a MARVEL in nature not to be missed!!!
Nestled at the northernmost edge of the Arizona desert, Page is the gateway town to some of the most extraordinary attractions in the great Southwest. Still one of the best kept secrets, Page is a base camp of your adventures to Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, Antelope Canyon, river rafting down the Colorado River, Lake Powell and over ten other famous national and state parks. This locally appreciated town is starting to appear on the international map, and for good reason.
This small town was established in 1957 as a temporary work camp for builders of the Glen Canyon Dam’s construction. When the dam was completed in the 1960s, the people stayed. Page has then grown steadily to today’s population of over 7,000.
Table of Contents
Antelope Canyon
Before visiting Antelope Canyon, I have seen a lot of pictures and videos about the place, I was mesmerised by it. The beauty of this slot canyon with the sharp colours, the shapes & the lines is absolutely a work of art, so unreal. It was in my bucket list ever since.
(A slot canyon is a long, narrow, deep and tortuous channel or drainageway with sheer rock walls that are typically eroded into either sandstone or other sedimentary rock.)
Antelope Canyon, located near Page, Arizona is home to one of nature’s most wondrous creations – the slot canyon. Carved from the red sandstone for millennia by seasonal flood rains and wind, the canyons are narrow passageways that lead several hundred feet away from the mouth.
It is a photographer’s dream, the canyon is known for its wave-like structure and the light beams that shine directly down into the openings of the canyon, creating a supernatural appearance.
Guided tours are required for visiting Antelope Canyon. There are several authorised tour operators to choose from who will not only bring you to the canyon, but also give you a breadth of information about the history, geology, and culture of the Antelope Canyon area.
Photographers will enjoy snapping photos, but the famous light beams are not always visible. The narrow canyon walls at the top are what helps create the light beams when the sun is at the right angle. Beams occur most often during the summer, between 1030 – 1300, with the best views between late March and early October.
There are two parts of Antelope Canyon where you can visit, the Upper and the Lower.
Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper Antelope Canyon is the most accessible part of Antelope Canyon and the more popular of the two slot canyons. Often when people talk about Antelope Canyon or pictures you have seen, they are usually the upper one.
The light beams, falling sands, and very high canyon walls make it so magical and extremely photogenic.
Upper Antelope Canyon is wider at the bottom, and is only a short and easy walk; unlike Lower Antelope Canyon with stairs and ladders, and more narrow.
Because of the narrow canyon top and wide bottom, with these high, narrow walls make the upper canyon darker and cooler.
Since taking the tour is the only way of visiting this magnificent slot canyon, with social media nowadays it has become extremely popular, and tour often sells out months in advance. You are best to make advance reservations as soon as you know the dates you will be in the area, to avoid disappointment.
You can book this tour by itself, or in a combo with Lower Antelope Canyon or Antelope Canyon by Boat for a more efficient visit. For general tours, tripods, monopods, selfie-sticks & backpacks are NOT allowed. Unless you book a photography tour, which is more expensive.
No matter which canyon you choose, you are in for an unforgettable experience!
Lower Antelope Canyon
In the contrary to the Upper Antelope Canyon, Lower Antelope Canyon has a wide canyon top and narrow bottom, therefore it is brighter and warmer.
Lower Antelope Canyon is an excellent section of the canyon. The tours travel in one direction, making it slightly easier to get photographs of the canyon with less people in it.
There are stairs, ladders, and narrow sections, you are going to get some great shots with it. Most importantly, you will have fun squeezing through the narrow passageways and climbing the ladders, it feels more adventurous.
Best Time to Visit
- If you are looking to take photos of the sun beaming into the canyon, book a tour with the tour groups in Upper Antelope Canyon around 1030 to 1300 for the months of March to October. To get extra time in the canyon, book a tour with a photography group – there may be an extra fee to book this type of tour.
- If you want to do a little hiking and want a little more seclusion, book a tour for the Lower Antelope Canyon area. It is less busy compared to the Upper Antelope Canyon.
- If you want less tourists visit during the non-peak months of November to March.
Tour Operators
Below are some tour operators in Page where you can book your tour before visiting Antelope Canyon:
KEN’S TOURS
Lower Antelope Canyon is a global destination for photographers and adventure seekers. We offer tours throughout the entire Lower Antelope Slot Canyon.
ANTELOPE SLOT CANYON TOURS
Antelope Slot Canyon Tours by Chief Tsosie is located in Page Arizona, right next to the great Lake Powell, and in the centre of the Grand Circle. Navajo-owned and operated. You’ll enjoy our personal tour of the breathless Antelope Canyon and other spectacular adventures! A special highlight of the tour, will be the authentic beauty of Native American flute music resonating throughout Antelope Canyon. Hear the wonderful Native American stories associated with Antelope Canyon by Navajo Tour Guides. Come, visit, and personally experience the mystical canyons.
ANTELOPE CANYON NAVAJO TOURS
Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours operates on land owned by the Begay family, longstanding members of the Navajo Nation and community. As a part of this family, Dalvin Etsitty has been providing tours of this sacred Navajo site for over 20 years, allowing people from all over the world to visit and enjoy its beauty. Dalvin enjoys meeting people from different cultures and walks of life and introducing them to the Navajo way of life.
ANTELOPE CANYON TOURS
Antelope Canyon Tours is a customer service oriented business that specialising in slot canyon tours around Page, Arizona / Lake Powell Area. Antelope Canyon Tours is a Navajo owned and operated, providing guided tours from Page, Arizona.
ADVENTUROUS ANTELOPE CANYON PHOTO TOUR
Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo tours (AACPT) provides quality guided tours, sightseeing tours and photographic tours into slot canyons that are within the Antelope wash basin, located just on the outskirts of Page, Arizona. The slot canyons reside within the Navajo Nation tribal reservation – Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park. AACPT operates into 4 slot canyons: the Upper Antelope Canyon, Rattlesnake Canyon, Owl Canyon and Mountain Sheep Canyon.
Even though the beauty of Antelope Canyon is mind-blowing and it’s definitely a place you have to visit, but do expect large crowds of people, especially during midday in the peak months. What you often see in the pictures are either nobody or just the visitors themselves with the canyon. The truth is, there are many other visitors who are behind the scenes. The tour groups get ushered through the canyon rather quickly, making it feel like a rushed experience.
Horseshoe Bend
Being one of the most photographed spots in all of Arizona. Horseshoe Bend is a definite “Bucket List” must see! It is a horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River, located in the town of Page, Arizona. The hike is about less than 1 km one way to the overlook from the carpark, about 20 minutes walk. The trail is wide and accessible to wheelchairs, a very pleasant & easy short walk to one of the most beautiful natural wonders.
The overlook is about 305 meters high, looking down onto the Colorado River. In 2018, a fenced overlook area was created for viewing safety. However, visitors who want to venture away from the fenced partition are asked to exercise caution; the sandstone edges of the terrain can be unstable causing slides or breaks underfoot.
Horseshoe Bend itself, and that part of the Colorado River, are a part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. About 15 km downstream is where Grand Canyon National Park begins.
Horseshoe Bend is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. The busiest times of the day are between 0900 to 1100 in the morning and 1630 to 1830 in the evening. Overnight parking or camping is not allowed.
Entrance fees are based on the passenger capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers. For motorcycle, it is USD 5, for car or RV, it is USD 10.
PLEASE NOTE: On Holidays and busy weekends, the City of Page may require all visitors to use a shuttle to visit once the parking lot is full. Check with them if you plan to visit during busy times.
Glen Canyon Dam Overlook
Although Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are the reasons you travel to Page, but Glen Canyon Dam Overlook is just as astonishing, it is just a 5-minute drive from Page.
From the car park, it is an easy 10 minutes scenic walk to the overlook. From there you will get spectacular views of both Glen Canyon Dam and the Colorado River.
The Glen Canyon Dam intercepts the Colorado River at a height of 216 meters and a length of 475 meters and is the only source of water for southwest United States! The dam adds to the city’s popular recreational pulse and is responsible for providing water and electricity.
“ I believe the world is incomprehensibly beautiful — an endless prospect of magic and wonder. ”
– Ansel Adams
How to Get There?
Most people usually travel to Page from Las Vegas, Flagstaff or Phoenix. Geographically, it makes sense for travellers combining their visit of Las Vegas & Grand Canyon National Park to Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon.
- By Flight:
Contour Airlines provides direct flights from Phoenix International Airport (PHX) to Page Municipal Airport (PGA). Travel from anywhere in the world via American Airlines to Phoenix International Airport and seamlessly connect with Contour Airlines. Once you arrive at Page, you can rent a car or join tours to visit Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and other national parks & monuments.
- By Car:
If you are in Las Vegas, the distance to Page is around 438 km with the driving time of about 5 hours, the road is pretty straight forward all the way. Just so you know, this drive will be crossing 3 states, from Nevada to Utah and then Arizona.
If you are driving from Flagstaff, the distance to Page is around 208 km with the driving time of about 2 hours, you will be heading north all the way on Highway 89.
- By Tour:
Alternately, you can also take a tour to Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend from Vegas or Flagstaff. This is always a convenient option, having a guide to tell you everything you need to know during the journey while you are seated comfortably in the vehicle. The only downside of it would be lacking of flexibility while visiting, and you also have less time to truly enjoy the magnificent views.
Where to Stay?
There are plenty of accommodation choices available in the small town of Page, ranging from affordable inns to big hotel chains like Marriott, Hyatt, Best Western and Holiday Inn.
You can check booking.com for more options, and if you prefer homestay, AirBnB is always a great choice.