Upper Antelope
Sandy floor and light beams.
mark byzewski — CC BY 2.0 · mark byzewski — CC BY 2.0 · mark byzewski — CC BY 2.0 · WiLPrZ from Rabat, Maroc — CC BY-SA 2.0 · mark byzewski — CC BY 2.0
Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon on Navajo land, east of LeChee near the town of Page in Arizona. It is among the most famous slot canyons in the world, with wavy red walls lit by shafts of sun, and can be visited only with a Navajo guide. It has six sections, the best known being Upper Antelope Canyon, called The Crack, and Lower Antelope Canyon, called The Corkscrew. It belongs to the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park. It formed as flash floods eroded the Navajo Sandstone, with rainwater, especially in monsoon season, rushing through the narrow passages, deepening them and smoothing their edges. Inside, the walls sway like waves of red, orange and purple, shifting colour as the light moves. The floor of the upper section is sandy, and at midday in summer the light reaches deep, making clear beams. The lower section is narrower, with metal stairs and ramps, and you climb out through a tight crack. Photography is tricky but rewarding, so ask about camera rules. It is 9 km in a straight line from the town of Page. Book ahead, as tours fill quickly. Tours may be cancelled in rain, because flash floods are dangerous here even when the rain is far away. It does not suit anyone uneasy in tight spaces. Wear comfortable shoes and carry as little as you can.
Sandy floor and light beams.
A tight crack and metal stairs.
Shifting as the light moves.
Navajo land, east of LeChee, near Page, Arizona
No, entry is only on a licensed tour, as it is on Navajo land.
Flash floods can happen, so tours are cancelled in rain.