Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are popular tourist destinations for travelers who want to experience the best that Arizona has to offer. If you are planning to visit these two spots during your trip to the American Southwest, there are some tips you should be aware of that can help you create the perfect itinerary.
Choose Your Season
Whether visiting Page is the main purpose of your trip or just a part of your adventure, you will want to figure out the time of year that you would like to visit both Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Page is fairly temperate year-round but will be cooler in the fall and winter. You can also have different experiences at Antelope Canyon depending on the season — the summer offers the upper slot canyon’s famous light beams, while the cold months provide beautiful changing colors on its walls. The fall and winter also tend to be less busy at Antelope, so if long lines and busy crowds aren’t your cup of tea, you may want to travel during the off-season.
Pick From Upper and Lower Antelope
Antelope Canyon is actually made up of two separate slot canyons — Upper Antelope and Lower Antelope. Lower Antelope has its own charms, such as shorter wait times and smaller crowds, but Upper Antelope provides the Canyon’s light beams, makes for a smoother tour and is usually a tourist’s first choice when coming to the Canyon. If you are hesitant to take the road less traveled, Upper Antelope is a great pick.
Book in Advance
Tours can fill up quickly due to high interest, especially if you plan on visiting Upper Antelope Canyon. Book your reservations as early as possible to avoid long waits, thwarted plans, and disappointments on the day of your visit to the slot canyon.
Go Early
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend can both be enjoyed in one day, and often are. Your best bet for fitting in both visits with limited time is to start early in the morning. If you are planning on driving to Upper Antelope from a different spot nearby — such as the Grand Canyon or Zion — you will want to start driving toward Page around dawn. Otherwise, make sure you arrive in the area by breakfast time so you can see all that you want to see.
Consider Touring Antelope at Midmorning
You can tour the Canyon at many different times of day, but if you are visiting Upper Antelope in the summer to see the light beams, you may want to schedule your tour between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm. This timeframe is when you will see the most dramatic lighting displays — this may be especially important to you if you want to take photos of the beams. If seeing the light beams is not your number one priority, you can figure out the right time of day for your particular visit and work your trip to Horseshoe Bend around that.
Stay for the Sunsets
If you love the magic of natural beauty, you will want to stick around until dark to see the beautiful sunset that Page has to offer after a long day spent exploring Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. You may even want to book a hotel room near glorious Lake Powell to enhance your Arizona experience even further.
Tour Upper Antelope
Now that you have a plan in place, it is time to book your Antelope Canyon Tour with Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours. Our guided tours are designed for photographers, families, nature lovers, and every other kind of visitor who wants to experience all that Upper Antelope Canyon has to offer. What’s more, our tour guides are members of the Navajo Nation who understand the Canyon and can provide insight into Navajo culture and history. Get started on planning your trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend with Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours today.