High temperatures dashed our hopes of taking a tour at Glen Canyon Dam, but we explored the visitor center displays to learn about how the dam was built and operates. Lake Powell is not only impressively large, it’s also immensely beautiful. The bright blue and turquoise water is such a clear contrast to the barren white, orange and red rocks.

Turquoise Lake Powell water in the foreground with a vast red and orange desert canyon landscape spreading out behind
Turquoise water in the foreground where the lake was shallow. Dark blue in the deep areas.

Since it was a blazing hot and sunny day, we thought it might be a good idea to go on a hike! I’m kidding! Well, about the “good idea” part anyway. It actually turned out just fine. The hike was beside the lake and just a short distance to see a “Hanging Garden”. We shared an umbrella, took extra water, and planned to jump into the lake afterwards.

Boy with a walking stick standing in the cool alcove under a massive red rock overhang covered in green plants on the Hanging Garden trail in Page Arizona
The cool alcove of the vertical “garden”
Little girl holding a colorful umbrella standing on a stone-lined trail overlooking a red rock desert canyon in Page Arizona
Hiker with a walking stick following a stone-lined trail winding across a desert hillside in Page Arizona
One of the more interesting trails we’ve hiked. The path was nicely lined out in stones.
Swirling sculpted red sandstone formations on the shore overlooking turquoise Lake Powell water in Page Arizona
Time for a cool dip!
Turquoise lake water framed by sculpted red sandstone cliffs under a blue sky at Lake Powell in Page Arizona
Layered sandstone cliff with a large overhanging rock under a blue sky in the desert near Page Arizona
People swimming in calm turquoise water at a swimming spot with red canyon cliffs rising in the background at Lake Powell in Page Arizona
Sweeping sandstone shoreline at the swimming spot with the Glen Canyon Dam visible in the distance across the water in Page Arizona
A view of the dam from the swimming spot.

We’d passed by Lone Rock Beach coming into town. We’d heard it was a great camping spot, so we stopped by to check it out. The kids had a quick swim, too. The view there was gorgeous, but the swimming was better, in my opinion, near the dam.

Colorful beach umbrella on the sand at Lone Rock Beach with the towering Lone Rock formation rising from the turquoise water of Lake Powell
Boy splashing into the lake while another child swims, desert canyon cliffs lining the far shore at Lone Rock Beach in Page Arizona
Kayaker paddling across calm lake water with golden rock formations stretching across the background at Lake Powell in Page Arizona
Lone Rock, the large isolated formation rising from the lake in warm evening light at Lake Powell in Page Arizona