In Northern Arizona sits the small town of Page. Page is just on the edge of Navajo Indian land and with a population of just 7,375 you might think it doesn’t have much to offer. But with a gorgeous landcape, Northern Arizona draws millions of tourists every year. I think it’s safe to say that nearly everyone that comes to Page is there to see Antelope Canyon. This Guide will tell you everything you need to know about how to see Antelope Canyon.
About Page Arizona
Page Arizona is a fairly young town that started as a temporary home for construction workers who were building the Glen Canyon Dam in 1957. It soon became incorporated and Page Arizona was on the map. It’s just five hours from Phoenix and five hours from Las Vegas so to get there will require a drive.
There’s a small municipal airport so flying from Phoenix or Las Vegas is also possible but there is only one car rental company. The Grand Canyon is just a 2 1/2 hour drive so combining the two places into one vacation makes sense. Right on the edge of Page sits Navajo Tribal land and that is where Antelope Canyon is.
How to see Antelope Canyon: Where to stay
There are quite a few hotels and motels in Page as well as campsites. But don’t expect to pay less just because it’s a small town. In fact, it will likely cost a little more since they are usually fully booked. You’ll definitely want to book a place well in advance of coming to Page.
What to do in Page
Honestly, there isn’t much else to do in Page besides the outdoor activities. People come here for the landscapes and outdoor adventures. There are tons of tours and excursions into the desert area surrounding Page. Nearby is Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, the Grand Canyon, The Wave, and Vermilion Cliffs. You could easily fill a week of adventures here! Of course the main attraction in Page is Antelope Canyon. This guide will tell you exactly how to see Antelope Canyon and what to expect.
About Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is actually two separate canyons: the Lower Antelope Canyon and the Upper Antelope Canyon. They are probably the most famous slot canyons in the world. Located just outside of the city of Page, both canyons are on Navajo Tribal Land and the only way to see Antelope Canyon is by guided tour.
These slot canyons were created over millions of years by wind and water erosion sculpting the sandstone into wave-like structures. It’s a perfect example of the beauty of the force of nature. Light enters different areas of the canyon at certain times of the day giving the rooms beautiful hues of orange, red, yellow, and purple. The light in the canyon changes constantly creating new looks throughout the day.
How to see Antelope Canyon: Best time to visit
If you want to see the light beams in the Upper Antelope Canyon, then you have to visit between late March to early October. The rest of the year the light beams aren’t visible with the changing of seasons and tilting of the earth. The light beams in the Upper Canyon are visible between 11:00 am – 1:30 pm so look for a time slot during these times.
For the Lower Antelope Canyon there aren’t any light beams, although there is still light in the canyon, so choose an early time to visit. It will be less crowded and won’t be as hot. I would choose the first time of the day so you don’t have tour groups in front of you. The busiest time of year will be the summer months June-August. It will also be incredibly hot. If possible, try to visit outside the summer months.
Upper Antelope Canyon Travel Guide
The Upper Antelope Canyon is located just over 7.5 miles from the center of Page Arizona. The Navajo name for the Upper Antelope Canyon is Tse’bighanili which means “The place where water runs through”. The passage way through the Upper Antelope Canyon is wider than the Lower Antelope Canyon so you won’t feel cramped.
Tours are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year as long as weather permits. There are only five companies that give tours to the Upper Antelope Canyon. You have to be VERY careful about who you book through. Other tour companies might be claiming to give tours to the Upper Canyon but when you look at what you’re about to book it’s actually the name of a different Slot Canyon. So make sure you book through one of the companies below.
- Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours
- Tse Bighanilini Tours
- Antelope Slot Canyon Tours
- Antelope Canyon Tours
- Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours
Adventurous Antelope Canyon
This tour company offers a tour of the Upper Antelope Canyon by itself or in combination of other sites. The Adventurous Antelope Canyon tour lasts for 1 hour and 20 minutes. There are two options for tickets. One regular ticket costs $108 and then they have a Primetime Ticket that costs $119. The Primetime Ticket is for a time that has the most sunlight coming through the Canyon. This means more light beams and the light will be better for photos.
Tse Bighanilini Tours
Tse Bighanilini Tours only offers only Upper Antelope Canyon tours so there’s no confusion.Tours last for 1hour and 30 minutes. They only offer one type of ticket and they offer suggestions for what time to go for the best lighting or colors. You pick the tour time you want when you book. 9:10 am and 3:25 pm are best for the colors while 11:15 am and 1:20pm are the best times for lighting.
Antelope Slot Canyon Tours
The Antelope Slot Canyon Tours offers just the Upper Antelope Canyon tour as well as a combination tour with another canyon. This company also has four tours with two Regular Ticket for $112 times and two Primetime Ticket times (for best light) for $120. Tours are 1.5 hours long.
Antelope Canyon Tours
Antelope Canyon Tours offers four tours with a regular ticket price of $85. Their times are 7:50am, 9:50am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm. Tours are 1.5 hours long.
Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours
There are five time slots Antelope Canyon Navojo Tours offers. The 7:30am, 9:35am, 1:45pm, and 3:50pm tours are $100 a ticket. The 11:40 tour is $120 a ticket. Tours are also 1.5 hours long.
Lower Antelope Canyon Travel Guide
The Lower Antelope Canyon is just 5 miles outside of Page and like Upper Antelope Canyon, you can only see it on a guided tour. The Lower Antelope is a little longer than the Upper Antelope Canyon and also a few stairs. You’ll be climbing down into the canyon and then winding your way through the canyon where you’ll climb up a ladder to get out. The canyon is 1.1 miles long is a little more narrow than the Upper Antelope Canyon. It is still a fairly easy hike. There are only two companies that run the guided tours for the Lower Antelope Canyon.
How to see Antelope Canyon: Ken’s Tours
There are three tour options to choose from with Ken’s Tours. The General Tour is $63 for a one hour tour and the group size is no more than 10 people. The Deluxe Tour is $143 for a 1.5 hour tour with a max group size of 6 people. Ken’s Tours also offers a Combination Package for $183 and is a full day tour. With a max group size of 6 people, you’ll choose two tours out of seven options. Tours start at 7:00am with the last tour at 5:00pm. Tours run every 30 minutes at the 00:00 and 00:30 times.
Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
Dixie’s Tours offers two tour options. Like Ken’s Tours, The Lower Antelope Canyon tour is $63 and lasts one hour. Tours run every 30 minutes at the 00:15 and 00:45 times. Dixie’s tours have a max of 70 people (crazy) so expect to be on a tour with more people than you would on Ken’s tours. Another tour option with Dixie’s is a combination tour of the Lower Antelope Canyon and an all day 8 hour roundtrip tour to Monument Valley. The Combination Tour is $381 and has a max of 11 people.
How to see Antelope Canyon: Need to know Info
There are a few rules to follow when visiting the Antelope Canyon
- No selfie sticks, tripods, strollers, or drones are allowed.
- No pets or service animals allowed.
- The tour used to be in one way and out back through the canyon. It’s changed to going in through the canyon but now you hike out a different way. It does have an incline and some stairs involved.
- The best time of year for lighting in the canyons is between the end of March and the beginning of October. After October the light beams disappear.
- While the Lower Antelope Canyon has light coming in, it is the Upper Antelope Canyon that has the light beams. So if that’s what you want to see then book the Upper Canyon tour.
- Bring Water. It gets really hot in Arizona.
- You need to wear closed toe shoes apporpriate for hiking.
- No bags allowed in the Lower Antelope Canyon. This includes fanny packs and purses. No bags of any kind.
- No video recording is allowed in the Lower Antelope Canyon. You can take photos.
- Be aware that your tour group will not be the only tour group in the canyon. There are tours running every 15 minutes in the Canyons so there will be people in front of you and behind you.
- Flash Floods can happen in the canyons and several people have died in the past. If it’s raining your tour might be canceled for safety reasons.
Other things to do in Page Arizona
If you plan on staying in Page Arizona and are looking for a few other things to do, below is a list of options.
- Horseshoe Bend: This is the other big attraction in Page and shouldn’t be missed. Best part is it’s free! It’s just 4 miles from the center of town.
- Canyon X: This canyon is part of the Antelope Canyon system and prices are a little cheaper.
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Hiking, boating, and more!
- Glen Canyon Dam Overlook: Get a great view of the Dam and the canyon. It’s free!
- Lake Powell: Rent a houseboat or take a boat tour on the lake.
- Vermilion Cliffs National Monument: Just 45 minutes away from Page, a four wheel drive vehicle is needed. Camping on the land is allowed with a permit.
- White Pocket: Located within the Vermilion Cliffs, the many formations of rock are something that needs to be seen.
- The Grand Canyon: The Grand Canyon is just under 2 hours away so it’s easy to take a daytrip to see it.
- Monument Valley: Located on Navajo Tribal Land, Monument Valley sits on the border of Arizona and Utah. It’s $8 a person to enter. Entry begins at 8:00am to 4:00pm (3:00pm in winter). No motorcycles allowed.
- The Wave: Also located within the Vermilion Cliffs area, but harder to come by. Entry is very limited and you have to enter a ticket lottery 4 months in advance. There’s also a daily lottery that you can enter as long as you are in the area. All the info is on their website.
Summary
Hopefully this Guide on How to see Antelope Canyon has given you all the information you need to see the slot canyon. Page Arizona is a great home base to spend time at on your vacation so you can get out and explore all the area has to offer.
