Forget the Grand Canyon! I might even be tempted to bounce Bryce Canyon down to 2nd place on my American favourites list! Antelope Canyon stole the show for me on a recent trip to South West USA.
We didn’t even get a good day! All the fuss about booking the right time for light beams – and it rained! The sun came out for a bit so we did ok in the end.
This is the landscape:
Up close, the sandstone looks brittle:
And there’s the canyon!
Antelope Canyon is a SLOT CANYON. Water finds it way into a crack and wears away the sandstone. Sandstorms scour the canyon walls into wave-like structures.
The canyon is on Navajo land. You cannot visit it independently – you must use a licenced tour operator.
You’ll feel very small!
The route is just over a mile or so but the canyon is ‘v’ shaped so you end up close to the starting point.
There is a little bit of climbing….
….and a little bit of squeezing….
….but its worth it!!!
Back on earth!!
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Small Stuff
There are 2 tour options – Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon – they are several miles apart. We visited Lower Canyon.
We booked the Dixie Ellis Canyon Tour. At time of reservation (beginning April) for a tour at the end of July – (4 months), there was very limited availability left. SO BOOK EARLY!
We paid $109.20 for 2 adults.
The canyon may be prone to flash flooding which closes the facility. The rain does not have to be local – heavy showers upstream can quickly flood the passageway.
There is a steep stairway into Lower Canyon. Upper Canyon is more accessible and shorter.
No bags, backpacks, waist pouches, etc. allowed – leave them in the car.
Don’t forget the camera!!