Dave & Meredith's Travel Blog

While we were in Page, we went to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons, two separate canyons created by the Antelope River (it only runs sometimes; the rest of the time it’s bone dry).  First, I’d like to say that if you ever have an opportunity to go to a slot canyon, take it!  You need to be careful about the weather, because if there is any chance of rain anywhere in the vicinity (I’m talking for miles and miles), it can be very dangerous due to flash flooding potential (REALLY dangerous, like fatality dangerous).  However, as long as the weather cooperates, go to one of these narrow sandstone canyons – you won’t be disappointed.  At the right time of day, the sun hits parts of the walls and creates either a soft glow or beams of light.  The Antelope Canyons are carved out of Navajo sandstone – it’s pinkish red.  So the colors we saw while visiting ranged from a bluish-purple to bright orange.

The Upper canyon is quite a tourist attraction, so unfortunately is quite busy – too busy to get good pictures at times, unless your camera is pointed straight up.  In fact, because of the crowds, there is a time limit imposed on each tour – 1 hour for the standard tour, and 2 hours for a photography tour.  Despite the teeming hordes, it was beautiful.  But Dave and I both preferred the Lower canyon.  Not only was it less crowded, but it was longer, more narrow, and there were different levels that we accessed via stairs or ladders, so it was more fun.  There was also no time limit, so we spent 4 hours in the Lower canyon, versus 2 hours in the Upper canyon.

Here are a couple photos that give you a sense of being in the canyons:

Here we are inside Lower Antelope Canyon

One of the ladders inside Lower Antelope Canyon

And here are several photos Dave took of some of light playing on the features in the canyons:

A window in Lower Antelope Canyon

Many walls in Lower Antelope Canyon

Fun lighting in Lower Antelope Canyon

A small patch of blue sky peeks into Lower Antelope Canyon

Upper Antelope Canyon’s purple walls

– Meredith