Antelope Canyon is essentially the most well-known and arguably essentially the most lovely slot canyon in america. Positioned in Arizona on Navajo tribal land, the canyon has a bunch of various sections which are break up into separate excursions, and visiting any of them requires a Navajo native information. The principle Antelope Canyon excursions are Higher Canyon, Decrease Canyon, and X Canyon. They’re all lovely, however which is greatest?
We traveled by the little city of Web page lately, 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 is greatest. We began with the Decrease Canyon, then did Higher Canyon the subsequent day, and at last ended with Canyon X. It’s onerous to imagine 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 massive variations between every of those canyons, and the general expertise you’ll have at every. There are additionally a number of corporations providing the excursions, so discovering the correct firm may be one other problem of visiting Antelope Canyon.
On this journey information, I’ll evaluate every of the Antelope Canyon excursions (Higher, Decrease, and X) by way of pictures, crowds, period, availability, accessibility, and costs. Then, I’ll clarify which Antelope Canyon is greatest for my part, and why!
Antelope Canyon: Higher vs Decrease vs X
• Surroundings/Images
This is among the first issues you could be questioning. Which Antelope Canyon is essentially the most lovely? Which one has one of the best colours and surroundings? Which one is greatest for pictures? After all, that’s subjective and a bit onerous to reply, as a result of they’re all exceptionally good.
Higher Antelope Canyon is principally identified for its dramatic mild beams, which may be seen in the summertime months when the solar is excessive within the sky. Throughout this time, beams of sunshine shine by the roof of the canyon, illuminating the mud within the air. It’s a spectacular impact that’s nice for footage, though it’s somewhat overrated since it will probably solely be seen in the summertime in the course of 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 greatest seen at occasions when there’s much less ambient mild, comparable to within the morning hours. The Decrease Canyon has great colours, and it’s stuffed with twisting passageways and attention-grabbing rock options which are nice for pictures.
Antelope Canyon X has each A-shaped and V-shaped chambers, so it’s good in a wide range of lighting circumstances. Even when some sections are darkish whenever you go to, others will likely be vivid and colourful. Just like the Higher and Decrease Canyon, the Canyon X has nice potential for pictures. Because it’s an extended tour, you could have extra time and alternatives for pictures. Actually, I took extra footage in Canyon X than I did within the different two Antelope Canyons mixed!
General, it’s a toss-up for my part. All three of those slot canyons are very lovely and nice for pictures. Higher is greatest if you wish to see sunbeams, in any other case Decrease and X are higher decisions.
Winner: Tie
Higher Antelope Canyon is understood for its mild beams
Stunning 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 turn into victims of their very own recognition, and the vacationer crowds these days are so unhealthy you’ll usually discover it onerous 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 have been worst on the Decrease Antelope Canyon, as a result of it’s a much bigger chamber they usually’re in a position to run extra excursions by it on daily basis. Extra excursions additionally means extra folks. You’ll be in the midst of a crowd always.
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 below are additionally so much much less strict and nearly have a personal vibe to them.
Winner: Antelope Canyon X
We have been nearly alone at Antelope Canyon X
• Length
So what about tour period? How lengthy are the Antelope Canyon excursions?
As soon as once more, the Higher Canyon is the large 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 have been truly 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 various seconds. The tour was extraordinarily rushed, and we handed by one of many major 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 have been in a position to stroll slowly and take numerous footage whereas additionally chatting with the information about among the historical past of the canyon. It was a a lot better expertise and we felt like we bought extra worth for our cash.
The outcomes communicate for themselves. I took lots 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.
Winner: Antelope Canyon X
Twisting passageways
• Enjoyable
So which of the canyons is essentially the most enjoyable to discover? I do know, this one is completely subjective, but it surely’s nonetheless essential as a result of in spite of everything, 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 by far 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 have been additionally enjoyable for peekaboo sort pictures, and though not everybody would possibly agree, we even had enjoyable climbing the steps and ladders!
Winner: Decrease Antelope Canyon
• Accessibility
So which Antelope Canyon is greatest by way of entry? Which one is the least strenuous? Which one is most fitted for younger youngsters, pregnant girls, and older of us?
Higher Antelope might be the winner right here. The doorway to the slot canyon is at floor degree, so that you don’t must 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 more durable, and requires climbing down a steep metallic staircase. You continue to don’t have to be very match to do it, and I feel a pregnant lady may do it so long as you’re gradual and cautious.
Canyon X might be essentially the most strenuous by way of mountaineering distance and elevation achieve, though it nonetheless received’t be onerous in any respect for most individuals. There’s a truthful quantity of strolling within the warmth, and older folks might need a tough time strolling again up the slope on the entrance of the canyon.
Winner: Higher Antelope Canyon
Don’t neglect to search for!
• Availability
So which Antelope Canyon is greatest by way of availability? In different phrases, how straightforward is it to get a tour on brief discover and select any time and date that you really want?
Higher Antelope is the toughest canyon to get a tour, and you could have to e book months prematurely 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 in a position to run as many excursions per day. It’s additionally very fashionable due to the sunbeams, which makes it much more wanted.
Decrease Antelope can be extremely standard, but it surely’s a much bigger canyon they usually can accommodate extra excursions on daily basis. We booked ??? prematurely, and had no downside getting a date that labored for us, though your expertise could range.
Generally, Antelope Canyon X is the best canyon to go to. You’ll be able to usually e book a tour on the final minute and nonetheless get a spot. After all, which will change sometime because it will get extra standard, however for now I’d say it’s a extremely underrated gem.
Winner: Antelope Canyon X
Peekaboo
• Costs
So what about value? Which Antelope Canyon tour has one of the best costs?
Clearly the tour costs will range a bit relying on the place and whenever you e book them, however basically the most costly tour is the Higher Antelope Canyon, adopted by Decrease Antelope and Canyon X, in that order.
Costs for the Antelope Canyon X tour may be as little as $50 USD per particular person generally, which is effectively price it! I think about that an amazing 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 greatest — Higher, Decrease, or X?
I must say the winner for greatest worth (and total expertise) goes to Antelope Canyon X. Whereas it lacks among the options which are nice for pictures within the Higher and Decrease canyons, it’s a for much longer tour, which means you could have extra time to take footage and get artistic.
On high of that, Canyon X can 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 prematurely, which is essential for those who’re touring on a price range or going to Arizona with out a lot discover.
I’ve to confess I didn’t actually get pleasure from Higher Antelope Canyon a lot in any respect. Don’t get me flawed, it’s a good looking slot canyon and the sunbeams have been superb, however your entire tour was so rushed I may hardly get pleasure from it.
The Higher Canyon was additionally costly, and I truly left feeling prefer it was a waste of cash. Decrease Antelope was positively a greater expertise, and value the price of entry, but it surely nonetheless suffers from the identical crowds because the Higher Canyon.
General, I feel the Antelope Canyon X is a implausible tour for those who’re on the lookout for a good looking slot canyon with out the crowds, value, and problem of the primary canyons. Get pleasure from 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 mostly from the tip of March to the start of October.
That is very true for the Higher Canyon, that approach you possibly can see the well-known mild beams. These are greatest 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 alternative is true. This canyon will get much more ambient mild from the solar, so one of the best time of day to go to it’s truly 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 components of the canyon have been nonetheless very good even at the moment, so don’t write it off utterly.
For Canyon X, any time of day is sweet to go to. We went within the afternoon. The slots have some areas which are deep, and others which are shallow, so it may be lovely and photogenic in a wide range of lighting circumstances.
For all the slot canyons in Arizona, if you wish to keep away from the crowds, one of the best time to go is from November to March. Nonetheless, the lighting and colours received’t be practically 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 principle 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 slot canyons in the identical drainage system:
- Secret Canyon
- Waterholes Canyon
- Mountain Sheep Canyon
- Owl Canyon
- Rattlesnake Canyon
Every of those are good slot canyons, they usually’re all price a go to when you’ve got time, particularly for those who aren’t in a position to snag a tour for one of many major Antelope 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 usually essentially the most quiet and underrated components of Antelope Canyon. Verify them out!
There are additionally some good Arizona slot canyons exterior of Navajo land. Seen right here is Spooky Canyon.
Extra Arizona Slot Canyons
Arizona additionally has a number of slot canyons which are exterior of the Antelope Canyon advanced, which suggests they’re free to go to with out a Navajo tour information.
If you happen to’re all for seeing extra slot canyons in Arizona, bookmark this journey weblog and verify again later as I’m planning to write down a information for that quickly!