Lower Antelope Canyon
As part of our 2-day MaxTour adventure from Las Vegas, we had the option to add on a tour of Lower Antelope Canyon for an additional $80. This was a no-brainer as I had seen photos of the stunning Antelope Canyon for years and had always wanted to see it in person.
What is Antelope Canyon?
Antelope Canyon is a narrow slot canyon located just outside of Page, Arizona, on Navajo land. It's famous for its wavey, sandstone walls. If you’re a PC person, you’ve probably seen it as a Windows wallpaper! There are two main sections: Upper and Lower. We did Lower Antelope Canyon, the more adventurous (and arguably more photogenic) of the two.
Our Tour
Because Antelope Canyon is on Navajo land, only Navajo guides are allowed to lead tours. So our MaxTour guide, Cash, handed us off to our guide for the morning, Shoshanna. She was great at herding us through the canyon at a reasonable pace and showing us the naturally carved shapes, like the Lady in the Wind, the Shark, and the Seahorse (my favorite).
She told us that Antelope Canyon didn’t become super famous until the late 1990s, when a flash flood tragically killed 11 hikers. After that (and after several safety measures were put in place), its popularity skyrocketed. MORBID!
She also gave us tips on getting the best pictures, like changing the ‘Warm’ setting on your phone to 100 to make the canyon colors pop.
The pictures are incredible — and it IS incredible — but they don’t really show how crowded it is down there. Each tour group is small (around 15 people), but approximately 1,500 visitors pass through each day. Everyone is walking single-file through the canyon, so while it is visually beautiful, it might not be the zen experience of your dreams!
Accessibility
To enter Lower Antelope Canyon, you have to descend several metal staircases and ladders. They are steep, so it’s not super accessible if you have mobility issues. My mom was nervous about the stairs because she’s recovering from a broken arm, but said it wasn’t nearly as difficult as she expected.
If accessibility is a concern, Upper Antelope Canyon is the better option. It’s flat, wider, and has ground-level access.
Tour Operators
Lower Antelope Canyon is exclusively operated by two tour companies:
Ken’s Tours (which we used), and
Fun fact: these companies are run by a Navajo brother and sister duo. Both tours use the same canyon entrance and offer similar experiences, but it’s worth checking both for available times and group sizes.
Ken’s Tours has a gift shop and cafe on site. Their gift shop had some unique handmade items and jewelry that were a bit higher-end than the gas station and museum gift shops we’d seen.
Quick Tips
No bags or backpacks allowed inside. Bring your phone and water bottle only.
No video allowed.
Wear closed-toe shoes. The stairs can be slippery, especially in the early morning or after rain.
Book early! Tours can sell out, especially in peak season.
Final Thoughts
Lower Antelope Canyon is absolutely worth the visit. It was the highlight of my mom’s trip and one of the most photogenic places I’ve ever been.
We went with MaxTour as part of their 2-Day Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon Tour, which I recommend if you’d like to see a bunch of the attractions near Las Vegas but don’t want to bother with all the driving and planning. Read my full review of that tour and my guide to Las Vegas.
