Antelope Canyon is essentially the most well-known and arguably essentially the most lovely slot canyon in the USA. Positioned in Arizona on Navajo tribal land, the canyon has a bunch of various sections which can be break up into separate excursions, and visiting any of them requires a Navajo native information. The primary Antelope Canyon excursions are Higher Canyon, Decrease Canyon, and X Canyon. They’re all lovely, however which one is finest?
We just lately traveled by the little city of Web page, Arizona, which is the place you’ll usually base your self for this expertise, and we tried all the Antelope Canyon excursions to see which one could be our favourite. We began with the Decrease Canyon, then did Higher Canyon the subsequent day, and eventually ended with Canyon X. It’s laborious to consider these are pure formations!
Every of those slot canyons are superb, with a wide range of rainbow coloured partitions, sunbeams, and fantastically twisting passageways. Nonetheless, there are positively some large variations between every of those canyons, and there are additionally a number of firms providing the excursions, so discovering the proper firm will be one other problem of visiting Antelope Canyon.
On this journey information, I’ll examine every of the Antelope Canyon excursions (Higher, Decrease, and X) by way of pictures, crowds, enjoyable, entry, costs, and availability. Then, I’ll clarify which one we preferred finest general!
Antelope Canyon: Higher vs Decrease vs X
• Surroundings/Images
Surroundings and pictures is likely one of the first issues chances are you’ll be questioning about. Which Antelope Canyon is essentially the most lovely? Which one has the nicest colours? Which one is finest for pictures? In fact, that’s subjective and a bit laborious to reply, as a result of they’re all exceptionally good.
Higher Antelope Canyon is especially identified for its dramatic mild beams, which will be seen in the summertime months when the solar is excessive within the sky. Throughout this time, beams of sunshine shine by the slender roof of the canyon, illuminating the mud within the air. It’s a spectacular impact that’s nice for footage, though I feel it’s somewhat overrated since it may well solely be seen in the summertime through the center of the day.
Decrease Antelope Canyon has a shallower ‘V’ formed chamber, which suggests it permits extra mild than the Higher Canyon. Due to this, it’s finest seen at occasions when there’s much less ambient mild, akin to within the morning hours. The Decrease Canyon has great colours, and it’s stuffed with twisting passageways and fascinating rock options which can be nice for pictures.
Antelope Canyon X has each mild and darkish chambers, so it’s good in a wide range of lighting situations. Even when some sections are darkish once you go to, others will likely be brilliant and colourful. Just like the Higher and Decrease Canyon, the Canyon X has nice potential for pictures. Because it’s an extended tour, you’ve gotten extra time and alternatives for pictures. In reality, I took extra footage in Canyon X than I did within the different two Antelope Canyons mixed!
Surroundings is a toss-up in my view. All three of those slot canyons are very lovely and nice for pictures. Higher is finest if you wish to see sunbeams, in any other case Decrease and X are higher selections.
Winner: Tie
Higher Antelope Canyon is thought for its mild beams
Lovely colours on the Decrease Antelope Canyon
• Crowds
So which Antelope Canyon is much less crowded? Which one is the least touristy?
Sadly, Higher and Decrease Antelope Canyon are the losers right here. They’ve change into victims of their very own reputation, and the vacationer crowds these days are so dangerous you’ll usually discover it laborious to maneuver round or take pictures. Neglect about ever retracing your steps for an image; everyone seems to be shuffled by rapidly in a line and that is strictly enforced.
In our expertise, the crowds had been worst on the Decrease Antelope Canyon, as a result of it’s an even bigger chamber they usually’re capable of run extra excursions by it each day. Extra excursions additionally means extra folks. You’ll be in the midst of a crowd always, with folks sticking their telephones in your face making an attempt to take selfies.
One of the best one for escaping the crowds is Antelope Canyon X. It’s far much less crowded than the Higher and Decrease Canyon, and we discovered it a lot simpler to take footage with out different folks in them. The excursions listed here are additionally quite a bit much less strict and virtually have a personal vibe to them.
Winner: Antelope Canyon X
We had been virtually alone at Antelope Canyon X
• Length
So what about tour length? How lengthy are the Antelope Canyon excursions?
As soon as once more, the Higher Canyon is the massive loser right here. Though it’s usually marketed as a 1.5 hour tour, a lot of that point is spent in transit to and from the slot canyon.
In my expertise, lower than 40 minutes had been really spent contained in the Higher Canyon, and it felt even shorter than that as a result of you possibly can by no means pause for quite a lot of seconds. The tour was extraordinarily rushed, and we handed by one of many predominant chambers so rapidly I didn’t even get to take a photograph.
In distinction, the excursions on the different canyons are longer and extra relaxed. That is very true at Antelope Canyon X, the place we spent greater than 1 hour contained in the slot canyon sections. We had been capable of stroll slowly and take numerous footage whereas additionally chatting with the Navajo information about among the historical past of the canyon. It was a a lot better expertise and we felt like we obtained extra worth for our cash.
The outcomes converse for themselves. I took tons of of pictures in Decrease Antelope and Canyon X, whereas I solely managed to take a handful of pictures in Higher Antelope Canyon as a result of I used to be so rushed and restricted on time there.
Winner: Antelope Canyon X
Twisting passageways
• Enjoyable
So which of the canyons is essentially the most enjoyable to discover? I do know, that is completely subjective, however it’s nonetheless vital as a result of the primary cause most of us are visiting Antelope Canyon is to have enjoyable!
I’ve to say, my spouse and I had essentially the most enjoyable at Decrease Antelope Canyon. Our Navajo information identified a bunch of various rock formations with distinctive shapes, together with a dragon, an eagle, and a tribal chief. The slender twisting corners had been additionally enjoyable for peekaboo sort pictures, and though not everybody may agree, we even had enjoyable climbing the steps and ladders!
Winner: Decrease Antelope Canyon
• Accessibility
So which Antelope Canyon is finest by way of entry? Which one is the least strenuous hike? Which one is best suited for younger children, pregnant ladies, and older people?
Higher Antelope might be the winner right here. The doorway to the slot canyon is at floor degree, so that you don’t need to climb any steep stairs or ladders to achieve it, and after exiting you simply stroll up a brief slope to get again to the automotive. It’s very tame.
Getting out and in of Decrease Antelope is a bit tougher, and requires climbing down a steep metallic staircase. You continue to don’t must be very match to do it, and I feel a pregnant lady might do it fantastic so long as you’re gradual and cautious. It’s only a barely steep staircase.
Canyon X might be essentially the most strenuous by way of climbing distance and elevation acquire, though it nonetheless gained’t be laborious in any respect for most individuals. There’s a honest quantity of strolling within the warmth, and unfit older people might need a tough time strolling again up the slope on the entrance of the canyon.
Winner: Higher Antelope Canyon
Don’t overlook to search for!
• Availability
So which Antelope Canyon is finest by way of availability? In different phrases, how simple is it to get a tour on quick discover and select the time and date that you really want?
Higher Antelope is the toughest canyon to get a tour, and you might have to guide months upfront to get the date you need. There are a few causes for this. Because the Higher Canyon is smaller than the Decrease Canyon or X Canyon, it fills up simpler they usually aren’t capable of run as many excursions per day. It’s additionally very well-known due to the sunbeams, which makes it much more wanted.
Decrease Antelope can also be extremely widespread, however it’s an even bigger canyon they usually can accommodate extra excursions each day. We booked solely at some point upfront, and had no drawback getting a time that labored for us, though we might have gotten fortunate (your expertise might fluctuate).
Typically, Antelope Canyon X is the simplest canyon to go to. You’ll be able to usually guide a tour on the final minute and nonetheless get a spot. In fact, which will change sometime because it will get extra widespread, however for now I’d say it’s a very underrated gem.
Winner: Antelope Canyon X
Peekaboo
• Costs
So what about value? Which Antelope Canyon tour has the most effective costs?
Clearly the tour costs will fluctuate a bit relying on the place and once you guide them, however typically the costliest tour is the Higher Antelope Canyon, adopted by Decrease Antelope and Canyon X, in that order.
Costs for the Higher Antelope Canyon tour will be as excessive as $150 USD per individual through the summer season season. In distinction, costs for the Antelope Canyon X tour will be as little as $50 USD, which is nicely price it! I take into account that an important cut price for what you get to see and do there.
Winner: Antelope Canyon X
Antelope Canyon X
So Which Is Higher? (Higher vs Decrease vs X)
So which Antelope Canyon is finest — Higher, Decrease, or X?
I must say the winner for finest worth (and general expertise) goes to Antelope Canyon X. Whereas it could lack among the options which can be nice for pictures within the Higher and Decrease canyons, it’s a for much longer tour, that means you’ve gotten extra time to take footage and get inventive.
On prime of that, Canyon X can also be a lot much less crowded with vacationers in comparison with the others, and also you don’t have to fret about being badgered and rushed by the slot, like at Higher Canyon.
Majestic colours
Final, however not least, it’s cheaper and simpler to get a tour of Antelope Canyon X with out reserving it months upfront, which is vital when you’re going to Arizona with out a lot discover and also you’re touring on a price range.
I’ve to confess I didn’t actually get pleasure from Higher Antelope Canyon very a lot in comparison with the others. Don’t get me fallacious, it’s a ravishing slot canyon and the sunbeams had been superb, however the complete tour was so rushed I might hardly get pleasure from it.
The opposite drawback with the Higher Canyon is that it’s costly, and I really left feeling prefer it was a waste of cash. Decrease Antelope was positively a greater expertise, and it was price the price of entry, however it nonetheless suffers from the identical crowds because the Higher Canyon.
Total, I feel the Antelope Canyon X is a improbable tour when you’re searching for a ravishing slot canyon with out the crowds, value, and trouble of the primary canyons. Take pleasure in it earlier than it will get too well-known!
Antelope Canyon — Higher vs Decrease vs X
Greatest Time To Go to Antelope Canyon (Higher, Decrease, X)
One of the best time to go to Antelope Canyon is usually from the top of March to the start of October.
That is very true for the Higher Canyon, that means you possibly can see the well-known mild beams. These are finest seen between 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM, on a cloudless summer season day when the solar is excessive within the sky.
For the Decrease Canyon, the other is true. This canyon will get much more ambient mild from the solar, so the most effective time of day to go to it’s really within the morning or late afternoon, when there’s not an excessive amount of mild. Nonetheless, we went to Decrease Canyon in the midst of the day and I’ve to say most elements of the canyon had been nonetheless very good even at the moment, so don’t write off a noon go to fully.
For Canyon X, any time of day is sweet to go to. We went within the afternoon and it was nice. The slots have some areas which can be deep, and others which can be shallow, so it may be lovely and photogenic in a wide range of lighting situations.
For all the slot canyons in Arizona, if you wish to keep away from the crowds, the most effective time to go is from November to March. Nonetheless, the lighting and colours gained’t be almost as dramatic or lovely right now, so it’s not fairly the identical expertise. I wouldn’t even trouble with the Higher Antelope Canyon in any respect within the winter months, as a result of it’s too dim at the moment.
Extra Antelope Canyon Excursions
The primary Antelope Canyon excursions are Higher Canyon, Decrease Canyon, and X Canyon. These are those usually visited by vacationers, they usually’re arguably essentially the most lovely sections of Antelope Canyon.
Nonetheless, there are additionally a bunch of different good slot canyons in the identical drainage system:
- Secret Canyon
- Waterholes Canyon
- Mountain Sheep Canyon
- Owl Canyon
- Rattlesnake Canyon
Every of those are nice slot canyons, and any of them are price a go to if in case you have time, particularly when you aren’t capable of snag a tour for one of many predominant canyons. Sadly, similar to Antelope Canyon, these slots are all on Navajo tribal land, so you possibly can’t go to them with out a guided tour.
Most individuals nonetheless don’t learn about these slot canyons, they usually haven’t been found by mass tourism but. Because of this, they are typically essentially the most quiet and underrated elements of Antelope Canyon. Verify them out!
There are additionally some good Arizona slot canyons outdoors of Navajo land. Seen right here is Spooky Canyon.
Extra Arizona Slot Canyons
Arizona additionally has a number of slot canyons which can be outdoors of the Antelope Canyon advanced, which suggests they’re free to go to with out a Navajo tour information.
When you’re excited about seeing extra slot canyons in Arizona, bookmark this journey weblog and verify again later as I’m planning to put in writing a whole information for that quickly!
