How To Get To Antelope Canyon With Or Without A Tour (2024)
Are you wondering how to get to Antelope Canyon? This article’s for you.
Antelope Canyon is one of the world’s most impressive slot canyons, formed by years of erosion of Navajo sandstone. It’s located in Page Arizona, a small town on the border between northeast Arizona and Utah.
To get to Antelope Canyon, you must go on a guided hiking tour, or kayak to the portion of the canyon that’s not located on tribal lands.
This article will cover how to get to Antelope Canyon, with tips on which tour to choose, when to visit, what to pack, and directions. For your convenience, we’ve attached an Antelope Canyon map at the end of the article, pinning the 3 different entrances.
Ready to plan an epic trip to Antelope Canyon? Let’s dive in!
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What is Antelope Canyon?
Antelope Canyon is a famous slot canyon, carved by years of erosion of Navajo sandstone by flash floods and other natural processes.
Its unique wave–like appearance and bright red-orange sandstone make it one of the most remarkable natural landmarks in the United States.
In fact, it attracts around 4 million visitors a year! Whether you’re a photographer or simply enjoy exploring nature, it’s a place you won’t want to miss visiting.
Where’s Antelope Canyon located?
Antelope Canyon located just 10 minutes outside of Page, a small town in northeast Arizona bordering Utah. If you’re flying in, the closest airport is Page’s Municipal Airport.
How To Get To Antelope Canyon
The two main entrances to Antelope Canyon are located on tribal lands, maintained by the Navajo nation. If you want to visit either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, you must go on a guided hiking tour. Tours start at $55 for Lower Antelope Canyon, and $85 for Upper Antelope Canyon, plus a $8 Navajo permit fee.
I went on a Lower Antelope Canyon tour with Dixie’s tours, a Navajo owned tour company, with excellent guides. They have a large gift shop with drinks and snacks, and outdoor pit toilets.
On our tour, it was just a short 5 minute walk to the entrance of the canyon. For the rest of the tour (1-1.5 hours), we got to explore the inside of the canyon, and learn about the geology and history from a very friendly guide.
Our guide also pointed out unique rock formations, and gave us great photography tips. The tours last around an hour, and are spaced out so you have plenty of time to take pictures within the canyon. If you want to visit Lower Antelope Canyon, I highly recommend this company.
How To Visit Antelope Canyon Without A Tour
The only way you can visit Antelope Canyon without a tour is to kayak from the Antelope Point Marina, to part of the slot canyon not on tribal lands. Keep in mind you’ll still have to pay to enter the marina ($30/vehicle or $15/person), and the cheapest kayak rentals start at $45/day.
This is a great budget-friendly alternative if you have your own kayaks. The only downside is it will take around 30 minutes to kayak to the entrance, whereas it’s a short 5 minute walk to the entrance if you book a tour.
Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon
When booking a tour, you can choose to visit either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, which differ mainly in pricing, lighting, and accessibility.
Lower Antelope Canyon is below ground, with brighter lighting, and a few sets of stairs and ladders throughout the canyon. Lower Antelope Canyon tours are the cheapest, but the hike is considered more difficult because of the stairs.
On my Lower Antelope Canyon tour, our guide spaced it out perfectly so it was relatively easy and didn’t feel like a workout. However, it may not be ideal for those with mobility issues.
Upper Antelope Canyon is the above ground portion of the canyon, with darker lighting, and a flat sandy pathway with no stairs.
If you want to snap a photo of the famous light beams shining through the canyon, you’ll want to go on an Upper Antelope Canyon tour.
It’s slightly more expensive than Lower Antelope Canyon, but is shorter, more spacious, and an easier hike overall.
No matter which portion of the canyon you choose to visit, you’ll be able to take amazing photos.
Best Time To Visit Antelope Canyon
The best time to visit Antelope Canyon is anytime of the year besides monsoon season (June-September). Not only are temperatures the hottest during this time, but if there’s a monsoon, it’s very likely your tour will be canceled.
Before planning a visit, make sure to check the weather beforehand and avoid visiting if you see isolated thunderstorms or flash flooding on the radar.
I visited in August at 2pm, when it was above 100°F. The inside of the canyon was surprisingly cool, but it was still less than ideal for comfortability. If visiting during the summer, I highly recommend wearing a sunhat, and bringing a cold water bottle to stay coo..
What To Pack For An Antelope Canyon Tour
Some good things to pack for an Antelope Canyon tour are a camera (with strap), water bottle, and a water bottle sling if you don’t have pockets.
Most tour companies don’t allow backpacks within the canyon, and it’s important to keep your hands free so you can snap those amazing photos.
Additionally, I highly recommend wearing a camera strap for Lower Antelope Canyon, as you won’t be able to hold your camera while climbing down the stairs.
Antelope Canyon Map
Antelope Canyon FAQs:
What’s the closest airport to Antelope Canyon?
The closest airport to Antelope Canyon is Page’s Municipal Airport, which is just a 10 minute drive away. The next closest airport is Flagstaff’s Pulliam Airport, which is a little over a 2 hour drive away.
If you’re looking for the cheapest flights, you can fly into Las Vegas or Phoenix, and make the 4.5-5 hour drive to Page.
What’s the cheapest way to visit Antelope Canyon?
The cheapest way to visit Antelope Canyon is to bring your own kayaks, and kayak to the portion of Antelope Canyon that’s not on tribal lands.
Then, your only expense will be an entrance fee to the Antelope Point Marina ($30/vehicle or $15/person), where you’ll launch off from.
If you rent kayaks, it will be $45/day (or $30/half day) plus the Antelope Point entrance fee, which ends up at around the same price as a Lower Antelope Canyon tour.
However, it’s still slightly cheaper, since you won’t have to pay the Navajo permit fee ($8/day).
How far is Antelope Canyon from Sedona and other major cities?
Antelope Canyon is 3 hours from Sedona, and only a little over 2 hours from Flagstaff. It’s around a 4.5 hour drive from Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
How far is Antelope Canyon from Horseshoe Bend?
Antelope Canyon is only a 10 minute drive from Horseshoe Bend, the famous horseshoe shaped overlook of the Colorado River. It costs $10/vehicle to visit, and is just a short 10 minute walk to the overlook.
How far is Antelope Canyon from the Grand Canyon?
Antelope Canyon is around a 2.5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim (main entrance), and 5.5 hour drive from the West Rim.
If you want to visit Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff is one of the best places to stay. It’s around a 2 hour drive to the Grand Canyon, 2 hour drive to Antelope Canyon, and 2 hour drive to Phoenix.