Upper Antelope Canyon Tour Review

Use our realistic Upper Antelope Canyon Tour Review to plan your next trip to this iconic slot canyon.

Antelope Canyon is a famous slot canyon in Arizona. Its views became a popular screen saver. As a result, almost everyone has seen the patterns of Antelope Canyon at least once.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Antelope Canyon is not one but two canyons. Upper Antelope Canyon is south of highway AZ-98. It has steeper slopes and some of the most iconic views.

Lower Antelope Canyon is wider. So you might not get the best light and shadow views.

Most people start their visit to Antelope Canyon with a tour check-in. You would have to wait for an entire group to arrive.

Once everyone is present, you will take a short drive to Upper Antelope Canyon. Depending on your tour agency, you might drive in a pickup truck bed.

Upper Antelope Canyon

Your tour guide will first provide a brief overview of the canyon’s name and history. About 30 minutes after the check-in your exploration will begin.

It helps to have the right expectations before your visit. There will be multiple groups in the canyon at the same time.

So it will be impossible to get a picture of the entire canyon. There will always be tourists or tour guides in the way.

There are just a handful of ways to capture the canyon’s beauty. You would need to go last in your group. You would then need to hope that the next group is slow. This will give you time to snap a picture.

You could also always look up. There are lots of opportunities to capture different light and shadow there. And you do not have to deal with people getting in your photos.

Some areas of the canyon are wider. They allow more sunshine. Other parts are quite narrow. They are very dark.

This slot canyon leaves a lot of room for imagination. One could see a bear in this formation.

Or you could imagine a panther in this one. Other formations have incredible patterns and shapes.

The canyon narrows towards the end. Once you exit the canyon, you will arrive in a large open area. Get ready for some live Native American music from your tour guide.

After the performance you will have to rush back through the entire canyon to its entrance. You will then board the tour vehicle. It will bring you back to the pickup spot. You will exit through a gift shop. That would mark the end to your visit. You can continue with your journey.

Horseshoe Bend

There are a few things to explore in Page after the end of your tour. Start with Horseshoe Bend. It is a scenic bend of the Colorado River. This viewpoint is in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

You could explore this viewpoint for free in the past. But the City of Page now charges parking fees of $10 per vehicle.

You would need to hike a 0.6-mi (1-km) trail to the viewpoint. The trail has little elevation gain. Budget about 30 minutes for the return hike. Add more time to enjoy the views.

The trail has no shade. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. This way the hike will be slightly more enjoyable.

Vermillion Cliffs

Vermillion Cliffs National Monument is another great spot near Antelope Canyon. This monument does not have any paved roads.

But you can get a sneak peak into the park at any viewpoint along highway US-89A. Just stop and enjoy amazing views. It is a great spot on the way to the North Rim of Grand Canyon.

Continue with our Upper Antelope Canyon Tour Review. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in Northern Arizona. The park is close to the town of Page. It is just a few miles east on Highway AZ-98.

You can only enjoy the canyon on a tour. Each tour agency has its own pick up spot. Some agencies have offices in Page. Others have their booths along the highway.

You need to first arrive at the agency’s pickup spot. The agency will then bring you to Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon. You will return to the same spot after the tour.

Where to Stay near Antelope Canyon

Page is an obvious choice for lodging near Antelope Canyon. The canyon’s popularity attracted investment in hotels and vacation rentals. You could now choice from multiple places to stay.

The town does not have a ton of hotels. But there are plenty of properties to make a decision. In fact, Page is one of the few towns in the region where you have a real choice in where you stay.

This town is a great stopover when visiting North and South Rims of Grand Canyon.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Navajo, a Native American tribe, manages Antelope Canyon. It is not a national or state park. As a result, America the Beautiful or Arizona State Park passes are not valid in this park.

You can only visit Antelope Canyon on a tour. The number of tours and their timing depends on the tour agency. But there are usually multiple tours during the day.

• Most agencies offer at least two tours a day in the summer.
• There is usually one tour a day per agency during the winter.

Tour prices fluctuate with season. But you should expect to pay a price well above the cost of an Interagency annual pass.

A tour can be $85+ per person during any time of the year. It is higher than the annual pass that covers the entire family. Nevertheless, the tours often sell out during the summer.

Takeaways: Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is a great destination in the Southwest. This slot canyon became a default screensaver on many devices. Without any doubt, Antelope Canyon is a unique and scenic place.

But a visit to Upper Antelope Canyon has a few issues.

• There are no self-guided tours.
• You depend on the tour’s time.
• The tour price is quite high.
• The canyon exploration will be hasty.

All of these issues speak against visiting this park.

There are a lot of other slot canyons throughout the region. Snow Canyon in Utah, Cathedral Gorge and Valley of Fire in Nevada offer better alternatives to Antelope Canyon. They are cheaper. And you do not need a guide to visit them.

While driving through Page, stop at the Horseshoe Bend and Vermillion Cliffs. These parks are more affordable than Antelope Canyon. And you can explore them at your own pace.

Take a look at our Antelope Canyon Video Tour Review. And visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!