Slot canyons are narrow canyons with high walls, which are formed over time by running water. Antelope Canyon, or Tsé bighánílíní in the Navajo language, is one such canyon located in Page, AZ. This beautiful canyon, which is approximately 120 feet deep and over 1,000 feet long, has been widely publicized thanks to its photogenic sandstone appearance.
Access to Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is located near Lake Powell, just a few miles east of the northern Arizona city of Page. Because Antelope Canyon itself is located on Navajo Nation land, it was once difficult for the public to access. Between 1987 and 1997, only private tour companies approved by the Navajo were allowed to bring tourists to this slot canyon to explore it. In 1997, the area was turned into a Navajo Tribal Park; since this time, it has become more easily accessible, though tourists must still book a guided tour.
Geography of Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon was formed primarily by flash flooding, which slowly eroded the area’s Navajo Sandstone to create the winding slot canyon. Inside, the rock walls of the canyon appear smooth, almost as if they are flowing around those who walk between them. Antelope Canyon is split into two sections: Upper Antelope Canyon, or Tsé bighánílíní, and Lower Antelope Canyon, or Hazdistazí. Upper Antelope Canyon is a shorter canyon that can be accessed at ground level, while Lower Antelope Canyon runs 1,335 feet in length and provides a slightly more challenging hike, as this portion of the canyon sits below ground level and must be accessed via a network of stairways.
