Secret Canyon is a short slot in the middle fork of upper Water Holes Canyon. That being said, 10 am is often the most popular tour time, so if youre thinking of doing a tour, you may want to keep it in mind way in advance. With a DSLR, opt for a high ISO setting and use a wide aperture. Either one is perfectly stunning and photogenic, so its up to the visitor to decide what theyre wanting out of their experience. After a short hike the mouth of Secret Canyon came into view at the bottom of a small wash. The colors of rocks are fantastic even in a complete shade (and also cameras can do miracles) so I didnt regret my decision even for a second. Along with a rigorous hike, participants on these tours will be surrounded by beautiful scenery and smooth, fabric-like walls throughout their trip. Each section of the canyon is about 120 feet deep (or 37 meters). Phoenix, Our earlier visit was definitely not as nerve-wracking! Companies that provide tours of Upper Antelope Canyon are all based in or near Page, Arizona, and provide transportation to the Upper Canyon. Antelope Canyon takes its name from the herds of pronghorn antelope that once resided in it. I somehow felt alone here even with my fellow shutterbugs nearby. This was my main concern as well, but Tim ensured me that colors would be wonderful at any time. As always, I speak only the truth and hosts have no editorial influence on articles. Antelope is a beautiful slot canyon but has so many visitors that it feels more like an amusement ride than a natural experience. Anytime I venture out where I know I will be in the sun all day I always wear one of these UV Cut shirts. View Larger Map The attendant could not answer any questions about distance. The smaller one is only 100 feet long but has wonderful formations. Fees start at about $125 per person. We noticed that this group was sticking together while the guide explained things as they went. Because the Upper Canyon is easiest to walk through, it is also quite popular, especially at peak times during the summer. This combination tour lasts about 3-3.5 hours. Upper Antelope Canyon is the more popular (and well-known) of the two and is more photogenic but is also generally darker (and gets darker quicker) due to the narrow canyon walls. Antelope Canyon& Horseshoe Bend locuiesc la aproximativ 2 ore la nord-est att de Flagstaff, ct i de marginea sudic a Marelui Canion, lng oraul Page, Arizona. This canyon is wider at the bottom than Lower Antelope Canyon, so it feels less . Here you can capture the sunburst if you are touring during the right time usually late morning to early afternoon. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-22708703', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Antelope Canyon. Theres no special gear you need for hiking this slot canyon unless you plan on hiking the super narrow part beyond the ladder. I definitely recommend you to protect the camera because it gets dusty but if you are careful, you should be fine . Theres no real sign and we actually missed it coming from Page. Expect up to a 3/4 mile walk through flat,sandy terrain of a slot canyon and another 1/4 mile round trip walk over undulating sandstone at Horseshoe Bend Overlook. You get to spend up to one hour in the canyon. SECRET Antelope Canyon Hike (or "Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon") Antelope's Secret Canyon is also called Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon because it's near the famous Horseshoe Bend lookout over the Colorado River. Shadows begin to peek in after that 12 pm timeslot, which may make that perfectly lit photograph difficult to achieve. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. After passing by sandy washes and rocky hills, we arrived a short walk away from the entrance to Secret Canyon. At Horseshoe Bend Overlook, we'll avoid the congested public parking lot and take a private dirt road that leads to within 100 meters of the edge of the canyon. Description. Secondly, I didnt want to be stuck in a crowd with hundreds of tourists photobombing my camera (I read it can get quite messy and dusty down there on busy days). It is the most famous of the two canyons because of the highly distinctive light beams and the incredibly high canyon walls . It's more challenging to photograph Antelope Canyon without a tripod, but you can still take amazing images. Tripods and photography gear other than hand-held cameras are forbidden, as are firearms, bags and pets. Had we done our tour closer to mid-day, I bet the canyon wouldve had a whole different look and feel. Tickets cost about $40 for adults and $30 for children 17 and younger. I had to get down on my knees and pointed my camera almost straight up to capture the blue sky against the reddish orange sandstone. Exact departure times vary by season. We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get! No bags or tripods are allowed on the hiking tour. I actually wanted to go here when I was in Paige! Slot canyons are always significantly deeper than they are wide. We took the Lower Antelope Canyon Photography Tour and saw first hand how tour guides herded tourists through like cattle. Dei aceste dou locuri sunt relativ aproape de Grand Canyon i unul . It includes 334 feet of walking, and . Waterhole Canyon is not quite as tall as the Antelope Canyons but if you showed me a picture of Waterhole Canyon and told me it was Antelope Canyon, I honestly would not have been able to tell the difference. This canyon is renowned for the breathtaking shafts of light that break through the narrow canyon roof. Or, you can rent a car and do the scenic drive yourself. I entered between the high rock walls. Gorgeous pics and well def remember the recommendations next time were in the area , Your email address will not be published. Created by millions of years of erosion, Antelope Canyon is part of the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, located 10 minutes east of Page, near the Arizona-Utah border. The Wave in Arizona and Monument Valley are both amazing places to add to your southwest itinerary. The canyon splits into several tributaries, some which have deep narrow sections known as slot canyons. Because of the relatively rugged nature of the terrain, pregnant women and people with heart or joint problems might want to skip these excursions. How to Get a Permit for Hiking Waterhole Canyon To hike this slot canyon, you get a day permit from the Slot Canyon Tours shop next to the Burger King in Page, AZ. Antelope Canyon is located just east of Page, Arizona, in the northern area of the state. Photography enthusiasts can sign up for Taadidiin's Photo Tour, which spends three hours in the canyon and permits participants to bring a tripod and a camera bag. I did a review of Hummer Tours, so you might want to look for that under Things to do. The Travel Magazine is a travel portal with highly informative, upbeat and inspirational articles for people who love to travel. Though is looked pretty exciting it also looked a bit narrow for us so we simply walked back the way we came and exited through another set of cairns that marked the way out. The three canyons visited on the canyon tours are fairly easy to walk (a little climbing over/under rocks, but nothing major), are still very pretty and were completely deviod of other people (just me, my wife, the guide and a great horned owlhow cool is that). Antelope island vs. Antelope Canyon 13:39; Page Az to south Rim GC yesterday; Page, AZ, hotel pick-up for Lower Antelope Canyon tours 22 February 2023; visiting upper and lower antelope canyon and horseshoe bend. I think this Secret Canyon is near Page. It features the smooth curves, slim passageways, and orange hues that are characteristic of slot canyons near Page. Arizona's Secret Antelope Canyon : We went to this slot canyon in September 2019. Look for the Tour sign pictured above on the right-hand side of the road. Upper Antelope Canyon is about 660 feet long (or 200 m) with the Lower Antelope Canyon being about 1,335 feet long (or 407 m). We hiked aka walked all through the canyon and eventually came to a ladder. The smaller number of people really allow you to experience the unusual beauty of a slot canyon. What's a slot canyon, you might ask? It was amazing definitely go to this slot canyon if you are in the area for Antelope Canyon! Learn how your comment data is processed. Antelope Canyon hosts tons of visitors and, in order to protect the canyon walls from damage, no bags of any kind are permitted in either the Upper or Lower section. Hotel review: ALO Hotel by Ayres (Anaheim, California, USA), 10 things to do in Bali with bonus saving tips, Snorkeling in Maldives: a moment of reflection, Snorkljanje na Maldivih in minuta za samorefleksijo. Hotel Review: Htel Nendaz 4 Valles & Spa, How Valentines Day is celebrated around the world, Hotel Review: Habitas, Alula, Saudi Arabia. Ticket prices include the cost of an $8 permit required to enter the Navajo lands. Not to worry if you dont have a DSLR or a tripod, our iPhone 6+s captured stunning photos here too! Tours typically depart between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, but this can change depending on daylight hours. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-17403672', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Sedona on your itinerary. You didnt really keep the secret did you? Waterhole is a slot canyon just like Antelope Canyon without a tour. The canyon splits into several tributaries, some which have deep narrow sections . After a short trip on Highway 89, we went on a 9.5 km off-road ride towards the canyon. Explore the top-rated styles for every type of trip to the beach. This exclusive access allows you to have a much shorter walk to the rim and enjoy breathtaking views of the Colorado River winding around the Horseshoe Bend loop. Still, we were happy to have seen both canyons and discover what makes each of them special. Follow these steps (and allow plenty of time) to get your child a passport. Purchases made through links earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It's a narrow canyon formed by the wear of water rushing through rock (of the sandstone and limestone varieties). If you don't necessarily have your heart set on the sunbeams, choose one of the "off-hours" for your tour, such as 9 AM or earlier and after 1 PM. If youre thinking of visiting, you may need to figure out which of the canyons to visit, should you only be able to visit one. Tours run several times daily. Travelers on a Lower Canyon tour will need to drive to the tour operator's location. Each vehicle has a Navajo guide that ushers the group through, shares information about the formations and even helps stage some photos, including sand cascading over a rock ledge.Sand is everywhere. Difficulty:There are no stairs or ladders in the canyon, but it does require walking on sandy terrain. Amenities include pillowtop mattresses, a small fridge and microwave, private bathrooms, and plenty of bear decor.Shash Dine' Eco-RetreatFor a truly unique stay, book a Najavo hogan or sheepherder wagon at this sustainable glamping campsite and B&B operated by Baya, a member of the Navajo Nation. If you (like me) are middle-aged, overweight, out of shape, or not used to the 7000-ft altitude, you may have trouble with the steep climb out of the canyon. He even helped us to set the cameras to the optimal lightning so we could all get the most out of our photo session. The cuts are modern and even the white shirts protect you from the sun. Each time has its advantages: select the 10:20 a.m. tour if you want to view the sunbeams at their most photogenic or the 2:30 p.m. tour to capture the afternoon light. The company recommends advance reservations, as tickets sell out quickly, and suggests that visitors without them arrive one hour prior to their preferred tour start time. Welcome to my blog! It costs you nothing extra and helps support this website. Promise No SpamHey I don't blog that much! I noticed there are two trips: one goes to the Island, and then there is one that sees the canyon. Hiking Antelope Canyon without a guide or tour was something I definitely looked into but realized was not possible. Returning in 40 minutes to the hummer shop, with views of Lake Powell in the distance, your memories will last a lifetime. Heres a look at our experience on the Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon tour! 85007 Canyon X is a private tour, only offered through Overland Canyon tours. there is a secret canyon in Page. The effect is almost surreal, and photographers from around the globe come to capture its beauty. The terrain of the Upper Canyon is more accessible for most tourists and is, therefore, busier. At first I was worried if taking the morning tour was a good idea (I had read that you were supposed to visit slot canyon at noon for the perfect lightning) but that was no issue at all. AZ Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest. Tours of Secret Canyon include a visit to Horseshoe Bend. Have you ever seen the amazing photos of a narrow canyon with elegantly curved rocks, colored in 50 shades of red that seem like from another planet? Simply inquire when booking. The best part about Water Holes Canyon is you do not need to buy a tour to visit. From Page, Arizona you can access Waterhole Slot Canyon easily from Rt. Guides are frequently described as informative and friendly and the scenery as unsurpassable. wow! Thank you! A couple of days later I visited the second secret slot canyon that most visitors never see. So, I did my share of online digging and found the Secret Canyon an intimate version of the slot canyon, which was definitely the highlight of our South West USA road trip. Several miles after leaving Highway 89 we came to the end of the road where our transport stopped. Tough call if I had to pick just one, but I would probably go with the Hummer tour to see Secret, Passage and Staircase Canyons, ditch the crowds and have the possibility of seeing some wildlife. Though hardly remote by some Arizona standards, Antelope Canyon is still considered a lengthy drive and hike for many areas of the state. Experience. However, the actual tour experience was the complete opposite of what we enjoyed at Secret Canyon. Canyon vs antelope canyon. Will definitely bookmark this! It was a little bumpy in places, but our driver was cautious and took his time so we didnt bounce around too much. 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