The attendant could not answer any questions about distance. The last thing anyone wants is for it to be closed off because too many tourists are writing on the walls. Canyon vs antelope canyon. Visits are by smaller groups, each of which is the only group in the canyon at that time. 1110 W Washington St, #155 Jackpot! The trip stops outside the entrance to Secret Canyon and heads out on a 100 yard nature hike through the desert into the canyon. The Grand Canyon is about 135 miles southwest. Canyon X is also on private land and it used to be much more difficult to visit than today. Typical to the tourist trap vacation spots and amusement parks, the best time to visit is during the off-season, which is to say, anything but the summer. Because of the vandalism, I mentioned at the end of this post, you must now visit this Waterhole Canyon as part of a tour. You might be the early-bird that loves the cool wash of dawn daylight, or you might fancy the warm wash of the golden-hour sunset glow. Kids younger than 4 tour free. Learn more about coverage options for frequent travelers and those with multiple upcoming trips. To recap: Decide which of the canyons youre wanting to visit and book tours accordingly. We have a special tour dubbed the Secret Antelope Canyon because youll get all the stunning scenic views, without the crowds of either of the other Antelope Canyon options. Secret Canyon tours are limited to 15 persons for each 2 hour excursion. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-17407433', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lake Powell Blvd. Hour-long tours of Lower Antelope Canyon cost $40, and up to $80 for deluxe options.The price generallybut not alwaysincludes taxes and the $8 Navajo permit fee. The tribe has reduced the availability of photography tours, however, because they frequently caused bottlenecks by allowing photographers to bring their tripod and spend more time setting up shots.Most 90-minute tours of Upper Antelope Canyon cost between $50 and $90 (slightly less for children), although some operators offer discounts on their early bird and last chance tours. Both canyons are located on Navajo-owned lands, and in both cases, it's compulsory to visit the canyons with a Navajo guide. If youre thinking of visiting, you may need to figure out which of the canyons to visit, should you only be able to visit one. One last note, in the cavern where we hit the first ladder and turned around, we found a bunch of graffiti left by tourists on the walls, written in what I think was white chalk. Added by Josiah Roe. As always, I speak only the truth and hosts have no editorial influence on articles. This was my main concern as well, but Tim ensured me that colors would be wonderful at any time. The definitive road trip guide to and through Grand Canyon country. The canyon is known as Antelope Canyon and has been attracting more and more tourists each year. The path inside the Lower Canyon can be quite narrow, which may be an issue for visitors uncomfortable with confined spaces. For those reasons, I started to look for an alternative to Antelope Canyon, one where I could enjoy similar scenery, but have plenty of time for capturing photos and absorbing the atmosphere. The narrow passage snaked like a meandering stream while above me the blue sky peeked through the narrow opening at the top of the canyon walls. We bought our permit for Waterhole Canyon right before we went and put the permit on the dashboard of our car. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest. You can go to Water Holes Canyon completely on your own without a guide or a tour group. Page ; Hotels ; Things to do ; Restaurants ; Flights Antelope Canyon is like no other spot on earth. Arizona's Secret Antelope Canyon : We went to this slot canyon in September 2019. The Navajo Sandstone curved like flowing water. Pricing varies by time of day and popularity of the tour time and range from $112 to $120 per person. The slot canyon has over 1500 feet of beautiful sandstone formations located in the upper most part of Water Holes Canyon allowing you and friends to enjoy the sights for over 1 hour. The permit to hike water holes canyon is only $12 per person which is half the price of the cheapest Antelope Canyon Tour. For some reason, I always enjoy riding around in the back of a truck- it makes the trip feel more adventurous! Let's explore the world together. I did a review of Hummer Tours, so you might want to look for that under Things to do. Exploring the Lower Canyon, in contrast, requires visitors to have some degree of endurance, as travelers must climb and descend several staircases. I think this Secret Canyon is near Page. Antelope Canyon is open year-round; however, most people will try to visit mid-day during weekends from March through October, when the light shafts appear. Yet, theres a slot canyon near Page, Arizona that hasnt made it onto the radar of most tourists who are following the masses to the famous Antelope Canyon. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content. We love to kayak and are looking to see all the. Or, you can rent a car and do the scenic drive yourself. Additionally, you'll need: Until recently, the cost varied significantly depending on whether you booked a sightseeing or photography tour. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. If youre less particular, youll have more wiggle room as it pertains to canyon visitation. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book. UPDATE: You can no longer visit this canyon on your own with a permit. We noticed that this group was sticking together while the guide explained things as they went. From Phoenix, the drive north to Antelope Canyon is approximately four-and-a-half hours. After a short trip on Highway 89, we went on a 9.5 km off-road ride towards the canyon. Description. The textures and shapes with the variety of shadows also create potential for stunning black and white images too. Just make sure you take it out with you after the tour.Don't: Bring bags, purses, fanny packs, tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, food and drinksall are prohibited in the canyon. Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours offers 80-minute excursions through Upper Antelope Canyon. Hi Tess, you can contact Tim directly: tim@horseshoebendtours.com sometimes it takes a day or two for him to reply, I imagine the top season is coming now, so be patient Or go to their web page and search for a phone contact. Ever since I first saw photos of the sandstone slot canyons in Arizona, specifically Antelope Canyon, I wanted to visit. Hotel Review: Hotel La Cambuse, Thyon, Les Collons, Hotel Review Chalet Royal, Veysonnaz, Switzerland. Beautiful!!! Hi Konstanze, thank you for your comment. Whether you start in Page or at the park's entrance, be prepared to ride in a four-wheel-drive vehicle through a sandy riverbed to the canyon. Water Holes Canyon runs east to west, passing under Highway 89 before meeting the Colorado River. amazing picturesDefinitely on my bucket list . See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. Rest assured, no matter which canyon you visit, you're guaranteed incredible scenery. 22, 2023, Up to 60% Off + Exclusive 5% Guaranteed Priceline Coupon, Up to 50% Off Travel Plans with Top Expedia Promo Code, Discount Travel Plans with 50% Off on Hotels.com bookings, 50% Discount on Getaways with Barcel Resort & Hotels, Booking.com Promo Code Up to 50% Off + Extra 10% Off. This exclusive access allows you to have a much shorter walk to the rim and enjoy breathtaking views of the Colorado River winding around the Horseshoe Bend loop. It was our first time being inside a slot canyon and having such a positive experience made us want to visit more slots on our American southwest road trip. This rare opportunity to explore one of the longest slot canyons on the Navajo Nation is made even more special by the limited number of guests we take on each tour. It includes 334 feet of walking, and . From here you follow the cairns (little piles of rocks) down into the canyon. Discounted tickets are available for children 6 to 12; children younger than 6 are not allowed. You just need to buy a permit right before you go and put that permit on the dashboard of your car when you park. Each time has its advantages: select the 10:20 a.m. tour if you want to view the sunbeams at their most photogenic or the 2:30 p.m. tour to capture the afternoon light. If you have a DSLR camera, cover it when you are not using it (a plastic shower cap does the trick) and never change lenses inside the canyon. I had to get down on my knees and pointed my camera almost straight up to capture the blue sky against the reddish orange sandstone. I could really appreciate the difference between Secret Canyon and the more popular Antelope Canyon. As a desert canyon formed by water erosion, Antelope Canyon is subject to dangerous flash flooding, which is one of the reasons trained tour guides are required. Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours also runs outings to Upper Antelope Canyon combined with either Rattlesnake Canyon or both Rattlesnake and Owl canyons. Guides are frequently described as informative and friendly and the scenery as unsurpassable. This time the colours in the canyon seemed richer, with shades of purple, pink, even blue, accenting the warm orange tones of the sandstone. My wife and I were in Page last fall and toured Upper (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Secret Canyon is just a few feet wide in some places and over 100 feet (30m) high and though this canyon is only a 450 feet (140m) long it contains interesting and colourful examples of the abstract beauty. Tough call if I had to pick just one, but I would probably go with the Hummer tour to see Secret, Passage and Staircase Canyons, ditch the crowds and have the possibility of seeing some wildlife. Travelers on a Lower Canyon tour will need to drive to the tour operator's location. Horseshoe Bend attracts 2 million visitors every year and is one of the most photographed sites in northern Arizona. Taadidiin Tours is the only tour operator that provides tours here. Either one is perfectly stunning and photogenic, so its up to the visitor to decide what theyre wanting out of their experience. Sign in to get trip updates and message other travellers.. In this age of Internet and social media, its easy to feel like there are few discoveries left when it comes to great travel destinations. I had to hike 100 meters to get to the bottom of the wash where the first of the two sections of this slot canyon starts. Antelope Canyon X Taadidiin Tours is the only operator running tours of Antelope Canyon X. The patterns and texture of the rock told the story of its creation by the rains and floodwaters of the summer monsoons in Arizona. This was Secret Canyon, a slot canyon hidden in the hills outside of Page, Arizona. You can find tours for this canyon typically every half hour, which is more frequent than tours of the Upper Antelope Canyon. That being said, 10 am is often the most popular tour time, so if youre thinking of doing a tour, you may want to keep it in mind way in advance. This canyon is shaped more like the letter A. Here you can capture the sunburst if you are touring during the right time usually late morning to early afternoon. If you (like me) are middle-aged, overweight, out of shape, or not used to the 7000-ft altitude, you may have trouble with the steep climb out of the canyon. How do you get there? For tour information and prices clickhere. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Secret Canyon is not a slot canyon and is unlike Antelope or X Canyons in the Page area. Sign up for our newsletter to receive all the latest news, travel tips and special offers. Gorgeous pics and well def remember the recommendations next time were in the area , Your email address will not be published. Canyon X is a slot canyon located in Antelope Canyon. The big difference is that it is not as physically accessible. How to Get a Permit for Hiking Waterhole Canyon To hike this slot canyon, you get a day permit from the Slot Canyon Tours shop next to the Burger King in Page, AZ. This part of the antelope canyon was separate from the Upper or Lower. Additionally, there will be significantly fewer tourists and photographers, as mentioned before, which makes for a better viewing and photographing experience. Both areas feature the gorgeous curvy walls that beckon visitors from all over the world but you'll find the tourist . If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. As much as the dim light made it hard for me to take photographs, I appreciated the moody atmosphere it created. And boy what a photo session that was. No real need to do any of the "extra effort" ones, but if you're the adventurous type I imagine it'd be an interesting excursion. We were hosted by Horseshoe Bend Tours in order to bring you this story. The smaller one is only 100 feet long but has wonderful formations. A couple of days later I visited the second secret slot canyon that most visitors never see. Since going to Antelope Canyon requires a tour, you really cant spend that much time taking pictures. HB is a longer, more continuous slot than AC, but is beautiful in its own way. Tours typically depart between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, but this can change depending on daylight hours. Avid photographers may want to consider booking one of these tours, too. So, I did my share of online digging and found the Secret Canyon an intimate version of the slot canyon, which was definitely the highlight of our South West USA road trip. Please note, Canyon X and Secret Canyon are temporarily closed. We have smaller groups, more personal experience. The best part about Water Holes Canyon is you do not need to buy a tour to visit. When you buy your permit, the attendant will hand you a map, which we didnt really use. On windy days, dust can blow into your nose, mouth and ears. What time of day is best? The canyons you visit are both an "A" and "V" shape. Oh my days! Antelope Canyon X which gets its name from the X-shaped formation at the top of the canyon is located within Antelope Canyon, so it still features the same geologic features the Upper and Lower areas are known for, but its relative anonymity makes it less of a tourist magnet. Note: Some tour providers on this list may be running more limited operations due to COVID-19 or may impose testing or vaccine requirements. Hour-long tours of Lower Antelope Canyon cost $40, and up to $80 for deluxe options. Waterhole Canyon is a slot canyon that looks almost identical to Antelope. Along with standard tours to Upper Antelope Canyon, Antelope Slot Canyon Tours also offers tours of the nearby Cathedral Canyon. The nooks and crannies hid long lost tumbleweeds. That being said, some photographers and avid tourists feel that visiting between 10 am and 12 pm is the best time because youll be welcomed to beams of light peaking through cracks, washing the canyon with glimmering sunlight. You are allowed to bring one bottle of water (and we highly recommend you do). Maybe there would be more light in the canyon closer to mid-day. Enjoy the popular Secret Antelope Canyon Tour PLUS a trip to the world-famous Horseshoe Bend Overlook A uniquely beautiful slot canyon in Page, AZ and far less crowded than Upper and Lower Antelope A private Navajo viewpoint of Horseshoe Bend located immediately adjacent to the congested National Park Service viewing area Guides lead travelers through the canyon to showcase its magnificent color show. These companies are about 5 miles east of Page. It is a very beautiful canyon. Phoenix, The celebrated light beams that illuminate the canyon are most likely to be seen during the summer months. Consequently, making tour reservations well in advance is highly recommended. At first, the Waterhole Canyon is very wide and doesnt quite look like Antelope, but as you go deeper in, it narrows and looks just like the famous Antelope Canyons. If Antelope Canyon has made its way on your travel bucket list, and the beautiful imagery has got you feeling some sort of wanderlusty way, we hope youll consider booking a tour with Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours. Have you ever seen the amazing photos of a narrow canyon with elegantly curved rocks, colored in 50 shades of red that seem like from another planet? After a short hike the mouth of Secret Canyon came into view at the bottom of a small wash. The tour excludes infants and costs approximately $130 per person. Though on the photography tour you have a bit more time, its still timed and you are not free to roam on your own. / Credit: John Volk, Hampton Inn and Suites Page - Lake Powell, Embark on the Northern Arizona Road Trip of Your Dreams, A Guide to Visiting Horseshoe Bend 'the Right Way', A Guide to Visiting Havasu Falls the 'Right Way', Arizonas Wildly Different Desert Regions. 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