my to-do list!!

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  8. Catching up on blogs brings back so many good memories. You are catching up and so an I on reading them. We hope to be on the road sooooon, to see family. I've been in a rut, and reading all the blogs is like we are traveling with you. Vicariously, as some of our friends say about our blog. It is great to read other peoples views of some of the places we have been to. And new places to look forward to. I don't think we will able to do many of the hikes you took us to with you wonderful pictures, so we will enjoy those for now.

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  9. The Page-Lake Powell Campground is one our favorites. We haven't been there in over two years. Your photos are beautiful:) Gee, I didn't know about Navajo NM. I'll have to remember that for a future trip. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. I love native ruins and these are beautiful. Nice to find some pretty drives when the temps get that warm. Beautiful sunsets :-)

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  11. What gorgeous photos. I love Ancestral Puebloan dwellings. I could definitely make that 8am hike but it still sounds like it would be better in April or October in terms of heat. Really nice campsite. Winnona is 35' but then there is Ruby too. SIGH............

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    1. Many of the sites were double-wide, like ours, so our car fit with room to spare right beside the RV.

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  12. Love all those views. Never stopped at Navajo while driving by in summer heat with no place for the dog I had at the time. Got to 99F in Kanab this afternoon but Bill and I got out for a short morning walk with Sasha. Hope you find cooler elevations.

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  13. We haven't been to Navajo NM since before our RVing days so this was a treat to see again. Your photos are lovely. As soon as I read where you are I was thinking that it must be getting rather warm outside.

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