Antelope Canyon is located in the Navajo Nation, few miles east of Page, Arizona. It is a slot canyon with two separate sections, the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, both are incredibly gorgeous and worth visiting. They have formed as a result of years of erosion of the sandstone, mainly through flash flooding, which has led to the 'flowing' appearance of the canyon walls.
The Canyons are an extremely popular destination for tourists and photographers alike. They are accessible only through guided tours run under the supervision of Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation. You can choose amongst the available tour operators at http://navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopetours.htm.
You can reserve the tour time online, though you have to pay by cash (only) on arrival. Also there is an $8 fee at the entrance for a permit to enter the canyons which is separate from the cost of the tour. They offer general tours for sightseeing tourists and Photography Tours for professional photographers. The photography tours are longer - 2hours and they are given priority and time to take the photos. The tours are subject to weather conditions as there is a real danger of flash floods. So keep in mind that the Canyons might be closed if there is rain in and around the area.
[We booked our Upper Antelope Canyon tour with Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours and Ken's Tours for the Lower Canyon. We had a great experience with both and would definitely recommend them for anyone planning on visiting.]
The Upper canyon is more popular (and crowed) because of the sunbeams that radiate down through the openings on top. The sunbeams are most common at mid-morning during the summer months so be sure to book your tour times accordingly. The colours are more vivid in the Upper canyon ranging from yellow to red and a slight blue purple at some places. Also the entire canyon is at the same level and wide enough to walk through comfortably.
The Lower Antelope Canyon on the other hand is longer and narrower than its counterpart. You have to descend into the canyon via steep metal staircases. The canyon gets pretty narrow at some points, requiring people to slide through sideways. Overall, a more difficult hike than the Upper Canyon which does (but shouldn't) dissuade some people from visiting, even though it is as or even more beautiful than the Upper canyon, more so due to the less crowded, less rushed experience.
We drove down from Kanab, Utah and due to some confusion regarding the time zones, we arrived an hour early even though we thought we were a bit late. They are pretty strict so try to reach a little early to account for the traffic jam at the entrance. We had only booked a tour for the Upper Canyon but since we were early, we decided to go and buy tickets for the Lower Canyon tour as well which turned out to be a great decision.
We were transported to the entrance of the Upper canyon by means of a 4x4 truck, which was a fun bumpy ride. The allotted hour includes the travel time to and from the office. There were multiple groups with us, it was crowded and the tour felt rushed but as soon as I entered the canyon I forgot about everything else.
Mesmerized would perhaps be an appropriate description of how I felt. It is a perfect example of natural beauty. All the photos and descriptions I had read online did not do it justice. We were extremely lucky to catch the sunbeam coming down the canyon almost as soon as we entered. Even if the photo is a bit of a cliché, it is still an amazing sight. I was at the back of my group and had to take the photo over the heads of a bunch of people. I'm glad I didn't wait to get in front because the sunbeam was gone within a minute of us getting there.
Our guide was very helpful. She helped people with their camera settings which some might object to, preferring the challenge of getting a good photo themselves. But honestly, there isn't enough time to get used to the lighting conditions and modify your settings since guides from other tours are always asking you to keep moving, which didn't prevent from me from obstinately trying. She even told us where and how to get the best photos, which is why most photos online look the same. Of course, a leisurely stroll through the canyon, uninhibited by the crowds and time would be ideal. But realities must be faced and even the rushed tour through the Upper Canyon is enough to satiate your soul.
Though over too soon, we still had the Lower Canyon to look forward to. During the wait however, the weather began to turn. It started getting cooler and it looked like it might rain. Rainfall even in the surrounding area can lead to flash floods in the canyon due to which they close entry to be safe.
Luck was on our side again, we were amongst the last group to be allowed in. Which was even better since there was no one behind us to keep pushing us forward. So we dawdled and moved at our own pace. Our guide was relaxed and didn't rush us either. She told us about the various flash floods that had happened in recent times including the one that had left 11 people dead, after which it became mandatory for a tour guide to accompany you into the canyons.
The Lower Canyons may not have the sunbeams but they are even more majestic. Nature and time have contoured the walls which curve gracefully leaving a narrow winding pathway in between. In some places the walls have curved into the shapes of animal/human faces and figures. Head swivelling all around, camera's clicking away furiously, we navigated our way through one of the most beautiful places on earth.Towards the end of the trail, we were asked to hurry up as it had started raining over the basin that lies above the slot canyons. We climbed up out of the canyon to see a glorious sunset through a brewing storm. Without realising it we had spent almost 30mins more than the normal hour long tour.
I don't know if it was the more relaxed tour of the Lower Antelope Canyons or its grandeur that made me prefer it to the Upper Canyons. But I do know this, if you are anywhere in the area, make the detour and go there. You will not regret it.
