Antelope Slot Canyon Az
Posted By admin On 08/04/22Upper Antelope Canyon. Upper Antelope Canyon: an easy-to-explore Arizona slot canyon. Upper Antelope Canyon is the easiest Arizona slot canyon to maneuver. After paying a hiking and permit fee (around $21 on our last visit), a truck takes visitors from the starting point off Highway 89 near Page, Arizona, to the canyon’s opening.
- Antelope Canyon Slot Tour
- Upper And Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
- Antelope Slot Canyon Az
- Antelope Canyon National Park
Antelope Canyon is one of the most popular and photogenic destinations in the southwest. Located near Page, AZ the canyon is the second most popular tourist spot next to Lake Powell. Hundreds of thousands of people tour the sandstone canyons each year which can make planning a trip a bit stressful and overwhelming. Casi and I are planning our first trip so we decided to make this guide as a resource for other first time Antelope Canyon visitors. Enjoy!
Antelope Canyon is located in northern Arizona near Page, AZ. There are several ways to get here. Casi and I live in the Phoenix Metro area so the best option for us was to drive the 4+ hours to Page. Here are some other options;
- There are a couple of smaller airports near Page
- Page Municipal Airport in Page, AZ - 928-645-4337
- Grand Canyon National Park Airport - www.grandcanyonairport.net
- McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, NV - www.mccarran.com
- Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, AZ - www.phxskyharbor.com
- If you are travelling by car, below is a map that can help you figure out how to get there. Feel free to zoom in and out and drag the map.
When Casi and I were doing research on visiting the canyons we had a ton of questions about entering the canyons. How much does it cost? Do I have to have a tour guide? Which canyon is better? We'll answer all these questions and more in this section.
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- We purchased the upper and lower combined Antelope Canyon tour from Ken’s tour and had a great time with Ken’s tour at the lower Antelope in the morning. In the afternoon, we were scheduled to tour with the Antelope Slot Canyon Tours by Chief Tsosie. This Upper Antelope Scenic.
How much does it cost?
Here is a breakdown of our research (as of 01/2016);
1. Navajo Park entrance fee: $8
2. Mandatory Tour Guide: $20-$58
3. Optional Photography Tour: $42 (Ken's Guided Tour)
Total: $28-$108 (depending on the tours,times,season)
Are Tour Guides Mandatory?
Yes. In the Upper Canyon you must arrange for your own tour guide. In the Lower Canyon you can drive to the parking lot, pay the fee, and then wait in line for a designated tour guide to escort you to the canyon. I'm not sure exactly the rules but I think the tour guides in the Lower Canyon use their own discretion on whether or not to actually go into the canyon with you. You can also arrange for your own tour guide for Lower Canyon.
TIP: Bring cash to pay the tour companies and the Navajo Park fee.
Here are a list of recommended tour guide companies;
Tour Guide Companies
Upper Antelope Canyon:
Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours
www.navajotours.com
(928) 698-3384
Antelope Canyon Tours
www.antelopecanyon.com
(928) 645-9102
![Canyon Canyon](https://www.epictravelplans.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/antelope-slot-canyon-road-trip-jelle-de-gier-unsplash-horiz-WEB.jpg)
![Antelope canyon slot tour Antelope canyon slot tour](https://antelopecanyon.az/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/wind640.jpg)
Grand Circle Adventures
www.antelopeslotcanyon.com
(928) 645-5594
Overland Canyon Tours (Canyon X)
www.overlandcanyon.com
(928) 608-4072
Lower Antelope Canyon:
Ken's Tours
www.lowerantelope.com
(928) 606-2168
(928) 640-0032
Lower Antelope Canyon Tours (928) 640-1761)
Photography Tours:
Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tours
www.navajoantelopecanyon.com (928)380-1874
Ken's Tours
www.lowerantelope.com
(928) 606-2168
(928) 640-0032
Upper Canyon
Pros:
+ It is extremely easy to get to. The tour guides drive you straight to the canyon opening (seen above) and it is accessible to people of all ages including children
+ There are much wider walkways in the canyon
+ Contain the famous 'light beams' and 'pouring sand'
+ Very photogenic
+ The canyon is actually above ground so there are no ladders to climb down
Cons:
- It is more expensive, especially if you take a photography tour
- It is WAY more crowded
- Nearly impossible to get a picture of the canyon without people in the way
Antelope Canyon Slot Tour
Lower Canyon:
Pros:
+ Less populated and easier to get photographs of an empty canyon
+ It is much longer than the Upper Canyon
+ A tour guide doesn't have to accompany you at all times
+ Cheaper to visit
Cons:
- Depending on who you are this might be a pro; access to the canyon requires hiking into the canyon and using ladders up to 25 ft. in length to climb down
- It is more narrow which can make people uneasy
- It is darker and although still very photogenic can be hard to get as good of a shot as Upper Canyon
Which one is better?
![Canyon Canyon](https://fh-sites.imgix.net/sites/325/2016/09/29153732/15834-e1475169671266.jpeg?auto=enhance&w=1400&h=1400&fit=max)
Both canyons are unbelievable and it would be hard to pick one over the other. If you have to choose, categorizing them might help. The upper canyon is by far more popular, is accessible to everyone, and has the famous light beams and pouring sand. If you are looking to photographing these or are not able to hike or climb than this might be a better choice. The lower canyon has been labeled as a more adventurous canyon because it requires a hike, climbing, and is underground. If you are looking to break away from most of the crowds than this might be a better choice.
Casi and I had no idea what to bring with us to Antelope Canyon. Here are a couple of items to think about bringing with you on your trip;
Small Backpack
If you plan to bring a backpack make sure it is as small. Depending on the canyon, it will be either packed, too narrow to fit, climbing ladders, or cramming into a modified truck with a dozen other people.
Food and Water
It's a good idea to carry a water bottle with you into the canyon. I recommend something you can put in a small backpack so you can use both hands to take photos. Although the canyon is much cooler and darker than direct sunlight it is still a good idea to stay hydrated and fed for the hour or two you are touring the canyons.
Camera/Tripod
I don't know if there is a set rule, but from what I've researched tour guides will not allow non-photography groups to use tripods. If you are a part of a photography tour make sure to bring a professional camera (I've read only cameras with interchangeable lenses are accepted). If you are not on a photo tour than it is a point and shoot atmosphere.
Cash
I don't know about every tour company, but some only take cash and I believe you must pay cash for the Navajo Fee. Either way, it is a good idea to carry enough cash to cover your tour. Also, if you are doing a photography tour it is suggested to tip the guide.
There are a couple things Casi and I found out while researching Antelope Canyon that we thought would be worth noting in this section.
Use the Bathroom
Before you sign in and head down the 15 minute bumpy road to Upper Canyon, be sure to use the restroom as there are no restrooms at the canyon.
It's Dark
The canyons, especially the Lower Canyon, are dark. All the photos you typically see of the canyons are modified and it can be surprisingly dark if you aren't prepared for it.
Time Zones
The Navajo Nation uses a different time zone than Arizona so it is best to call your tour guide ahead of time to find out if your tour is on Navajo or Arizona time.
Upper And Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
It's Crowded
This is especially true in the Upper Canyon. Don't let this scare you off but just know that you probably aren't going to get much solitude to 'take in' the canyons by yourself.
This may be one of the coolest, out-of-this-world places in Arizona. It is likely to be the most photographed and visited slot canyon in the world. I thoroughly recommend making this a part of your bucket list travel destinations!
Other places to explore around Page, AZ;
1. Lake Powell
2. The Wave
3. Horseshoe Bend
4. Glen Canyon Recreational Area
* Please remember to hike at your own risk. To learn more please refer to our Hiking Disclaimer.
Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon located on Navajo land east of Page, Arizona, United States.
A slot canyon is a narrow canyon, formed by the wear of water rushing through rock. A slot canyon is significantly deeper than it is wide.
Antelope Slot Canyon Az
The mysterious and beautiful Antelope Canyon is one of the most spectacular slot canyons in the world.
It is sculpted into beautiful undulating curves and hollows that vary from one to 3 meters (3.2 to 9.8 feet) wide and up to 50 meters (164 feet) deep.
Antelope Canyon includes two separate, scenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon.
In English, Upper Antelope Canyon [photo belw] is called “The Crack” but the Navajo know it as Tsé bighánílíní or “the place where water runs through rocks.”
Upper Antelope Canyon is more popular for two reasons. First, its entrance and entire length are at ground level, requiring no climbing. Second, beams or shafts of direct sunlight radiating down from openings at the top of the canyon are much more common in Upper than in Lower. Beams occur most often in the summer months, as they require the sun to be high in the sky. Winter colors are more muted. Summer months provide two types of lighting. Light beams start to peek into the canyon March 20 and disappear October 7 each year.
Lower Antelope Canyon has been given the nickname “The Corkscrew” while the Navajo term referencing it is Hazdistazí for “spiral rock arches.”
Lower Antelope Canyon [photo belw] is located a few miles from Upper Antelope. This canyon is a little shallower than Upper Antelope Canyon and the famous light beams do not occur there as often as in the other.
Prior to the installation of metal stairways, visiting Lower Antelope Canyon required climbing in certain areas. Even following the installation of stairways, it is a more difficult hike than Upper Antelope. It is longer, narrower in spots, and even footing is not available in all areas. Despite these limitations, it draws a considerable number of photographers, though casual sightseers are much less common there than in the Upper canyon.
Antelope Canyon got its name from the pronghorn antelopes that once grazed in the area.
Today, Antelope Canyon is a popular location for photographers and sightseers, and a source of tourism business for the Navajo Nation. It has been accessible by permit only since 1997, when the Navajo Tribe made it a Navajo Tribal Park.
Antelope Canyon is the most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon in the Southwest America.
Antelope Canyon National Park
Flash flooding still occurs in the canyon and may, at times, result in up to several months of closing.
On August 12, 1997, eleven tourists were killed in Lower Antelope Canyon by a flash flood. Very little rain fell at the site that day, but an earlier thunderstorm had dumped a large amount of water into the canyon basin, 11 kilometers (7 miles) upstream.