One of the most beautiful and stunning slot canyons in the world is Antelope Canyon, located in the southwestern portion of the United States in Page AZ. The canyon is located on Navajo land, and is predominately known for two locations which are globally known as some of the most photogenic areas on earth. These areas are known as the “Crack” and the “Corkscrew,” or “Upper Antelope Canyon” and “Antelope Canyon.” In the Navajo language, the upper canyon area is known as Tsé bighánílíní, which means “the place where water runs through rocks.” The lower canyon area is known as Hazdistazí, or “spiral rock arches.” These areas are located within Navajo Nation within the LeChee Chapter.
When people tour Antelope Canyon, one of the first things that they wonder about is exactly how the canyon was created, due to the rolling walls surrounding the narrow pathways. The strange shapes of the walls is due to erosion by flash flooding, which carves smooth areas from the Navajo sandstone. Another reason for the formations is rainwater running into the basin above the slot canyon sections, gaining speed as it rushes through the narrow passageways. Over long periods of time, this erosive process makes the corridors deeper and smooths the walls, dreating a unique flowing look to the rocks. This erosion due to flooding still occurs, including a flood that took place on October 30, 2006 which lasted for more than 36 hours and closed the park for more than five months.
Photographers flock to Antelope Canyon every year to test their skills. The area is considered extremely difficult to photograph because of wide exposure ranges that are produced by light reflecting off the walls of the canyon and creating beams of light from above. Although challenging to photograph, the results are spectacular if the time is taken to correctly expose the picture. Those who are unable to photograph the area will simply gaze in wonderment at the vibrant rock colors and slowing canyon wall shapes.
Touring Antelope Canyon has been allowed by private tour companies like Bindlestiff Tours since 1987, and the money generated by tour companies is one of the primary sources of income for the Navajo tribes in the area, who have named it Navajo Tribal Park.
Upper Antelope Canyon is entirely ground level, and involves no climbing or scrambling. This makes the area easier to tour than other slot canyons, and those with mobility issues may be able to experience this area in some cases. The intense beams of light that are created by sunshine through the canyon wall tops rain down on visitors, more so than in the lower canyon. This phenomenon is especially prevalent in the summer months when the sun is more appropriately positioned in the sky. Light beam season starts in the canyon March 20 and disappear October 7 each year.
Lower Antelope Canyon is located a few miles away from Upper. There have been metal stairs installed in order to make navigation through the canyon easier, as climbing is involved. The canyon is in the shape of a “V” and is considerably shallower than the Upper Antelope. Lighting is best in the early hours and late morning.
Touring Antelope Canyon
The only way to experience Antelope Canyon is by a guided tour like the ones we offer. The main reason that the park is not open for free public exploration is due to the dangers that are posed by flash flooding during the monsoon season. There is not a necessity of rain falling in the actual canyon area to produce a flash flood, and many times floods are caused by rain that happens miles away. In 1997, eleven tourist were killed by flash flooding in Antelope Canyon, including two from the United States. Even though there was very little rain seen in the area, a thunderstorm seven miles away produced the flash flood which killed everyone except the tour guide. Today, safety measures are in place including ladders and cargo nets installed and bolted into place. Even today, there are still instances of tourists being injured and stranded. Our guides are extremely well trained and follow all the rules and regulations in order to keep our customers safe at all times.
If you are interested in tours of Antelope Canyon, contact us today to arrange it. Our professional guides provide an experience unlike any other, which will provide memories (and photographs) that will last a lifetime.