Ever since I first saw photos of the sandstone slot canyons in Arizona, specifically Antelope Canyon, I wanted to visit. In Flagstaff, take I-40 East towards Albuquerque for roughly 6-miles. There, youll find several shuttles or tour companies willing to bring you to and from the various outdoors excursions, including Antelope Canyon. This is Navajo Land, we are guests, and should be thankful that they have let us hike the majestic canyon. This canyon is renowned for the breathtaking shafts of light that break through the narrow canyon roof. But I couldnt find it. This time the colours in the canyon seemed richer, with shades of purple, pink, even blue, accenting the warm orange tones of the sandstone. It's a narrow canyon formed by the wear of water rushing through rock (of the sandstone and limestone varieties). One of the steepest slot canyons in the area with hoodoos, corkscrews, multi-colored sandstone and stunning rock formations all without the crowds of the more well-known and popular Antelope Canyons. This scenic beauty can be found just east of Page, Arizona. I was dreaming of visiting this wonder of nature since the first time I laid my eyes on it, and I wanted everything to be perfect. Or a handstand, may I add I really truly hope that Horseshoe Bend Tours will keep their mission to keep the Secret Canyon as secret and private as it gets. Location is the biggest difference. 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. Drivers coming from the north or south can take Route 89, drivers from the west can take Route 89A, and visitors commuting from the east can take Route 98. The reason it's called Secret Canyon is because they don't want anyone to know the real name of it. A barren tree branch had been swept into the confined passages only to be lodged against a narrow opening. Tours depart daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (you'll need to arrive 30 minutes before departure to check in). As much as the dim light made it hard for me to take photographs, I appreciated the moody atmosphere it created. I suspect only a few weeks or months as the summer rains will return and they would change the canyon yet again. The ride is an adventure in itself and the natural air conditioning is a welcome relief to the summer heat! Check with your tour operator about availability before you book. If you have a DSLR camera, cover it when you are not using it (a plastic shower cap does the trick) and never change lenses inside the canyon. This rare opportunity to explore one of the longest slot canyons on the Navajo Nation is made even more special by the limited number of guests we take on each tour. I simply adore the magenta and red colors and cant seem to find out at what time of day they come out best. Secret Canyon is just a few feet wide in some places and over 100 feet (30m) high and though this canyon is only a 450 feet (140m) long it contains interesting and colourful examples of the abstract beauty. On windy days, dust can blow into your nose, mouth and ears. Would you believe me if I told you theres a slot canyon that looks just like the famous Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons that you can hike all on your own? When you buy your permit, the attendant will hand you a map, which we didnt really use. Ill pay more for a smaller, more intimate tour than an assembly line-like one any day. Since Secret Canyon can only be visited on a guided tour, I was glad that the sole option available to us was a good one- small groups of 15 max, an hour to spend in the canyon, and no other tour groups coming through at the same time. For those reasons, I started to look for an alternative to Antelope Canyon, one where I could enjoy similar scenery, but have plenty of time for capturing photos and absorbing the atmosphere. Travelers on a Lower Canyon tour will need to drive to the tour operator's location. The meandering formations of the canyon looked so elegant, sometimes partially hidden by shadows, other times highlighted by the light seeping in from above. I really want to go!! Again, we were able to take our time here, free to walk along the edge of the canyon and enjoy various views of the Colorado River. You get to spend up to one hour in the canyon. That, in itself, is worth the price of admission. Thank you for sharing. 1600 feet long. Waterhole Canyon is a slot canyon that looks almost identical to Antelope. Either one is perfectly stunning and photogenic, so its up to the visitor to decide what theyre wanting out of their experience. If youre less particular, youll have more wiggle room as it pertains to canyon visitation. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-17407433', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lake Powell Blvd. Plus I was busy with the boat tours earlier in the day. Once there, your tours may last up to two hours when you figure in parking, the journey there and actual time spent in the canyons. Learn more about this architectural marvel on a guided tour. Secret Canyon is a short slot in the middle fork of upper Water Holes Canyon. For some reason, I always enjoy riding around in the back of a truck- it makes the trip feel more adventurous! Some spots we still needed a tripod for a longer exposure but generally, we just handheld our DSLR for photos. Because of the vandalism, I mentioned at the end of this post, you must now visit this Waterhole Canyon as part of a tour. I hope that Horseshoe Bend Tours keeps Secret Canyon a small-group experience because Ive seen too many places lose their magic because of over-tourism. At what time did you visit the Secret Canyon? 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. Back at the truck, our guide passed out some snacks and water before driving us to their private overlook of Horseshoe Bend for the second half of our tour. Discover Canyon X in Antelope Canyon on a guided tour, with timed entry for a hassle-free adventure. What else can you do while youre there? 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. 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. 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. Exact departure times vary by season. Here's the essential information you need for a satisfying visit. Pick the best time of year and the best time of day for what youre wanting (off-season for fewer crowds, mid-summer, and midday for the best light beams) if the summers seem like too much stress. The Navajo Nation limits visits to either the Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon to two hours and requires all visitors to be led by authorized guides. Upper Antelope Canyon is most famous for its "beam of light" phenomenon. Once you get there just dont forget to breathe. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Is this slot canyon the same as Antelope Canyon? We took the Lower Antelope Canyon Photography Tour and saw first hand how tour guides herded tourists through like cattle. If youre wanting a national landmark or destination experience without the crowds, cost, and travel time, Antelope Canyon might be a good option. Tickets (excluding the park entrance fee) start at around $50 for adults and $30 for children ages 4 to 12. Phoenix, It was our first time being inside a slot canyon and having such a positive experience made us want to visit more slots on our American southwest road trip. The narrow passage snaked like a meandering stream while above me the blue sky peeked through the narrow opening at the top of the canyon walls. In this video, I explain why Antelope Canyon X is a great alternative to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. I was excited to return and try to capture its beauty with my newer equipment and techniques. When booking the tour time, the best time of day to visit the Antelope Canyon is 10:30 am for the Upper Antelope. Travelers rave about their visits to this site, and are particularly complimentary of the knowledgeable guides. You'll also need a prior reservation with an authorized Navajo guide to visit either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon. You might be the early-bird that loves the cool wash of dawn daylight, or you might fancy the warm wash of the golden-hour sunset glow. This is more likely to happen from June to September, during Arizona's monsoon season. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Secret Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Overlook, The top two Page, Arizona area attractions in a single tour, Enjoy the popular Secret Antelope Canyon Tour PLUS a trip to the world-famous Horseshoe Bend Overlook, A uniquely beautiful slot canyon in Page, AZ and far less crowded than Upper and Lower Antelope, A private Navajo viewpoint of Horseshoe Bend located immediately adjacent to the congested National Park Service viewing area, Less than a 100 meter walk from the truck to the private Horseshoe Bend Overlook, Fun off-road adventure in a shaded and cushioned open-air tour truck, 360-degree views of stunning Southwest wilderness, Fun and memorable experience for the whole family. Secret Canyon, which also known as Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon (due to its proximity to the Horseshoe Bend Overlook photo above) lies approximately 15 km south from Page where you can also find the office the place where it all starts from. The colors keep changing because of different angles, so dont worry. If you want to take great pictures then I recommend the Secret Canyon tour as it is much easier to get the time and space to do that without people constantly wandering into the view of your lens. Lower is a little more flexible, as the canyon's top is wider, which in turn allows the sun to have a wider range to soak the canyon in light. The price generallybut not alwaysincludes taxes and the $8 Navajo . From here you follow the cairns (little piles of rocks) down into the canyon. Personally, both I and my husband preferred the unrushed experience of Waterhole Canyon. A welcome relief to the tour time, the attendant will hand you a map, we! Most famous for its & quot ; phenomenon would change the Canyon find several shuttles or tour willing! For photos so its up to the visitor to decide what theyre wanting antelope canyon vs secret canyon. 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