Photo: Lucas Löffler · Public domain
Antelope Canyon guide: Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon, Navajo-guided tours, light-beam season, time-zone trap and how to combine it with Horseshoe Bend near Page.
Near Page, Arizona, on Navajo Nation land, flash floods have carved narrow passages through Navajo sandstone over thousands of years. Inside, the walls swirl in smooth curves and glow in orange, pink and purple as sunlight bounces down from the narrow opening above.
There are two main sections. Upper Antelope Canyon, called “the place where water runs through rocks” in Navajo, is wide at the bottom and famous for the light beams that shine through around midday in late spring and summer. Lower Antelope Canyon is narrower and deeper, with stairways and ladders that make it feel like an adventure.
Visits are possible only on guided tours with authorized Navajo operators, which keeps the site safe: flash floods can fill these canyons in minutes, even when the sky above is clear. Tours sell out, especially for the midday light, so book in advance.
Don’t miss
- 1The midday light beams in Upper Antelope Canyon
- 2The ladders and twisting corridors of Lower Antelope Canyon
- 3Horseshoe Bend, 10 minutes away
- 4Sunset over Lake Powell
Insider tips
- Time-zone trap: Arizona does not use daylight saving time, but the Navajo Nation does, so check what time your tour starts.
- Bags and tripods are usually not allowed; bring only your phone or camera.
- Combine the tour with Horseshoe Bend and a boat trip on Lake Powell.
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