Antelope Canyon in Arizona
Dec 28, 2015, 4:05 am
#1
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Antelope Canyon in Arizona
Hey folks, just discovered this amazing place as a necessary visit in one's life. So I'd like to go check it out.
Thinking about heading out to Arizona on a Friday morning and then coming back late on a Sunday night. Would like to maximize time and visit Upper & Lower Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Rainbow Bridge. Is this possible in my time or do I need to cut something out, possibly Rainbow Bridge?
Any tips to make this an efficient trip as well as getting the best pictures possible in Antelope Canyon?
Thinking about heading out to Arizona on a Friday morning and then coming back late on a Sunday night. Would like to maximize time and visit Upper & Lower Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Rainbow Bridge. Is this possible in my time or do I need to cut something out, possibly Rainbow Bridge?
Any tips to make this an efficient trip as well as getting the best pictures possible in Antelope Canyon?
Dec 29, 2015, 8:54 am
#3
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Dec 29, 2015, 2:03 pm
#4
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It's probably too much. Using Page as a base of operations....
-- Rainbow Bridge is basically a day.
-- Upper and Lower Antelope could be combined into one day, but given that you need to buy a timed entry for Lower and be taken by a guide on Upper you may find it difficult to do both in one day without advanced planning.
-- Horseshoe Bend takes only an hour or two, if you're just looking to wander around the rim and take pictures.
As Tanic noted, if you can't fly into Page with well-timed flights, you need to add several hours of driving each direction from any major airport.
-- Rainbow Bridge is basically a day.
-- Upper and Lower Antelope could be combined into one day, but given that you need to buy a timed entry for Lower and be taken by a guide on Upper you may find it difficult to do both in one day without advanced planning.
-- Horseshoe Bend takes only an hour or two, if you're just looking to wander around the rim and take pictures.
As Tanic noted, if you can't fly into Page with well-timed flights, you need to add several hours of driving each direction from any major airport.
Jan 24, 2016, 12:10 pm
#5
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I did both of the slots in Antelope Canyon last April, so can give you a few pointers as to timings.
Ideally, a car is necessary to get around, because the timings are fairly critical if you want to get the best photos in the Upper Canyon (which is where you get to see the shafts of light). These only appear for a short time around midday.
I stayed in Page over night, and booked a tour with Ken's Tours of the Lower Canyon for early on the next morning. You have to drive out to the canyon yourself for that tour. The timing of the tour is less critical than the Upper Canyon tour, as little light gets into the canyon, even at midday. Ideally, a tour about 0900 will see you finished there about 1030 with time to drive back into Page for the Upper Canyon Photographic tour. These leave the offices at 1130 from March 1st onwards.
You are taken out to the Upper Canyon in open sided trucks over pretty rough terrain with a lot of dust, so take glasses or googles and a hat if you want to be comfortable. I recommend the photographic tour, simply because the guides know exactly what time and where the light beams are going to appear in the canyon, and will do their best to make sure that you are in the chamber and there is nobody else in camera shot. If you take a regular tour, which goes in every 20 minutes or so, the groups are much larger, and you are simply walked from one end of the canyon to the other and back. You are very likely to miss the one thing that makes the Upper Canyon unique.
I got back into Page about 1430 in the afternoon, so if you are looking to get to the Horseshoe Bend, you still have plenty of time, although the sun may well be in the wrong place for the best shots.
Final recommendation is to have a good read of the guides about the best way to photograph the canyons, have a decent camera (although modern day point and shoots can still produce fantastic results). You cannot use flash photography in the canyons, so know how to set up your camera for long exposure shots and if the guide offers to set up your camera for you, hand it over. They know pretty well how to set up and camera to get some stunning photos. Finally, clean your camera thoroughly afterwards. Otherwise, you risk all of your subsequent photos having dust flecks all over the photos.
Ideally, a car is necessary to get around, because the timings are fairly critical if you want to get the best photos in the Upper Canyon (which is where you get to see the shafts of light). These only appear for a short time around midday.
I stayed in Page over night, and booked a tour with Ken's Tours of the Lower Canyon for early on the next morning. You have to drive out to the canyon yourself for that tour. The timing of the tour is less critical than the Upper Canyon tour, as little light gets into the canyon, even at midday. Ideally, a tour about 0900 will see you finished there about 1030 with time to drive back into Page for the Upper Canyon Photographic tour. These leave the offices at 1130 from March 1st onwards.
You are taken out to the Upper Canyon in open sided trucks over pretty rough terrain with a lot of dust, so take glasses or googles and a hat if you want to be comfortable. I recommend the photographic tour, simply because the guides know exactly what time and where the light beams are going to appear in the canyon, and will do their best to make sure that you are in the chamber and there is nobody else in camera shot. If you take a regular tour, which goes in every 20 minutes or so, the groups are much larger, and you are simply walked from one end of the canyon to the other and back. You are very likely to miss the one thing that makes the Upper Canyon unique.
I got back into Page about 1430 in the afternoon, so if you are looking to get to the Horseshoe Bend, you still have plenty of time, although the sun may well be in the wrong place for the best shots.
Final recommendation is to have a good read of the guides about the best way to photograph the canyons, have a decent camera (although modern day point and shoots can still produce fantastic results). You cannot use flash photography in the canyons, so know how to set up your camera for long exposure shots and if the guide offers to set up your camera for you, hand it over. They know pretty well how to set up and camera to get some stunning photos. Finally, clean your camera thoroughly afterwards. Otherwise, you risk all of your subsequent photos having dust flecks all over the photos.
Jan 24, 2016, 6:13 pm
#9
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I'm not a pro photog, but some of the photos I took are incredible, taken with a Nikon mid range dslr. My travel companion got equal or better images with her Ipad and a lens that can be fitted to a mobile phone.
One from the Lower Canyon
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i4syy3ebf7ck3hp/DSC_0619.JPG
Upper Canyon First Room with light shaft.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uwuoo4rmin0t2sa/DSC_0653.JPG
Last edited by Richym99; Jan 25, 2016 at 12:20 am
Jan 25, 2016, 10:14 pm
#12
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Jan 25, 2016, 10:19 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Yes, although it is easier to get someone else to take it for you. The tour guides are usually happy to help you out if you don't want to ask anyond else. As far as the light is concerned, you'll be taking photos at speeds down to .5 seconds or longer. A tripod is highly recommended for best results.
Jun 30, 2019, 10:36 am
#14
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I did both of the slots in Antelope Canyon last April, so can give you a few pointers as to timings.
Ideally, a car is necessary to get around, because the timings are fairly critical if you want to get the best photos in the Upper Canyon (which is where you get to see the shafts of light). These only appear for a short time around midday.
I stayed in Page over night, and booked a tour with Ken's Tours of the Lower Canyon for early on the next morning. You have to drive out to the canyon yourself for that tour. The timing of the tour is less critical than the Upper Canyon tour, as little light gets into the canyon, even at midday. Ideally, a tour about 0900 will see you finished there about 1030 with time to drive back into Page for the Upper Canyon Photographic tour. These leave the offices at 1130 from March 1st onwards.
You are taken out to the Upper Canyon in open sided trucks over pretty rough terrain with a lot of dust, so take glasses or googles and a hat if you want to be comfortable. I recommend the photographic tour, simply because the guides know exactly what time and where the light beams are going to appear in the canyon, and will do their best to make sure that you are in the chamber and there is nobody else in camera shot. If you take a regular tour, which goes in every 20 minutes or so, the groups are much larger, and you are simply walked from one end of the canyon to the other and back. You are very likely to miss the one thing that makes the Upper Canyon unique.
I got back into Page about 1430 in the afternoon, so if you are looking to get to the Horseshoe Bend, you still have plenty of time, although the sun may well be in the wrong place for the best shots.
Final recommendation is to have a good read of the guides about the best way to photograph the canyons, have a decent camera (although modern day point and shoots can still produce fantastic results). You cannot use flash photography in the canyons, so know how to set up your camera for long exposure shots and if the guide offers to set up your camera for you, hand it over. They know pretty well how to set up and camera to get some stunning photos. Finally, clean your camera thoroughly afterwards. Otherwise, you risk all of your subsequent photos having dust flecks all over the photos.
Ideally, a car is necessary to get around, because the timings are fairly critical if you want to get the best photos in the Upper Canyon (which is where you get to see the shafts of light). These only appear for a short time around midday.
I stayed in Page over night, and booked a tour with Ken's Tours of the Lower Canyon for early on the next morning. You have to drive out to the canyon yourself for that tour. The timing of the tour is less critical than the Upper Canyon tour, as little light gets into the canyon, even at midday. Ideally, a tour about 0900 will see you finished there about 1030 with time to drive back into Page for the Upper Canyon Photographic tour. These leave the offices at 1130 from March 1st onwards.
You are taken out to the Upper Canyon in open sided trucks over pretty rough terrain with a lot of dust, so take glasses or googles and a hat if you want to be comfortable. I recommend the photographic tour, simply because the guides know exactly what time and where the light beams are going to appear in the canyon, and will do their best to make sure that you are in the chamber and there is nobody else in camera shot. If you take a regular tour, which goes in every 20 minutes or so, the groups are much larger, and you are simply walked from one end of the canyon to the other and back. You are very likely to miss the one thing that makes the Upper Canyon unique.
I got back into Page about 1430 in the afternoon, so if you are looking to get to the Horseshoe Bend, you still have plenty of time, although the sun may well be in the wrong place for the best shots.
Final recommendation is to have a good read of the guides about the best way to photograph the canyons, have a decent camera (although modern day point and shoots can still produce fantastic results). You cannot use flash photography in the canyons, so know how to set up your camera for long exposure shots and if the guide offers to set up your camera for you, hand it over. They know pretty well how to set up and camera to get some stunning photos. Finally, clean your camera thoroughly afterwards. Otherwise, you risk all of your subsequent photos having dust flecks all over the photos.
1) Are the Upper and Lower canyons different enough in their own right, such that you would consider it a 'must' to visit both?
2) I read on one of the tour guide's website that National Park entry is not included. Given that we are planning to visit Antelope Canyon in addition to GCNP, Monument Valley, Sedona and Jushua Tree, what are our best options for paying for National Park entries?
Any advice appreciated.
Jun 30, 2019, 1:54 pm
#15
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