Hawaii boasts about “no filter” for pictures (meaning, the scenery is so beautiful it does not need post editing) well, Arizona is a close competitor. Welcome to where one of your default desktop wallpapers was taken: Lower Antelope Canyon. Really, no filter is needed when the picture you take is exactly how it looks like in real life. It is a natural rock formation, carved out by the elements of wind and water over millions of years.

The waiting area has picnic tables to sit on while the tour guide prepares for the next group. Although it doesn’t look that hot in these pictures, stay hydrated; it was in the 90’s fahrenheit/ 30’s celsius range (dry heat).

The Canyon from the top. The drastic changed from plant life and sand to solid rock valley is astonishing!

Unfortunately, unlike the untouched grounds of Upper Antelope Canyon, the Lower has metal stairs drilled into its sides to help visitors down into the crevices.

Getting down there is much cooler than the temperature above the peak and obviously, a lot more scenic. Those three dark spots on the rocks are left over metal deposits developed over millions of years worth of rain storms.

Our tour guide was very creative. He took our phones from us and knew every single angle to put our cameras/devices to take “THAT” picture. Some pictures were optical illusions making it appear like sunrises, sunsets, waves, canyons, etc. Very creative to all the guides on the tour. The carved rock forms a very surreal landscape.

We must warn you that our pictures are a misconception. The tour is guided and lasts an hour but there are also photographic tours for up to two hours where you get certain areas blocked off for you to take pictures of the empty spaces. Our tour was the former and it was packed. It wasn’t what we were expecting: we waiting in a long line, moved at a snail’s pace, and were stopped but other tours for them to take pictures of clear canyon. Most of our pictures are actually pointed upwards or in a tight corner where the last member of our group (apart from us) just turned. The pictures we did get individual shots were because we were waiting for the group ahead of us to finish taking their own pics. Long story short, it was a challenge in and of itself to get photos of the rawness of nature with no human influence. Was it worth it though? Completely.

TOUR SCHEDULES: Open 7 days a week
WINTER HOURS: NOV 15 – FEB 29
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
SUMMER HOURS: MAR 1 – NOV 14
8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Dixie Ellis – Lower Antelope Canyon Tour
For more information, visit here.
Phone: 928-640-1761