Arizona Adventures: Sedona, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley

On March 30th, we traveled further north to Cottonwood, AZ and had a 21-night stay at Thousand Trails Verde Valley RV Resort. We had previously visited and enjoyed our time there, especially due to its proximity to one of my favorite places, Sedona. The breathtaking red rocks of Sedona never fail to captivate me. We dedicated a significant amount of time to hiking in the area, with each trail serving as a reminder of how lucky we were to experience such a remarkable location. Additionally, we embarked on a day trip to Flagstaff, where we found enough snow at Arizona Nordic Village to enjoy cross-country skiing with Myah. Despite less-than-ideal conditions, Myah had a blast chasing us through the snow, making the trip worthwhile. Our journey also led us back to nearby Jerome, the largest ghost town in America, and allowed us to explore the town of Prescott.

Cottonwood, Sedona, Flagstaff, Jerome and Prescott

Following an enjoyable 3-week stay in the Sedona region, it was time to continue our journey. Our reservation was at Trailer Village within The Grand Canyon National Park for a 4-night stay beginning on April 20th. Opting for this location was a great choice as it was only a mile away from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The park boasts an extensive multi-purpose trail that allows visitors to explore various areas within its boundaries. We utilized our bikes to explore the park from one end to the other, making stops at scenic overlooks along the route, which proved to be an excellent way to navigate the park.

Our campsite with our daily elk visitors, and cycling along the path on the South rim of the Grand Canyon.

Our hike from the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point was fun but challenging. The difficult trek was well worth it, though, as we were rewarded with amazing panoramic views. We highly recommended this hike to anyone visiting the Grand Canyon.

Ooh Aah Point hike

Our second visit to the Grand Canyon was one we'll never forget. It was convenient to stay right in the park. We felt grateful to be able to fully immerse ourselves in the grandeur of this awe-inspiring natural wonder. Cycling through the park added a new level of enjoyment to the experience. Time to move on to the next destination and the adventures that lie ahead.

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On April 24th, we traveled further north, close to the Utah border, to stay at Page Lake Powell Campground in Page, AZ for 5 nights. The main attractions in this region are Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Antelope Canyon is a tribal park, and the only way to explore it is by reserving a guided tour with one of the Navajo tour operators. The canyon is divided into 2 parts, Upper and Lower. I made reservations several months in advance for tours of both sections. We visited the Upper Canyon one day and the Lower Canyon the following day, both equally stunning. I had seen pictures of the canyon, but seeing it in person was truly amazing.The light filtering through the slots and cork-screw shapes onto the canyon walls created a surreal atmosphere, making the photos appear otherworldly.

Antelope Canyon, Lower Canyon Tour

Antelope Canyon, Upper Canyon Tour

Our visit to Horseshoe Bend was spectacular. Myah was happy to accompany us on this day, even if it was a little too hot for her liking. We can now see why this area is one of the most photographed spots in northern Arizona.

Horseshoe Bend

We spent the rest of the time exploring the Page area and nearby Kanab, UT. We hiked the popular Toadstool Hoodoos Trail and could see how the rock formations got their name.

Hiking around Page and Kanab, UT

We absolutely loved our time in Page. We were surrounded by natural beauty and interesting rock formations and surreal canyons. It was great to check off another item from my travel bucket list.

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On April 29th, we journeyed to Monument Valley and spent three nights at the Monument Valley KOA. The towering monolithic buttes dominating the landscape gave us the feeling of stepping onto a classic western movie set. This iconic location is also a Navajo Tribal Park, and we decided that horseback riding would be the ideal way to explore it.

Monument Valley near the campground

Horseback ride in Monument Valley

We checked out all the unique and interesting rock formations while driving the 17-mile loop inside the park.

Monument Valley loop drive.

We also took a day trip to Valley of the Gods, a scenic sandstone valley in southeastern Utah and hiked one of the trails. On the way back, we stopped to snap a few pictures of the famous Mexican Hat rock as it balances precipitately on the top of a large rock formation.

Valley of the Gods and Mexican Hat

No visit to Monument Valley would be complete if you didn't stop at the iconic Forrest Gump Point, the exact place where Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, decided to end his 3-year cross-country run and turn around to go home. Pat decided to step in for Forrest and recreate the moment. It is a pretty popular place on a very busy highway, so we needed to be strategic and quick while taking the pictures.

Forrest Gump Point

The three days flew by, and before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye to the state of Arizona. We really loved spending the Winter and Spring in this spectacular state. Next stop: Colorado.