Grand Circle · Page, AZ & Kanab, UT
Beyond the Wave
The Wave sits at the center of one of the most concentrated collections of natural wonders on Earth. Whether you win a permit or not, you're within reach of a week's worth of extraordinary experiences.
From Page, AZ
Page is built on a plateau above the Colorado River. Within 30 minutes you have three of the most photographed natural features in the American Southwest.
Antelope Canyon
~20 min from PageGuided tour required (Navajo Nation)
Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are the world's most-photographed slot canyons. The smooth, wave-like walls and the iconic shaft of light through the narrow opening are unlike anything else on the Colorado Plateau. Tours depart from Page and require advance booking — especially popular slots sell out months ahead.
AntelopeCanyon.AZ →Horseshoe Bend
~5 min from PageOpen daily · $10/vehicle entry
The Colorado River wraps 270 degrees around a sandstone butte in a meander so dramatic it seems impossible. The overlook is a 1.5-mile round-trip walk from the parking area. The edge is unfenced — keep well back. Best photographed in late afternoon when light fills the canyon.
HorseshoeBend.com →Lake Powell / Glen Canyon
~15 min from PageNPS entry fee required
The second-largest reservoir in the US, formed by Glen Canyon Dam. Wahweap Marina (near Page) offers boat tours, kayak rentals, and houseboat charters. Antelope Canyon's water-accessible canyons — Antelope Canyon X and others — are reached only by boat. The Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center is free.
Antelope Canyon Boat Tours →Monument Valley
~2.5 hr from PageNavajo Nation Parks fee + guided tour
The iconic red mittens and buttes of Monument Valley straddle the Utah–Arizona border on Navajo Nation land. Jeep tours and guided horseback rides depart from The View Hotel and the Visitor Center. A full-day outing from Page.
From Kanab, UT
Kanab is arguably the best-positioned town in Utah for a Grand Circle road trip. National parks ring it in every direction.
Zion National Park
~40 min westNPS entry fee ($35/vehicle) · Shuttle required spring–fall
America's most-visited canyon park and one of the most spectacular places on Earth. Angels Landing (permit required), The Narrows (wading slot canyon), Canyon Overlook Trail (no permit), and the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway with its tunnel through the canyon wall. Reserve shuttles and Angels Landing permits in advance.
Bryce Canyon National Park
~1 hr northeastNPS entry fee ($35/vehicle) · Shuttle recommended summer
The world's largest concentration of hoodoos — thin columns of eroded limestone formed by frost weathering. Rim Trail walks the canyon edge past hundreds of these formations. Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop descend into the canyon. Sunrise and Sunset Points live up to their names.
Grand Staircase–Escalante NM
Borders Kanab to the eastFree · Some areas require permits
1.8 million acres of canyons, arches, and wilderness beginning at Kanab's eastern edge. Cottonwood Canyon Road connects Kanab to the Escalante Canyons through remote backcountry. The wave of Coyote Gulch and the slot canyons of Grand Staircase rival anything in the national parks system — with a fraction of the crowds.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
~15 min north of KanabUtah State Parks entry fee
Coral-colored dunes formed by eroding Navajo sandstone, reaching up to 590 feet. OHV rentals available. The contrast between the pink sand and the red canyon walls is surreal. Easy half-day outing from Kanab — great for kids.
Sample Itineraries
3 Days — Wave Focus
- Day 1: Arrive Page. Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon tour, permit pick-up setup.
- Day 2: Wave lottery attempt #1. If no permit: Buckskin Gulch or Antelope Canyon boat tour.
- Day 3: Wave lottery attempt #2 or drive Kanab for White Pocket tour.
5 Days — Wave + Parks
- Day 1: Arrive Las Vegas. Drive to Zion (~2.5 hr). Afternoon hike.
- Day 2: Zion (Angels Landing or Narrows). Drive Kanab.
- Day 3: Kanab — Wave lottery. White Pocket or Coral Pink Sand Dunes.
- Day 4: Kanab — Wave lottery again. Bryce Canyon day trip (~1 hr).
- Day 5: Drive Page. Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend. Depart.
7 Days — Grand Circle
- Day 1–2: Fly Phoenix. Drive Sedona → Page via US-89.
- Day 2: Antelope Canyon. Set up walk-in lottery.
- Day 3–4: Wave lottery attempts from Kanab. Coral Pink Sand Dunes.
- Day 5: Bryce Canyon.
- Day 6: Zion National Park.
- Day 7: Drive Las Vegas. Depart.
Frequently asked questions
What else is near The Wave worth visiting?+
From Page, AZ: Antelope Canyon (20 min), Horseshoe Bend (5 min), Lake Powell (15 min). From Kanab, UT: Zion National Park (40 min), Bryce Canyon (~1 hr), Grand Staircase–Escalante, Coral Pink Sand Dunes (15 min). Within 2 hours you can reach some of the most visited natural wonders in the world.
Can I do The Wave and Antelope Canyon on the same trip?+
Yes — this is one of the most popular Southwest combinations. Antelope Canyon is 20 minutes from Page. Book Antelope Canyon tours in advance (especially Upper Canyon) as popular slots sell out months ahead. If you're waiting on Wave permits, use non-permit days for Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell.
Can I see Zion National Park and The Wave on the same trip?+
Easily. Zion is 40 minutes from Kanab. Base yourself in Kanab, enter the Wave walk-in lottery each day, and use non-permit days for Zion. Many visitors combine Zion + The Wave as a 4–5 day Kanab-based trip.
What is the best order to see these places on a road trip?+
Most visitors flying into Las Vegas: Zion → Kanab (Wave attempts + White Pocket) → Page (Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend) → fly out via Phoenix or Las Vegas. Flying into Phoenix: Page first, then Kanab, then Zion, then back to Las Vegas. The loop is roughly 900 miles and works in either direction.