Visiting Antelope Canyon in Arizona with Kids

Visiting the amazing Antelope Canyon in Arizona with kids is totally possible. We did it, and here is how you can do it too.

Our spring break journey took us to both Utah and Arizona, with plenty of exciting destinations to explore along the way. Our trip was filled with unforgettable moments in amazing landscapes totally different from back home in California. We were determined to make the most of our time in Arizona – starting with a visit to Antelope Canyon.

The Canyon is located near the Utah-Arizona border in the town of Page. Closest bigger cities are Flagstaff in Arizona and St. George in Utah. A drive from Las Vegas, Nevada to Page is about 4,5 hours.

What is Antelope Canyon?

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon sculpted by centuries of water erosion. After building up some power at the top, the water runs through the canyons with force bringing down some sand at the same time. This erosion has carved a path, a slot canyon, which is big enough for a man to walk through.

In recent years pictures of the beautiful Antelope Canyon started circling around in internet and it quickly got into people’s bucket lists. Now visitors from all over come to see it.

The canyon is divided into six sections but the most known of them are Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. Tours to these sections are sold separately. Due to its accessibility and kid-friendly features, we opted for a tour of Upper Antelope Canyon. Other sections are Rattle Snake Canyon, Owl Canyon, Mountain Sheep Canyon and Canyon X.

Located on Navajo land, a permit from the Navajo tribe is required for visiting. At the moment, the only way to visit is to purchase a guided tour. There are several tour operators and the tours they offer might slightly vary from each others.

In 1997, 11 people died while visiting Lower Antelope Canyon when it was suddenly filled up with water from a nearby storm. After that, the safety of visitors has been improved by building a medal staircase in the canyon and by building an alarm system.

In 2010 the flooding scared some visitors in Upper Antelope Canyon. No one died, but some of the visitors got stuck on ledges until the water level lowered again.

VISITING ANTELOPE CANYON WITH KIDS

Before our visit, I scoured the internet for information on visiting Antelope Canyon with kids, especially with toddlers. I found that only few of the tour operators allowed kids into canyon.

After an excessive search and reading many reviews, we found Navajo Tours to be accommodating to families with children. Plus, supporting the Navajo tribe’s business felt like the right choice since we were on their land.

Every toddler is different and only the parents can assess if they would be able to comfortably complete this tour. One thing to consider is that the tour is very crowded and carefully timed. Kids must follow along and they can’t run around or stop when ever they want.

Backpacks aren’t allowed on the tour, so carrying a baby in your back is not an option. The canyon is very narrow and frankly it would be both difficult and dangerous. We did see a dad with a baby in a front carrier and that seemed to work fine.

We decided to let our toddler walk because she was already quite tall and the walk through the canyon is only about 15 minutes. In the worst case of scenario, we could just carry her the rest of the way. There are a lot of stops for photo breaks however, so timewise the tour will be longer and it might get a little for boring for the little ones.

Bigger kids however, should be fine while visiting the canyons. The biggest worry probably is to not to loose them in the crowds.

We chose to go to the Upper Antelope Canyon because it requires less climbing than the Lower Canyon. There are some metal stairs up and down, and sometimes a small amount of sand might fall on you while on the stairs, but the rest is just following the group on a narrow path.

Nowadays they do require that you bring your own car seat or a booster for a child under 5 years old. When we were there they did not require them. They used trucks where people sat on the back of the truck and the toddler or a baby can sat on our lap. The drive was quite short and they drove very slowly.

Exploring UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON – Our Experience

Our tour with Navajo Tours exceeded our expectations. 15 minutes before the tour, we were led to the trucks and then we drove another 15 minutes in the sandy river bed. At the canyon we had to wait a little while, since it was pretty crowded.

When we arrived at the canyon entrance, we were greeted by our guide. As we ventured deeper into the narrow canyon, he shared fascinating insights into its formation and history, while also helping us capture stunning photos. He was very knowledgeable of both phone and camera settings as well as the best spots for photos in the canyon.

The canyon is quite narrow at the times and sometimes we had to give room for people coming out. The fact that it really is so crowded can be quite a buzz kill for some, but the guides had everything under control.

Everyone visiting must follow the rules and move along with their own group. You wont be able to stay behind to snap photos or turn back at any point. We didn’t care so much, since the canyon was so mesmerising! We were just so happy to be able to finally see it.

Best times for Visiting Antelope Canyon

Visiting Antelope Canyon is extremely popular and the best times for the tours are sold out months advance. You should book your tour as soon as your trip to Page is confirmed.

Best time of the year are spring and fall months. Anything from April to October is considered a peak season at Antelope Canyon which means that they are busy. At winter the colours of the canyon are not quite same as summer since the sun is not as high. There are also more days that are overcast.

During the winter the temperatures can sometimes drop below freezing and occasional rains can cause flash flooding when the canyon will be closed. Always check the weather forecast before heading out to your tour.

At summer months the weather is more likely to co-operate, but it can get extremely hot at the canyon and therefore might not be ideal for visiting the canyons especially with kids.

The best time of the day is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., when the sun is high up and you can see the sun beams shine down inside the canyon. This of course wont happen on a cloudy day. However, no matter what time of the day you visit, Antelope Canyon will still be beautiful!

Where to stay while visiting Antelope Canyon

There are plenty of options of where to stay while visiting Antelope Canyon. I would recommed staying in Page so you will be close to the canyon and can get there quick. This way you will also have a rest of the day to do something else. We for example visited the amazing Horseshoe Bend on the same day.

We stayed in Comfort Inn and Suites Page at Lake Powell. The drive to Navajo Tours meeting point from there was only 8 minutes and they had a complimentary breakfast. It always helps when traveling with kids.

But also Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Page Lake Powell and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Page are great options.

Our tips for visiting Antelope Canyon

Here are some quick tips for visiting Antelope Canyon that I think everyone booking a tour should know:

• Book your tour early; Visiting Antelope Canyon is extremely popular and the best times for the tours are sold out months advance.
• Be there early; They will ask you to arrive 30 minutes early for the check in. You will first sign up and pay, and then you will be waiting for your tour. Bring some water, snacks and sun protection. There was no shade in the waiting area. Our tour started at noon and we were guided to our truck at 11:45. If you are late they will remove you from the tour and re-sell your spot.
• Bring your ID and your confirmation of the reservation.
• A group must pay together. They will accept most credit card but not Amex.
• Bring cash to tip your tour guide.
• Bring your camera! No tripods or selfie sticks were allowed. We were not allowed to take videos.
• Bags must be transparent and no backpags were allowed. Water bottles were ok.
• The tour took about 1.5 hours total, 60 minutes inside the canyon.
• Bring a scarf and sunglasses to cover your face. The drive is quite dusty and the sand is flying all over the place.

✻✻✻

Despite the crowds and waiting, our visit to Antelope Canyon was truly unforgettable. The surreal beauty of the canyon left us in awe. If you find yourself in Page, Arizona, don’t miss the chance to explore this natural wonder – it’s an experience your family won’t soon forget.

After touring Antelope Canyon we visited the amazing Horseshoe Bend which is also located in Page. The next day we headed further south to see the Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano and then Grand Canyon.

However, if you are heading to north, make sure to stop at Toadstool Hoodoos in Utah and at Zion National Park. Also both Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument are just less than three hours drive away.

Have you visited Antelope Canyon or any other slot canyons?