I was with a group of photographers on a tour to this unusual slot canyon located on private land of a local Navajo family. Its remote, its currently less traveled, but still a visually stunning and unique tourist experience. The narrow passage snaked like a meandering stream while above me the blue sky peeked through the narrow opening at the top of the canyon walls. The tribe has reduced the availability of photography tours, however, because they frequently caused bottlenecks by allowing photographers to bring their tripod and spend more time setting up shots.Most 90-minute tours of Upper Antelope Canyon cost between $50 and $90 (slightly less for children), although some operators offer discounts on their early bird and last chance tours. The Secret Canyon area is near Sedona - maybe RedRox can comment on that. Even Lower Antelope Canyon now prohibits tripods making almost impossible to photograph that section. Photography is permitted, even encouraged, but tripods, selfie sticks and the like are generally forbidden, except on certain photography-oriented tours. These hikes, which travelers say are led by knowledgeable and professional guides, usually last 60 to 90 minutes and cover about a mile. Antelope Canyon, Page. Any tips on this? Youve probably seen the landscape in photos or shared online, and you may be wondering how much of a tourist hot spot it really is. After a short hike the mouth of Secret Canyon came into view at the bottom of a small wash. https://navajonationparks.org/tribal-parks/lake-powell/. What is Antelope Canyon? I could not help wondering as I left Canyon X, how long before it became as popular as Antelope Canyon. (Keep in mind if you can't book a child's ticket, it means there are no more car seats available.) This exclusive access allows you to have a much shorter walk to the rim and enjoy breathtaking views of the Colorado River winding around the Horseshoe Bend loop. Antelope Canyon is beautiful, very accessible and an easy level walk on sand. Lower Antelope Canyon requires walking down (and up) several flights of stairs and ladders. It is quite expensive (90 USD per adult and 65 USD per child) which is almost twice the price you pay for Antelope Canyon), however you do get the experience that you probably cant get anywhere else. The lower part is very flexible as the top is wider, and it allows the sun to have a wide range to soak the canyon in light. The slot canyon has over 1500 feet of beautiful sandstone formations located in the upper most part of Water Holes Canyon allowing you and friends to enjoy the sights for over 1 hour. Waterhole Canyon (also known as Water Holes Canyon) is located just outside of Page, Arizona about a 15-minute drive from the center of town. Just one correction the elevation there is closer to 4000 than 7000, about 4300 feet. If you (like me) are middle-aged, overweight, out of shape, or not used to the 7000-ft altitude, you may have trouble with the steep climb out of the canyon. Don't forget to look up, especially when the canyon is crowded.Several tour operators, such as Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours, also offer tours of nearby, nearly-as-spectacular canyons. Have you ever seen the amazing photos of a narrow canyon with elegantly curved rocks, colored in 50 shades of red that seem like from another planet? Antelope is a bit prettier, but a LOT more crowded. We stood around asking questions about the canyon and Navajo land it sits on before heading back the way we came. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise . The canyons you visit are both an "A" and "V" shape. Though I forgot to download the map this time and didnt get lost, its a good precaution. Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon What is Upper Antelope Canyon? Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in the southwestern United States. However, here at our Lower Canyon, you walk through a slightly narrower space. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Gorgeous pics and well def remember the recommendations next time were in the area , Your email address will not be published. Whether you start in Page or at the park's entrance, be prepared to ride in a four-wheel-drive vehicle through a sandy riverbed to the canyon. To hike this slot canyon, you get a day permit from the Slot Canyon Tours shop next to the Burger King in Page, AZ. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Secret Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Overlook on our exclusive tour. It can be accessed via a 2.5-mile (one way) trail that starts from the trail's parking lot along Highway 93, located just over 3.4 miles south of the dam. Since I was unhappy with the shadows in my photos, we decided to go to the public Horseshoe Bend overlook for sunset. Let's explore the world together. These companies are about 5 miles east of Page. Secret Canyon is a branch of the larger Water Holes Canyon that cuts through the Navajo sandstone near Lake Powell. But Ill let you in on a secret theres another slot canyon near Page that is very similar to Antelope Canyon, with its rich colours and swirling formations, but is far more pleasant to visit. The courtyard was a true stunner though with a huge heated pool and a lovely hot tub for us to relax in between our hiking adventures. Secret Canyon tours are limited to 15 persons for each 2 hour excursion. This is the most exclusive of the four best Antelope Canyon tours, with only 25 people allowed in at one time and two or three tours . However, the actual tour experience was the complete opposite of what we enjoyed at Secret Canyon. Exploring the Lower Canyon, in contrast, requires visitors to have some degree of endurance, as travelers must climb and descend several staircases. Even though Secret Canyon is a wonderful alternative to Antelope Canyon, thats not to say that Antelope isnt worth visiting as well. Did the Chief Tsosie Upper Antelope tour at 3pm crowds weren't much of an issue. The permit is $12 per person, less than a general sightseeing tour of Antelope and much less than the photo tour of Antelope Canyon. Your email address will not be published. We took our time hiking out of the slot canyon and explored the surrounding area. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-17407433', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lake Powell Blvd. Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours offers 80-minute excursions through Upper Antelope Canyon. Weve given you all the steps, its up to you what to do with them. The effect is almost surreal, and photographers from around the globe come to capture its beauty. From a more logistical standpoint, the quickest way to get there (if youre not near the Four Corners) is to make your way to Las Vegas, which is home to the closest airport. Luckily, they are real and they can be found in Arizona, USA. We did the hike in converse and me in a green gown. Waterhole Canyon is a slot canyon that looks almost identical to Antelope. Tickets, which do not include park entrance fees and taxes, cost approximately $50 for visitors 13 and older and $30 for those 4 to 12. As great as Sedona is, unless you can add 3 days to your trip plan, I'd save it for another vacation and plan a week here. From here you follow the cairns (little piles of rocks) down into the canyon. Waterhole Canyon is still worth a visit even with a guided tour. Adhere to the Leave No Trace principles as much as you possibly can so future visitors may continue to enjoy. We noticed that this group was sticking together while the guide explained things as they went. He even helped us to set the cameras to the optimal lightning so we could all get the most out of our photo session. Hi Konstanze, thank you for your comment. Upper Antelope Canyon is about 660 feet long (or 200 m) with the Lower Antelope Canyon being about 1,335 feet long (or 407 m). That being said, 10 am is often the most popular tour time, so if youre thinking of doing a tour, you may want to keep it in mind way in advance. Sign up to The Travel Magazine's FREE Newsletter and get the latest news, articles, guides, promotions and competitions. Because of the relatively rugged nature of the terrain, pregnant women and people with heart or joint problems might want to skip these excursions. Maximum group size is now 25 (it was 15 when we did our Secret Canyon tour) and only one tour group is in the canyon at a time. Prime time to visit this slot is mid-day when the sunbeams shine down on the canyon floor; however, everyone and his brother wants to see this phenomenon, so the canyon will be crowded between 10 AM and 1 PM. We have smaller groups, more personal experience. Found across those lands are different towns, Native American reservations, ghost towns, and a number of interstates and highways taking you every which way. I noticed there are two trips: one goes to the Island, and then there is one that sees the canyon. The large parking lot is able to accommodate boats, buses and RVs.The Bear's Den B&BOwners "Bubba and Deb-B" operate this cozy three-room bed and breakfast in Page that's fully ADA-compliant. Canyon X is a private tour, only offered through Overland Canyon tours. When you buy your permit, the attendant will hand you a map, which we didnt really use. It operates 90-minute small-group hikes through the canyon. Additionally, there will be significantly fewer tourists and photographers, as mentioned before, which makes for a better viewing and photographing experience. It is part of the drainage system of Upper Waterholes Canyon. When booking the tour time, the best time of day to visit the Antelope Canyon is 10:30 am for the Upper Antelope. Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. Antelope Canyon is like no other spot on earth. Look for the Tour sign pictured above on the right-hand side of the road. Because the Upper Canyon is easiest to walk through, it is also quite popular, especially at peak times during the summer. My 90 minutes in the canyon was soon over and I dreaded the hike out. Hotel guests can book a boat tour, dinner cruise or rent their own powerboat for an unforgettable day on the water. As independent travellers, we appreciated the laid back nature of the tour- not being held back and made to stay with the group, yet having a guide available to answer questions as they came up. And thirdly, I didnt get any feedback to my questions from several tour operators running the Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon trails. The meandering formations of the canyon looked so elegant, sometimes partially hidden by shadows, other times highlighted by the light seeping in from above. Purchases made through links earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. So, I did my share of online digging and found the Secret Canyon an intimate version of the slot canyon, which was definitely the highlight of our South West USA road trip. Bring a hat or handkerchief for protection from the sand, and if you wear contact lenses, consider opting for eyeglasses instead. The company recommends advance reservations, as tickets sell out quickly, and suggests that visitors without them arrive one hour prior to their preferred tour start time. Because one day I just might come back for more! Our tour of Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon started at 9:00 a.m. at the tour office in Page. I definitely recommend you to protect the camera because it gets dusty but if you are careful, you should be fine . *Infants & children under age 6 are not permitted. I will be looking forward to some future posts! Both areas feature the gorgeous curvy walls that beckon visitors from all over the world but you'll find the tourist . 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