Antelope Canyon is one of the most interesting and intriguing places to visit in the American southwest, and possibly even on the earth. It is located in Page, Arizona and is about a 4.5 hour drive from Las Vegas. When it comes to visiting Antelope Canyon, it is far better to book a tour as part of a larger tour package, due to the unique characteristics of Antelope Canyon that could potentially close it for visitation on the day you arrive.
Antelope Canyon is not a national park that is controlled by the federal government, and instead is located on Navajo land and is maintained by Navajo Nation, along with Monument Valley. The unique aspects of Antelope Canyon is that it is a dramatic slot canyon that was carved from sandstone ground by rushing water taking the same path for thousands of years. There is no river in Antelope Canyon like is seen in the Grand Canyon, so the rushing water that smoothed the walls and created the channel is actually only seen when there is rain and flash flooding in the area. Antelope Canyon itself is considered quite dangerous during these timeframes, as visitors who are within the canyon itself cannot effectively see the entire sky above, and potentially could not see inclement weather developing in the distance that could cause flash flooding within the canyon itself. For this reason, Navajo Nation imposes several specific rules on visitors, first and foremost that there are no self-guided tours. The only way to visit Antelope Canyon is with a tour guide that has been approved by Navajo Nation as understanding the safety rules and abiding by them. Navajo Nation actually operates it’s own weather service to monitor flash flooding in the areas, and potentially to advise closures of the tourist activities if there is any possibility of flash flooding at all. Visitors becoming trapped and hurt by flash flooding through the canyon if they do not adhere by the rules is a possibility, which is why it is taken so seriously by the stewards of the area.
Antelope Canyon is very dramatic, and offers the ability to see a completely unique phenomenon during the springtime months each year. During a specific timeframe visitors can witness beams of sunlight that are projected down to the canyon floor due to the shape of the walls. These sunbeams are even more dramatic when sand from the floor of the canyon is tossed through them for photographs and video, however this phenomenon only happens during the times of year when the sun is positioned appropriately above the canyon, and only happens in certain areas. If you want to make sure you can witness the event, ask when you book your tour if the sunbeams will be seen during your tour. Provided there is no chance of flash flooding that would make it necessary to reschedule a tour of a different park during your bigger tour of Zion, Bryce and Monument Valley, you should be able to see one of the most dramatic and unique sights on earth as the sunshine drops to the canyon floor in a beam of light.