A weekend visit in Arizona with a

trip to Antelope Canyon

Just get off the couch and get outdoors!

If you are thinking of visiting Antelope Canyon, a little planning goes a long way. You cannot simply drive up and walk in. So do some research (good start by reading our blog!) and make it happen!

Antelope Canyon, in Page Arizona, is near the border of Utah and Arizona. It was created by millions of years of erosion as part of the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park. It is one slot canyon, but there are two parts that can be visited: Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. Since both are located on a Navajo Reservation, and run by two competing entities- TWO entrance fees are required and you must have a guide for both. Check out tour fees and schedules here.

Getting to Antelope Canyon

We flew into Phoenix International Airport. Pheonix is approximately a 4 1/2 hour drive North to Page via Interstate 17 to I 89. So, we opted to drive 2 hours to Sedona, Arizona and make that our home base. Page is approximately a 2 hour drive from Sedona-which is chock full of fun things to do. I would highly recommend either staying in Sedona, the Lake Powell area, or Flagstaff because Page is a super small cowboy town with little to do except eat Mexican food. (Which was pretty tasty, by the way!) Check out this map to plan your trip.

When to Go

Antelope Canyon is open year round. The busy season is March-October. We opted for the off-season and visited in January. Find better rates, fewer people and amazing views from November- February. The crowds were minimal and the temperature was wonderful!

Upper Antelope Canyon vs. Lower Antelope Canyon

Since we were staying in Sedona, we decided to visit both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon Tours in one day. Each tour is about 90 minutes, so we scheduled the Upper in the morning and the Lower in the afternoon- to maximize the sunshine and reflective shadows in the canyons. However, the tours are VERY similar, and I would NOT recommend wasting time and money on BOTH. Each tour claims it is the superior option (since the two tour operators are competing for business), but the LOWER Antelope Tour was far more interesting in our opinion.

Whats the difference between the two different tours?

Upper Antelope Canyon:

Meet at the strip mall office where you sign a waiver and load up into a four wheel drive vehicle with your tour group and drive to the canyon entrance. The entrance is an opening in the slot canyon that you walk right into from the sandy desert. You will have a guide take you through the canyon, which lasts about 30-45 minutes. The guides offer to take pictures and give tips on best photographic views.

Lower Antelope Canyon:

Meet at the Canyon entrance where you head to the office, sign a waiver, and meet outside in a concession area. One of the tribal leaders greet the group, and a tribal member performs a traditional dance. Afterward, the guide takes you to the entrance, which is a steel staircase taking you into the canyon. There are a few smaller ladders throughout the tour, and you need to climb out via steel staircase to exit the canyon.

Generally speaking, the sandstone “waves” are very similar looking for both tours. However, climbing down “into” the slot canyon vs. walking through it at sea level just seemed more exciting! The walls were higher but the light reflected just as well. I think it comes down to your level of “fitness” (both tours are walkable so don’t fret) and confidence in climbing up and down a steel staircase. This is the biggest difference between the two tours.

What to bring to the hike
You will be walking through sand, so wear closed toe shoes. Layered clothing is a good idea, since temperatures may drop once you descend into the canyon. If it is a windy day, bring a bandana or scarf to shield your face. Contact lens wearers may have an issue, so opt for glasses instead.

TIP: If you are using a DSLR camera, change the lens in the car/truck before you get to the canyon to protect the lens from blowing sand particles. For the best photographs, tours between 10am-1pm, May through October, when the sun is high, will produce the most unique images.