Topping the bucket list of bucket lists, Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon is one of the most sought after destinations in the world. You might be the early-bird that loves the cool wash of dawn daylight, or you might fancy the warm wash of the golden-hour sunset glow. This canyon is shaped more like the letter A. But the tour guides and most other tourists are surprisingly considerate of photographers, so we still didn't have any trouble getting lots of good pictures. The first thing to know about Antelope Canyon is that these are slot canyons. Good luck! 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. VISIT SECRET CANYON: This Hummer tour begins at 12 N. Lake Powell Blvd. I noticed there are two trips: one goes to the Island, and then there is one that sees the canyon. In this video, I explain why Antelope Canyon X is a great alternative to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. I visited this exotic slot four years ago and was allowed to explore it by myself for over two hours. For the most part, we had this slot canyon to ourselves. I did a review of Hummer Tours, so you might want to look for that under Things to do. 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. Hour-long tours of Lower Antelope Canyon cost $40, and up to $80 for deluxe options. 85007 that you will descend to find the natural wonder. We took the Lower Antelope Canyon Photography Tour and saw first hand how tour guides herded tourists through like cattle. Though on the photography tour you have a bit more time, its still timed and you are not free to roam on your own. From Phoenix, the drive north to Antelope Canyon is approximately four-and-a-half hours. Yet, theres a slot canyon near Page, Arizona that hasnt made it onto the radar of most tourists who are following the masses to the famous Antelope Canyon. There is a Secret Canyon right outside of Page, and it is a slot canyon. The big difference is that it is not as physically accessible. 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. Good walking shoes, especially if visiting Lower Antelope Canyon. Ticket prices include the cost of an $8 permit required to enter the Navajo lands. Did the Chief Tsosie Upper Antelope tour at 3pm crowds weren't much of an issue. It is approx. Where is Antelope Canyon? Antelope Canyon is just off Highway 98. But since we could go to Water Holes Canyon and explore on our own we went all sorts of photo crazy! However, once I started reading reviews of the Antelope Canyon tours, I was quickly turned off by complaints of them being rushed and crowded, and became concerned about the effects of over tourism. Did you book the overlook also? Anytime I venture out where I know I will be in the sun all day I always wear one of these UV Cut shirts. Guides are frequently described as informative and friendly and the scenery as unsurpassable. 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. Interesting comparison Donna, thanks. At first I was worried if taking the morning tour was a good idea (I had read that you were supposed to visit slot canyon at noon for the perfect lightning) but that was no issue at all. and embarks on a 13 mile off-road trail consisting of rock crawls, sand dunes, and wash driving. Sign in to get trip updates and message other travellers.. But you'll find fewer people here. Antelope Canyon is located just east of Page, Arizona, in the northern area of the state. Companies serving the Lower Canyon are located within walking distance of the canyon's entrance; therefore, they do not provide transportation to or from Page. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-17407433', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lake Powell Blvd. 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. Amenities include pillowtop mattresses, a small fridge and microwave, private bathrooms, and plenty of bear decor.Shash Dine' Eco-RetreatFor a truly unique stay, book a Najavo hogan or sheepherder wagon at this sustainable glamping campsite and B&B operated by Baya, a member of the Navajo Nation. Page Our earlier visit was definitely not as nerve-wracking! Our guide gave us an introduction to the area and told us we could go ahead at our own pace, as he was going to accompany the elderly members of our group and meet us at the other end of the canyon. I really want to go!! It was a little bumpy in places, but our driver was cautious and took his time so we didnt bounce around too much. We love to kayak and are looking to see all the. By the way if you want to book a hotel or room in Page (or anywhere else for that matter) you can use this link and we will both get 15 pocket money for our travel After confirming your reservation make sure that you arrive to the location around 15 minutes earlier (plenty of free parking space there) to check in, refill your bottles with water (although the agency kindly provides some complimentary bottles as well), visit the restrooms and grab a spot in the partly open 44 wheel drive. With very small groups usually not more then 6 people in the canyon at a time. What else can you do while youre there? Taadidiin Tours is the only tour operator that provides tours here. Each vehicle has a Navajo guide that ushers the group through, shares information about the formations and even helps stage some photos, including sand cascading over a rock ledge.Sand is everywhere. Bring a hat or handkerchief for protection from the sand, and if you wear contact lenses, consider opting for eyeglasses instead. Hi! See "What to bring" below for more specific items. These companies are about 5 miles east of Page. One last note, in the cavern where we hit the first ladder and turned around, we found a bunch of graffiti left by tourists on the walls, written in what I think was white chalk. Visits are by smaller groups, each of which is the only group in the canyon at that time. Do NOT DEFACE their sacred grounds. We hiked aka walked all through the canyon and eventually came to a ladder. Added by Josiah Roe. You can check the rest of my photos in my Facebook album. Tours:Secret Canyon can only be visited by guided tour andHorseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tourshas exclusive access. How long had it been there? Ever since I first saw photos of the sandstone slot canyons in Arizona, specifically Antelope Canyon, I wanted to visit. Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours offers 80-minute excursions through Upper Antelope Canyon. Tickets cost about $40 for adults and $30 for children 17 and younger. It's a narrow canyon formed by the wear of water rushing through rock (of the sandstone and limestone varieties). From exhilarating roller coasters to costumed characters, these parks offer fun for everyone. Additionally, you'll need: Until recently, the cost varied significantly depending on whether you booked a sightseeing or photography tour. Look for the Tour sign pictured above on the right-hand side of the road. If you are doing this during the summer, Id double the amount of water you think you will need. Your email address will not be published. We have a special tour dubbed the Secret Antelope Canyon because youll get all the stunning scenic views, without the crowds of either of the other Antelope Canyon options. Those 7 and younger are not permitted on the outings. Secret Antelope Canyon is part of the Antelope Canyon system and is still an undiscovered gem, spectacular and photogenic but without the crowds. Slot canyons are always significantly deeper than they are wide. The Navajo-approved guides are widely regarded as informative and friendly, and are even known to provide helpful tips on how to capture the best possible photographs. Sign up here to be the first to know about everything Sea of Blush. We have smaller groups, more personal experience. When booking the tour time, the best time of day to visit the Antelope Canyon is 10:30 am for the Upper Antelope. Waterhole Canyon is still worth a visit even with a guided tour. The attendant could not answer any questions about distance. For me, the price was worth it to avoid being rushed through in a crowd. 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 General Tour lasts approximately one hour, during which groups of up to 10 tour-takers will hike about 1 mile. There are no trash cans and no bathrooms in the canyon. Welcome to my blog! I think this Secret Canyon is near Page. Before I share with you our experience visiting Secret Canyon, heres a brief background about this special location. In addition to Waterhole Canyon, Arizona has a ton of bucket list destinations that you need to see. Antelope Canyon, Page. Secondly, I didnt want to be stuck in a crowd with hundreds of tourists photobombing my camera (I read it can get quite messy and dusty down there on busy days). Theres no special gear you need for hiking this slot canyon unless you plan on hiking the super narrow part beyond the ladder. 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. However, visiting Antelope Canyon isn't as simple as driving to a parking lot and walking up to the entrance. If you have a DSLR camera, cover it when you are not using it (a plastic shower cap does the trick) and never change lenses inside the canyon. Enter through the southeast of Lower Antelope Canyon and embark on a live . This is more likely to happen from June to September, during Arizona's monsoon season. Let's explore the world together. How do you get there? No real need to do any of the "extra effort" ones, but if you're the adventurous type I imagine it'd be an interesting excursion. Companies that provide tours of Upper Antelope Canyon are all based in or near Page, Arizona, and provide transportation to the Upper Canyon. Each section of the canyon is about 120 feet deep (or 37 meters). Secret Canyon is a short slot in the middle fork of upper Water Holes 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. Children younger than 3 can take the tour for free, but strollers cannot be used in the Lower Canyon. We bought our permit for Waterhole Canyon right before we went and put the permit on the dashboard of our car. Your email address will not be published. I've been to them all. While the Upper and Lower portions of Antelope Canyon receive tons of fanfare, Antelope Canyon X promises stunning views without the hefty crowds. What is the significant difference? Secret Canyon is a branch of the larger Water Holes Canyon that cuts through the Navajo sandstone near Lake Powell. Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. We decided rather last minute (the night before) to book a tour of Lower Antelope Canyon and were glad we did because it was stunning. For some reason, I always enjoy riding around in the back of a truck- it makes the trip feel more adventurous! The permit to hike water holes canyon is only $12 per person which is half the price of the cheapest Antelope Canyon Tour. Antelope Canyon is beautiful, very accessible and an easy level walk on sand. I somehow felt alone here even with my fellow shutterbugs nearby. 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. Travelers rave about their visits to this site, and are particularly complimentary of the knowledgeable guides. Antelope Canyon hosts tons of visitors and, in order to protect the canyon walls from damage, no bags of any kind are permitted in either the Upper or Lower section. Created by millions of years of erosion, Antelope Canyon is part of the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, located 10 minutes east of Page, near the Arizona-Utah border. The Travel Magazine is a travel portal with highly informative, upbeat and inspirational articles for people who love to travel. 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 canyon splits into several tributaries, some which have deep narrow sections known as slot canyons. The canyon is known as Antelope Canyon and has been attracting more and more tourists each year. 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. Upper Antelope Canyon is called Ts bighnln, 'the place where water runs through rocks' by the Navajo People in that specific area.It is the most frequently visited by tourists because its entrance and entire length are at ground level, requiring no climbing; and because beams of direct sunlight radiating down from openings at the top of the canyon are much more common all year round . Will definitely bookmark this! Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest. We went at 9:00 am in early January and as you can see from the pictures, we saw some nice colours but it was still a bit dark in places. Purchases made through links earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I was dreaming of visiting this wonder of nature since the first time I laid my eyes on it, and I wanted everything to be perfect. 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