Lower Antelope is the one you go down into.
Five flights of stairs take you below the desert floor into the widest cavern of the walk. From there it narrows. The canyon is V-shaped, so the walls lean in as you go, and the sandstone reads amber, then violet, then rose, depending on where the light is coming in above you.
It is a real walk, not a stroll: 1.1 miles one way, on sand, with eight ladders to climb at the far end. Every ladder has handrails. If you are steady on stairs you will be fine.
Not sure which canyon is yours? We wrote the honest comparison: Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon.
Inside Lower Antelope Canyon: stairs, ladders and the walk
9:30 am
Pickup in Page, or meet us at the Shell station.
Around 10:00 am
Check-in at the Lower Antelope booth, then a ten minute walk to the entrance and five flights of stairs down.
10:15 am to 11:15 am
Inside the canyon, on a one-way path, then out on the ladders.
Around 11:45 am
A stop at Big Lake Trading Post for snacks and restrooms, then drop-off.
Your Navajo guide
Your Shun’Diin guide checks you in and walks you to the entrance, then hands you to a licensed Navajo guide who leads you through the canyon. We take you back at the other end.
Before you book: Arizona time and what you can bring
Every tour runs on Arizona time, which does not change for daylight saving. Utah and the Navajo Nation around Page do change, so between March and November your phone can jump an hour ahead on its own. Set it to Phoenix for the day.
No bags of any kind are allowed inside: no backpacks, hydration packs, purses or camera bags. Leave them on the van, which stays locked on site. A camera or phone you can carry or wear is fine.
Good to know
- Duration
- About 2 hours 15 minutes. Pickup around 9:30 am, back by about 11:45 am.
- Typical departures
- One departure daily, 9:30 am. Live times are in the booking calendar.
- Pickup
- Free pickup anywhere inside Page city limits: your hotel, Airbnb or campground. Staying outside Page, or checking out early? Meet us at the Shell station, also known as Big Lake Trading Post.
- Difficulty
- 5 flights of stairs going down, 82 steps in all, and 8 ladders coming out, each with handrails. A 1.1 mile walk, one way, on sand. Closed-toe shoes with grip are required.
- Ages
- Adults 8 and up, children 4 to 7. Infants 0 to 3 are free.
- Best light
- Mid-morning. Lower Antelope is known for colour rather than light beams.
- What's included
- Navajo Nation permit and all fees
- Entrance to Lower Antelope Canyon
- A licensed Navajo guide inside the canyon
- Round-trip transport in a Mercedes Sprinter, with hotel or Airbnb drop-off
- Bottled water and a light snack
- What to bring
- Photo ID for check-in
- Closed-toe shoes with grip. Flip-flops and heels are not allowed
- A camera or phone you can wear or carry, since bags stay on the van
- Cash if you would like to tip your guides
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible. Lower Antelope is V-shaped, wide at the top and narrow at the base, and is not recommended if you have claustrophobia or significant mobility limitations. Only portable restrooms at the canyon check-in sites. If you have had recent knee, hip or back surgery, call us before you book.
Questions guests ask
How many stairs are in Lower Antelope Canyon?
Five flights on the way down, 82 steps in total. Coming out is eight separate ladders, each fitted with handrails.
How difficult is Lower Antelope Canyon?
It is a real walk rather than a stroll: 1.1 miles one way on sand, stairs down and ladders out. If you are steady on stairs you will be fine. Closed-toe shoes with grip are required.
Is Lower Antelope Canyon bad if you are claustrophobic?
It can be. The canyon is V-shaped, wide at the top and narrow at the base, so the walls lean in as you walk. We do not recommend it if you are claustrophobic or have significant mobility limitations. Upper Antelope is the open one.
Are there light beams in Lower Antelope Canyon?
No. Lower Antelope is known for colour rather than beams. The light beams are in Upper Antelope, around midday from mid-March to mid-October.
What is not allowed in Lower Antelope Canyon?
No bags of any kind, no tripods, monopods or selfie sticks, no GoPros or camcorders, and no open-toed shoes. Navajo Parks and the canyon operators set those rules, not us.
How long does the Lower Antelope Canyon tour take?
About 2 hours 15 minutes door to door. Pickup around 9:30 am, back by about 11:45 am, with an hour inside the canyon.
Is Lower Antelope Canyon wheelchair accessible?
No. There are stairs and ladders and the floor is sand. There are only portable restrooms at the check-in site.
What time zone do the tours use?
Arizona time, all year. Arizona does not change for daylight saving, but Utah and the Navajo Nation around Page do, so between March and November your phone can jump an hour ahead on its own. Set it to Phoenix for the day.
