Upper Antelope Canyon – Is it really worth it?
Chances are you have seen a photo of Antelope Canyon. Specifically upper Antelope Canyon. You know the one. The dreamy, red, empty slot canyon with magical beams of light shooting down. And, if you’re anything like me, you saw that photo and thought, “I have to see this before I die.” I know the feeling. So I made it a point to see it on my 30th birthday trip to the Southwest. However, reality was a far cry from expectations. Let me explain.
Large Crowds
Page, Arizona
You must go with a tour guide when visiting upper Antelope Canyon. I chose one of the afternoon tours because it was more affordable, and because I booked late. I was prepared to be able to meander through the canyon, immersing myself in this feeling of being on an alien planet. Boy, was I wrong! So many tour groups were running at the same time, that there were literally hundreds of other people there. I had to push relatively quickly through the canyon, and there was only one way in and out, so there are people shuffling all around you. It reminded me of being on a moving sidewalk. All you have time to do is look, click, and move. It was also impossible to get a picture without other people in it, unless shooting upward. Hence why I have all these over-exposed pictures.
Timing is Everything
To this day, I regret not going during the peak “light beam” hour. The light beams occur when the sun is in a specific point above the canyon that it looks like its rays are shooting onto the canyon floor. As the sun moves, the rays glide across the canyon floor and up the walls until they disappear. This only happens in upper Antelope Canyon. Even though the canyon changes colors the entire day, the light beams only occur at a certain time and for a short period. My regret becomes acute considering that I now know the crowds are going to be there regardless. Also, the tours are 1 hour long, but only 30 minutes of that is actually spent in the canyon. It’s a 15 minute drive from the pick-up point to the canyon and back. Go for a longer tour if you can afford it.
So is visiting upper Antelope Canyon really worth it?
It may seem like I am advising against visiting upper Antelope Canyon, but I’m not. It is still amazing to see and think that Mother Nature created this terrific landscape with a little bit (a lot) of water, and time. Therefore, I still think Antelope Canyon is worth a visit. Maybe, just take the rose-colored glasses off before you go? But here are some tips so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
Tip 1: There are going to be crowds. Expect them. These tours are not for the Claustrophobic.
Tip 2: Take some Neutral Density Filters. Encase you do have to shoot pictures upwards, you can block some of the sun.
Tip 3: Splurge on the light beam time, and book early. Just do it. Don’t live with travel regret, it’s the worst.
Tip 4: Be at the back of your tour group. You may not be able to hear all the stories about the shapes, but at least you won’t feel as rushed.
Tip 5: Look for less crowded slot canyons. There are a lot of slot canyons in the area, Lower Antelope Canyon being one of them. See if you can find one without people.
Did these tips help you have a better experience in upper Antelope Canyon? Let me know in the comments!
