Antelope Canyon – a slot canyon from a dream world

Today we drive past Lake Powell to Page to visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. The Antelope Canyon is located in the Navajo Reservation in Arizona and is the most visited slot canyon in the USA. Only authorized Navajo guides are allowed to take visitors into the canyon. Independent hikes in the canyon are not permitted. We have booked a private tour for the Secret Canyon, which, in contrast to the crowded Upper and Lower Canyons, is significantly less visited and can be explored more comfortably in small groups. The 15-minute ride in the open-air off-road vehicle over the unpaved paths to the canyon is adventurous and quite fast. Upon arriving at the entrance, we’re off, and we enter the canyon. Due to the light conditions in the canyon and the gently curved rock walls illuminated in shades of yellow, orange, and red, we are greeted by a spectacular, almost surreal scene as if from a dream. The canyon looks painted. A unique and highly recommendable tour as an alternative to the Upper or Lower Canyon, for those who prefer not to be herded through the canyon like a flock.

As part of the tour, we then drive with our Navajo guide to a private viewpoint right at Horseshoe Bend, allowing us to avoid the tourist crowds and the not insignificant hike from the parking lot to the public viewpoint. In blazing heat and without shade, this monotonous sandy desert path is not very inviting, especially with children. Horseshoe Bend is a gigantic horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River, only 10 minutes away from Antelope Canyon. Just having been in Antelope Canyon, we now stand right in front of this iconic natural monument: it is impressive how many natural wonders are located side by side in this part of the earth. Here, the Colorado River has cut 300 meters deep into the 200 million year old sandstone over time. Although the hiking trail to Horseshoe Bend and the associated viewpoint still belong to the Navajo Nation, Horseshoe Bend itself no longer belongs to it but is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area managed by the NPS (National Park Service). The NPS app also provides valuable information, maps, and current alerts regarding various events such as road closures, closures, or potential safety risks. By the way, the Navajo tour providers adhere to Arizona time, although the Navajo Nation has never abolished Daylight Saving Time, unlike the state of Arizona.

We end the evening with a round of mini golf.