Lately, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend have been growing in popularity and for good reason. I stopped in Page, AZ on two different trips: my road trip through Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion, and my trip to Havasu Falls. On my first trip here, this was my unexpected highlight of the trip! In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know to visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend as well as some other things you can do while in Page, AZ.

Page, AZ is an adorable town with seriously amazing views. Of course, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are what bring most visitors to the area. But with Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Grand Staircase Escalante all nearby, there’s plenty of other things to do.

Antelope Canyon

Antelope canyon is made up of two canyons – Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. Both are part of Navajo Nation which is Native American territory. Therefore, Antelope Canyon can only be accessed via guided tours. Also, keep in mind as you are planning your itinerary that Arizona is in the mountain time zone but does not follow day light savings. Navajo Nation however, does follow daylight savings which makes time zones extremely confusing in this area. Literally within minutes drive, you are in two different time zones. We ended up being an hour early for our tour and didn’t even realize it until we checked in (at least it wasn’t an hour late)!

Upper Antelope Canyon is the canyon where that famous picture was taken with the beam of light shining through the canyon. It’s also shorter (only 0.25 mile) and not as strenuous. Therefore, it’s more popular and also more expensive. In order to see the light beams in Upper Antelope Canyon, you need to reserve a specific time slot (it says which time slot is the one when you book the tour) and needless to say, this time slot sells out more quickly.

Upper Antelope Canyon Tour Companies

There are 4 tour operators for Upper Antelope Canyon: Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tours, Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours, Antelope Canyon Tours, and Antelope Slot Canyon Tours.

Lower Antelope Canyon is about 1 mile and is considered more strenuous. It does have a few ladders, but I didn’t find it difficult or scary at all. It is slightly less expensive and apparently less crowded, though I’ll be honest, it still feels extremely crowded. I actually did Lower Antelope Canyon both times I went because the time slot for the light beam in Upper Antelope Canyon was sold out. If we weren’t going to get that picture, it didn’t seem worth the extra money for less distance.

Lower Antelope Canyon Tour Companies

There are two tour operators for Lower Antelope Canyon and I’ve used both of them. The first time we went, we used Ken’s Tours the second time, we used Dixie Ellis Tours. Both tours were extremely similar and I was happy with both of them. There was also barely a price difference. In both tours, the guides will help you with your camera settings and show you how to capture some famous pictures and also take a few pictures of everyone in your group for you.

Other Slot Canyons

If you are looking to experience the slot canyons without all the crowds, there are some other options. Antelope Canyon Photo Tours has tours that include Mountain Sheep Canyon, Owl Canyon, and Rattlesnake Canyon. Antelope Slot Canyon Tours has a tour of Cathedral Canyon.

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is an almost circular canyon carved by the Colorado river. It is located right off highway 89 between mile posts 544 and 545. It’s only a 0.75 mile walk to the overlook, though the walk isn’t flat. The trail starts off uphill in soft, deep sand and then downhill to the overlook. It’s nothing crazy, but if you’re going in the heat of summer (which can easily reach temps up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit), there is absolutely no shade on this hike. Make sure you have plenty of water. Also, there is one viewing platform with a barrier at the overlook and the rest is exposed. You can also enjoy Horseshoe Bend from above by taking a helicopter tour or from below on the water on a Colorado River float trip.

Other things to do in/near Page, AZ:

Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend can both be done in less than half a day. Antelope Canyon tours are typically about 1 hour and you don’t need more than 1 hour for visiting Horseshoe Bend either. Luckily, there are plenty of other epic things to do in this area!

Glen Canyon Dam: The Glen Canyon Natural History Association provides tours of Glen Canyon Dam.

Lake Powell: There are several different boat tours you can take from Lake Powell from dinner cruises, to scenic tours and canyon adventures. Wahweap Overlook offers great views, especially for sunrise or sunset.

Glen Canyon Float Trips: You can choose from half day or full day Glen Canyon float trips to some of the area’s best sites.

Rainbow Bridge National Monument: There are two hiking trails that lead to Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the world’s largest natural bridges. Neither trail is maintained. They are both very long, difficult and require permits. However, you can also take a boat tour to Rainbow Bridge.

Toadstool Hike: This is an easy 1.5 mile hike to “toadstools,” which are balanced rock formations that sort of resemble Toad from Mario Kart. This hike is part of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, located right off highway 89, only about a 30 minute drive from Page. There are no fees or permits required and it is a dog-friendly hike. Visit in spring or fall as summer temperatures are hot and the hike is exposed. This is a great way to stretch your legs on long drives.