When we were here December 20th, 2021 we already knew that we had to come back, firstly because we had not seen everything yet and secondly because it’s just strikingly beautiful. 

We connected with our friend Dennis and found a date that worked for all of us. We arrived in Page on Sunday after visiting the California Condors at Marble Canyon and had an easy afternoon exploring Antelope Point Marina with its shockingly low water level – the Marina is closed because there is no access to the water anymore. We remembered when we went swimming there in 2003 when the water level of the lake was still way up. The dire situation at Lake Powell makes you wonder what the future will hold for the Lake and the Page area in general.

On Monday we leave Page at 5:45am with a full tank of gas and some fresh coffee from the gas station. We want to be at the turn-off from House Rock Road at dawn – our timing is perfect.

The drive from House Rock Road to Cottonwood Cove is a bit more challenging than last December, probably because the sand is dryer and therefore softer, but Marco brings us out there without getting stuck. We arrive at the trailhead at 8am. Temperatures today are expected to be in the low to mid-sixties (15-18 Celsius), although it was below freezing early morning. A great day with ideal weather conditions, good company and a magical environment lies ahead of us.

We head in more to the east than last time and start exploring the area eastward from there, revisiting some of the formation (buttes) we saw in December with snow and exploring new areas all the way to the “Southern Wave”. Every time we turn corners there is another “wow”.

Towards noon a few clouds start showing up and early afternoon the light is getting worse, so it is time to slowly turn around and make our way back to the car. 

Marco is again mastering the quite technical drive back to House Rock Road where we head north towards 89 – this time House Rock Road is dry and we can get through without any hassle. 

It’s been another amazing day and it might not be too long before we are back. The area is huge and there is so much to see.