Place to see the painted desert on 89 - Page to Flagstaff

Question

Hi, we'll be driving from Page to Flagstaff. While we won't have time to get to the Petrified Forest National Park, I understand you can see the western edge of the painted desert along 89. Any good spots in particular to stop?

Answer

Driving from Page to Flagstaff on US-89 is a beautiful trip, and yes—you can absolutely see the western edge of the Painted Desert without detouring all the way to Petrified Forest National Park. While the most famous views are inside the park, several excellent roadside pullouts and short stops along US-89 offer classic Painted Desert scenery: multicolored badlands, striped hills, and wide open vistas.

Here are the best and easiest spots along (or just off) US-89 for Painted Desert–type views when traveling south from Page toward Flagstaff:

LeChee / Antelope Pass Scenic Overlook (just south of Page)
This is one of the most dramatic overlooks on the entire drive. Just a few minutes outside Page, you’ll climb up Antelope Pass and reach a pullout with sweeping views of colorful layered badlands. The view here shows deep reds, salmon pinks, and gray bands—similar to what you’d see in the Painted Desert proper. It’s a quick and very rewarding stop.
Little Colorado River Gorge Overlooks (via a short detour)
Though primarily known for the gorge itself, the surrounding landscape includes broad views of red and purple badlands that are part of the greater Painted Desert region. The overlooks are on AZ-64 east of Cameron. If you’re headed to the Grand Canyon later, you might pass these anyway, but even a brief detour gives you Painted Desert scenery.
Roadside Badlands Between Bitter Springs and Gray Mountain
This long stretch of US-89 runs along the western edge of the Painted Desert. Several unmarked pullouts allow you to stop and admire rolling mounds of red, purple, and gray bentonite clay. You don’t need to hike—just pull over at a safe turnout and take in the landscape. Morning and late afternoon add beautiful shadows.
Cameron Area (Navajo Nation)
As you approach Cameron, the terrain becomes vividly red with eroded hills and mesas. The land behind the Cameron Trading Post includes broad, colorful desert landscapes. Many travelers stop here for a restroom break, but it also has surprisingly good Painted Desert views.

If you have an extra 10–15 minutes, there are two optional short detours that offer even better access to Painted Desert scenery:

Alt-89 / Navajo Route 20 Detours
These side roads cut through areas where the striped hills are closer to the highway. You don’t need to drive far—just a mile or two gives you excellent views of layered terrain.
Hwy 264 (Tuba City direction, if continuing east another time)
Not on your Page–Flagstaff route, but good to know: this highway passes some of the most photogenic bentonite hills outside the national park.

Overall, the single best stop along your direct route is the Antelope Pass Scenic Overlook just south of Page—but you’ll see Painted Desert scenery at multiple points between Page and Cameron even without pulling over.

Place to see the painted desert on 89 - Page to Flagstaff

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