The magical shapes and patterns of Antelope Slot Canyon
While the canyon itself met expectations, the visit itself was disappointing. All visits are in groups of 15-20 led by a Navajo guide who has to keep pushing the group through or else there is a huge bank up of tourists.
Because we were a tour group, we got in about 30 mins before the public opening but even then, there were a dozen or so cars lined up at the gates waiting for opening. When we left, about 45 minutes later, the gates were open and there were a hundred or so vehicles and a constant stream of tour trucks heading to the canyon.
The early time may have beaten the crowds but it mucked up the photo opportunities with heavily overcast skies and little light getting into the canyon.
(I have since discovered that there are general tours and photographic tours which presumably provide more time and photo opportunities. My suggestion would be that if you are planning a visit and have the flexibility, get onto photographic tour.)
What gorgeous place! It's on my bucket list, so I appreciate the recommendation. I have done that before; I did it in Oz when I visited to see birds on a number of occasions.
We went in June at noon which is the only time when the sun shaft shines right in. The guides throw dust into the air to make the sun shaft more visible. We went on the photographic tour too, but still, it was just as you described. Even so, the tribe seems to have this down to a science for managing the crowd. There are other interesting tour sites on the expansive reservation, and the Navajo Nation has undertaken tourism as a serious industry--same with many Pueblo sites.
Antelope Canyon is a must see location when traveling through the SW. Colors in the canyon are otherworldly. We were in a photo group a couple of years ago and had time to set tripods.
One of the drawbacks of photography and cheap flights these days, is that beautiful places like this is on everyone's bucklist. I can understand the need to rush people through, but this place just begs for you to be able to sit and soak in the history and beauty.
