Which Is Better: Upper Or Lower Antelope Canyon? & How To Get The Best Light

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I can’t believe we even debated about visiting Antelope Canyon in Arizona. We had heard many people say it was unmissable, but then we had heard so many other people say it was overcrowded and described it as waiting in line to take a quick photo – it sounded like a factory line up style of a tour.

However, since we were only about 40-minutes away from Antelope Canyon, we decided we might as well check it out.

We’re so glad we did, as it was absolutely phenomenal. The light danced across the smooth rock face, the colors illuminated, and the moving light made the smooth sandstone walls look as though they were moving – it was a surreal experience.

Lower Antelope Canyon Tour

However, if you didn’t know this already, Antelope Canyon is divided into Upper and Lower sections.

Which section you choose to visit will depend on your personal preferences, and different times of day reveal a difference spectacle, so you do need to think carefully about which side you go to and when.

On top of this, you cannot visit Antelope Canyon without a tour, and both Upper and Lower Canyon are separate tours, both offering a different experience.

So to help you out, we’ve prepared this guide on Antelope Canyon so you can visit it the right way.

But first…

What is Antelope Canyon?

people on tour in lower antelope canyon Lower Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is a magical slot canyon created by water that has split and polished rock crevasses, formed over thousands of years as rainwater worked its way through the rock from a higher altitude.

The result is a unique set of shapes, colors, and textures on the carved canyon walls, which change in the light as the sun beams down through the top of the canyon. The result is spellbinding.

Nature has so many surprises in stall for us hidden by just a tiny crack in the ground. Deep underneath is a world that will capture the heart of any who are brave enough to dig a little deeper and explore wider.

The Navajo nation name for Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means ‘the place where water runs through rocks.’

The canyon’s English name came from the herds of pronghorn antelope that once roamed freely through the area and entered the canyon to seek shade during the scorching summers.

woman looking up in Upper Antelope Canyon Upper Antelope Canyon

Our tour guide also told us the Navajo people used the canyon to herd and then hunt the antelope.

Antelope Canyon first opened to the public in 1997, but really became famous when it was featured as the cover for a National Geographic magazine.

After that, visitors to the canyon exploded and photographers and tourists come from near and far to marvel at its unique, smooth spiraling walls arches and flowing corridors.

You may also recognize it from the old Microsoft screensaver.

Here’s a fun fact: The third most expensive photograph ever sold was of Antelope Canyon back in 2014. The black and white, Phantom by Peter Like, sold for $6.5 million to an anonymous bidder. Although there has been some scepticism about whether the sale was genuine.

Getting to Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Antelope Canyon is located just 10 minute’s drive outside the town of Page in Arizona, located near Lake Powell. It’s part of the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park on the Arizona-Utah border.

You cannot visit Antelope Canyon without a tour. Tours depart from either Flagstaff, Sedona, Las Vegas, or from Page, at the park’s entrance off Highway 98.

If you don’t prebook your tour, you can usually book from the park entrance, but during peak season, most tours get booked up so it’s best to book online in advance. Arrive at least 15 minutes early for your tour.

Page, Arizona is about 114 miles from the Grand Canyon and 273 miles from Las Vegas and 157 miles from Sedona.

Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon: which is better?

group on a Lower Antelope Canyon Tours Lower Antelope Canyon

It’s recommended to visit both the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, but I know this may not always be possible given your available time and budget.

It’s not an easy decision to make and to be honest, it could be a decision made for you given what availability is left if you decide to visit last minute.

We preferred the Lower Antelope Canyon to the Upper Antelope Canyon.

Upper Antelope Canyon is more famous and easier to access. It’s known for its iconic light beams and gives you a chance to capture some of the best pictures – however, it’s crowded and expensive.

Lower Antelope Canyon is less crowded and less expensive, and it has a more adventurous trail through it with stairs, ladders, and narrow passages (which we love!). If you want more physical activity and fewer people, this is the better choice.

Upper Antelope Canyon Tours	Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
Photographers who want the magic shot	Better for families with kids
More time on a tour, as they are usually photography tours	Those wanting more adventure and less crowds
Easier to access and better for those who cannot climb ladders (has less than a 2% incline)	Looking for a cheaper experience
For those who want to see the famous images of Antelope Canyon in person	Booking last minute

The Upper Antelope Canyon Experience

wavy rock faces of Upper Antelope Canyon Upper Antelope Canyon

I didn’t even realize until we were on our Lower Antelope Canyon tour that there was an Upper and a Lower canyon.

As our Navajo guide explained, the difference between Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon is the size of the canyon and shape.

The Upper Canyon is wider at the bottom with a narrow opening at the top, which produces beautiful light beams inside the canyon. This is what most people want to see and capture when they visit Antelope Canyon.

Think of Upper Canyon as being shaped like the letter A.

Lower Canyon is much smaller on the canyon floor with a wider opening at the top. Think of it as being shaped like the letter V. More light can enter from above.

Sandstone wall of the Upper Antelope Canyon in Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona.

The tour of the Upper Antelope Canyon is easier to navigate and more touristy. Due to its wide base, it’s easier to walk through and has very little elevation, but it will be darker than Lower Antelope Canyon.

You will have to ride in a Jeep 4×4 to reach the Upper Antelope Canyon, which can be bumpy. After that it’s a flat, easy ½ mile walk roundtrip.

Primetime in the Upper Antelope Canyon is when the iconic beams of light in the canyon appear. This will be the herded like cattle moment for you.

But, if your life won’t be complete without that magic shot then go for it. I hope you get $6.5 million dollars out of it.

Upper Antelope Canyon is the only place that runs photography tours and they are typically during Primetime (between 11:00am and 1:00pm), which will be yet another overcrowding moment for you.

The Upper Antelope Canyon tour is more expensive than the Lower Antelope Canyon and tours sell out faster, which is why we ended up on the Lower Antelope Canyon tour because we were too late.

So be sure to book far in advance!

Although we did not experience the Upper Canyon tour, and I’m sure it’s wonderful, I don’t feel we missed out as the Lower Antelope Canyon was such a great experience.

The Lower Antelope Canyon Experience

kid on a tour in Antelope Canyon, Arizona On the Lower Antelope Canyon tour

We did experience the Lower Antelope Canyon tour, so can tell you more in-depth information on this tour.

Lower Antelope Canyon has narrower walls and a few staircases. Our kids found a few of the tight squeezes a lot of fun and enhanced the adventure of the experience of them

It is considered more strenuous, however I did not find it so. And even though there were many people visiting it is also considered to have fewer crowds.

It’s a 1/4 mile walk to the entrance, which was no bother to me. I loved coming out at the end and walking beside the opening to the canyon. It was so cool to see the narrow slit that held such beauty underneath.

Although you’ll get the changing colors and light in Lower Antelope Canyon, due to the wider opening at the top, you typically won’t experience the light beams, although we had a couple of faint and narrow ones.

portrait of woman in Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona Lower Antelope Canyon

I loved at the end of it how our guide gathered the kids around him in a place in the sand and demonstrated with sand and water how the canyon was formed.

It helped us connect better to the incredible creation we had just walked through and offers more insights into the geology area – plus some education for our girls.

The kids even tried to replicate it back at our campsite with water and sand. This is how we homeschool!

Our Navajo guide was knowledgeable about the rock formations and pointed out various shapes, light shafts, and creatures along the way, as well as told us about Navajo way of life and culture.

He was excellent in taking photos for us and showing us how to capture the unique colors and features, how to pick the right camera settings, and the right angles to shoot of the vermillion cliffs.

He knew a lot about our Samsung Galaxy phones and showed us a few features, secrets, and techniques we didn’t know about!! It was awesome.

HOT TIP: While you are here, you might as well stop by Horseshoe Bend. It’s very close by and a spectacular Arizona panorama you don’t want to miss.

Best time to visit Antelope Canyon

High season to visit Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon is from May-October, so you probably need to book your tickets months in advance, or book outside these months to avoid the crowds.

In the day, there really is no bad time to visit Antelope Canyon. The colors change throughout the day so you’re bound to have an amazing experience no matter when.

Best time to visit Upper Antelope Canyon

For photographers, the best time to visit Upper Antelope Canyon is between 10:30 am and 1:30pm for vibrant colors.

Although the canyon is only 1,400 feet long, it can take an hour to walk through, and it’s almost impossible to take a bad photograph. Every time the sun moves the colors of the walls change.

There is much debate over what time is the best to visit and capture the light and colors perfectly, and our guide told us there was no bad time, it’s more about finding the right spot than the right time.

Thankfully the guides are experts at helping you take the best possible picture no matter what time you visit.

Best time to visit Lower Antelope Canyon

person taking photos of Lower Antelope Canyon Tour, Arizona Lower Antelope Canyon

The best time to visit Lower Antelope Canyon is early in the morning, and late afternoon. Avoid the hours between 11:30am and 1:30 pm for vibrant colors, as this is when the sun is cast directly above the canyon.

Because Lower Antelope Canyon has a wider top, it allows in more natural light, so you will find the light to be better when the sun is on the side.

Tips For Visiting Antelope Canyon

Before you visit Antelope Canyon, here are a few words of advice and tips to make the most of your trip…

Be aware of time zone changes. Antelope Canyon is in Arizona, but right on the border with Utah. Utah observes daylight savings time but Arizona doesn’t, which can cause problems if you are staying in Utah!
Be sure to book tours in advance. These tours are popular and can book out quickly. The earlier you book in advance the better.
No video filming is allowed.
Go early in the morning. Our guide recommended 8:00am or 9:00am as being the best hours for light for photography.
Or, the last tour of the day is good as you don’t have crowds coming up behind you, so it feels like a quieter and more spacious experience.

Where to stay in Page, Arizona

Tours to Antelope Canyon, Arizona

crowds on tour of Lower Antelope Canyon Tour Lower Antelope Canyon

In Page, Arizona, there are two companies that run tours through the Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon: Dixie Ellis and Kens.

Both tour companies are from the same Navajo family – it’s a friendly sister brother competition, or collaboration… you decide. There is not meant to be any difference between the two tour operators.

We did a tour company we chose was Dixie tours.

Standard tours typically last an hour, but more expensive photography tours allow more time.

Taking a weekday tour may help thin out the crowds, and try to book for the afternoon when the sun is high and shines directly down into the canyon for vivid images.

If you’re coming from Las Vegas, Sedona or Flagstaff, check out the following tours which incorporate Antelope Canyon in with other natural gems in the area…