How To Plan A Trip To Antelope Canyon

A trip to see Antelope Canyon is a bucket list destination for many adventurous travelers. In fact, Antelope Canyon sees over a million visitors every year. In this article I will share our experience and offer suggestions on how you can plan a trip to this underground wonderland.

If Antelope Canyon is on Your Bucket List, Here is Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip

What is Antelope Canyon?

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon located on the Navajo reservation near Page, Arizona. The colorful sandstone walls are located under ground and are shaped by water and wind erosion. There are several slot canyons in the area. They include Upper Antelope Canyon, Rattle Snake Canyon, Owl Canyon, Mountain Sheep Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are the most well known.

Which is better the Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon?

There are many factors that go into deciding which canyon to explore, a lot depends on what kind of experience you want to have. Both upper and lower canyons offer on-of-a-kind sandstone formations. You can visit both Upper and Lower. Here are some of the main differences:

The Upper Canyon

The upper canyon is famous for a unique display of sunlight that passes through from above. This light beam phenomenon happens between March and October.
Another consideration is the level of difficulty. The Upper canyon is a shorter out and back hike with an entrance at ground level. Better for those with mobility challenges.

The Lower Canyon

The lower canyon is longer in length (about a mile) with a steep set of stairs to climb order to get into the canyon. We didn’t have any trouble at all, but found it was easier to go down backwards, like a ladder. It isn’t challenging unless you have mobility issues.
The tours are generally less crowded.
Ticket prices are less expensive.

Wavy sandstone formation in Lower Anterlope Canyon

How to get there

The closest airport to Paige, AZ is in Las Vegas. You will need to rent a car and drive to Page, then to your tour location.

When is the best time to visit

The best time to experience the light beams in the Upper Canyon are between the end of March and the beginning of October. In order to capture the light beams, the ideal time to visit is from 11 am to 1:30 pm. If you you don’t mind missing the light beams, the crowds are smaller from November to March. Keep in mind that June through March is monsoon season in Arizona. Due to the dangers of flash flooding, Antelope Canyon tours cannot operate if there is a threat of flooding.

Winter colors at Antelope Canyon are more muted but no less magical. The best shots inside Antelope Canyon are always found by looking up.

Why We chose Lower Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is the most photographed slot canyon in the world, so it’s no surprise that I was excited to finally explore the beautiful colored walls myself. On this trip, we explored Lower Antelope Canyon for several reasons. The lower canyon is significantly less money and our January trip was off season, so we would miss seeing the light beams in the Upper Canyon anyway. Since this was just a side trip for us on our way home from Sedona, we decided not to spend the money on the bigger tour…but we will definitely be back!

Plan to Reserve Your Antelope Canyon Tour in Advance

Antelope Canyon is located on the Navajo reservation near Page, Arizona. Because it’s a sacred site for the Navajo people, you can’t go on your own, without a tour. Permits are required to gain access to the surrounding canyons.

We chose Ken’s Tours based off personal recommendations and reviews we read online. You can find more information on other tour options at navajonationparks.org. Purchase your tickets well in advance. We booked a month out and there were only a few spots available. Ken’s tours handles all their bookings on their website. The cost at the time we traveled was close to $50 per person.

Rules to know about Photographing Lower Antelope Canyon

No tripods or monopods (this unfortunately means you may have to increase your ISO significantly in low light conditions.
Selfie sticks are not allowed.
No video recording of any kind. This includes phones as well as drones.
Only one lens per camera.
Camera bags or backpacks are not allowed.
No photographs on stairs (for safety reasons and to keep the tour moving).
Face masks are required, even in photos.

Keep in mind this is a timed tour (about 45 minutes, so there isn’t unlimited time to compose your images. You may feel a little rushed, but you will still come away with amazing images of your experience.

In the Area

Horeshoe Bend
Plan a little extra time before or after your tour to visit Horseshoe Bend, which is located just 10 minutes from Lower Antelope Canyon. Expect to pay around $10 for parking. There is a paved trail from the parking lot to the view point. It’s about 1.3 miles on pretty level ground. There is a gradual decline, which means getting back to the parking lot, you might notice a slight incline. Most of the trail is exposed to the sun, so plan your trip accordingly if you visit on a hot day.