Sounds Good to me. Now the Paint Dessert and Petrified Forest are bascially in the same drive right off I-40. The main area of the petrified trees is really right at the end(or start, depending on which way you come from).

To me, unless you can stay a day or two at Page, not sure I would do that. Now, I haven't been there, but you can see Antelope Canyon, dam view, Rainbow Bridge requires a boat tour.

I still think, perhaps someone in your party might need a small daypack/backpack to carry snack and some water.

I really think your gonna want a guide at Canyon De Chelly too.

Theres nothing in Page worth the detour. Spend more time elsewhere.

As to Page you can see Best Dam View in 5 minutes, Horseshoe Bend in a half hour, Antelope Canyon in less than an hour if there is no wait for a tour (and you do want sunshine for this trip) - see my post above for link to pictures to see if you want to take the time to stop here.

At Canyon de Chelley I would advise getting a guide to take you into the canyon, not just a drive on the rim and hike to White House Ruin. If you just want to check it off your list and say you've been there, ok, but there is so much more to the Canyon that you can't see on your own.

As spirobulldog suggests, do take a small backpack/daypack for the things you will want on the hike into/out of Grand Canyon, like first aid kit, moleskin, extra socks, rain gear, water, snacks, etc. Call it a purse on the plane and stow your purse and plane snacks in it and stuff it under the seat.

Have a great trip!

Fiddely foo four: Lost my post again when trying to get a webpage - and here is one for the Navajo National Monument - which is 9 miles (north) off the road - about 20 miles before you reach Kayenta - the southern entrance to Monument Valley. http://www.nps.gov/nava/index.htm

It takes about what - two and a half hours to get from the Blue Angel Lodge to Kayenta - so you have time for a little "detour" to see some cliff dwellings en route to Kayenta - if you so choose.

And I would also bag Page this trip - and visit it another time - but we did enjoy our half day float trip from there - and would love to get to Antelope Canyon some time.

Also - Spirodog: LOL. Ole John Muir spent a lot of time contemplating nature's beauty. :)

Thanks everyone! We will be carrying daypacks for water and incidentals into the GC...just not the extras required for the overnight stay. I think we will skip Page this time and detour to the Navajo National Monument. If a guide is suggested for deChelley than that is what we will check into...I am willing to skip petrified Forest if we start to run out of time on that day.
Should I reserve MV and CdC guides prior to our trip or wait until we get to the Visitors Center? Also, any suggestions on which route to hike into/out of GC?

We only hiked on South Kaibab (beautiful views!) & rim trail, so can't speak to Bright Angel trail.

South Kaibab down, Bright Angel up is the usual route.

This website was very helpful for me on my trip. The layout has changed and it's not as well organized as before but still, lots of good info if you can find it.

http://www.hitthetrail.com/grand-canyon-hiking