We stopped in Page, Arizona on our cross country road trip on the way to Zion from the Grand Canyon and it was incredible. We were only there for a few hours but we visited both Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is absolutely stunning. Seriously the prettiest canyon ever. The colors are unreal.
What you need to know:
It isn’t cheap
It is owned by the Navajo people so it works a little differently than a regular state or national park. You have to buy tickets and go with a guide. There are no self-guided tours available. We booked ours ahead of time with Ken’s Tours. All of the tour companies had similar prices starting at $25 a person plus an additional $8 cash only Navajo permit fee when you arrive.
Choose which part of the canyon you want to visit
There is Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. The Upper Canyon is more easily accessible and has amazing light beams if you go in the right season. The Lower Canyon is more narrow and challenging with 10-20 ft ladders going down into the canyon. We chose this one thinking it would be less crowded.
Have your camera charged and ready
We took so many photos. It is absolutely stunning. What looks like a narrow slit in the ground from above is a gorgeous winding underground sandstone masterpiece! We lucked out with our tour guide who is usually a guide for the photo tours. He was giving us such great tips for shooting photos in the canyon. Insider Tip: Use the chrome filter on your iPhone camera.
Be mindful of the time change
Double check what time zone your tour is observing. Arizona does not observe daylight savings time but the Navajo Nation does. Our phones kept changing and we found this very confusing. It’s best to stick with your old school watch for this one.
Horseshoe Bend
When doing research for Horseshoe Bend I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I thought it would be in a park since it is part of the Colorado River, but it is literally off the side of the road and FREE! The vista point is a short hike from the parking lot, probably 10 minutes total. It was super crowded when we visited but still enjoyable. Horseshoe Bend is super pretty and definitely worth a visit. We went mid-morning due to our road trip schedule but apparently sunrise and sunset are surreal. Drive by Lake Powell if you get a chance. It is beautiful as well.
For more information on Arizona, grab this Lonely Planet guide book.
Enjoy all of Northern Arizona’s beauty,
-Ray
