Antelope Canyon: Slot Canyon of Wonders

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I’m not sure about you, but before coming to Antelope Canyon, I had never been through a slot canyon or could even tell you what one was. But this was one of the most amazing, guided hiking experiences I’ve ever had.

A slot canyon is a narrow channel caused by years of erosion, typically through sandstone. Looking at Antelope Canyon from the top, you can’t tell that there is a maze of canyons underneath, shaped by millions of years of water and wind erosion that created canyon walls that reach 120 feet tall.

Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona. You are required to make an appointment and go on a guided hike to explore the slot canyon due to the risk of flash floods. It doesn’t take much rain to cause water to quickly filter into the canyon and is very dangerous. In 1997, 10 of the 11 tourists in the canyon were killed because of rushing waters coming through the canyon. Upgrades have been made since then, but the canyon rules need to be respected.

I went to Antelope Canyon on a Utah-Arizona road trip – check out the other places I went!

The Upper Antelope Canyon tour is the most popular because more sunlight enters the canyon that illuminates the incredible sandstone range of shades. The Lower Antelope Canyon tour is a little more difficult and requires maneuvering through elevation changes with stairways and ladders.

To get down, you take a long metal ladder into the canyon crevasse. Every turn is a new piece of art created by the walls and sunlight creeping in. Words don’t do it justice, so I’m just posting pictures from here on out.