terryhobart Loc: Grass Valley, CA

I'm going to Page AZ the second week of Oct. I'm trying to decide on the Antelope Canyon tours or Canyon X. X is much less traveled and probably easier to get a photo tour but the prices seem low and I suspect the canyon is short. I'm worried that in Oct. the sun won't be high enough for me to get good color. Antelope is much more popular - read crowded and I'm not even sure I can get a photo tour - may not be offered because of the crowds.

I've seen discussions here about the canyons so I thought I'd get your opinions.

Thanks in advance.

breck Loc: Derbyshire UK

I have been to antelope twice it was way too busy the second visit we went on a photographic tour but visitors were constantly walking in front of my camera leading to blurred images the magic had gone in the chase of the dollar. This was not in the high season so getting a vacancy on a tour was easy, just way too busy. We visited Rattlesnake canyon on the same tour which was much nicer being very quiet

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Terry, I'd check to see if they even do photo tours anymore.
--Bob

terryhobart Loc: Grass Valley, CA

X kind of does per their website.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I was at Antelope in early October last fall. The crowds weren't bad at all, the weather was great, and the photography was excellent. I went to the upper canyon and used the tour guide on site rather than the one in town (you can find the name on the internet). The guide was great, and he made sure everyone got all the photos wanted. I didn't take the photo tour, and learned that I didn't need to. By this time of the year, the crowds are not bad at all. As a bonus, Horseshoe Bend is only about a half mile south of Page, AZ, where you'll probably stay. Don't miss it. I did because of folks we were traveling with, and I've been kicking myself ever since. Happy trip!

terryhobart Loc: Grass Valley, CA

Thanks I'll try that. Getting a private photo tour @ Monument Valley, hitting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and Vermilion Cliffs in addition to the slot canyon. Had planned to skip Horseshoe as everyone says it's combat photography.

GAS496 Loc: Arizona

Terry,

I have been to both. Upper and Lower Antelope about four years ago. It was nice then and they allowed "serious photographers" in Lower Antelope on their own with a three hour limit. After the tours marched by for a minute or two you felt like you had the canyon to yourself. It was near a religious experience. But and this is a big but, the families that own both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons stopped all photo tours, no tripods, no more throwing the sand in the air, no leaving you on your own, etc. Our Navajo guide, who spent the better part of a week with us in April 2017 told us the families just stopped all photo tours in Upper and Lower because of the ability to make much more money packing the canyons with tourists not photographers. They stropped throwing the sand in the air because someone complained about getting hit with the sand a rocks.

So she tool us to Canyon X. The family that owns Canyon X is much more relaxed about things. Yes it is smaller but you will still be able to get some great shots and spend time there with little to no others around. I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Be prepared for crowds anywhere you go in the Page area. They have many hotels already and eight more under construction. Uggh! I will not be going back. The famous "Horseshoe Bend" overlook had about 1,000 people standing at the edge. I carried my heavy camera equipment up and down the sand hills but was so disappointed I did not even take a shot.

terryhobart Loc: Grass Valley, CA

Thank you so much for the info. It's of great help.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I found the same, except I crawled to the edge of the cliff of horse shoe bend and took a panoramic, and it came out. My advise, take water, it is a long walk but it is free. Yes, Page is growing too quickly, too bad, it used to be really nice to visit. And yes, they are really now packing them in at Antelope Canyon, there were at least 20 tour buses there at the time.

dyximan

I went in April a couple of years ago to antelope Canyon and was told the following. The North Canyon is the best in the a.m. and the p.m. the South Canyon is best in mid day. As the North Canyon has a narrower opening and the sun reflects off the rocks better and the South Canyon has a wider opening and acceps the sun with a more direct light I did the North Canyon in the afternoon and got some awesome shots. In North Canyon is the canyon that supposedly some gentleman got a great shot and sold for 6 million bucks just in case I have the north and south backwards you can ask about that particular photo. And that's the canyon that you want to be in the a.m. or p.m.

terryhobart Loc: Grass Valley, CA

thanks much