HISTORY of ANTELOPE CANYON –
Imagine no social media, or even no internet. You have a great natural wonder you want to share with others. What do you do? How do you share this phenomenon with others? In 1992, at what we now know as Lower Antelope Canyon, Ken and his wife would sit on the side of the road waving down cars to tell them about this wonderful natural phenomenon on their private property. It was well over two decades until their efforts would prove beneficial.
Today, Ken’s Tours hosts about 500 visitors a day. No more need to sit outside and wave down visitors. Due to a surge in travel, homestead lodging, and more social media sharing starting in 2012, a marvelous place such as Antelope Canyon has experienced a vastly large increase in explorers seeking a great adventure to share with others.
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MY EXPERIENCE –
Before moving to this area, I had no idea about Antelope Canyon, although I was well aware of The Grand Canyon. It’s about a two-hour drive to the north rim from our current location. Antelope Canyon is less than a thirty minute drive from Liberty Vacation Rentals. After arriving and searching the area on Google Maps, I saw the property was located really close to a massive body of water: Lake Powell. I grew up close to lakes and know that lake life is amazing.
Our first year in Big Water, we cleaned up the building, and after much effort, opened it up to rent on AirBnB. Our first few guests mentioned Antelope Canyon but we still had no idea what it was and the extent of this natural phenomenon. Oh, the lovely resource of the internet! I went deep, exploring the area of northern Arizona and southern Utah. What a spectacular find of natural phenomenons: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Moab, Colorado River, and most of all… Antelope Canyon.
GETTING A TOUR –
Dixie Ellis and Ken’s Tours own the property rights to Antelope Canyon. A few years ago when we arrived, they were still getting used to the massive influx of visitors. A comfortable system to guide guests into the canyon had not been implemented. An allotment of twenty visitors per guide, every ten or fifteen minutes, was the standard. Complaints came in of the narrow canyon feeling “too crowded.” But what else can you do when hundreds of people are waiting two or more hours just to get in, all summer long?
In March of 2020, we took a free-tour on a special day for locals, and learned that these tour companies will be reducing the crowds, tapering down the numbers to 10 people per guide.
We climbed down into the earth, via metal ladders installed for ease of access. Descending 55 feet with our guide, we begin our tour through the slot canyon. Several people packed into the sandstone channel began gasping and clicking away on cameras, while taking in such an incredible natural wonder.
I remember the crowds in the canyon. I remember meeting several tourists. I remember standing in the 100 degree temperature. I watched videos of our journey. This time would be different. In 2020 we would tour Lower Antelope Canyon and I would remember all of it. Ken’s Tours and Dixie Ellis welcomed locals to tour the canyon two weekends in the “off season”. We didn’t realize until the end of the first tour locals had the opportunity to explore the canyon several times throughout the two weekends.
Since we have lived in the area a few years, we consider ourselves locals. Living in an area mostly for vacationing, we, as locals, have incredible perks. (Read through our other blog posts for more local attractions.) Ken’s Tours and Dixie Ellis wanted to extend a gracious expedition to their exquisite unique sandstone rock formation.
The first tour was Leap Day, 2020. The weather was a little cool with frequent sun rays and a few clouds. It wasn’t too hot and it wasn’t too cold. Since we are sort of deep in the canyon, I could have used a second long sleeves layer under my vest. Somehow the cool stays in the channel and remains a few degrees cooler throughout the year, up to ten degrees fahrenheit cooler. I knew this time my adventure through the canyon would be well documented and would definitely pay off if I keened in my super awareness of this grand experience. I was excited and grateful for Ken’s Tours gracious gift and I was assuredly going to take advantage of this offer.
As you have been able to see the details of the canyon through social media postings, blog articles, video contents, and advertisements Antelope Canyon is undeniably a bucket list for all that venture into this marvelous rock we call Earth. There’s nothing new I can tell you about the canyon. It is one to be experienced, not just talked about or seen through the eyes of another. The take away from this post is to let you know how much the tour companies have advanced in their organization by developing a system more suitable for the enjoyment in the experience of the canyon. Navajo Nation Parks Administration toured the canyon and decided the groups touring were too large and could possibly cause damage to the natural sandstone wall. It was decided to send in groups of ten visitors rotating companies Ken’s and Dixie every fifteen minutes. What an incredible change.
As we descended into the canyon, we took many photos. I have an iPhoneX so I just assumed it would auto adjust to the lighting. Once we were half way through the tour the guide mentioned I should be using the “VIVID” setting. I had no idea where the adjustments to lighting were on the phone. As we moved forward, I played with the adjustments finding “COOL VIVID” worked just as well. The one camera setting I had not even thought to use was a vertical PANORAMIC. This setting takes in the extent of how tall the walls are in Lower Antelope Canyon. We even used a normal horizontal panoramic walking behind the shooter to position ourselves in the frame a few different spots. Oh boy… Technology is amazing.
TWICE IN ONE WEEKEND –
The next day we took advantage once again of the free tour for locals, and went through Lower Antelope a second time. This time we knew what to expect, how to use our time wisely and to ask the guide for more information. The second guide had so much information it was almost a bit overwhelming. We could occasionally hear the tour guide behind us speak of other areas in the canyon we had not paid much attention to. (Ask about the crystals in the walls.)
I am amazed how much time I could spend in this canyon. It’s well worth the money to explore. Even more if you get to visit this canyon a few times. As I have already mentioned, Ken’s Tours has a building where visitors can wait comfortably for their tour to be called to go into the canyon.
I asked about early check ins. YES! It is welcomed. You may check in early the day of your reservation and return fifteen minutes before your tour time. Although if you miss your reservation time, it’s likely you will need to make a new reservation and possibly lose the money for the tour missed. I suggest arriving one hour prior to the reserved time, hang out, speak with other visitors, learn of their plans in the area.
OFF SEASON TOURS –
Visiting “off season” makes a great difference in time spent exploring the canyon. I would venture to say October, November, February and March would be less crowded, although the tour companies are booked well in advance throughout the year. February seems to be the most logical time to visit without fighting through the crowds. And… Everything is cheaper.
If you have the time and the money, I would suggest going through the canyons with a private tour guide or multiple visits. What an incredible way to see Earth and Mother Nature come together through technology for all of us to share our experience.
Written by,
JeniMae Baker