Compared to the Grand Canyon and other well-known national landmarks, Antelope Canyon is away from the crowds, making it easy to get to, visit, and photograph without other tourists interrupting you. It's a narrow canyon formed by the wear of water rushing through rock (of the sandstone and limestone varieties). For me, the price was worth it to avoid being rushed through in a crowd. I highly suggest paying the $10 more for 'prime time,' which is when the light beams shine through. Upper Antelope Canyon is by far the most popular of the two. This scenic beauty can be found just east of Page, Arizona. We are storytellers. Because the Upper Canyon is easiest to walk through, it is also quite popular, especially at peak times during the summer. You will get an obscene amount of sand in your shoes though! Here, we step you through the process of how to visit this astonishing place. Dixie Ellis also offers daylong van tours that combine the Lower Antelope Canyon Tour with visits to the Navajo National Monument and Monument Valley. From Phoenix, the drive north to Antelope Canyon is approximately four-and-a-half hours. When is the best time of year to visit? Explore the top-rated styles for every type of trip to the beach. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. For those reasons, I started to look for an alternative to Antelope Canyon, one where I could enjoy similar scenery, but have plenty of time for capturing photos and absorbing the atmosphere. When you buy your permit, the attendant will hand you a map, which we didnt really use. Page Antelope Canyon is just off Highway 98. This canyon is shaped more like the letter A. This time I was pleasantly surprised to see an ATV ready and waiting at the bottom of the hill we had hiked down. There are plenty of affordable places to stay in Page, AZ, but these are our favorites because they have a stunning view and hotel pool and are super affordable: Best Western View of Lake Powell Check Prices, Best Western Plus at Lake Powell Check Prices. Trey, my Navajo guide, was driving the truck along the wash of red sand as the road dipped and curved through the desert. There were 3 reasons why I chose to visit Secret Canyon instead of classical Antelope Canyon trail. The General Tour lasts approximately one hour, during which groups of up to 10 tour-takers will hike about 1 mile. Though hardly remote by some Arizona standards, Antelope Canyon is still considered a lengthy drive and hike for many areas of the state. I could spend hours here just taking in the natural creations. I loved photographing the waves and patterns of the rock but my camera was struggling in the canyons dark sections. The American southwest is such a cool place!! For the Lower Antelope, it is best to take the tour between 10 am to 1 pm. Tours depart daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (you'll need to arrive 30 minutes before departure to check in). Also keep in mind that while most tour companies welcome small children, not all of them will. Those 7 and younger are not permitted on the outings. Had we done our tour closer to mid-day, I bet the canyon wouldve had a whole different look and feel. Adhere to the Leave No Trace principles as much as you possibly can so future visitors may continue to enjoy. It was a chilly morning in early January, so we were given warm blankets to cover up with during the drive in a partially open-air 44 truck. Note: Some tour providers on this list may be running more limited operations due to COVID-19 or may impose testing or vaccine requirements. I recommend both - because they are very different experiences. After seeing Upper Antelope Canyon, consider visiting Vermilion Cliffs National Monument with the company on its daylong tour. Hi Tonya, it is definitely a smart thing to do the overlook is on the way to the Secret Canyon and if you have your own car there is no point in paying extra. 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. The ride to the canyon is an adventure itself, as the road gets quite rough from time to time so be ready to rock and roll (hopefully not over) Once you get to the spot, you have to walk less than 10 minutes through the desert (beautiful scenery!) Secret Canyon is a branch of the larger Water Holes Canyon that cuts through the Navajo sandstone near Lake Powell. How do you get there? Ill pay more for a smaller, more intimate tour than an assembly line-like one any day. Both canyons are located on Navajo-owned lands, and in both cases, it's compulsory to visit the canyons with a Navajo guide. EPIC DRIVE THROUGH MONUMENT VALLEY WITHOUT A GUIDE, ICONIC NAVAJO EXPERIENCE AT THE VIEW HOTEL, 18 Photos that Prove You Need to Book a Ticket to Thailand Right Now, 20 Fabulous Fall Photo Ideas for all the Fall Feels on Your Instagram, Budget Friendly Amazon Gift Ideas for the Homebody, Why Assateague Island Should Be on Your Bucket List, 5 Places to See Beautiful Fall Foliage in Washington DC 2022, 10 Secret Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC Like a Local without the Crowds, The Ultimate Arizona Road Trip Guide | Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon. The Secret Canyon area is near Sedona - maybe RedRox can comment on that. Topping the bucket list of bucket lists, Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon is one of the most sought after destinations in the world. In addition to Waterhole Canyon, Arizona has a ton of bucket list destinations that you need to see. Travelers rave about their visits to this site, and are particularly complimentary of the knowledgeable guides. A couple of days later I visited the second secret slot canyon that most visitors never see. Get to Antelope Canyon (or, the nearby Page, Arizona). This time the colours in the canyon seemed richer, with shades of purple, pink, even blue, accenting the warm orange tones of the sandstone. Here's the essential information you need for a satisfying visit. VISIT SECRET CANYON: This Hummer tour begins at 12 N. Lake Powell Blvd. You can do this hike in just a good pair of sneakers because it is flat but be prepared to get tons of sand in your shoes. The whole experience at Antelope was rushed and there is no option to go to Antelope Canyon without a guided tour. He even helped us to set the cameras to the optimal lightning so we could all get the most out of our photo session. The tour excludes infants and costs approximately $130 per person. HB is a longer, more continuous slot than AC, but is beautiful in its own way. Book now to secure your spot on this unforgettable adventure.. Tours typically depart hourly from 8am until 4pm (depending on daylight hours). Antelope Canyon, Page. When visiting Lower Antelope, we suggest anywhere between 10am -1pm. I think this Secret Canyon is near Page. Cairns, little piles of rocks, and footprints both mark the trail so we did not have a problem finding our way in and out of the slot canyon. Just as we were exiting the canyon, the next tour group was beginning their exploration. Travelers will need to drive to Page, as there is no public transportation. It is the most famous of the two canyons because of the highly distinctive light beams and the incredibly high canyon walls . You can find tours for this canyon typically every half hour, which is more frequent than tours of the Upper Antelope Canyon. Waterhole is a slot canyon just like Antelope Canyon without a tour. I definitely recommend you to protect the camera because it gets dusty but if you are careful, you should be fine . The canyon is known as Antelope Canyon and has been attracting more and more tourists each year. 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. Secret Canyon, which also known as Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon (due to its proximity to the Horseshoe Bend Overlook photo above) lies approximately 15 km south from Page where you can also find the office the place where it all starts from. This combination tour lasts about 3-3.5 hours. Because of the relatively rugged nature of the terrain, pregnant women and people with heart or joint problems might want to skip these excursions. We bought our permit for Waterhole Canyon right before we went and put the permit on the dashboard of our car. For the most part, we had this slot canyon to ourselves. Tours:Secret Canyon can only be visited by guided tour andHorseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tourshas exclusive access. If I look back, I cannot even imagine crowding with the tourists, waiting for my shot and being pushed on by another forthcoming group. You will be joining a group of maximum 15 people which is a real bliss and gives you plenty of space to breathe and enjoy your time in the canyon. If youre thinking of visiting, you may need to figure out which of the canyons to visit, should you only be able to visit one. The reason it's called Secret Canyon is because they don't want anyone to know the real name of it. Your email address will not be published. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. At Horseshoe Bend Overlook, we'll avoid the congested public parking lot and take a private dirt road that leads to within 100 meters of the edge of the canyon. What a nice surprise and a lot less work. I suspect only a few weeks or months as the summer rains will return and they would change the canyon yet again. A miniature version of those famous sandstone formations in Utah. First of all, let me say that your pictures are absolutely amazing! I hope that Horseshoe Bend Tours keeps Secret Canyon a small-group experience because Ive seen too many places lose their magic because of over-tourism. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Secret Canyon is not a slot canyon and is unlike Antelope or X Canyons in the Page area. Admire the unique forms and vibrant colors of this relatively new canyon and learn about its history and formation from your experienced guide along the way. INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS. Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours also runs outings to Upper Antelope Canyon combined with either Rattlesnake Canyon or both Rattlesnake and Owl canyons. The textures and shapes with the variety of shadows also create potential for stunning black and white images too. Oh my days! Ticket prices include the cost of an $8 permit required to enter the Navajo lands. Once we climbed up the ladder the canyon opens up then narrows even more so that you have to climb up several ladders and do some bouldering to get out. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The smaller one is only 100 feet long but has wonderful formations. You'll not only spend an hour in the canyon, but you'll also visit the Hzh Haz' Heritage Site and receive a meal. The permit to hike water holes canyon is only $12 per person which is half the price of the cheapest Antelope Canyon Tour. Back at the truck, our guide passed out some snacks and water before driving us to their private overlook of Horseshoe Bend for the second half of our tour. Directions to Waterhole Canyon From Phoenix, Arizona Take I-17 North out of Phoenix for roughly 140-miles. Companies that provide tours of Upper Antelope Canyon are all based in or near Page, Arizona, and provide transportation to the Upper Canyon. They say around noon should be the best because the sunlight drops down directly, but I believe every hour has its own charms. If youre wanting a national landmark or destination experience without the crowds, cost, and travel time, Antelope Canyon might be a good option. Because I also wanted to see Horseshoe Bend, we signed up for the Slot Canyon and Overlook Combo tour, as it was a hassle free way to see two of Pages top attractions. The terrain of the Upper Canyon is more accessible for most tourists and is, therefore, busier. You can check the rest of my photos in my Facebook album. 1110 W Washington St, #155 Thank you for sharing. Closeby youll find Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, and other spots of rock formations similar to that found in the hefty Grand Canyon. Subscribe, Admin Offices Drivers coming from the north or south can take Route 89, drivers from the west can take Route 89A, and visitors commuting from the east can take Route 98. 89 and parking is by Rt 89. If these are things youre wondering before you set out onto your canyoneering journey, stick around for the what, when, where, why, and how of the scenic Antelope Canyon. Water Holes Canyon runs east to west, passing under Highway 89 before meeting the Colorado River. Antelope Canyon takes its name from the herds of pronghorn antelope that once resided in it. This canyon, called "Secret Antelope Canyon", is located approximately 4-5 miles from Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons. Luckily, they are real and they can be found in Arizona, USA. Antelope is a beautiful slot canyon but has so many visitors that it feels more like an amusement ride than a natural experience. I will have to drive back up there again soon. Awww thank you!! If you like to take photos, I strongly recommend taking a PHOTO tour, not a regular one. The path inside the Lower Canyon can be quite narrow, which may be an issue for visitors uncomfortable with confined spaces. Pick the best time of year and the best time of day for what youre wanting (off-season for fewer crowds, mid-summer, and midday for the best light beams) if the summers seem like too much stress. The total driving travel time between Las Vegas and Antelope Canyon is about 4 and a half hours, traffic permitting. Page Tourism Page Hotels Page Bed and Breakfast Page Vacation Rentals Page Vacation Packages Flights to Page In fact, the most expensive photo in the world was taken in Upper Antelope Canyon, and it sold for $6.5 million. 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