Page, Arizona - Lower Antelope Canyon

on November 07, 2024

Introduction:

What? :

Visiting Antelope Canyon became one of the “mast visit” destination when people are traveling to the national parks of south Utah and North Arizona.

Lower Antelope Canyon considered to be one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes there is in this region. The deep canyon formed in the Navajo sandstone over millions of years by water has resulted in the narrow twisting slot canyon with its stunning formations, textures and shapes and palette of colors.

The slot canyon views is breathtaking, with its smooth layered rock texture, twisting and changing rock formation and the vibrant deep reds, purples, orange, yellow, pink, and hues colors.

You just can’t stop taking pictures.

Where? :

Lower Antelope Canyon is located 2 miles east of Page, Arizona.

From the traffic light at Coppermine Road, travel 2 miles east on US 98. Turn left (north) onto Antelope Point Road (Navajo Route N22B).

Drive north for 1/4 mile, here you will see a clear turn to the left, turn and drive the unpaved road to the parking lot of your tour provider.

There are two tour providers at this location, Dixie's or Ken’s, we had our reservation at Ken’s Tours that is located at the right side.

Google Map Link

When? :

The Lower Antelope Canyon tours are operated year-round.

When to visit during the year?

When visiting this area in the summer months temperatures on the surface are on average 93 degrees. In the lower canyon temperatures can drop 10 degrees, which helps but still hot.

During summer it is better to visit early in the morning when it is less hot.

Be sure to bring enough water with you, as well!

Summer month are the busiest season of the year, all tours are fully booked month in advance.

During summer monsoons season it is better to book for morning tour and there will be less of a chance of a tour needing to be rescheduled due to monsoon storms that usually happen in the afternoon.

During the fall season temperatures drop to the mid to low 70s, and you can enjoy the canyon with a light jacket or sweater. At the “off season” months it gets a little less busy and you can find more timeslots for tours.

Usually, summer mid-day has more intense sunlight that dives deeper into the canyon.

People say that fall sun hits the canyon at a different angle, is softer and more diffused, which creates warmer, and more vibrant orange hues inside the canyon. I think you can get excellent light conditions in lower canyon any time of the year.

Unlike upper canyon that probably need mid-day direct sunlight to create the classic “sunbeam pictures”, the lower canyon is much narrower, and in my view, direct light will make it more challenge to take good pictures.

Additional Blogs on nearby locations:

Difference between Lower and Upper Canyon tours:

I only visit the lower canyon so I can only share information I saw in the internet.

Lower is hike only, right from the tour company you booked your tour with, upper you need to drive from Page to the start of the canyon walk.

Upper is more popular in overall visitation, it is very short, 100 yards, and flat easy hike. There is a mile-long series of steps and walkways from the exit of the canyon to the tour vehicles.

Lower is more in length (600 yards) and involved with steep flights of stairs going down into the canyon, and narrow slot canyon with few smaller ladders and boulders as you walk inside.

Lower is a loop hike, one way in the canyon while upper is in and out walk.

Looks like because it is more open at the bottom upper canyon look more crowded compared to the lower narrow canyon.

Upper Antelope Canyon is shaped like an “A-frame,” with a wide canyon base. During the late spring through early fall months, mid-day, sunlight beam penetrate all the way down to the canyon floor.

Lower canyon is much narrower at its floor level, twisting and winding through the long slot. In many places it is so deep and twisted that you can’t see the upper section of the canyon.

In years past, Lower Antelope Canyon had significantly fewer people touring it than Upper, but that is no longer the case.

Due note 1:

We visit by taking a tour at

https://lowerantelope.com/

We took the 8am general tours and it cost us about $70 per adult including reservation fee and tax (55+8+tax).

I chose this tour provider because I saw many good reviews and it is the closest to the canyon, no need to drive, a short walk will take you from the visitor center to the canyon and back.

It was late Sep. 2024 when we visit here and I manage to find only few open tour slots, a week before our visit. We were flexible with our visit day and time so we can accommodate this open slot, but if you have a specific date you want to visit here book well in advance.

Due note 2:

The average Lower Antelope Canyon tour length is about an hour.

The companies operate the tours offers general tours, photo tours, and deluxe tours. We took the general tours.

Due note 3:

The Navajo Nation Park Permit Fee of $8.00 is required when visiting Lower Antelope Canyon. The Permit fee is valid for 1 day only.

If you have paid this fee at another Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, you can request a refund upon arrival at Ken’s Tours.

Due note 4:

Things you can’t do or bring to this tour:

Any type of video filming is not allowed inside the Lower Antelope Canyon

No backpacks or bags, including Fanny Pack, Hydration packs.

No hiking poles, selfie-sticks, and large camera stabilized device

No tripods and monopods.

No GoPro and other action cameras, no video recording

No drowns

No Pets or even Service Animals are allowed into the canyon.

Because of the extreme temperatures, leaving them in your car can be fatal.

No Alcohol, Concealed Weapons are permitted on all Navajo tribal Parks

Due note 5:

All tour times and confirmations are in ARIZONA TIME

Summertime: Same time as Pacific Time.

Wintertime Same time as Mountain Time.

No Daylight-Saving Time – Not Utah Time – Not Navajo Nation Time.

Because the Utah State Line is less than 7 miles away, cell phone towers from Utah (and the surrounding Navajo Nation) often will be the wrong time!

Do yourself a favor and check local time at your hotel the night before or ask locals.

Or you can also manually set your cell phone to PHOENIX, AZ time.

Due note 6:

You need to book the tour here well in advance.

During the summer months, which are the busiest time of the year, most tour slots are full, do not plan for any same-day tour slots available.

Due note 7:

As time pass from your booking to the actual trip your trip plans can be change, check for companies’ cancellation policy.

This is what I saw in Kens tours web site:

Cancellations must be made 72 hours prior to tour departure date / time for a refund (The booking surcharge fee is non-refundable). There is no refund for cancellations within 72 hours of the scheduled time of tour departure. On delayed openings, you have the option to get a refund, if you cannot make the delayed tour time.

If Ken’s Tours cancels tours due to weather prior to your tour’s departure, you will receive a full refund.

Due note 8:

Lower Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon that experiences flash flooding.

They have warning station way up the river, so they know well in advance on any flooding, they have enough time to evacuate all groups from the narrow slot canyon into a safe location.

Due note 9:

Please check-in 30 minutes prior from your confirmed tour time. General tours line up and divided into walking groups are about 10 minutes before departure.

For every time slot the tour is separated into smaller groups of maybe 10 people, you’ll see perhaps 7-8 groups in a single tour slot.

All groups walking one after the other trough the canyon. Because this is narrow and twisted slot canyon you do not see all the people that are in the canyon.

Due note 10:

Wear in layers, depending on the day or the weather. The temperatures in the canyon are lower than on the ground above.

Wear closed-toed shoes

Stay hydrated

Put sunscreen near the car.

Due note 11:

Other facilities:

There are restrooms available on-site because once you start the tour, there are no more stops available.

There is a light caffe located in the main building.

You can find here souvenir and picture store.

Due note 12:

If you did not manage to find tour in the lower canyon and you still want to visit the canyons you do have several other canyon options like:

Upper Antelope Canyon

Canyon X

Waterhole Canyon Experience LLC

Our Lower Antelope Canyon Visit:

We came about 15 minutes before our tour schedule (8am) and went to the registration point.

We learned about all limitations on things we can’t bring with us. We left in our car the small bag and video cameras.

We took with us our wallets, phones, cameras and one bottle of water.

We went to the restroom.

There was a gathering of all the people that registered to this tour time, about 70 people.

They read our names and split us into groups of about 8 people.

From here we walk to the direction of the canyon trail starting point.

The walk itself is short and not challenging, overall, about a mile where 1/3 is inside the canyon itself.

From the visitors center you will walk for about half a mile on a sandy wide trail down to the canyon walk, no shade along the walk.

You are walking along the canyon to it far end but because the canyon is situated below ground with narrow opening you do not see it.

As you walk down you do see people popping above ground when they are getting out from the end of the canyon walk.

At the top of the canyon descend the groups will wait to their turn to descend into the canyon.

Going down the canyon involved with several steep staircases and ladders that descend into Lower Antelope Canyon bottom.

It take some time as people are walking slowly down the ladders.

Once the group reach the sandy bottom of the canyon you will start to walk up the canyon.

The walk in the narrow canyon itself is not challenging, no major boulders or rocks, there are additional ladders inside the canyon and few more at the canyon exit point at the end.

The guides will be with the group every step of the way.

The guides are knowledgeable and will help you to get the most out cellphone camera, as right configuration for best colors output. They will also take the time to point out all the angles for unique rock formations as well as to take a picture of you in best looking locations.

Because the canyon has small opening at it top and it is relatively narrow and twisted, direct sunlight penetrate only to the upper section.

This is especially correct during morning and afternoon. There is no direct sun in the canyon bottom, so it is always possible to get fantastic photos due to the unique “soft” lighting conditions.

The sunlight and shadows play create an amazing view.

The group progress pace is slow and there is a lot of time to take pictures, take your time and be patient.

The slot canyon views is breathtaking, with its smooth layered rock texture, twisting and changing rock formation and the vibrant deep reds, purples, orange, yellow, pink, and hues colors.

You just can’t stop taking pictures.

At the end of the canyon tour you climb few more staircases and ladders and you are getting up to the ground surface from a narrow opening.

From here it a very short walk to the office.

My thoughts:

Many people are saying that this is not a real nature tour and are disappointed that this is group guided walk and that every one take pictures at the same place, but I am do not think that way.

You should look at this as a walk in a museum of nature showing it amazing display.

Overall because this is narrow canyon you only see the people in your group and not all other hundreds of people that are in the canyon. Yes, some time you stand in line to take a picture in a specific point or wait for other to progress, but this is reasonable.

The amazing view compensate for the crowd.

I my trips I visit and hike trough many remote slot canyons and they provide solitude experience, but me and my wife enjoy it very much and remember this is unique amazing experience.

Summary:

For someone that hike many “real hikes” in remote slot canyons in the southwest this visit was still unforgettable experience in this stunning natural wonder, it definitely worth the $70 price tag.

We had a wonderful time in the canyon and manage to get great picture and unforgettable memories, just look at this as a museum tour and not a “solitude nature experience”.

Additional Pictures:

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