There are a lot of things to see along the Arizona/Utah border. There’s Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend, the Vermillion Cliffs and of course, Lake Powell. But one of the most popular spots and a photographer hot spot is Antelope Canyon. This slot canyon has become internet famous for it’s swirling canyon walls and unique formations. What most people don’t realize though, is that there are actually two different areas to visit: upper vs lower Antelope Canyon.
Where is Antelope Canyon:
Antelope Canyon is about 20 minutes outside of Page, Arizona near the Utah border. Page sits just under Lake Powell which also has some really cool canyon walls. Page is definitely the closest town and there are several things to do nearby. Namely, getting out on Lake Powell or seeing Horseshoe Bend.
Visiting the Canyon:
One thing to know about Antelope Canyon is that it is located on Navajo land and you are not allowed to explore the canyon on your own. You MUST enter Antelope Canyon with a tour.
And as I mentioned before, there are actually TWO different areas of the canyon you can visit: upper or lower. They are also a few miles apart from each other. If you want to visit both of them, you will have to buy individual tickets for both canyons through two different operators.
Note: Apparently, there are NO operators that go to both canyons. If you find a company that offers both–it is probably a 3rd party site that will connect you to different tours. OR they will buy the ticket from another company on your behalf. It’s best to book directly through the operators.
Additionally, there is an $8 fee per person that needs to be paid at the Navajo entrance booth. They take cash only and you’ll need to check with your tour operator, but mine was not included in my ticket price.
Tickets can sell out well in advance–weeks or sometimes even months. We got lucky when we booked ours two weeks before, but the upper canyon was sold out already and the only one available was the lower canyon. Prices can also vary between tours, times, etc. Here are some of the official tours available:
Lower Canyon Tours:
Upper Canyon Tours:
- Upper Antelope Canyon Tours
- Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours
- Adventurous Antelope Canyon
- Antelope Slot Canyon Tours
You can also check out lots of Antelope Canyon tours here all at once to compare prices and tour ratings!
Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon:
If you don’t plan on doing both parts of the canyon, you’ll have to decide between upper and lower. They both have the same beautiful, swirled canyon walls, with some minor differences.
Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper Canyon is probably the most popular tour and, based off my experience, sells out first. It also happens to be the more expensive tour. You can expect to pay around $75-100+/person depending on the tour you choose. There are also more tour operators for upper canyon than there are for lower canyon.
Because it is the more popular tour, it can also be a bit more crowded. It also seems more crowded because the upper canyon is a 2-way path–you exit the same way you come in. This can make it more complicated to get good pictures, if that’s a goal you have. I also read where you were only allowed to take pictures on your way in and not the way out, to try and minimize traffic.
One of the reasons the upper canyon is so popular is because the openings at the top are smaller and it creates the famous light beams shining from the ceiling. It’s very popular for photographers and an iconic shot to get.
To see the light beams, you’ll want to book a tour around mid-day so the light can shine through, but even then, it’s dependent on weather AND more likely to happen during the summer months.
Another difference is that the upper canyon is flat. There are no stairs or ladders leading into it. You can just walk in and walk out, so it is very accessible for people.
Lower Antelope Canyon
After I first looked into the upper vs lower Antelope Canyon debate, I was a little bit bummed that the upper canyon was sold out. However, I was not disappointed by the lower canyon!
Unlike the upper canyon, the lower canyon has an entrance and an exit so traffic is only one way. Our tour waited inside the canyon at times for another tour to move forward, so it was never too crowded. It also meant we were able to get photos without anyone in them.
The lower canyon has stairs and ladders throughout, which gives it a bit of a different perspective. There is no other way through the canyon in terms of accessibility. It also has wider openings at the top so you won’t get light beams here, but you do get more natural light throughout the canyon in general.
It’s also a little cheaper to visit the lower canyon. Two tickets cost us $50 at the time and we booked through Ken’s Tours. (They are about $55 now.)
Which is better?
I don’t think you can go wrong with either. Both have beautiful canyon walls and you’ll get similar pictures at both locations. Most notably is that the upper Antelope Canyon has light beams and the lower Antelope Canyon has stairs and ladders. It depends on what factors are most important to you.
But it also depends on availability. As I mentioned before, the Upper Canyon was completely sold out when we tried to book two weeks out. So you’ll definitely want to plan ahead for this trip!
READ MORE: The Ultimate Arizona + Utah Road Trip
Things to Know:
- For whatever reason, Page seems to be in between time zones and we had an issue with our phones jumping back and forth between zones. We had to constantly keep track of what time it actually was so that we didn’t miss anything.
- Even if you book a specific time, you may end up waiting at the entrance for other tours to go through. Wait time can range from 30 minutes to over an hour and is more likely during the weekends and in the summer months. Holiday weekends are even worse. So keep your schedule flexible!
- July-October is also monsoon season and they can close the canyon without notice if the weather is bad. Keep an eye on the weather and confirm your tour!
- Check with your tour operator, but ours wanted a confirmation 1 day prior to secure our spots or an early arrival to confirm, even though we had pre-booked tickets.
- Bring: sunglasses, sunscreen, water and snacks in case you end up waiting for your tour! It gets hot and there may or may not be shade.
- There is no flash photography in the canyons and I actually found it hard to get decent pictures. They are a bit dark inside, but you aren’t allowed to bring tripods or monopods on a regular tour (they do have photography tours). My phone camera picked up better lighting, but then the quality was poor.
- You can’t take any bags into the canyon. No purses, fanny packs, nothing.
The tour guide we had was great and I presume that all of them do similar things. For instance, ours stopped in all the best photo spots to give everyone a turn at a good photo. He volunteered to take everyone’s picture. He also knew all sorts of tips and tricks to capture a cool shot of the canyons. If the tour behind us wasn’t in view (which they normally weren’t), he didn’t mind us stopping and taking our time to get more photos.
Antelope Canyon is definitely a highlight of exploring northern Arizona. Whether you choose the upper vs lower Antelope Canyon, you’ll get to see the incredible beauty of this famous slot canyon.
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