Antelope Canyon Tips: Things To Know Before Visiting Antelope Canyon

Sharing is caring!

The Ultimate Antelope Canyon guide with Antelope Canyon tips answering all questions about Antelope Canyon you might have

Have you seen Antelope Canyon photos on social media and now you are dreaming of hiking Antelope Canyon?
Are you thinking of a trip to Antelope Canyon and wondering how to visit Antelope Canyon?
Or have you just stumbled upon my Antelope Canyon blog and now looking at these dream-like images of Antelope Canyon with surprise and wonder?!

Whatever, here’s my Antelope Canyon guide and all the Antelope Canyon tips you need for visiting Antelope Canyon in Arizona.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLAIMER FOR MORE INFO. 

FIRST-TIME VISITORS GUIDE TO ANTELOPE CANYON, ARIZONA –ANTELOPE CANYON TIPS

Antelope Canyon in Arizona is one of the top natural attractions in the US and one of the most photographed canyons in the world!

So, it is not surprising, if you are interested in visiting Antelope Canyon in Arizona! I had a desire to see Antelope Canyon for a long time too!

Now I am feeling very fortunate to have visited Antelope Canyon. And, I am happy to share my tips for visiting Antelope Cayon with people who want to visit Antelope Canyon too!

Let’s start with some essentials about Antelope Canyon, Arizona.

1. WHAT IS ANTELOPE CANYON?

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon, formed by water coming into a crack or fissure in the bedrock.

Slot canyons are geological phenomena that appear by land erosion that often happens in desert areas. Sudden exchange of extreme weather conditions, such as dry and hot sandstorms and turbulent flooding of sandstone cause such land erosion.

Antelope Canyon is one of the top tourist attractions in the US, one of the most famous slot canyons in the world, and one of the most photographed canyons in the world.

2. UPPER AND LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON

Antelope Canyon is split into two sections. There are two Antelope Canyons: Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon.

Antelope Canyon is named after herds of pronghorn antelope that have lived freely in the area.

If you are wondering what antelope is, let me note that antelope is an Old World deer-like mammal.

3. IS ANTELOPE CANYON A NATIONAL PARK? 

Antelope Canyon is often called Antelope Canyon National Park, Antelope Canyon State Park, Antelope National Park, or simply Antelope Canyon Park.

But, officially Antelope Canyon is not a US National Park, and it is not protected and managed by the US National Park Service.

Antelope Canyon is located in Antelope Valley Arizona on the Navajo Land. Therefore, it is officially managed by Navajo Native Americans who organize and guide Antelope Canyon Tours.

Antelope Canyon Arizona is sacred to the Navajo people. In the past, entering Antelope Canyon to Navajo people meant entering a holy place that sought to show admiration and respect for Mother Nature.

Nowadays to visit Antelope Canyon you need to pay an Antelope Canyon permit of 8 USD in cash for entering Navajo Land that goes to the Navajo Aboriginal reserve.

Furthermore, Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park manages Upper Antelope Canyon, Lower Antelope Canyon, Upper Park of East Waterholes, Lower Park of East Waterholes, and Rainbow Bridge Trail.

4. WHERE IS ANTELOPE CANYON?

Antelope Canyon is in the U.S. state of Arizona in the American Southwest. Moreover, Antilope Canyon is near the City of Page in northern Arizona.

5. HOW TO GET TO ANTELOPE CANYON

Getting to Antelope Canyon by air

Page Municipal Airport is served only by Contour Airlines (Page Municipal Airport – Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport), Linear Air (Page Municipal Airport – Las Vegas Henderson Sky Harbor), and Grand Canyon Airlines (Page Municipal Airport – Grand Canyon National Park Airport)

Find the best flight to Page Municipal Airport (PGA) via SkyScanner.net

Las Vegas and Phoenix are about a 4.5-hour drive from Antelope Canyon.

Rent your car at Las Vegas-Harry Reid International Airport t, at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, or at Phoenix-Mesa Airport, enter the Antelope Canyon address (GPS coordinates ), head to Antelope Canyon, and enjoy your time visiting Antelope Canyon!

5.1 LAS VEGAS TO ANTELOPE CANYON

Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport is one of the closest airports to Antelope Canyon, along with airports in Phoenix.

Harry Reid International Airport is about 5 mi south of Las Vegas.

Vegas to Antelope Canyon is not a long drive. Visiting Antelope Canyon is one of the most popular day trips from Las Vegas.

You can visit Antelope Canyon from Las Vegas by booking a one-day tour of Antelope Canyon. Or you can visit Antelope Canyon from Vegas by renting a car and visiting Antelope Canyon on your own. 

Find the best flight to Las Vegas via SkyScanner
Rent a car: Rent a car at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas

5.2 PHOENIX TO ANTELOPE CANYON

Phoenix International Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airports are the two closest airports to Antelope Canyon.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is about 3 mi from Phoenix.

To get from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon you can rent a car at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Rental cars in Phoenix are slightly more expensive than cars in Las Vegas as many people rent them for a road trip through Arizona, while Las Vegas is usually the final destination for people who arrive at Las Vegas Airport.

Find the best flight to Phoenix via SkyScanner
Rent a car: Rent a car at Phoenix Airport, or at Phoenix-Mesa airport, 

5.3 GRAND CANYON TO ANTELOPE CANYON 

6. ANTELOPE CANYON ACCESS 

Antelope Canyon how to get there

Both canyons (Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon) are located inside Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, within a 15-minute drive of each other. They are both accessed by Highway 98 (AZ 98).

Access to Lower Antelope Canyon is directly from the Tribal Park Gate on AZ-98.  Access to Upper Antelope Canyon takes a 2-mile safari truck ride from the Tribal Park Gate on AZ-98.

7. WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING ANTELOPE CANYON

Wondering where to stay in Antelope Canyon? Looking for Antelope Canyon accommodation? You need to know that there are no Antelope Canyon hotels as the Antelope Canyon is a natural attraction.

The nearest town to Antelope Canyon is the city of Page. Antelope Canyon is about 8 miles south of Page, i.e. 15 min drive from Page.

If you want to tour Antelope Canyon unrushed early in the morning or if you want to visit both Antelope canyons in one day, you need to look for a stay in Page Arizona.  The town of Page offers some great accommodations you can choose from for your trip to Antelope Canyon.

Where to stay in Page Arizona – recommended hotels in Page AZ: 
Baymont by Wyndham Page Lake Powell, 
Hyatt Place Page Lake Powell, 
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson

8. HOW TO SEE ANTELOPE CANYON

The only way you can visit Antelope Canyon is to take an Antelope Canyon guided tour. In short, book the Antelope Canyon tour exclusively managed by Navajo Native Americans.

Can you see Antelope Canyon without a tour? 

Visiting Antelope Canyon without a tour is impossible. Antelope Canyon self-guided tours are not allowed because of some accidents in the past. So please dismiss the idea of Antelope Canyon self-tour!

Antelope Canyon is one of the top tourist attractions in the US. That’s why I would recommend booking your Antelope Canyon tour in advance!

Make your Antelope Canyon tour reservation on time and don’t worry about your Antelope Canyon tickets.

9. ANTELOPE CANYON TOURS

Navajo Antelope Canyon Tours: 4 tour companies manage Upper Antelope Canyon Tours and 2 tour companies manage Lower Antelope Canyon Tours.

9.1 UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON TOUR COMPANIES 

Upper Antelope Canyon tours are organized by 4 tour companies.

3 companies manage Upper Antelope Canyon tours from Page (with round-trip transportation from Page).

And, only one company, called Antelope Canyon Navajo Tour, offers an Upper Antelope Canyon tour from the Tribal Park Entrance Gate on US 98 (with direct pick up at the Navajo Park Gate). If you want to start touring Upper Antelope Canyon from the Tribal Park Entrance Gate, you need to take the Navajo Antelope Canyon Tour.

9.2 LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON TOUR COMPANIES 

Visiting Lower Antelope Canyon without a guide is not allowed. Only two official tour companies manage visits to Lower Antelope Canyon AZ:

• Ken’s Tours: Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
• Dixie Ellis Antelope Canyon Tours: Dixie Ellis’ Antelope Lower Canyon Tours  

9.3 ANTELOPE CANYON PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR 

Classic Upper Antelope Canyon sightseeing tour lasts about 90 min, while Antelope Canyon photo tour lasts 2.5 hours.  

Antelope Canyon photography tours require professional photography equipment (such as DSLR cameras and tripods). If you want to make professional Antelope Canyon pictures, arm yourself with a DSL camera and tripod.

But if you are not into taking high-quality photos for sale, don’t bother with taking a photography tour. Your Antelope Canyon photos won’t be anything less beautiful!

9.4 ANTELOPE CANYON RESERVATION 

Tours of Antelope Canyon can be reserved online or by phone.

Check the websites of Antelope Canyon tour companies for dates and times that fit your travel schedule and to make your Antelope Canyon reservation and buy an Antelope Canyon ticket on time.

You can book online following tours:
Upper Antelope Canyon tours:
Upper Antelope Canyon: Admission Ticket and Guided Tour

Lower Antelope Canyon tours:
Lower Antelope Canyon: Admission Ticket and Guided Tour

10. ANTELOPE CANYON TOUR PRICE

ANTELOPE CANYON ENTRANCE & ANTELOPE CANYON FEE

If you are interested in Antelope Canyon cost, and wondering about Antelope Canyon price, here are the Antelope Canyon entrance fees:

10.1 LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON FEES

Lower Antelope Canyon tickets:
□ Lower Antelope Canyon Dixie Ellis’ Tours  
Adults (13+): 50 USD + 8 USD per person Navajo Nation Park Permit Fee
Children (8-12): 30 USD + 8 USD per person Navajo Nation Park Permit Fee
Toddler (4-7):30 USD (no Navajo Nation Park Permit fee)
Children (0-3):  free

10.2 UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON ENTRANCE FEE 

Upper Antelope Canyon tickets:
□ Adults (13+): 95 USD + 8 USD per person Navajo Nation Park Permit Fee
□ Children (6-12): 90 USD + 8 USD per person Navajo Nation Park Permit Fee
□ Children under (0-5):  free

10.3 UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

For the Antelope Canyon photography tour, you must bring your professional photography equipment (tripods, DSLR Cameras).

10.4 ARE THERE CHEAP ANTELOPE CANYON TOURS?

If you want to save some money on visiting Antelope Canyon, you can opt for a tour ‘off-peak’ hours which means earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon. 

11. ANTELOPE CANYON DAY TOURS

Las Vegas: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour with Pickup
From Flagstaff: Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
From Scottsdale: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Day Tour

11. TIME IN ANTELOPE CANYON

10. ANTELOPE CANYON TOUR TIMES

Here are schedules of Antelope Canyon tours:

10.1 UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON HOURS

□ Antelope Slot Canyon Tours:
6:30 am (April – October), 8:30 am, 10:30 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm
□ Ekis Antelope Canyon Tours  :
7:00 (April – September), 8:00, 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 16:30 (April – September)
□ Adventures Antelope Canyon Tours:
8:30 am, 10:15 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4 pm, 5:30 pm
□ Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours:
8:45 am – 4 pm

10.2 LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON HOURS

□ Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours:
8:00 am – 4:30 pm (tours go every 30 minutes, March – October)
9:00 am – 3:00 pm (tours go every 30 minutes, November – February)

□ Dixie Ellis’ Antelope Lower Canyon Tours:
7:45 am – 4:15 pm (tours go every 30 minutes, March – October)
8:45 am – 2.45 pm (tours go 30 minutes, November – February)

11. BEST TIME TO SEE ANTELOPE CANYON

The season of the Antelope Canyon light beam lasts from April to October.

The light beams are more frequent in Upper Antelope Canyon than in Lower Antelope Canyon. The peak months are June, July, and August with peak hours from 11 am to 1:30 pm. You should also take into account that the busiest time is the peak hours in the summer months. 

12. BEST TIME TO GO TO ANTELOPE CANYON

The Best Time to Visit Antelope Canyon

The high season for visiting Antelope Canyon goes from April to September. The best time of year to visit Antelope Canyon is from April to September when light beams occur.

Remember, with sunbeams, tourists come! And there are no light beams before 11 am and after 1:30 pm. So, if you would like to escape the crowds you should tour Antelope Canyon before 11 am and after 1:30 pm.

The low season in Antelope Canyon lasts from October to mid-March when there are no light beams. There are fewer crowds but still, the colors of Antelope Canyon are spectacular.

The best time to hike Antelope Canyon depends on your preferences: do you prefer to enjoy more solitude in the low season? Or do you passionately want to photograph light beams in the summer season (which is also more crowded than the winter season)?

Antelope Canyon is breathtaking at any time of year, with and without light beams.

Best Time to Visit Arizona

Arizona is a year-round destination, but there’s Arizona Monsoon Season from June to September with the possibility of flooding.

13. ANTELOPE CANYON UPPER OR LOWER

Upper Antelope Canyon vs Lower Antelope Canyon: Should you visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon? What’s the difference between Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon?

In case you are debating over Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon and wondering about the difference between Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, here are the answers:

Touring Upper Antelope Canyon is easier. Upper Antelope Canyon is 90 m long and flat. It is an easy walk with no stairs and ladders.

Lower Antelope Canyon is longer than Upper Antelope Canyon. Lower Antelope Canyon is about 550 m long with stairs and ladders going down the canyon and through the canyon. It requires climbing and stepping over some boulders. Lower Antelope Canyon is not suitable for wheelchairs and pregnant women are not allowed to go to Lower Antelope Canyon.

Is Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon better? Which is better Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon?

It’s hard to say since it depends on what you seek and how well fit you are. If you are after light beams then Upper Antelope Canyon would be a better choice since the light beams are more frequent in the Upper Antelope Canyon than in Lower Antelope Canyon. But if you prefer a somewhat mystical experience, taking a Lower Antelope tour should be your bet. But then again, if you are slightly claustrophobic, you should rather check out Upper Antelope Canyon. These days Antelope Canyons are equally visited. In any case, you should expect crowds in both canyons.

14. UPPER AND LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON IN ONE DAY

If you want to see both canyons in one day, most likely you would prefer to visit Upper Antelope Canyon for the sunbeams between 11 am and 2 pm.

Therefore, aim to visit Lower Antelope Canyon either first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon and the Upper Antelope Canyon from 11 am – 2 pm.

15. ANTELOPE CANYON OPENING HOURS

Here are Antelope Canyon hours:

15.1 UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON HOURS:

□ 6:30 am  – 4:30 pm (April – October)
□ 7 am – 4 om (November – March)

15.2 LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON OPENING HOURS:

□ 7:45 am – 4:30 pm

16. THINGS TO DO NEAR ANTELOPE CANYON

Hiking Antelope Canyon and taking unreal Antelope Canyon photos are things to do in Antelope Canyon. But, what else you can do there besides the Antelope Canyon hike?

• Go to the Lake Powel: Lake Powel is just a short drive from Antelope Canyon. If you decide to tour Antelope Canyon in the morning, you should head to Lake Powel for the sunset.
• Visit Glen Canyon Dam: Glen Canyon Dam is about 20 min drive from Antelope Canyon
• Hike Horseshoe Bend: Horseshoe Bend is about 15 min drive from Antelope Canyon 
• Visit Monument Valley:  Monument Valey is 2-hour drive from Antelope Canyon 
• Go to the Wave Arizona in Coyote Buttes: The Wave in Arizona is a 1,5-hour drive from Antelope Canyon
• Head to Zion National Park: Zion National Park in Utah is a 2-hour drive from Antelope Canyon. If you are into hiking adventures you should definitely plan your Zion National Park itinerary and check out some of the striking Zion treks like Weeping Rock Trail, Grotto Trail, and Upper Emerald Pools Trails.

Tours options:
3 Day Tour Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Monument Valley From Las Vegas 
3 Day Antelope Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley, and Grand Canyon (With A Helicopter Ride over Grand Canyon!)

17. ADDITIONAL ANTELOPE CANYON TIPS

Arizona is an all-year-round warm destination with July as the hottest month of the year. The temperatures average from 90°F (32.2°C) to 120°F (48.9°C) and in July from 81°F (27.2°C) to 112°F (44.4°C).

Therefore, take a portable bottle of water to stay well-hydrated during your Horseshoe Bend hike!

Most likely, you will enjoy many outdoor activities in Arizona. There is no doubt, besides hiking Antelope Canyon you will also want to hike Horseshoe Bend. Visiting Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in one day is a very popular option! Additionally, hot Arizona comes with hot sand! Therefore, forget sandals. Good hiking shoes or at least good sneakers are a must-have for hiking Antelope Canyon!

Warm destinations like Arizona seak for light clothing. Good lightweight cargo pants with many large patch pockets on the side are just outdoor perfect!

Protect yourself against the heat. Go for a good hat and good sunscreen!

Unquestionably, you will want to take as many photos as possible. A good camera is essential!

18. ANTELOPE CANYON MAP

Map of Antelope Canyon: Antelope Canyon location with Antelope Canyon directions 

FAQ

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY

The Ultimate USA Southwest Road Trip

Arizona Photos That Will Make You Fall in Love with Arizona