Antelope canyon in Arizona: tickets, slots and choosing a gorge

Tours to Antelope Canyon are sold by time slots, and during high season they sell out weeks in advance. You cannot enter without a Navajo guide: this is Navajo Nation territory, not a US national park. We have put together what you should know before booking.

Antelope Canyon is two separate slot canyons in northern Arizona, near the town of Page. The Upper Canyon is easier to walk and lets in more light. The Lower Canyon is narrow, but the shots you get there come out more contrasty. The choice depends on the season, your fitness level, and your willingness to climb stairs.

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What to know before you go

💡 In short:

• A guide is required in the Upper Canyon, Lower Canyon, and Canyon X: there are no self-guided walks.
• Entry costs $15 per person, in summer the park is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the tour is paid separately (as of 09/2026, official park page).
• The Upper Canyon has a time limit for how long you can stay inside the gorge.
• Tour slots and prices: 09/2026, verified on the Ken's Tours operator website.

Page grew up around Lake Powell, and nearly the entire local economy depends on tourists. That is why slots go fast, and openings mostly appear in the off-season. Plan your trip with a buffer day: if there is a threat of rain, the canyons close.

Upper and lower Antelope Canyon

The Navajo call the Upper Canyon Tse'bighanilini, "the place where water runs through rocks." Its floor is wider, the walls spread apart at the top in an A shape, and walking through it is easy. The Lower Canyon is called Hasdez' twazi', "spiral rock arches," and follows a V shape.

© King of Hearts · CC BY-SAPhoto: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Both gorges lie within the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation, and only a road separates them. The Lower Canyon is shorter and darker. The passage is so narrow in places that you walk sideways, and so low in places that you have to duck.

The choice is simple. Want a relaxed walk and light beams? Take the Upper Canyon. Want dramatic shots and do not mind tight spaces? The Lower Canyon is your option. If you have claustrophobia, stay up top: there you do not feel the weight of the rock.

© Lómelinde · CC BY-SAPhoto: Lómelinde, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The walls are made of sandstone that water and wind have polished for centuries. Each layer in the cross-section holds traces of a different era, and the guide will show you how to read them. This is best seen in the Lower Canyon, where the walls are closer to you.

Tickets and tours: prices and rules

Visiting is paid, and the payment is split into two parts. You pay the Navajo Nation fee for entry, and the tour cost goes to the operator. No separate permit is required.

Tours to the Lower Canyon are run by Ken's Tours, one of two licensed operators for this section (as of 09/2026, official website).

The operator has been welcoming guests since 1994 and has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from more than fifteen thousand reviews (as of 09/2026, Ken's Tours). Tours to the Upper Canyon are usually more expensive: demand is higher there because the canyon is popular with photographers. In high season, from March through November, book your slot in advance.

© Lómelinde · CC BY-SAPhoto: Lómelinde, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Children and older adults handle the Lower Canyon fine, but the stairs require attention. If you are unsure about your fitness, mention it when booking: the operator will match you with a suitable tour.

How to get to Antelope Canyon

Both entrances sit along Arizona State Route 98 east of Page, about ten minutes by car from the town center. Open on the map. There is no public transportation to the gorges, so you need a car or a tour with transfer.

The on-site process is simple. You arrive at your operator's parking lot ahead of time, check in, and wait for your group. Being late means losing your slot: the time you enter the gorge is fixed.

From Las Vegas, the drive takes nearly a full day, so staying overnight in Page is more convenient than leaving early. From Grand Canyon, you drive for several hours through the desert. Gas stations and cafes are scarce on this stretch, so bring water and do not leave refueling to the last few miles.

Some operators sell tours with transfer from Page. For an independent trip, a rental car is more convenient: you choose your own timing and are not tied to the group schedule.

Book your rental in advance, especially in high season: see car rental options on DiscoverCars.

Parking lots at the entrances are small. In high season, spots fill up quickly, so arrive with time to spare. Check-in, the safety briefing, and the walk to the gorge also take time.

What to bring

The list is short and the same for both gorges. Pack the night before so you are not searching for things in the dark in the morning.

• Closed-toe shoes: sand, stairs, and slippery rock.
• Water and a light jacket: it is cool inside even in the heat.
• Camera or phone: there is enough light, no flash needed.
• Flashlight: the Lower Canyon has some dark sections.

The operator provides photography equipment on request, but your own camera is more reliable. The best light comes at midday, when the sun reaches the canyon floor. That is when you will see the famous light beams.

A tripod only gets in the way in the narrow passage: it holds up the group, and the guide asks you to keep the path clear. Shoot handheld with a fast shutter speed. Hold your phone vertically: that way the canyon walls read better.

Rules for visitors

The rules here are set by the Navajo Nation, not the US park service. You can only walk with a guide and only on your assigned route: there are no unaccompanied trails in the canyons. The gorges are fragile, so do not climb on the walls or move rocks.

The park does not approve professional photo and video projects in the Upper and Lower Canyon. Permits for shooting are not issued due to the load on these sections, so come as a regular visitor.

Dogs are not allowed on tribal park lands. There are also closure days: Thanksgiving, the following Navajo Nation Family Day, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Plan your dates around these holidays.

A flash flood in the desert is more dangerous than it looks from above. On August 12, 1997, a debris flow in the Lower Canyon killed eleven people (Los Angeles Times archive). If the forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your visit: water in the slot rises within minutes, and there is nowhere to get out of the gorge.

There are almost always photographers in the group, and they slow the pace. The guide points out spots where the light falls on the walls more evenly. Listen to them: those tips replace a tripod.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Antelope Canyon without a tour?

No. The Upper and Lower Canyon are open only with a Navajo guide, there are no self-guided walks there. There are few operators, and all of them are licensed by the Navajo Nation. Book in advance, especially in high season.

When do the light beams appear in the canyon?

Light beams appear in the Upper Canyon from late March to early October, closer to midday. In the morning and evening the gorge is in shadow. If you are going for those shots, take a midday slot and arrive early.

How long does a visit take?

A tour of the Lower Canyon takes about an hour, allow more for the Upper Canyon. Add time for check-in and the drive from Page.

In short: what to book

Antelope Canyon should be planned in advance, otherwise you risk leaving empty-handed. The decision matrix is simple.

• If you are going for the light beams: Upper Canyon and a midday slot.
• If you are going for the shots: Lower Canyon and early morning.
• If you are short on time: one canyon instead of two, without rushing between entrances.

If you are coming from Las Vegas, stay overnight in Page and take a tour with transfer. Look for a slot on your date on GetYourGuide, and a hotel in Page on Trip.com. Book in advance while there is still availability.