Visit Antelope Canyon
Menu
Lower Antelope Canyon
Lower Antelope Canyon Key Features
These are some of the key features that differentiate Lower Antelope Canyon from Upper Antelope Canyon.
· Colors are rich and deep
· Sunbeams coming through the canyon
· Canyon forms a V-shape; the top of the canyon is wider than the ground of the canyon.
Physical Features
- Walk from your car, through one of the canyon and back out to your car again – about 1.1 miles. The tour will take about 1 hour.
- Go down 5 flights of stairs, and back up 8 separate staircases. Ladders have handrails on them.
- This is a vigorous hike – remember, you are at 4,000 feet elevation and you will be climbing ladders and ducking low hanging rocks.
- You may bring infants on this tour, but operators suggest you keep them in a marsupial style carrier (on your front) as the canyon gets quite narrow.
- Bring bottled water, comfortable shoes – preferably hiking shoes.
- It’s VERY hot during the summer and very cold in the winter; wear closed-toe shoes and dress in layers.
- No bags of any kind
- Bring your camera
- No tripods, monopods, selfie-sticks
- There are no bathrooms in the canyon; use the bathroom before you meet your tour group.
- Tours will be canceled if there is ANY risk of flooding in the canyon
Types of Tours
Traditional Sightseeing tour 90 minutes. Bring a camera, but no tripods, monopods or selfie sticks. Guides narrate tour with info on history, culture, ecology, geography.
Photographer’s Tour 2-2.5 hours. Must bring professional-grade photographic equipment: DSLR camera with LARGE TRIPO. Guides will give tips on how to take the best pictures – you still must know your own camera.
There will still be many people in the canyon from the other tour groups, but your group will be small, and you will have extended time in the canyon.
Camera Tips
- Change your camera lens in the canyon at your own risk – there is a lot of sand! Protect your camera from falling sand with a rain jacket.
- Know how to work your own camera – even on the photographer’s tours, the tour guides will not help you figure out how to make your camera work.
- Best time for photographing light beams are April-September. 10:30AM is best.
Crowd Control
The canyon is very narrow, and but less crowded than Upper Antelope Canyon – foot traffic is only going one way. You will still need to wait your turn before you move through to the text section of the canyon, but it will be easier to take pictures once you are in a space.
Tour Operators
Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
Book your reservation at http://lowerantelope.com/
1st week of March – 1st week of November
6:00am-5:00pm; tours leave every 30 minutes, starting at 6:30
2nd week of November – last week of February
9:00am-4:00pm; tours leave every 30 minutes, starting at 9:00
Enjoy browsing the gift shop and have a coffee while you wait for your tour to begin.
Tour Operators
Dixie Ellis’ Antelope Lower Canyon Tours
Book your reservation at https://antelopelowercanyon.com/
Beginning of March – mid November
Tours leave every 30 minutes starting as early as 6:15am
Late November – February
Tours leave every 30 minutes starting at 8:45
The Guides
All of the guides into Lower Antelope Canyon are locals. They are passionate members of the surrounding communities and have thorough knowledge of this particular canyon as well as information about the geology, ecology, history and culture of the area. They will help you find the right angle for your picture, all while narrating the entire tour. Please feel free to ask them questions, they are eager to share their insights into this world. They will earn every penny of the tip you provide!