Isn’t it awesome when a new place completely astounds you? For me, that was Upper Antelope Canyon.
A few years ago, I saw my first photos of Antelope Canyon, with its glowing, red canyon walls, twisted, scalloped rock faces, and beams of light shining through the dusty air.
Does this place really exist?
Yes, it does. Located in Page, Arizona, Upper Antelope Canyon (also simply referred to as Antelope Canyon) is one of several slot canyons available for tourists to visit.
We toured both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon on the same day. It was the Upper Canyon that I fell in love with. However, Tim’s favorite was the Lower Antelope Canyon, with its narrow passages and series of ladders inside the canyon.
How to Visit Upper Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon can only be visited on a tour. There are several companies offering tours into the canyon and most tours last an hour and a half to two hours. This time includes 30 minutes transportation to and from the canyon and one hour inside the canyon.
We recommend booking your tour at least four months in advance since spots can sell out quickly.
What We Did
We visited Antelope Canyon in May 2017, back when photography tours were offered (this ended in 2018). Tim took the 1 pm Scenic Tour and I took the 1 pm Photography Tour. Both of us had a good experience, and I loved the Photography Tour. It was expensive but worth every penny, especially since these tours were discontinued one year later, and I was able to get some extraordinary photos.
We used Antelope Slot Canyon Tours and had a great experience. They also allow you to book your tour many months in advance, which is an advantage during peak season (April through October).
Tour Companies
Here are the companies that run tours into Upper Antelope Canyon. We recommend Antelope Slot Canyon Tours, since that is who we used and had a great experience, plus they were the #1 reviewed company at the time we took our tour.
If they do not have availability for your dates, try one of the other companies or you can take a tour through GetYourGuide.
- Antelope Slot Canyon Tours
- Tsé Bíghanílíní Tours
- Antelope Canyon Tours, Inc.
- Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours
- Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours
Tours & Tickets
Upper Antelope Canyon Photos
What to Expect
If you use Antelope Slot Canyon Tours, the meeting point is at their office in Page. From Page, it is a 10 minute drive out to the slot canyon, which is included in your ticket price. The guides will drive you out to the canyon in either a van or shuttle bus, depending on the company you use.
Most tours take 90 to 100 minutes, which includes your transportation from Page and the guided tour through the canyon. Tours through Upper Antelope Canyon are now one way. Once you exit the canyon, you will hike up and over the canyon walls, for a 1 mile total walk with 21 stairs up and 112 steps down. It is not wheelchair accessible.
The best time for photography is midday, between 10:30 am and 1 pm. Our tour started at 1 pm, putting us in the canyon around 1:20 pm. As the tour went on, the canyon got darker, which you can see in our photos. Beyond 3 pm, photography could be very challenging, which makes those midday hours the best time to visit.
Lower Antelope Canyon
Just around the corner from Upper Antelope Canyon is Lower Antelope Canyon. You can visit one or both of these in one day. Learn how to visit Lower Antelope Canyon and find out the pros and cons of visiting each them in our articles ↓
If you have any questions about visiting Upper Antelope Canyon, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information about the American Southwest
If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Travel Guide and our Arizona Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips.
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