Page, Arizona (Navajo Nation), United States
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
A Navajo slot canyon entered only with a guide
- 6Separate slot canyon sections
- About 660 feetUpper canyon wall height above the streambed
- 2 hoursTime allowed inside Upper Antelope Canyon
Overview
Six separate slot canyon sections make up the Antelope Canyon area on the Navajo Reservation, and the canyon is the primary attraction of Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park.
The year 1997 marks two points in the canyon's record: the opening of Antelope Canyon to tourism on Navajo land adjacent to Page, and the start of permit-only access under its status as a Navajo Tribal Park.
Page, Arizona is the gateway town to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell, and it serves as the main base near Antelope Canyon.
Why visit Antelope Canyon
The walls of Upper Antelope Canyon rise about 660 feet above the streambed, while Lower Antelope Canyon sits at an elevation of about 3,704 feet. Walking through Lower Antelope Canyon is a more difficult hike than walking through Upper Antelope Canyon, even with the stairways installed.
Elsewhere in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area there are no maintained trails; hiking there follows routes over uneven terrain.
- A slot canyon area made up of six separate sections on the Navajo Reservation
- Upper canyon walls of about 660 feet above the streambed
- Lower canyon stairways, with the lower hike still described as the harder one
- A rim trail at Horseshoe Bend that meets accessibility standards
Antelope Canyon tours
Tour listings for the canyon appear below. Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon both require a guide. A listing for Upper Antelope Canyon gives an $8 entrance fee and a compulsory $25 tour fee, though the figures are undated and may be out of date.
Tours to browse
Guided access and permits
No part of Antelope Canyon can be entered without a guide. Every location requires one, so visits happen only on a guided tour, and visitors cannot enter independently. Part of the reason given for guided-only visits is summer flash flood risk.
- Upper Antelope Canyon allows a stay of two hours inside.
Figures at a glance
Antelope Canyon includes six separate slot canyon sections on the Navajo Reservation.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Slot canyon sections on the Navajo Reservation | 6 |
| Wall height above the streambed, Upper Antelope Canyon | About 660 feet |
| Elevation of Lower Antelope Canyon | About 3,704 feet |
| Time allowed inside Upper Antelope Canyon | 2 hours |
| Highway 98 turnoff to the Upper Antelope Canyon entrance, east of Page | About 2 miles |
| Antelope Canyon Park Office, south of Page | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
| Distance upstream of the storm that fed the 1997 flood | 7 miles (11 km) |
| Tourists killed in Lower Antelope Canyon on August 12, 1997 | 11 |
| Backcountry permit | $15 per person per night |
How the canyon formed
Erosion of Navajo Sandstone formed Antelope Canyon, mainly through flash flooding and other sub-aerial processes. Rainwater, especially in monsoon season, runs into the basin above the slot canyon sections and speeds through the narrow passages, and the rushing water carves those passageways.
A 2019 radioisotopic analysis suggests the rock hosting the canyon dates to the early Jurassic, beginning around 200-195 million years ago.
Mixtures of iron oxide minerals (hematite, goethite and limonite) in the pore space produce the varied colours of the sandstone, with white the exception.
Flash flood risk
A flood can reach the canyon even when no rain falls nearby, since the rain feeding it falls far off.
Summer rain can flood Antelope Canyon quickly, and that risk is listed among the reasons for guided-only visits.
The water came from a thunderstorm that had earlier dropped rain into the canyon basin 7 miles (11 km) upstream.
A flash flood can at times keep the canyon closed for up to several months.
When to go
Page has an arid climate (Köppen classification BWk) with hot, very dry summers and chilly winters with very little snow. The town is too far north to get consistent North American monsoons. Fire restrictions may be in effect across the Navajo Nation during the dry summer months, and summer is also the season when rain can flood the canyon quickly.
On its Arizona land, the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time, unlike the rest of Arizona.
Plan the timing
How to get there
Non-stop flights from Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport (LAS) to Page Municipal Airport (PGA) are run by Contour Airlines. Scheduled, charter and general aviation service all operate at Page Municipal Airport, the nearest airport to Antelope Canyon.
Cameron, Arizona is the point on Highway 89 south of Page where Highway 64 heads west to the Grand Canyon's Desert View entrance.
Two daily National Park Express shuttles serve Page: one to Las Vegas and one to Grand Canyon Village.
Routes to the canyon
Page, the gateway town
For Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell, Page, Arizona is the gateway town, and it works as the main base for Antelope Canyon. Founded in 1957, the city began as a housing community for Glen Canyon Dam workers and their families.
Express, a service of the nonprofit Helping Hands Agency, is the local public transport in Page, with service to Tuba City, Cameron, Shonto and Wahweap. On Highway 98, about 2 miles east of Page, a turnoff leads to the Upper Antelope Canyon entrance, and the Antelope Canyon Park Office is 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Page.
Where to stay
Lake Powell Resort at Wahweap and Defiance House Lodge at Bullfrog are two of the park's lodges. Standalone family units are also available at Halls Crossing and Bullfrog; these are three-bedroom single-wide trailers.
Antelope Point Marina rents houseboats, cruisers, water toys and kayaks, giving a lodging-on-the-water option. The City of Page has private campgrounds, and any short-term rental in the city must hold liability coverage of at least $500,000.
Lodging options
On Lake Powell and the Colorado River
- Quagga mussels are present, so all boaters and fishermen must clean, drain and dry vessels and equipment after contact with Lake Powell waters.
Navajo Nation land and park rules
The Navajo Nation reservation is over 25,000 square miles and covers four states.
- Cremation, littering, rock climbing, camping and drones are strictly prohibited inside Navajo Tribal Park lands.
- Camping and drones are both barred in those park lands, and camping is likewise not allowed in the Antelope Canyon park.
Guides
Questions answered
Common questions
Can anyone enter Antelope Canyon without a guide?
No. A guide is required at every Antelope Canyon location, guided tours are mandatory, and visitors cannot enter independently.
How many slot canyon sections does Antelope Canyon have?
The Antelope Canyon area includes six separate slot canyon sections on the Navajo Reservation.
Where is Antelope Canyon?
It is a slot canyon in the American Southwest, on Navajo land east of Lechee, Arizona, and it is the primary attraction of Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park.
Can a flash flood reach the canyon on a dry day?
Yes. Rain falling dozens of miles away can funnel into the slots with little notice, so a flood can arrive even when no rain falls nearby.
Where do flights to the canyon area land?
Page Municipal Airport (PGA) is the nearest airport to Antelope Canyon, and scheduled, charter and general aviation service all operate there. Contour Airlines handles the non-stop flights that leave Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport (LAS) for Page.
What is the cap on time spent in the upper canyon?
Upper Antelope Canyon allows a stay of two hours.
Why is August 12, 1997 significant for Lower Antelope Canyon?
A flash flood on that date killed eleven tourists in the lower canyon. The storm that fed it had released rain into the canyon basin 7 miles (11 km) upstream.
What lodging does the park offer?
Two park lodges are named: Lake Powell Resort at Wahweap and Defiance House Lodge at Bullfrog. The City of Page hosts private campgrounds.
Tours
Find a canyon tour
Browse toursSources
- Antelope Canyon
- Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation
- Page, Arizona
- Page
- Accessibility - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)
- Antelope Canyon Tour Operators | Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation
- Navajo Sandstone
- Camping - Navajo National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)
- Navajo Nation
- How Do I Travel to the South Rim ? - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
- Eating & Sleeping - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)
- Boating - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)
- Short-Term Rental - City of Page
- Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation | Navajo Park Tours in AZ