Antelope Canyon is essentially the most photographed slot canyon on the earth. Nevertheless it is available in two sections and visiting each could be costly. Right here’s our information to Higher vs Decrease Antelope Canyon that can assist you select.
LAST UPDATE: 17 Jan 2024
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Antelope Canyon is without doubt one of the most photographed slot canyons on the earth. Formed over millennia by water dashing via the rock, its slick orange and crimson partitions are etched with horizontal traces which curve into mesmerizing shapes.
When the solar is on the proper angle, beams of sunshine enter via the canyon roof making a hypnotic play of sunshine and shadow.
Antelope Canyon is cut up into two sections, Higher and Decrease Antelope Canyon. They’re each extraordinarily spectacular however just a little totally different.
It’s attainable to go to each in at some point, however paying for 2 excursions could be costly. Right here’s our information to Higher vs Decrease Antelope Canyon that can assist you select the tour that’s best for you.
IN THIS GUIDE
UPPER VS LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON
ANTELOPE CANYON: UPPER VS LOWER
Antelope Canyon is simply exterior the city of Web page in northern Arizona. Positioned in Navajo lands, it’s cut up into two sections: Higher Antelope Canyon and Decrease Antelope Canyon.
Every part of the canyon can solely be visited on a separate guided tour run by Navajo guides. Listed here are the professionals and cons of every.
UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON
Higher Antelope Canyon known as Tsé bighánílíní in Navajo, which suggests “the place the place water runs via rocks”. Its nickname is “The Crack” as a result of very slender hole within the canyon roof.
It’s formed like an ‘A’ with a large base and a slender high. The slender high means solely slender beams of sunshine enter the canyon making it darkish and moody.
UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON TOURS
Guided excursions depart from close by Web page. You might be pushed for quarter-hour alongside a dust observe in an open 4×4 to the beginning of the path.
The canyon is simply 660 toes (200 meters) lengthy. The hike heads alongside the comparatively flat canyon ground, earlier than climbing a set of stairs out of the canyon. You then stroll over a hill to get again to the pickup level.
The tour lasts 100 minutes. Twenty minutes for the pick-up and drive (every manner) and 60 minutes for the ¾ mile stroll within the canyon. The tour operators ask you to examine in half-hour earlier than the tour is scheduled to go away Web page.
PROS OF UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON
Higher Images – Essentially the most iconic images of Antelope Canyon are taken in Higher Antelope Canyon. Throughout the center of the day slender beams of sunshine shine via the canyon roof contrasting with the darkish and moody canyon partitions.
Higher Excursions – The excursions in Higher Antelope Canyon are extra organised than in Decrease Antelope Canyon. The guides give a extra detailed account of how the slot canyons have been shaped they usually preserve you in a small group making it simpler to get images with no-one else in them.
Simpler Strolling – The hike is brief and comparatively flat, though you do have to stroll over sand, climb some stairs, and descend a ramp to return to the pick-up spot. Sadly, the tour just isn’t accessible for everybody.
BEST TIME TO VISIT UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON //
The height interval is between Might and September when the angle of the solar permits the beams to achieve the canyon ground. This solely occurs when the solar is instantly overhead so, ebook a tour that runs between 11 am and 1.30 pm.
CONS OF UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON
Dearer – Higher Antelope Canyon excursions are dearer ($85) than Decrease Antelope Canyon Excursions ($55) and there’s solely a small low cost for youths ($75). All excursions incur a further $8 Navajo Allow Park payment.
Restricted availability – Excursions of Higher Antelope Canyon can ebook up months upfront, particularly over the height noon hours. Ebook as quickly as you recognize you’re going.
Tougher to {photograph} – Whereas the moody darkness generally is a profit in the course of the day when the beam of sunshine seems to be spectacular, in early morning and late afternoon it may be very darkish, making images troublesome. Tripods are usually not permitted within the canyon.
Dusty drive – The drive to Higher Antelope Canyon is in an open-sided 4×4. It’s bumpy and there’s a lot of mud. You’re not allowed to take a backpack into the canyon, so be sure to have one thing to maintain your digital camera shielded from the mud.
Longer tour – You might be imagined to check-in half-hour earlier than the tour leaves, so all the expertise takes simply over 2 hours.
LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON
Decrease Antelope Canyon known as Hasdestwazi in Navajo, which suggests “spiral rock arches”. Its nickname is the Corkscrew, because of its twisted partitions.
It’s formed like a ‘V’ with a slender base and a wider high. Extra gentle enters via the canyon roof making the canyon brighter and lighter.
LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON TOURS
Excursions are run by Dixie’s Excursions and Ken’s Excursions. Each have places of work and a big parking zone proper subsequent to the Decrease Antelope Canyon entrance.
The canyon is 1,335 toes (400 meters) lengthy. The doorway is down 5 flights of a steep metallic staircase. The slender canyon ground is just a little trickier to navigate and there are 8 additional flights of stairs alongside the route. The exit is thru a small hole within the rock solely a brief stroll the from parking zone.
The strolling tour is 1 mile in whole and takes 45 minutes to 1 hour. Excursions are known as 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure.
PROS OF LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON
Higher gentle – Decrease Antelope Canyon doesn’t have the noon beams of sunshine that pierce the gloom in Higher Antelope Canyon, however the canyon is brighter and lighter making images simpler. The partitions have a extra luminescent glow all through the day.
Longer canyon – Decrease Antelope Canyon is twice so long as Higher Antelope Canyon and with extra twisting unusually formed partitions you get twice as a lot bang on your buck.
Extra availability – Decrease Antelope Canyon excursions don’t promote out months upfront and actually, typically it’s attainable to simply flip up on the day and get a slot.
Cheaper – Decrease Antelope Canyon Excursions are usually not solely cheaper ($55) than Higher Antelope Canyon Excursions ($85) but additionally supply an even bigger low cost for youths ($35). All excursions incur a further $8 Navajo Allow Park payment.
Extra adventurous – The mix of metallic ladders and a narrower path via the slick canyon partitions make Decrease Antelope Canyon really feel extra adventurous and enjoyable.
CONS OF LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON
Much less iconic images – You can not seize the noon beams of sunshine shining in from the canyon roof like you possibly can at Higher Antelope Canyon.
Busier & crowded – Teams are usually not saved as remoted as they’re in Higher Antelope Canyon so it could really feel busier, extra rushed, and a bit extra chaotic.
Queueing occasions – Whilst you don’t have to check-in half-hour earlier than scheduled departure, there are sometimes queues as you wait to descend the staircase into the canyon.
Harder strolling – The metallic staircase, longer canyon, and narrower canyon ground make the mountain climbing more durable. Due to this fact, Decrease Antelope Canyon just isn’t suggested for these with extra restricted bodily mobility.
UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON VS LOWER – COSTS
| CANYON | COST | DURATION |
|---|---|---|
| Higher | $85 adults | $75 children | 3/4 mile | 100 min |
| Decrease | $55 adults | $35 children | 1 mile | 45 min |
ANTELOPE CANYON: UPPER VS LOWER SUMMARY
Higher Antelope Canyon is healthier for photographers IF you ebook a lunchtime slot, which you’ll need to do effectively upfront. It’s also a extra relaxed expertise with a smaller group providing you with extra time to line up higher pictures.
Guides present attention-grabbing details about the canyons and the way they have been shaped.
Importantly, the stroll within the higher canyon is much less bodily demanding making it a more sensible choice for individuals with diminished mobility (though stairs are nonetheless required).
Decrease Antelope Canyon is healthier for selfies as a result of elevated gentle within the canyon. It’s a extra family-friendly expertise with a barely extra adventurous path that the youngsters will love.
CAN YOU VISIT ANTELOPE CANYON WITHOUT GOING ON A TOUR?
No, it’s not attainable to go to Antelope Canyon with out occurring a tour. All excursions are managed and run by the Navajo.
BOOKING YOUR UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON TOUR
Higher Antelope Canyon Excursions are run by a number of totally different Navajo suppliers. We used Antelope Canyon Excursions and had an amazing expertise. Bear in mind to ebook upfront and attempt to get a slot from 11.00 am to 1.30 pm.
BOOKING YOUR LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON TOUR
There are two Decrease Antelope Canyon Tour suppliers:
We used Ken’s as a result of we may get on a tour instantly with out ready. However I’m certain Dixie is nice as effectively. They’re subsequent to one another on the canyon entrance.
TOP TOURS
COMBINED TOUR OPTIONS
If the excursions seem totally booked, be sure to examine Get Your Information and Viator who’ve extra timeslots and supply a wider vary of experiences within the space.
ANTELOPE CANYON TIME ZONE
Antelope Canyon Excursions run on Arizona Normal Time (MST), sharing the identical time zone as Web page, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and Phoenix. Please bear in mind that should you drive from Monument Valley or Utah throughout Daylight Financial savings Time (center of March to starting of November) you’ll want to maneuver your clocks ahead 1 hour.
MAP | UPPER AND LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON
Beneath is a map of the Higher and Decrease Antelope Canyon the place we’ve indicated the places of work of the tour guides.
Easy methods to use this map / Click on on the highest left of the map to show the listing of places, then click on on the places to show additional data. Click on on the highest proper nook of the map to open a bigger model in a brand new tab or the star to avoid wasting to your Google Maps.
WHERE NEXT AFTER ANTELOPE CANYON?
Antelope Canyon is a part of an incredible space of landscapes unfold throughout Utah and northern Arizona. They are often explored on a beautiful 2-week US highway journey that features Utah’s Mighty 5, Monument Valley and Las Vegas.
Listed here are our suggestions on find out how to see all of it:
