What is Antelope Canyon – small science
Introduction: Antelope Canyon is located in Page, Arizona, in the protected area of the Navajo Aboriginal people. It is one of the world’s famous slot canyons and has a very unique natural landscape in the United States and even the world. According to the historical narration of the Navajo people, Antelope Canyonn is a holy place for them to meditate and communicate with the gods of heaven and earth. It was named after the pronghorn antelope in the past.
Cause of formation: Antelope Canyon is located in a basin, so if there is a heavy rain in the surrounding area, it will quickly gather together and rush to the lower place with sediment. The not-so-hard Navajo sandstone has been polished into its curvaceous walls, a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle!
How to Get to Antelope Canyon – Choice of Departure Point
First of all, before going to Antelope Canyon, we need to determine where to start, how to get there, and how long the journey will take. Different departure places will also affect our different itineraries and plans.
From Las Vegas
Las Vegas Airport is the closest airport to Antelope Canyon, and most travelers arriving by plane start their journeys from here. Starting from Las Vegas, tourists who do not drive by themselves can choose to take a day trip to Antelope Canyon, saving trouble and worry, without renting a car, and recommending a route including Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend when choosing the itinerary.
However, if you have the conditions, it is more recommended to rent a car and go to Antelope Canyon by yourself instead of taking a day trip. Self-driving not only makes time more free, but also allows you to explore more of the environment and attractions around Antelope Canyon. Las Vegas is 280 miles from Antelope Canyon, and it takes about four and a half hours to reach by car.
From Monument Valley
Monument Valley is 116 miles from Antelope Canyon, about two hours away, but few tourists arrange to visit on the same day, in fact, this is also a good route. If you want to visit them in one day, it is recommended to choose to enter Antelope Canyon at noon, and then enjoy the sunrise or sunset in Monument Valley, which is the best lighting time for both places.
From Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon, one of the most visited national parks in the United States, is 112 miles away from Antelope Canyon and takes about two hours to drive. It is recommended to arrange more than one day to visit the two places. If there is not enough time, you can enter the Antelope Canyon at noon, and visit the Grand Canyon at sunrise and sunset, just like the way of playing in Monument Valley.
from Page
Page is the closest city to Antelope Canyon, just 7 miles and 13 minutes’ drive away. If you choose to start from here, you can reduce the uncertainty on the road with a high probability and avoid delaying the itinerary.
The best light period – the choice of the valley time
The timing of your visit to Antelope Canyon is especially important, as it will affect how you see the scenery. If you can choose your own time to enter the valley, we recommend noon, because more light will enter the valley at that time, so you can see more colors and take the best image.
choice of month
Antelope Canyon can be visited all year round, and the scenery in different seasons has different charms, and the best months are from March to October . During this period, we can see more obvious beams shining into the Upper Antelope Canyon , producing a unique beam phenomenon, which is very shocking!
choice of time
To see the beam phenomenon in the Upper Antelope Canyon, it is recommended to visit between 10:30 noon and 2:00 pm , because only at this time the sun shines vertically into the canyon.
Comparison of Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon Tours – Choice of Destination
The Antelope Canyon is not managed by the US National Park Service. Because it is an Indian reserve, it is managed by the locals. Visitors are not allowed to enter without permission. They need to participate in the Antelope Canyon tour they provide, which is a small group tour. But don’t worry, the local guides are very polite and know the valley well and will do their best to help you take the best photos. Although there are many canyons throughout the Indian Reserve, the most famous are the Upper Antelope Canyon and the Lower Antelope Canyon.
The Upper Antelope Canyon is the most famous canyon in the area, with more light entering the valley than the Lower Antelope Canyon , and is also known for the amazing beam phenomenon that occurs in summer. The price to visit the Upper Antelope is higher than that of the Lower Antelope, and if you want to visit during the time period when the beam phenomenon occurs, you will have to pay more. The Upper Antelope Canyon is very popular, so if you want to visit the valley, you must book the itinerary as soon as possible, and then go to the designated place to gather and enter on the same day.
The Upper Antelope Canyon is above the ground , and there is no need to take long stairs like the Lower Antelope Canyon, but there are many tourists visiting and the route in the valley is shorter . The sidewalk in the Upper Antelope Canyon is a two-way street , where to enter and where to return, and the roads in the valley are narrow , and backpacks are not allowed to enter.
Self-driving tourists can buy tickets directly to enter, optional in prime time, and check seats at any time 24 hours a day, no need to wait!
Tourists who do not rent a car can choose to take a day trip to Upper Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bay. They can choose a general group gathering at a certain location, or a VIP small group that includes hotel pickup.
Recently, more and more tourists have begun to choose to visit the Lower Antelope Canyon, because the traffic here is less , it is not as crowded as the Upper Antelope Canyon, and the price is more reasonable. However, the Lower Antelope Canyon is located below the ground , the walking distance is relatively long, and you need to take a steep staircase to get to the bottom of the valley, which is difficult and not suitable for the elderly and children. But it is precisely because of this relatively steep staircase that you need to queue up one by one, forming a situation in which only the entrance to the Lower Antelope Canyon is crowded, but the valley is not crowded.
Line up at the entrance to the Lower Antelope Canyon, it takes about 30 minutes to wait, but the wait is always worth it, once you enter the valley, it becomes very spacious. Not only that, the sidewalk of the Lower Antelope Canyon is a one-way road , tourists enter from one side and come out from the other side, there is more space to take pictures at will! Although no beam phenomenon was observed, the shapes and patterns on the rock walls were more special. And the tour guide here will not urge you to leave like the Upper Antelope Canyon, and have enough freedom and time to enjoy the time in the canyon!
Tourists who do not rent a car can choose to take a day trip to the Lower Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bay. Large or small groups can be selected. The best time to enter the valley includes hotel pick-up and drop-off!
in conclusion
- If you want to save money, I recommend Lower Antelope Canyon.
- If you love photography, I recommend Upper Antelope Canyon. If you like to shoot portraits, I recommend Lower Antelope Canyon, because there are fewer people.
- If you choose to enter the valley at noon, the Upper Antelope Canyon is recommended. If you choose to go at other times or in winter, you can do both with little difference.
- If you have enough time and budget, both valleys are recommended to visit.
Itinerary recommendation 1: One-day tour of Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bay, no need to drive, hotel pick-up and drop-off on the same day, the best light time to enter the valley!
Itinerary recommendation 2: Two-day tour of Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend + Grand Canyon, classic route, the best light time to enter the valley!
Comparison between the Upper Antelope Canyon Photography Group and the ordinary group and matters needing attention
The biggest advantage of participating in a photo tour is the right to keep other tourists out of your pictures. For example, if you set the camera shutter speed to take two minutes to take a photo, the average group of tourists will be restricted from entering the area you are shooting during this period, resulting in a photo of Antelope Canyon without people. And the photography team has a professional tour guide to help adjust the camera parameters. Because of paying more fees, of course, you will get better service. But beyond that, remember to prepare your gear in advance.
- To participate in the photography tour of the Upper Antelope Canyon, you need at least a DSLR camera and a tripod .
- It is recommended to wear a raincoat or dust jacket
for the camera , because there is a lot of dust in Antelope Canyon. - Flash is not allowed in the valley , and camera parameters must be set manually. If you are not skilled, you can ask the team guide.
- Personal backpacks are not allowed in the valley , and the camera must be brought in on a tripod.
- It is not recommended to carry additional lenses . It is very inconvenient to replace the lens in the canyon, and there is a lot of sand and dust. If you need to replace it, you must bring camera cleaning equipment.
- If the photo is to be sold, a permit and fee must be obtained from the Park Service .
Antelope Canyon Ticketing Tips – What to do if you don’t have a reservation
As we said before, the safest way to visit Antelope Canyon is to make an appointment in advance, and the sooner the better. The tour of the Upper Antelope Canyon is about 1.5 hours; the photography tour is about 2.5 hours; the tour of the Lower Antelope Canyon is about 1.5 hours.
But if you don’t make any reservations in advance , it is recommended to try your luck in the Lower Antelope Canyon, which is more likely to have a remaining space than the Upper Antelope Canyon. Secondly, if you don’t have a reservation, but you have a professional photography lens camera and tripod, you can try your luck with the photography group in the Upper Antelope Canyon, because often tourists who participate in the group are reassigned to the general group because they do not have proper photography equipment.
Recommended top attractions near Antelope Canyon
Most tourists will choose to come to Antelope Canyon at noon, and there will be a lot of spare time to arrange. After all, Page is picturesque, and there are many other natural attractions worth exploring.
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is the second largest artificial lake in the United States, surrounded by various red sandstones, stone arches, and canyons. It is named in honor of the pioneers who first floated the river and proposed the development of water conservancy in the United States, and is the main national resort area of the southwestern United States. In the movie “Gravity”, the final landing site was filmed at Lake Powell.
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is a U-shaped section of the Colorado River in Arizona and a section of the Glen Canyon, located downstream of the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. Because the giant rock surrounded by the river bend is shaped like a horseshoe, it is called “Horseshoe Bend”. Everything in Horseshoe Bay is pure natural, free to enter, and there is only one viewing point, but it is particularly shocking. It can be said that it is difficult to find a second one in the world.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a slot canyon park in the desert area of southwestern Utah, USA. It is located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert. It is the earliest national park established in Utah. Zion National Park is famous for its beautiful weather, rich rock formations, changing colors of sandstone cliffs, claustrophobic canyons and ravines, and flowing waterfalls and streams.
Important at the end – Top 10 Dos and Don’ts
In addition to the Antelope Canyon things we mentioned above, there are 10 very important considerations to remember!
- When entering Antelope Canyon, you need to pay an Indian protection fee of $8 , which must be paid in cash. It includes conservation fees for all sites on the Indian reservation. If you go to other attractions on the same day, you need to take the initiative to mention that you have paid the fee at another attraction, otherwise you may pay multiple times, such as tourists visiting the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon on the same day.
- Although Antelope Canyon is in an arid region, it is prone to flooding when it rains. In case of rainy weather, the activity will be cancelled. If you are going without an appointment, please check the weather forecast in advance .
- Arrive at the meeting point in advance . Antelope Canyon tour usually requires to arrive 10 minutes in advance, but because this place is usually far from the departure point of tourists, it is recommended to leave early and reserve about 30 minutes of free time. Late arrivals vary.
- After entering the valley, don’t make trouble, pay attention to the road, and be careful to meet each other .
- Pay attention to whether there is a time difference
between the departure place and the Antelope Canyon , and calculate in advance to avoid delaying the trip. - Carry light equipment and plenty of mineral water , preferably ice water. Once the journey begins, it will take up to an hour and a half, the area is very dry and hot, and water is very important.
- Pay attention to sun protection . It is recommended to prepare hats, shawls and other sunscreen and sand prevention equipment to avoid sunburn.
- Don’t wear high heels or sandals, sports shoes or boots that are not easy to get into the sand are recommended. Because the Antelope Canyon is surrounded by sand, it is very inconvenient to walk if the shoes are full of sand.
- Carry extra battery and memory card for camera . If you enter the valley and find that the camera has no memory or is out of power, and you cannot go back and retrieve it, it will be very regrettable.
- One last little bonus! If shooting with a mobile phone, it is recommended to download the Cortex Cam app . It helps you control the shutter speed for more professional and better Antelope Canyon photos.
Epilogue
After reading this super-complete guide to Antelope Canyon, I believe you have a detailed understanding of this trip, then set off quickly, such a mysterious and dreamy canyon is waiting for you in Page!
