The canyon country of northern Arizona and southern Utah offers some of America’s most impressive vistas. It seems that every twist in the road opens travelers to yet another breathtaking view.

During a mid-May trip through the Southwest, we drove to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and stopped for two nights at Lake Powell Resort in Page, Arizona, where we scheduled two boat tours on Lake Powell. These proved to be two highlights of our 12-day trip.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area stretches from northern Arizona through southern Utah. The recreation area was established in 1972 due to the 1956 construction of Glen Canyon Dam that backs up the Colorado River and its tributaries for 185 miles. The landscapes in this area are simply amazing.

One of our boat tours was to Rainbow Bridge while the other was a shorter but still impressive Canyons Adventure Cruise to Navajo and Antelope Canyon. The trip to Rainbow Bridge, focal point of Rainbow Bridge National Monument, was especially notable. Rainbow Bridge is one of America’s great natural wonders and considered sacred by the Navajo. The immense sandstone arch was judged sufficiently exceptional to be selected in 1910 by President William Howard Taft as a national monument.

Most travelers visit the arch via a 50-mile boat trip from Lake Powell Resort that requires most of a day. Rainbow Bridge can also be reached via charter boats from either Antelope Point or Bullfrog.

It is also possible to reach the arch by a 2- to 3-day hike via either of two 17-mile trails, both of which are quite strenuous with portions subject to flash flooding. As retirees with lots of travel miles under the bridge, we chose the boating option.

Rainbow Bridge dwarfs the many natural arches we have seen during our years of travel. Standing 290 feet tall with a span of 275 feet across Bridge Canyon, the arch was formed from what was once a sharp bend in a water runoff from nearby Navajo Mountain. This area is subject to periodic heavy rains that can produce powerful currents in the sandstone crevices.

Water dissolves limestone that binds the sand grains of the buttes, mesas and unique landscapes that make this area so beautiful. In the case of Rainbow Bridge, water eventually forced its way through the soft Navajo sandstone to alter the bend into a straight path for the current. The result is one of nature’s most impressive and beautiful sights.

Narrated boat tours to the national monument begin at Lake Powell Resort near the town of Page, Arizona. The tour requires from 6 to 7 hours, most of which is spent on the boat ride to and from the monument. Beautiful scenery along the route makes the trip seem shorter than the 2½ hours required to reach the destination. The last part of the trip through narrow canyons is particularly awesome. The return trip does not include narration and it appeared many of the passengers were napping.

Due to Lake Powell’s low water level, tour participants are required to hike approximately 1¼ miles from the boat dock to reach Rainbow Bridge. The moderate and leisurely hike is along a generally smooth trail, although the path is not paved and can be slippery when wet.

An hour and a half is allotted for the hike plus time at the arch from when the boat docks to its departure for the return to Lake Powell Resort. At least one crew member accompanies the group on the hike to Rainbow Bridge and alerts everyone when it is time to begin returning to the boat. The boat crew conducts a passenger count prior to departure to make certain stragglers are not left behind.

No food is available on the boat or at the Rainbow Bridge docking station, so travelers should bring their own lunch. Water, coffee, and lemonade are complimentary on the boat.

The Rainbow Bridge Cruise is the longest of five boat tours offered at Lake Powell Resort. Additional cruises include the Antelope Canyon Cruise (1.5 hours), Canyons Adventure Cruise (2.5 hours), Panoramic Lake Powell Cruise (2 hours), and a Canyon Princess Dinner Cruise (2 hours).

Where: The Rainbow Bridge tour boat departs from Lake Powell Resort, approximately 8 miles northwest of Page, Arizona. Tickets are available for purchase at the tour desk in the resort’s lobby. Reservations are available via the Internet at www.lakepowell.com, or by calling (888) 896-3829.

When: Boat departs for Rainbow Bridge at 7:30 a.m. daily from April through October. An additional tour departs at 12:30 p.m. from mid-May through August.

Cost: Adults $130; Children $81.41. Other Lake Powell cruises range from $47 to $75. The dinner cruise is $80; Children $35.

Lodging: Lake Powell Resort has approximately 350 guest rooms directly on Lake Powell. The resort has a restaurant, grill and lounge.

Food: No food service is available on the boat or at Rainbow Bridge. Complimentary water, coffee, and lemonade are offered on the boat. Tour participants are advised to take their own sack lunches.