When is the Best Time to Visit Antelope Canyon? 2024 Guide

When is the Best Time to Visit Antelope Canyon?

Are you planning a trip to Page, AZ and curious when is the best time to visit Antelope Canyon? You’re in the right place!

We visited Page, Arizona at the end of 2022 for a week to see the Antelope Canyons (yes – there are multiple!) and wanted to make sure we were picking the right time of day and year to visit.

We’ve talked to the guides and gathered their expert advice and tips on the perfect time to visit. Let’s go through all their tips and our experience!

When is the Best Time to Visit Antelope Canyon?

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful stroll or an adrenaline-filled adventure, we have all the insights and knowledge needed to make your visit one that won’t soon be forgotten.

Antelope Canyon is a series of stunningly beautiful slot canyons located on Navajo Nation land. It is renowned for its unique and vibrant sandstone formations created over millions of years by erosion and the powerful force of flash flooding.

The canyon has 6 sections in total, but the two most easily accessible are known as Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. Both offer breathtaking views that draw tourists from all over the world. 

As for when is the best time to visit Antelope Canyon, we would say April, May, September, or October. Let’s dive into why!

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Antelope Canyon?

The answer for when the best time of the year to visit depends on what you want to get out of your experience!

We believe the best time to visit Antelope Canyon is April, May, September, or October.

During this time, the temperatures are mild and the crowds are at their lowest, allowing for a more enjoyable experience. Additionally, the stunning light beams should be visible so you will get the full experience.

The peak season for visiting runs from April to September when the canyon is illuminated by natural light beams and full of vibrant colors that bring out its beauty.

The summer months offer the best views to see the famous light beams in Upper Antelope Canyon, however, it can get extremely hot during the summer, so be sure to bring plenty of water and wear light and breathable clothing.

Monsoon season in Page is from July to September. The monsoons can come out of nowhere and provide flash floods that will cancel all tours into the canyons.

If you want to avoid having your trip ruined by the weather, we recommend avoiding these months and sticking to earlier in the year.

In late fall and winter, temperatures drop, so tours will occasionally close due to snow and ice. If seeing the light beams is not a top priority on your list, this is the best time to go! The crowds will be at their lightest so it will be easier to take in the view.

May is our month of choice for our favorite time to visit Antelope Canyon.

No matter what time of year you choose to visit, Antelope Canyon has something special waiting for every visitor!

When is the Best Time of Day to Visit Antelope Canyon?

The best time of day to visit Antelope Canyon to see the light beams is between 11am and 1pm.

The light beams are a unique phenomenon that can only be experienced at certain times of the year when the conditions are just right.

During this time, the canyon is illuminated with bright natural light beams that give it a magical, otherworldly feel. The sun’s rays are refracted by the canyon walls creating unique patterns of light that make for stunning photos. 

Earlier or later in the day can provide some unique shadows, but the canyon will be darker without the sun right above. We believe the canyon looks best when the sun is hitting the colorful sandstone walls.

When planning your trip to Antelope Canyon, it is important to remember that the canyon gets very crowded during peak season.

Be sure to purchase tickets early (sometimes 6 months in advance for the 11am-1pm hours) and plan your visit accordingly. You may find that the tickets are more expensive at these times.

Can you visit Antelope Canyon without a tour? 

Both slot canyons are located on Navajo lands and can only be visited on a tour with a guide. There are many reasons why the Antelope Canyons are now only available to be visited by tour.

First, the canyons were being damaged and vandalized by visitors hiking through the canyon. With a guide, they are now able to monitor the visitors to make sure the canyon is being preserved and not harmed.

Second, since Antelope Canyon has become so popular, the number of visitors has to be limited. When you book a tour, you get a time slot to go into the canyon and will be ushered through in a timely fashion to allow others to enjoy the canyon as well. 

The guides do a great job of pointing out great photo opportunities in the canyon. Many times, they will remind you to turn around to see the beauty behind you, not just in front of you.

They point out rock formations that remind you of shapes: heart, angel, shark, seahorse, etc. There are a few iconic stops in the canyon that have been featured on Apple TV’s screensaver or on Window’s PC load screen that the guide will make sure you also capture.

They even will teach you how to alter the camera settings on your phone and camera to get the best colors for your photos. 

Lastly, the guide provides key safety information to the visitors. Since there can be slippery rocks, tight corners, tricky ladders, and overhead juts to avoid hitting your head on, the guide will constantly be providing tips and safety reminders along the way.

They also each have a radio on them in case of an emergency or flash flood. We felt very safe being in the canyon with the guide.

How long should you spend in Antelope Canyon?

You can expect to spend most of the day in the Antelope Canyon area if you do both Upper and Lower canyons on the same day.

Alternatively, if you are staying in Page for at least one night, you can do each canyon on a different day.  

We recommend booking the Upper Canyon and Lower Canyon on different days.

This allows you to book both canyons during the peak hours of 11am-1pm. You can then add visits to Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, and other slot canyons in the area to your stay in Page.

Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon are across the street from each other, so you can do each one back to back. The tour operators in the area do not operate in both canyons. You would need to book with two separate companies.

The tours of each canyon are around an hour to an hour and a half each. Since you are with a guide and there are so many other tours behind you, you can’t linger in the canyon for a longer time. So expect to be in these canyons for the allotted time of the tour you purchase.

Additionally, many private helicopter tours can be booked to provide a unique aerial perspective of the area.  

Is it better to go to the Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon?

The Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons both offer very different experiences. If you can only visit one, how do you decide which one? Let’s walk through some of the main differences.

Difficulty

In difficulty, we would rate Lower Antelope Canyon to be the more physically difficult of the 2 experiences.

The Upper Canyon will provide an easier experience to enjoy the wonder of the canyons.

Difficulty of Upper Antelope Canyon

Upper Antelope Canyon used to be a completely flat walk on sand through the canyon and back. There are no stairs or ladders inside the Upper Canyon. 

However, since COVID, the canyon is now a one-way-only tour through the canyon. This is a huge benefit because there are now fewer people to crowd your pictures since they aren’t walking back through to exit. 

However, this change does add some difficulty to your tour. Instead of turning around at the end and returning through the flat canyon, you now climb stairs and a hill to go back up and around the canyon to the tour vehicle that brought you to the entrance of the canyon.

It is not a particularly hard walk, but there definitely is an incline you have to tackle. Out of the shade of the canyon, it can be very hot in the summer months. 

The total experience is about ¾ of a mile of walking through and around Upper Antelope Canyon.

Difficulty of Lower Antelope Canyon

Lower Antelope Canyon is famous for its ladders and steep stairs in and out of the canyon. The canyon floor is uneven in places and there are several tight corners, so you must be cognizant of your footing.

For some, this makes the Lower Antelope Canyon a little more fun and challenging than the Upper. For others, Lower Antelope Canyon is not a friendly place for their mobility concerns.

If you are someone who has difficulty with steep stairs and/or confined spaces, Lower Antelope Canyon may not be the right pick for you.

Lastly, it is 1.1 miles in length, making it a bit longer than the Upper Antelope Canyon.

Light Beams of Antelope Canyon

The famous light beams of Antelope Canyon are only visible part of the year – typically they begin in late March and end in late September/Early October.

Both canyons have light beams but the Upper Antelope Canyon has the more famous ones. The light beams at the Lower Antelope Canyon are rare.

Why? The Upper Antelope Canyon is shaped like an upside-down V, with its narrowest point at the top and widest at the base. This creates more opportunities for the perfect conditions for a light beam to be visible.

Alternatively, Lower Antelope Canyon is shaped like a “V” with its bottom being very narrow and wide open at the top. This creates fewer “beams” and more general light.

The light beams are typically seen from 11am-1pm in the summer months. Because of this small period of time, these time slots are usually booked 6+ months in advance.

Photos at Antelope Canyon

There are no bad photos at Antelope Canyon! Plus, the guides are masters at helping you get the iconic shots.

In a competition, Upper Antelope Canyon is known as the more photogenic canyon because of its light beams. It also has much higher canyon walls that create shadows which add to the ambiance and majesty of photos.

Peter Lik sold a photo of the light beams in Upper Antelope Canyon for $6.5 million to a private collector. Do you have what it takes to take a million dollar photo?! 

That being said, Lower Canyon is also a fantastic photo place. The bright light at the top and the narrowness at the bottom create drama for stunning photos as well!

Additionally, you will not need to use your long exposure as often to get a great photo in the Lower Antelope Canyon so it is more photo-friendly to novice photographers.

The Lower Canyon can provide better photos in the early morning or late afternoon hours because of its shape which allows more sun into the canyon.

If you need to book one of the canyons at those times because of your schedule, we recommend going with Lower Antelope Canyon.

Both canyons are extremely beautiful in their own way and will wow your family and friends when you share your photos.

Price of Antelope Canyon

There is no “cheap” Antelope Canyon experience. Your money is going to ensure these natural wonders are well preserved and are able to be experienced for decades to come.

Upper Antelope Canyon is the more popular of the two canyons and, therefore, more expensive. Despite being more expensive than Lower Antelope Canyon, it’s still worth visiting as it offers some of the most stunning views in all of Arizona.

Additionally, you should tip your guide $5-$10 per person. Since the ticket is so expensive, you would think that a large amount is going to the guide but unfortunately, this is not the case. Be sure to treat your guide well!

So, Is it better to go to the Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon?

There are so many reasons to see both canyons.

Lower Antelope Canyon is a truly unique place, with its narrow passageways winding through the canyon and ladders providing access to even more captivating views.

The walls of the canyon are curved and undulating, making it a thrilling experience to make your way through it. Because of these characteristics, many say this is the more fun canyon of the two.

On the other hand, Upper Antelope Canyon is an easier experience from a mobility perspective plus you get incredible views of the light beams. The dramatic sandstone formations of the Upper Canyon make it a sight to behold.

In summary, both canyons are truly majestic and offer unique experiences. We went to both and have zero regrets, but we understand that time and money may not allow for experiencing both.

For that reason, we would recommend doing Upper Antelope Canyon if you can get an 11am-1pm spot.

If you can’t book from 11am to 1pm, we recommend doing the Lower Antelope Canyon.

Is Canyon X worth visiting?

Canyon X is about 6 minutes down the road from Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. 

Canyon X is quite different than the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons in several ways.

For one, Canyon X is a less-visited canyon and thus will provide a more isolated and peaceful experience in comparison to the crowds that can often be found at the other 2 Canyons.

There are 3 hour photography tours available to book that allow you to spend plenty of time in the canyon getting that perfect picture.

Additionally, the physical features of Canyon X will be distinct from those of Antelope Canyon. Canyon X gets its name from the rock formation that looks like an X when you enter the canyon.

Canyon X will offer fantastic views of the sandstone with light reflecting off of them in cool and unique ways.

This canyon, however, does not have the iconic light beams.

Lastly, it is a cheaper alternative to Antelope Canyon for those sticking to a stricter budget. We would add it to the trip but would not do it to replace the Upper or Lower Canyon.

Our recommended tour to explore Canyon X:
Canyon X Tour

How to Get to the Antelope Canyons 

The Antelope Canyons are located in Page, Arizona. The only way to get there is by car or other privately operated vehicles.

If traveling by car, it’s approximately a 4.5 hour drive from both Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona. 

There are day tours from Las Vegas, Sedona, Flagstaff, and Phoenix/Scottsdale. These day tours are an awesome way to experience the area if you only have one day to spare on your vacation to any of these cities in the Southwest US. 

The Upper Canyon and Lower Canyon both have their respective parking lots. From the Lower Canyon parking lot, you can walk with your guide to the entrance of the Lower Canyon.

From the Upper Canyon Parking lot, you have to enter a tour vehicle to drive through the wash area to the entrance of the Upper Canyon. 

Where to Stay for the Antelope Canyons 

You could potentially do a day trip from Las Vegas or Phoenix, but that would be over 9 hours of driving in one day! 

We recommend staying in Page for at least one night. That way you can visit Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, and all the other sites and adventures in the area.

We provide all of our Page recommendations in our Is Page, Arizona Worth Visiting article or you can check out the best accommodations for you with our partners on the map below.

FAQs for When is the Best Time to Visit Antelope Canyon?

So, When is the Best Time of year to Visit Antelope Canyon?

We recommend May as the best time of year to visit Antelope Canyon. May is early enough that you won’t have Arizona’s sweltering hot temperatures like the summer months.

The iconic light beams start showing up sometime in March or April which will provide you with incredible pictures.

May is before the largest of the crowds, so you should have an easier time getting one of the sought-after 11am-1pm time slots. Don’t forget to book your Upper Canyon May tour by November to have a chance to reserve an open spot.

We hope you enjoy the incredible slot canyons of northern Arizona and have a chance to visit Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and other amazing spots in the Southwest US. 

We wish you the best travels and don’t forget to set your “Out of Office!”