Day 150 – Windy last night but it was still out this morning. At 8 a.m. it was 36 degrees, sunny & clear. We packed up to leave Lake Powell and departed at 11:05 (after dumping and getting fresh water for our next stop).
155 miles
Wahweap Campground & RV Park, 100 Lakeshore Drive, Page, AZ 86040, (928) 645-1059 or (800) 528-6154, www.lakepowell.com. Check-out time is 11 a.m. This campground is affiliated with the Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, managed by Aramark, an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, AZ/UT. It was right on Lake Powell with beautiful canyons and rock formations around us. Perfectly maintained, it seemed fairly new or recently updated. Very large with 9 loops spread out over a terraced hill, almost every campsite had a good view. At this time of year, 2 full hook-up loops were open plus 1 loop for tents or self-contained RV’s. The full hook-up loops were about 1/3 occupied. The tent or self-contained RV loop was almost empty. We chose this loop and saved $20 per night (off-season rates were $52 per night for full hook-ups – $47 with senior or AAA discount and $30 per night for tents or self-contained RV’s – $27 with senior or AAA discount). We had a beautiful view of the Lake & sat outside everyday in the afternoon. The campground was very conveniently located to Page, AZ with all the stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc. needed, yet not too close to anything which detracted from the beauty of the area. Glen Canyon dam (with daily tours) and other interesting attractions are close by. That said, it obviously is an extremely popular place in the Summer and other months (March through November are considered high season). All the parking lots at the marinas, lodges, and the campground are very large. There is space for hundreds of boats & an amazing amount of houseboats of all sizes are in storage, waiting for rental season. Back to the campground, all the amenities are offered, from laundry to campstore to dump station. The internet & cell phone connections were excellent, for a change. We had site #99 in loop 4. We would definitely stay here again. (And for those with larger RV’s, yes, you can fit here.)
We drove west on Highway 89N and very soon entered Utah. Some of this territory we’d covered previously on our drive to and from Pahreah, so we won’t repeat descriptions of the scenery nor the pictures. It was lovely beyond Pahreah, quite similar to where we’d been camping except Lake Powell was no longer visible.
We turned onto 89A south at Kanab, UT and that took us back into Arizona for about 45 minutes as we went from the 89A to the 389 west & north, entering Utah again when Route 389 became Route 59 at Colorado City. The cliffs immediately became mostly red in color again and we stopped beside the road, below a cliff, for lunch. Java didn’t want to take a break if it meant her losing the “princess” spot in the bedroom.
Java, traveling in style
Heading north on the 59 we soon came to an incredibly beautiful area around the city of Hurricane. The road ran along a rocky, red hill and descended with gorgeous scenery all around the city. Then we passed the Virgin River, very pretty, and the city of La Verkin, and turned east on Route 9, which travels through Zion National Park after going thru the cities of Rockville & Springdale.
Click any picture below to see a slideshow.
On Route 9 as we approached Springdale, our socks were once again knocked off our feet when we saw the gorgeous cliffs surrounding this City. Soon thereafter, you pass the south entrance to Zion NP, and Springdale is obviously the go-to place for lodging, restaurants, shopping, etc., and it is quite trendy – a lovely city, really. The narrow two-lane road which goes through it must be a drag during the summer, though.
We entered Zion and soon turned off for our campground, Watchman Campground, one of several National Park campgrounds, and the only one open this time of year. It was 2:50 p.m., 58 degrees, sunny & clear. Only two loops were open (one for tent camping and one for RV’s) and there were only 31 sites in the A Loop, the one for the larger vehicles. The campsites in this loop were already more than half taken; we managed to grab a site at one end with no one on one side of us, probably because it was a Wednesday. We chose site #A18 ($15 per night with the America-the-Beautiful senior pass). By evening the campground was almost full. The campsites were a little close together but situated so that the people next to you weren’t directly looking into most of your windows, unlike parking lot campgrounds. Partial hook-ups (electric only). Water and a dump station are provided close by. Loop A has just been updated and was spotlessly clean. They are in the process of updating the larger Loop B this season, so there is machinery noise, but it’s not too bad. (Sitting in a little valley completely surrounded by tall, red cliffs helps, LOL.) We unpacked and settled in with time to sit outside and relax. The girls liked it here right away – loving the open windows and the sunlight.
This traveling report has become so professional !!! Enjoying them… Better plan now for your Chinese New Year celebrations 🙂