Located near the town of Page, Arizona and in the territory of the Navajo Indian Reservation, Antelope Canyon is a beautiful, unique sandstone formation. Since the area is an Indian reservation, movement is not free, and the area that can be toured is limited. Visiting and touring the canyon is possible only with a local Native American guide, making the nature of the trip quite commercialized, a fact that can without a doubt greatly cloud the visit. That said, the canyon is breath taking and worth a visit.
The canyon is divided into two main parts:
The upper canyon (which is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top) is a little more impressive but the walk inside the canyon is shorter. The tour of the Upper Canyon includes a short jeep ride followed by a walk in the canyon (the walk in the canyon is one-way and is followed by an exposed climb back to the vehicles).
The lower canyon (which is narrow at the bottom and wider at the top) where the walk inside the canyon itself is a little longer – 1,400 feet, and includes climbing ladders (not difficult and suitable unexperienced hikers and for children). The exit from the lower canyon is from a narrow crack in the ground, offering a fun experience. The lower canyon tour begins near the parking lot (with no jeep ride).
Which section of the canyon is better?
There is no one answer…. Most of the beautiful, classic photos of the canyon were taken in the upper canyon which is probably a little more impressive in terms of its structure and the effect of the light penetrating it. On the other hand, the walk in the upper canyon is very short (and, as mentioned, it is a round trip). Therefore, it is difficult to experience the canyon’s full uniqueness. While hiking in the lower canyon not only can you witness its uniqueness, but you can also experience it (even though the walk is still short, and in a long line of people).
If you are planning a visit to Antelope Canyon in the coming year, you should make a reservation in advance, as tours fill up quickly (for the summer months, reservations must sometimes be made six months in advance). The tour length is 1-1.5 hours. In my experience there is not much difference between the different tour operators. While it is sometimes possible to arrive and find a vacant tour spot at the last moment, trying so carries a risk.
For a list of Antelope Canyon tour operators click here.
For hotels in the nearby town of Page, Arizona click here.
The recommended time of day to take the tour in terms of lighting for photography are of course mid-day. During these hours, the sun’s rays penetrate the canyon perfectly and serve as a great setting for photographs. However, these hours are especially busy, making it difficult to find vacant tickets. If you are not necessarily intrested in taking a ‘winning photo’ – you can definitely be content with a tour in the early morning or late afternoon.
Take Notice:
- Those who are not fond of commercialized sites should pass on this tour – which, despite its great beauty (the place really is exquisite), is extremely crowded.
- The canyon can close down without prior warning, at a moment’s notice (even in the summer), when flash floods are expected or when it starts to drizzle.
- • If booking a tour to the canyon, be sure to take into account time differences between Page, Arizona and the neighbouring areas, as the town sits near the Utah border.
The turn to Antelope Canyon is five miles east of the junction between US routes 89 and 98.
See location of Antelope Canyon- the lower canyon in red and the upper canyon in blue. Horseshoe Bend is marked in Yellow (a short hike to an overlook of the famous bend in the Colorado River. A must stop if already in the area).
In addition to Antelope Canyon, the area has many other narrow sand canyons (slot canyons), such as:
Canyon X
Rattlesnake Canyon
Owl Canyon
Water Holes Canyon
Buckskin Gulch (an hours drive form Page)
Some of the canyons are visitable only through a guided tour.
For hotels in the nearby town of Page, Arizona click here.
For other destinations in the Southwest click here.
For tour reservations and additional info:
emerging out of the canyon in a narrow crack
after descending to the canyon, the tour continues by climbing through the canyon using ladders
emerging out of the canyon in a narrow crack
