Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon lies on Navajo Nation land near LeChee, a few miles east of Page in northern Arizona. It is the main attraction of the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park and is made up of several sections, of which Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon are the best known.

The canyon was cut into Navajo Sandstone by flash floods over a very long time. Rainwater rushing through narrow cracks wore the rock into smooth, wave-like walls, and wind shaped the surfaces further. The process still continues, and in the monsoon season storms many miles away can send water racing through the canyon without warning.

Upper Antelope Canyon is wide at the base and narrow at the top, and is entered at ground level, which makes it the easier walk. Around midday in the summer months, sunlight falls through gaps in the roof in narrow beams that light up the dust. Lower Antelope Canyon is narrower at the bottom and is explored by climbing down and up a series of metal stairways and ladders. Below the lower canyon the floor is flooded by Lake Powell and can be reached by kayak or small boat.

On 12 August 1997 a flash flood killed eleven tourists in Lower Antelope Canyon. Since then the canyon has been visited only on guided tours, and safety measures include fixed ladders, cargo nets at the top and a weather radio and alarm at the fee booth.

Tours are sold by licensed Navajo-owned companies in Page and at the canyon, and each visit also includes a Navajo Parks permit fee of $16.05 per person. Book well ahead for midday slots in summer. Tours may be cancelled when rain is forecast, and bags and tripods are often restricted.

Upper or Lower Antelope?

Upper Antelope suits visitors who want an easy, level walk and the classic light beams; the tour includes a ride in an open truck across sandy washes from the meeting point. Lower Antelope suits those comfortable with steep metal staircases and offers more varied shapes and usually smaller crowds. Antelope Canyon X and other side canyons, run by separate operators, are quieter alternatives when the main canyons are booked out.

Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, but the Navajo Nation does, so in summer the canyon runs an hour ahead of Page. Confirm which clock your tour time uses. Horseshoe Bend, about 15 minutes south of Page, pairs well with a canyon tour on the same day.