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Visiting the Lower Antelope Canyon with Kids

Lower Antelope Canyon is one of the most spectacular places we have visited. We explored this hidden gem in northern Arizona and it has left such a lasting impression. The canyon was named for the herds of pronghorn antelope that once roamed the area many years ago. Located in the Native American Indians land of the Navajo Nation, its Navajo name is Hasdestwazi, or “spiral rock arches” and you’ll see just how magical it is on this photographic journey with us.

Lower Antelope Canyon
The canyons can only be toured with a guide. There is an upper and lower Antelope Canyon but we decided to tour the lower one based on online reviews and made it to the 3PM tour.

Reservations are not needed but highly recommended. Visitors can simply walk up and tours are given every 30 minutes. Don’t expect any modern facilities here. It was pretty much a shack, a dirt parking lot and portable toilets.

Lower Antelope Canyon facility
Our guide was a local high school student and a Navajo tribal member who led our group of 13 (with my two being the only kids). We walked a short distance on red sand to some unassuming rock formations.

Lower Antelope Canyon top
We’re about to go inside Lower Antelope Canyon.

The entrance was inside a large crack with metal stairs leading down into the bottom of the canyon. The stairs were a little steep on some parts but with handrails so it wasn’t too nerve-wracking for kids and nervous moms.

Lower Antelope Canyon stairs
We’ve seen many pictures of the slot canyon but nothing prepared us for the incredible scenes that greeted us was once we were on the canyon floor. While it may be a little clichéd to say it needs to be seen in person, this is definitely one of those you need to personally see to fully appreciate its beauty.

Lower Antelope Canyon

Orange and tan sandstone walls that almost looked like someone painstakingly sculpted them surrounded us. It was one of Mother Nature’s finest masterpieces. I couldn’t get over how remarkable the texture and curves of the sandstone walls were.

Lower Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon was created by water and wind. These forces of nature sculpted and eroded the sandstone over thousands of years turning it into a slot canyon. The slot canyon is very narrow, hence its name, where some areas were as wide as my arms stretched out.

Lower Antelope Canyon with kids

Some parts also had really narrow passageways. It took some maneuvering and scrambling to get around some areas but made the exploration more fun. There were metal ladders throughout the canyon to help visitors navigate their way through. Some paths only enabled one person at a time to pass through.

Lower Antelope Canyon narrow passage
It’s a tight squeeze!

Flash flooding played a big part in carving these rocks and creating the smooth, flowing shapes as it rushed into the canyon’s passageways. These canyons are closed to the public with any rain forecast in the area since flooding still happens.

Lower Antelope Canyon
Lower Antelope Canyon is about 1/4 mile long. Luckily, some areas were wide enough for active kids to run around and see a visual treat at each corner.

Lower Antelope Canyon with kids
The red sand on the ground was very soft and fine. It was so tempting to walk barefoot. My kids couldn’t help but grab some sand and let it run through their fingers. Some of the rocks have already started to fall apart in some areas.

Lower antelope canyon break

The Antelope Canyon became part of the Navajo Parks and Recreation and was opened for tourism in 1997. Guides were necessary to protect and preserve this sacred land.

Lower antelope canyon

We were the only tour group in the canyon so it was fairly quiet. Being in such an amazing place almost requires total silence to fully enjoy its beauty and admire this remarkable wonder of colors, patterns, shadows and shapes. The Navajos consider this a spiritual place and you can almost feel it radiating from the canyon walls.

Lower Antelope canyon Arizona

Light filtered into the canyon through the narrow gaps. There was just enough sunlight that crept through that made the formations even more dramatic. There is a different scenery each time depending on the position of the sun. Lighting is supposed to be better during the early hours and late in the afternoon.

Lower Antelope Canyon

We were treated with a pleasant surprise at every turn. We couldn’t stop taking pictures to somehow preserve such splendor in photos. I’m not sure you can really take a bad picture here. Though, we’d love to come back soon with no cameras in hand and just walk through in silence for a different experience. I can certainly understand why this place has been often referred to as a “photographer’s paradise”.

Lower Antelope Canyon

For amateurs like us, we were glad we had a very helpful tour guide who loved photography and has actually sold his work. He told us what settings to use for our cameras and smartphones and showed us the best spots and angles to photograph.

Lower Antelope Canyon arch

Some of the curve-shaped rocks almost looked like they were bendable and easily stretched. Those smooth looking surfaces looked very deceiving. It was hard to believe they were rocks and it was an endless display of amazement for all of us.

Lower Antelope Canyon

Much like clouds, some of the rock formations began to take on faces and animals once you look closely. Finding hidden figures within the rock formations entertained my kids throughout the tour. The guide pointed out some obvious ones to us like this lion’s head.

Lower Antelope Canyon lion
It was a fantastic place to let your imagination run wild. Do you see a turtle head in here?

Lower Antelope Canyon turtle

Can you make out a person’s profile blowing something? This image almost seemed mystical and could possibly portray an entity shaping the rocks with each breath.

Lower Antelope canyon blowface
Since we went a long way down, we also needed to climb some stairs to get back to the surface. But, we took our time getting back up since there were still some stragglers behind us. It was worth it to stop for awhile and soak in the remarkable images before going back up to the real world.

Lower Antelope Canyon ladder

This was how the slot canyon looked from above and where we finished our tour.

Lower Antelope Canyon trail end
Though, this may not be as popular as nearby Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon should be visited at least once especially if you’re in the area. Pictures can’t truly capture this spiritual and incredible place. Lower Antelope Canyon treated us to a showcase of shapes, textures, colors and an experience that will stand out in our travels and memories.

Lower Antelope Canyon wth kids

Tips for Visiting Lower Antelope Canyon with kids

  • Book your tours with Ken’s Tours. Check their website for the latest prices.
  • If you’re doing the Upper and Lower Canyon together in one day, you only pay for the $8 Navajo Park Permit once.
  • Tours run about one hour and is about a mile total.
  • Open all year, seven days a week. Keep in mind that they will close Antelope Canyon for any rain forecast around Page, Arizona due to possible flash floods risk. Check the weather before you go and plan accordingly.
  • Tours start at 8:30 AM and ends at 4 PM and scheduled every 30 minutes.
  • Use the portable restrooms (port-o-potties) before going on the tour since there are no restrooms at the canyon.
  • Bring any snacks or water with you especially when traveling with kids. There are no concession stands here.
  • Wear contrasting colors with the rocks like green, black, yellow or blue to stand out in the pictures. White is not a good option especially when you brush up or sit on the rocks. My daughter was wearing white jeans and it took some time to get all that red dirt out.
  • Wear closed toe shoes since you’ll be walking in soft, red sand.
  • Bring a light jacket since it is a bit cooler in the canyons.
  • Summer is their busiest season so you’ll have tours right after the other and possibly more people in your group.
  • Bring extra cash to tip your guides.
  • Choose your canyon accordingly. Lower Antelope is longer, less crowded and cheaper compared to Upper Antelope. The upper portion requires a bumpy ride to get to the entrance compared to our short walk.
  • It also requires reservations with various tour companies. The upper is an easy walk through the canyon but the lower one requires more scrambling and going on metal ladders. Read the reviews online. For what it’s worth, many of the locals we met told us they prefer lower over upper.

Have you visited Antelope Canyon?

Where to Stay/Lodging in Page/Lake Powell

  • Best Western Plus at Lake Powell – We stayed at this hotel and were happy with it. It was close to many of the attractions, shops and restaurants. Rooms were spacious and the heated pool was great. Complimentary wifi is available and full, hot breakfast.
  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Page – Lake Powell Area – This looked like a newer hotel. Great location and the hotel offers complimentary high-speed, wireless Internet access, an outdoor pool and hot Express Start Breakfast Bar

  • Courtyard Page at Lake Powell– This looked like the nicest hotel in Page and was in a great location. They offer free wifi. If you want to splurge a bit, this may be worth it.
  • Save up to 50% on  hotels on Booking.com
  • Find the best Page hotels and read reviews on Tripadvisor.

Tours

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Lower Antelope Canyon with kids

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49 thoughts on “Visiting the Lower Antelope Canyon with Kids”

  1. These photos are stunning, especially the first. Did you take them? What amazing rock formations. I love that these are places in North America.

    1. Thanks Sarah! The first one is one of my favorites. These are a combination of photos between what I took and what my husband took and the family ones by someone from the group. But, he took that first one. It was amazing to know that all of that was underground in a not so easily accessible city in Arizona.

  2. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. Such great shots – and so many of them are different from what you normally see. This place is VERY high on my wish list.

  3. I’ve always wanted to visit a slot canyon. Your photos are terrific. I do like how the layers of sandstone swoop around, and I definitely think this is an outing my kids would enjoy. I think it’s great that the guide knew so much about photography. I wonder which came first, his interest in photography or his job which exposed him to so many photographers. I’m glad you suggested bringing extra money to tip the guide. I would have forgotten that.

  4. I’ve heard of this canyon but I had no idea it’s so narrow and deep. I love that you showed us pictures of the steps and what it looks like from outside, it makes it even more remarkable. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous. Did you use any special equipment?

    1. Thanks Phoebe! The outside is so unassuming that we never expected what wonders lay below. We didn’t use any special equipment. My husband had one lens (forgot what he used) for his DSLR and I just had a Sony NEX camera. It is really hard to take a ad picture here.

  5. These photos are so amazing that I felt like I was inside with you exploring the canyon. Definitely special and unique place I would love to visit one day.

  6. I’ve always admired the photos from the canyon, Mary. They really are impressive. Good point about wearing contrasting colors and no whites. Thanks for the tour!

  7. What an incredibly beautiful place – the photos are just unreal! I had no idea that it was nearby the Grand Canyon – we might have to make a return trip to the area in order to see Antelope Canyon as well!

  8. AMAZING photos! I’ve lived in Arizona for 24 years now and have never been here…I need to now put it on my calendar!!

  9. Oh Mary, that’s so so beautiful! What a visual treat! How I’d love to get there soon and to photograph. Your photos are stunning and virtually took me there. The angles and the color are so amazing, I don’t think you can photograph it enough! what a great family trip. So jealous of my adopted sibling! Thanks for all the tips. Will definitely refer back to this before I go.

  10. What an amazing place, Mary! It’s nice to see that they haven’t made the area “nicer” with a fancy tourist center. Keeping things as natural as possible is a big plus. That 2 hour self guided photography tour would be fantastic. Thanks for linking up to Travel Photo Thursday this week.

  11. Stunning captures, really what a beautiful place. The ‘Hand of God’ and those rocks seem fragile, are they? A very spiritual place as you mentioned Mary.

  12. Wow! The shapes and colours of the stone is like art – it IS art. It’s Navajo name is perfect. And yes, I saw the turtle head! Thanks for sharing :)

  13. Beautiful pictures! I have seen way to many pictures of these place and it pains me that I have yet to set my own eyes and feet there. You pictures make me want to get there soon rather than later!
    #sundaytraveler

  14. This place is so cool, it doesn’t even look real! How amazing it would be to actually be there in person. Your photos are awesome! What a great family outing!

  15. Oh wow, this is stunning. I’ve been wanting to go see this for myself for awhile. I’ve been to the Grand Canyon, but I wish we had gone here too. Thanks for linking up to #SundayTraveler again :)

  16. I’d seem some pictures, but I never realized it was actually a whole canyon you could walk through! It’s really cool to see what it looks like from the outside.

  17. Wow, I’ve got such a bad case of wanderlust Mary! I think you’re right – it looks impossible to take a bad photo when the landscape is so extraordinary! This is going straight on my ‘list’!

  18. So incredible! Next time I visit the states I definitely plan to visit Antelope. (As well as the many other amazing canyons in the area). So much to see in the Utah/Arizona area.

  19. gorgeous shots of a place that is — despite it’s beauty — rather challenging to photograph well. we’ve done the other one. tours were more limited when we visited – now you’ve made me want to go back and do this one too!

  20. While the photos are beautiful, thanks for the great commentary about bringing kids. We’re amateur photographers at best but want memorable photos of our experiences and your entry confirmed that we can do this in LAC instead of the expensive rushed UAC.
    Keep sharing and thanks.

  21. Are the ladders more like narrow stairs? my mom is 68 and will be going with us. She had knee surger 4 years ago but her knees don’t bend past a90 degree anymore.

  22. If anyone has issues with climbing ladders, they should try the upper Antelope Canyon. Much flatter and just as amazing.

  23. Just finished lower antelope canyon today, what an amazing place! Our group size was eight people (6 of which were me and my family. Groups were spread out far enough so that picture taking was a breeze, along with our guide taking photos with our phones for us. Masks were still required but with temps in the low 70’s it was perfect weather. Definitely a bucket list item completed, next is upper antelope and canyon x.

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