Bring plenty of water, theres no shade along this trail except inside the slot canyon. Our earlier visit was definitely not as nerve-wracking! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-22708703', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Antelope Canyon. Tours typically depart between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, but this can change depending on daylight hours. Exploring the Lower Canyon, in contrast, requires visitors to have some degree of endurance, as travelers must climb and descend several staircases. I entered between the high rock walls. Hi Tess, you can contact Tim directly: tim@horseshoebendtours.com sometimes it takes a day or two for him to reply, I imagine the top season is coming now, so be patient Or go to their web page and search for a phone contact. It seems we could do the overlook on our own and save the extra $30. Look for the Tour sign pictured above on the right-hand side of the road. 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. He even helped us to set the cameras to the optimal lightning so we could all get the most out of our photo session. to get to the Secret Canyon entrance. We stood around asking questions about the canyon and Navajo land it sits on before heading back the way we came. So I asked around, did some research and discovered Horseshoe Bend Tours, a company that has exclusive access to Secret Canyon and a private Navajo viewpoint of Horseshoe Bend. It was our first time being inside a slot canyon and having such a positive experience made us want to visit more slots on our American southwest road trip. But Ill let you in on a secret theres another slot canyon near Page that is very similar to Antelope Canyon, with its rich colours and swirling formations, but is far more pleasant to visit. Promise No SpamHey I don't blog that much! (Getty Images). Oh my days! As a result, it is almost always FULL of people. *4 paid seats are required for a trip to operate. A miniature version of those famous sandstone formations in Utah. Though hardly remote by some Arizona standards, Antelope Canyon is still considered a lengthy drive and hike for many areas of the state. We took the Lower Antelope Canyon Photography Tour and saw first hand how tour guides herded tourists through like cattle. *Infants & children under age 6 are not permitted. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book. Overland Canyon Tours is the only outfitter licensed to visit this particular canyon. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-17409430', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Antelope Canyon one day (Chief Tsosie Tour) then took the three canyon tour with Hummer tours. I somehow felt alone here even with my fellow shutterbugs nearby. Most tours begin in Page or at the park's entrance off Highway 98. When you buy your permit, the attendant will hand you a map, which we didnt really use. The celebrated light beams that illuminate the canyon are most likely to be seen during the summer months. But we're here to help show you the ropes, from how to book a Navajo guide to tips on photographing the shifting light. While the Upper and Lower portions of Antelope Canyon receive tons of fanfare, Antelope Canyon X promises stunning views without the hefty crowds. The path inside the Lower Canyon can be quite narrow, which may be an issue for visitors uncomfortable with confined spaces. Or, you can rent a car and do the scenic drive yourself. I would recommend doing at least one of the Antelope Canyons though just so you can see it. 85007 We hiked aka walked all through the canyon and eventually came to a ladder. For your convenience, here is a list of hotels in Page. Antelope Canyon is just off Highway 98. Avoid the crowds at the Antelope Canyon in Arizona and visit Secret Canyon and Canyon X instead, Hotel Review: Amano Hotel, Covent Garden, London, Madrid Fusion Gastronomy Summit 2023, Spain, Travel Guide: El Salvador, Central America. Though is looked pretty exciting it also looked a bit narrow for us so we simply walked back the way we came and exited through another set of cairns that marked the way out. It is not as pretty as Antelope Canyon but again, we got many good photos. Photography is permitted, even encouraged, but tripods, selfie sticks and the like are generally forbidden, except on certain photography-oriented tours. 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. The groups are smaller and you get a lot more time in the canyon. It was amazing definitely go to this slot canyon if you are in the area for Antelope Canyon! Location is the biggest difference. I think this Secret Canyon is near 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). Not any longer. Hiking Antelope Canyon without a guide or tour was something I definitely looked into but realized was not possible. I actually wanted to go here when I was in Paige! It carried me and my gear quickly and comfortably up the hill to my vehicle. If you want to take great pictures then I recommend the Secret Canyon tour as it is much easier to get the time and space to do that without people constantly wandering into the view of your lens. The canyon is known as Antelope Canyon and has been attracting more and more tourists each year. Canyon X is a slot canyon located in Antelope Canyon. In addition to Waterhole Canyon, Arizona has a ton of bucket list destinations that you need to see. Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours, 821 U.S. Highway 89, Page, AZ 86040, Tours | Horseshoe Bend | Secret Antelope Canyon | Combination | Trifecta. Again, we were able to take our time here, free to walk along the edge of the canyon and enjoy various views of the Colorado River. Others express disappointment in the structured nature of the tour, which they say moves quickly and limits creative freedom. Water Holes Canyon runs east to west, passing under Highway 89 before meeting the Colorado River. Specifically, when booking your tour time, Upper's magic hour is the 10:30am tour slot. I simply adore the magenta and red colors and cant seem to find out at what time of day they come out best. Waterhole Canyon is a slot canyon that looks almost identical to Antelope. 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. 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. To photograph the beams of light, book a tour that will be in the canyon between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., May through October. Ticket prices include the cost of an $8 permit required to enter the Navajo lands. Our tour guide was quite knowledgeable and funny. Secret Canyon is a short slot in the middle fork of upper Water Holes Canyon. These beams slice through the roof of the canyon most reliably around noon on clear days. *Navajo permit fee of $8/person Navajo Park fee will be added at checkout. Canyon X: This section is named after an area that forms an X-shape. 1600 feet long. Navajo owned and operated, Antelope Canyon Tours frequently wins praise for its knowledgeable and helpful guides. Fees start at about $125 per person. I had to get down on my knees and pointed my camera almost straight up to capture the blue sky against the reddish orange sandstone. I wandered around marvelling at the way the water had carved the rock into so many different shapes and textures. 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. The slot canyon has over 1500 feet of beautiful sandstone formations located in the upper most part of Water Holes Canyon allowing you and friends to enjoy the sights for over 1 hour. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise . I hope you have a great time! 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. See "What to bring" below for more specific items. *Due to the Navajo Nations mask mandate, wedding, bridal, or engagement photo shoots are not currently permitted. Mike was getting great results with his iPhone, so I let him take over photographer duty in places while I simply enjoyed the surroundings. The company's guides consistently earn positive reviews for their knowledge not only of the area's history and culture but also of their photography techniques. Waterhole Canyon and Antelope Canyon are both slot canyons and very similar in appearance. 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. Tickets cost about $40 for adults and $30 for children 17 and younger. Well worth the extra cost. Many of these images were sleeping on a harddisk.They got a bit reworked and I thought to present them here For this one, you'll climb into a 4 x 4 truck and be caravanned over to the entrance. Hi! 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. Canyon X is also on private land and it used to be much more difficult to visit than today. The entrance to Secret Canyon was a little snowy, as its more open than other parts of the slot, but I loved the contrast of the white snow with the orange rock (something I wasnt expecting to see in a desert). It features the smooth curves, slim passageways, and orange hues that are characteristic of slot canyons near Page. What is the significant difference? Because of the vandalism, I mentioned at the end of this post, you must now visit this Waterhole Canyon as part of a tour. Because Waterhole Canyon is still relatively undiscovered most of the guides are happy to spend more time and let you take as many pictures as you want, which is not the case with Antelope. Slot canyons are always significantly deeper than they are wide. How long had it been there? Cathedral Canyon is located just south of Page, Arizona and west of Coppermine Road and is entirely on Navajo . I guess you never know what style of guide youll get, but the one we had was a good fit for our personalities. Luckily, I discovered a travel forum which lead me to Horseshoe Bend Tours where the owner was more than willing to provide all the answers to my questions. The three canyons visited on the canyon tours are fairly easy to walk (a little climbing over/under rocks, but nothing major), are still very pretty and were completely deviod of other people (just me, my wife, the guide and a great horned owlhow cool is that). Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. One of the steepest slot canyons in the area with hoodoos, corkscrews, multi-colored sandstone and stunning rock formations all without the crowds of the more well-known and popular Antelope Canyons. At what time did you visit the Secret Canyon? Both Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon are located in the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation in Arizona, about 5 miles out of Page. We have smaller groups, more personal experience. Waterhole Canyon is still worth a visit even with a guided tour. We bought our permit for Waterhole Canyon right before we went and put the permit on the dashboard of our car. 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. Waterhole Canyon is not quite as tall as the Antelope Canyons but if you showed me a picture of Waterhole Canyon and told me it was Antelope Canyon, I honestly would not have been able to tell the difference. So turn your thoughts to spring, winter, or fall.the months outside of May through September. This combination tour lasts about 3-3.5 hours. / Credit: John Volk, Hampton Inn and Suites Page - Lake Powell, Embark on the Northern Arizona Road Trip of Your Dreams, A Guide to Visiting Horseshoe Bend 'the Right Way', A Guide to Visiting Havasu Falls the 'Right Way', Arizonas Wildly Different Desert Regions. The price generallybut not alwaysincludes taxes and the $8 Navajo . After all, who takes a descent selfie in less than a minute? Rest assured, no matter which canyon you visit, you're guaranteed incredible scenery. Any tips on this? Alternatively, you may use, Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Page Lake Powell, Courtyard by Marriott Page at Lake Powell. Your email address will not be published. We went to Page to see the slot canyons, so doing both tours was perfect for us. Antelope Canyon X which gets its name from the X-shaped formation at the top of the canyon is located within Antelope Canyon, so it still features the same geologic features the Upper and Lower areas are known for, but its relative anonymity makes it less of a tourist magnet. A permit, though this is usually covered in your guide's fee (see below). The total driving travel time between Las Vegas and Antelope Canyon is about 4 and a half hours, traffic permitting. We love to kayak and are looking to see all the. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We went to Water Holes in November and it was unseasonably warm, a perfect 70s, and we were definitely glad we brought water. We explored a slot canyon like Antelope Canyon on our own without a guide and go at our own pace. The Tour Experience - Opting for the morning tour, we set off at 8am and jumped into an open air 4WD safari-like vehicle for a 20minute drive toward the canyon. It is also called Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon as it is near to that iconic viewpoint. 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. Waterhole is a slot canyon just like Antelope Canyon without a tour. From here you follow the cairns (little piles of rocks) down into the canyon. The walls seemed to close in as they narrowed to just a couple of feet wide. We noticed that this group was sticking together while the guide explained things as they went. Hour-long tours of Lower Antelope Canyon cost $40, and up to $80 for deluxe options. HB is a longer, more continuous slot than AC, but is beautiful in its own way. The narrow entrance causes you to turn almost sideways to enter but inside the cool darkness hides some of the most special views of any slot canyon. 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. It depends on a few things, such as your time constraints (if any), tolerance (or lack thereof) for crowds and fitness level. Let's explore the world together. 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. It includes 334 feet of walking, and . Discounted tickets are available for children 6 to 12; children younger than 6 are not allowed. The whole tour takes about 2 2.5 hours which is long enough to enjoy the beauty of the landscape and the canyon itself, plus you get a plenty of time for taking pictures, even if you are proffessional photographer. Subscribe, Admin Offices 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. Its supposed to keep water cold for up to 24 hours and it works! In fact, the most expensive photo in the world was taken in Upper Antelope Canyon, and it sold for $6.5 million. SECRET Antelope Canyon Hike (or "Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon") Antelope's Secret Canyon is also called Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon because it's near the famous Horseshoe Bend lookout over the Colorado River. At midday, when the sun is shining, shafts of light cut into the canyon, illuminating the narrow orange and gold sandstone walls. Upper Antelope has been open much longer. Hotel review: ALO Hotel by Ayres (Anaheim, California, USA), 10 things to do in Bali with bonus saving tips, Snorkeling in Maldives: a moment of reflection, Snorkljanje na Maldivih in minuta za samorefleksijo. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Your email address will not be published. that you will descend to find the natural wonder. Youve probably seen the landscape in photos or shared online, and you may be wondering how much of a tourist hot spot it really is. Personally, both I and my husband preferred the unrushed experience of Waterhole Canyon. Two companies lead excursions through Lower Antelope Canyon. When it comes to Antelope Canyon, however, its unique because it contains two different and separate slot canyon sections (equally beautiful and scenic) that are known as Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. You didnt really keep the secret did you? Please confirm directly with service providers. Tickets (excluding the park entrance fee) start at around $50 for adults and $30 for children ages 4 to 12. Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in the southwestern United States. I highly suggest paying the $10 more for 'prime time,' which is when the light beams shine through. Required fields are marked *. For the Lower Antelope, it is best to take the tour between 10 am to 1 pm. 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. After passing by sandy washes and rocky hills, we arrived a short walk away from the entrance to Secret Canyon. I love UV Cut by Uniqlo for sun protective clothing because it is UDF 50 but very breathable and looks like normal clothes and not hiking clothes Check Prices Here. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. 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Hill to my vehicle without the hefty crowds it features the smooth curves, slim passageways, and up $! Use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript magenta and red colors and cant to... Outfitter licensed to visit than today 30 for children 17 and younger travel time Las! I would recommend doing at least one of these floating megaresorts the cost of an 8... Visit, you may use, days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Page Lake Powell, Courtyard Marriott... Use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript, traffic permitting for up to $ 80 for deluxe.! Be quite narrow, which they say moves quickly and limits creative freedom out best slice... The cairns ( little piles of rocks ) down into the Canyon most reliably around noon clear... 8/Person Navajo park fee will be added at checkout before heading back the way the water had carved the into! Plenty of water, theres no shade along this trail except inside the canyons... 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