Discover an Antelope Canyon Tour in Page, Arizona

Antelope Canyon Tour, an explorer’s dream

Taking an Antelope Canyon Tour is the perfect way to see some of nature’s most fascinating sculptures. The formations in Antelope Canyon, a magnificent slot canyon just east of Page, Arizona, are a photographer’s dream. With towering walls, it’s a monumental sandstone sculpture all by itself. The canyon is most unique, with its wave-like structures as the light beams shine down into the openings of the canyon.

Adventure off the beaten path

Last year when a friend heard we were planning a trip to Arizona, he said, “Whatever you do, be sure to visit Antelope Canyon. It is magnificent!”  In our years of traveling, we’ve learned to listen to friends who give advice on the best places they’ve traveled. It’s enjoyable when you see and hear their excitement while passing on the experience.  

The anticipation of entering the canyon was realized as we walked up to the mountain of sandstone and rock.  I knew we made the right decision to add a day to our planning to visit this location.

Antelope is a slot canyon

Antelope is one of the few slot canyons in the United States.  A slot canyon is a narrow canyon significantly deeper than it is wide.  They are formed from wear of water rushing through rock and sandstone.

Discover a multitude of colors present in sandstone

Many colors can be present in sandstone due to impurities within the minerals.  The most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, pink, white, and black.

Make reservations with Antelope Slot Canyon Tours

For our Antelope Canyon Tour, we made reservations with Antelope Slot Canyon tours and were not disappointed.  We would recommend their tour company, and booking online in advance is suggested. They responded quickly to our emails and were helpful with questions when we arrived in Page. There are several tours available, and the basic 1-1/2 hour tour is $68 for standard times and $78 for peak times. Children 6 – 12 tickets are $10 less than the basic tour.

The Navajo Nation

The canyon is located on the Navajo Nation.  It is considered a sacred place to the Navajo people, and for this reason, it is a mandatory-guided tour.  Only a limited number of people are allowed through the canyon in a day.  

The best time of year to visit Antelope Canyon

The canyon is open year-round.  The months of April through September are recommended for tours. Visitors have the option of touring the “Upper Antelope Canyon” (the Crack), or the “Lower Antelope Canyon” (the Corkscrew).  We chose the Upper Canyon because it was on one level. The Lower Canyon has a series of steps to climb. Traveling through the desert in their air-conditioned van, it was a seven-mile drive to the entrance of the canyon.

Book your tour for a sunny day

Being a slot canyon, even a chance of rain may cancel that day’s tours. Heavy rains can cause flooding in the canyon. Be sure to check the forecast as close as possible to your booking date since good weather conditions are essential for this tour. 

Limit what you take inside the canyon

For the protection of the canyon and the narrow areas located throughout the canyon, only cameras, bottled water, and items you can carry in your pockets are allowed on the tour.

The best time of day to see Antelope Canyon

Once you enter the canyon, the walls of layered sand surround you as they reach toward the sky.  The best time of the day to visit the canyon is midday when the sun is directly above the canyon.  The light gleams in, revealing years of packed sandstone created from rushing waters through the canyon.  

Leave nothing but footprints

 We were amazed at this stunning location and, until recently, were totally unaware it existed.  We were reminded again, why it is so important to save and protect all our natural resources for our children and grandchildren to enjoy for many years to come.

Narrow passageways offer spectacular views

As we walked through the canyon, there were several broad openings to pass through, but most were narrow, and limited where only one or two people can pass at the same time.  

The tour company will keep you moving through the canyon since there are other tour groups to enter. But we had enough time to stop and take plenty of photographs.  There is a separate tour with tripods allowed, for those serious photographers interested.

Guides provide the history of the canyon

Our guide was very knowledgeable, giving us history and detailed information about the canyon.  At the end of our tour, he serenaded the group with a soothing tune he played on the American Native flute. It was calming music and reminded us of the heritage of this place.

Don’t miss Horseshoe Bend nearby

Antelope Canyon and nearby Horseshoe Bend, part of Glen Canyon, are both in Page, Arizona and beautiful excursions.  Glen Canyon Dam is located close to Page and worth seeing while in the area.  Lake Powell is also nearby with marinas, houseboat rentals and other watercraft for a fun day.

Horseshoe Bend is free to the public, and there is parking nearby.  It is a 1.5-mile round trip hike to the viewing points of the river bend and canyon, but it is incredible and a must-see.  The bend was carved by the Colorado River.  

Where to Stay

There are several hotels located near Antelope Canyon. You can book through Booking.com for Country Inn and Suites located in Page, and the Hyatt Place and La Quinta Inn at Lake Powell — all received great reviews from Tripadvisor. Red Rock Motel is a locally owned establishment also recommended.

Don’t miss an opportunity to see Antelope Canyon, it’s swirling walls and narrow passageways are extraordinary. While there, see Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell. After visiting, I can understand why so many people love Arizona and everything the state has to offer.  The landscape is one of the most beautiful in America.

Grans On The Go has loved visiting the beautiful sites in the Western U.S. You may enjoy reading other articles about the Western U.S. by Grans On The Go here.