Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon: Which To Visit (2024)
Ready to book a Antelope Canyon tour but not sure which one to visit? This is the article for you.
Antelope Canyon is an incredibly photogenic slot canyon, formed by years of erosion of Navajo sandstone. The canyon’s located just outside of Page Arizona, and maintained by the Navajo nation. To get to the canyon, you must go on a tour since it’s located on tribal lands. When booking a tour, you can choose to visit either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon.
This article will cover how Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon differ in terms of pricing, photography, and accessibility.
Read on for everything you need to know before deciding which tour to book.
Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon: At A Glance
Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are both located on tribal lands, maintained by the Navajo nation, with the entrances around 7 miles apart. The tour companies are just down the street from one another, so some people choose to visit both within a day.
Here are all of the key differences between the Upper and Lower Canyon.
Photography
One of the biggest differences between the upper and lower portion of the canyon is how they photograph.
Upper Antelope Canyon tends to be favored over Lower Antelope Canyon for photography. It’s shaped like an “A”, where the entrance is wide, and the canyon gets increasingly narrow, only letting a small amount of light in.
This will allow you to snap a photo of the famous light beams shining through the canyon, to give a spotlight look on the sandy floor.
On the other hand, Lower Antelope Canyon is shaped like a “V”, where the entrance is narrow and gets increasingly wider.
Throughout Lower Antelope Canyon, there’s tons of natural light, so it’s brighter, and it has a mix of dark and bright lighting.
Regardless of which canyon you visit, you’ll get over an hour to take photos, so you’ll leave with many amazing photos. Additionally, the tour guides will give photography tips, and point out rock formations that resemble everything from mountains to fish!
Accessibility (How Easy The Hike Is)
Another big difference between Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon is how easy the hikes are. Lower Antelope Canyon is considered more difficult of a hike because it involves several sets of stairs and ladders. Lower Antelope Canyon is also below ground and longer than Upper Antelope Canyon.
I went on a Lower Antelope Canyon tour and found it relatively easy, but it may not be ideal for those with mobility issues or fear of heights. At the entrance of Lower Antelope Canyon, there’s a very steep set of stairs descending into the canyon.
Throughout the rest of the hike, there’s a few sets of stairs and ladders you have to climb up. However, the tour guides went very slow, and spaced it out perfectly, so it didn’t feel like a workout.
On the other hand, Upper Antelope Canyon has no stairs or ladders, and consists of a flat sandy pathway. It’s above ground, and much more spacious than Lower Antelope Canyon, so it’s ideal for those that get claustrophobic or prefer an easier hike.
Neither portion of the canyon is considered wheelchair accessible because the pathways are made of sand, but certain tour companies may be able to accommodate you if you call ahead of time.
Pricing ($)
The last key difference is pricing, where Lower Antelope Canyon tours are $20-$40 cheaper. Lower Antelope Canyon tours start at around $55/person, whereas Upper Antelope Canyon tours start at around $85/person. Despite the differences in pricing, both tours last the same amount of time.
Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon FAQs
Is Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon longer?
Lower Antelope Canyon is over twice as long as Upper Antelope Canyon, at around 1,330 feet while Upper Antelope Canyon is only 660 feet. Both tours last the same amount of time, so Upper Antelope Canyon is slightly more slow-paced than Lower Antelope Canyon.
Do you need a tour to visit Antelope Canyon?
Yes, you need to go on a guided hiking tour if you want to visit Lower or Upper Antelope Canyon. This started in 1997 when Antelope Canyon was closed to the public to help preserve its natural beauty. Now, it’s only accessible by tours, and each tour includes an $8 Navajo permit fee in the price to be on tribal lands.
You can kayak/jetski to a portion of the canyon that’s not on tribal lands, but it’s not the canyon you often see in pictures. This portion of the canyon has a sandy pathway, narrow walls, and lots of natural light so it’s still very beautiful. If you kayak there, you can expect to spend over an hour kayaking, and another hour of hiking to reach the canyon.
What should you bring on an Antelope Canyon tour?
On an Antelope Canyon tour, you’ll only want to bring a camera and water bottle. Backpacks aren’t allowed inside the canyon, so I recommend bringing a water bottle sling, or wearing your camera’s strap so you can keep your hands free.
This is especially important for Lower Antelope Canyon, where you’ll need to have your hands free while climbing up/down the stairs.
How far is Antelope Canyon from major cities?
Antelope Canyon is around a 5 hour drive from Phoenix, 4.5 hours from Vegas, 3 hours from Sedona, and 2 hours from Flagstaff.
What airport do you fly in to visit Antelope Canyon?
If you’re visiting from out of state, the closest airport to fly in is the Page Municipal airport, which is just 10 minutes from Antelope Canyon
But if you’re looking for cheaper flights, you can fly into Phoenix or Las Vegas, and make the 4.5–5 hour drive to Page.
What else is there to do near Antelope Canyon?
Besides Antelope Canyon, Page is home to the famous Horseshoe Bend, towering Glen Canyon Dam, and Lake Powell. Horseshoe Bend costs $10/vehicle to visit, and is just a 10 minute drive from Antelope Canyon.
The Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell are also just a 10 minute drive away, so you can see all of the natural landmarks within a day.
Are Antelope Canyon tours worth it?
Yes, Antelope Canyon tours are very worth it in my experience. I toured Lower Antelope Canyon, and our guides were friendly, informative, and gave us great photography tips. You get a little over an hour to take pictures within the canyon, and the guide is there to answer any questions you have about geology, history, and Navajo culture.
If you’re on a budget, you can kayak to part of Antelope Canyon from Antelope Point Marina. However, it can take over an hour of kayaking to get there, and the cheapest kayak rentals start at around $45/day.