Slowly but surely, she said, the canyon would become wider. In 2022, for instance, she said there were 11 flash floods in the canyon, which formed a new hole in the wall and also eroded about 4 inches in some areas.

The guide also talked about flash floods that have occurred in the past, as well as the changes that have occurred in the canyon from the rushing water. He gave fantastic history of the people and the canyon while we journeyed through. The formation of the canyon was just one of the fascinating stories that my group learned along the tour. The lower antelope canyon might be prettier than the upper our guide, Brian S at Ken’s Tours, was a native Navajo who made the canyon come alive with his childhood stories of running through it with his friends. “Everything is made out of water and sand,” the guide told us, adding that wind erosion had also formed some of the rock formations in the upper part of the canyon and that the silky smooth appearance deep inside indicated that the formations were formed by water erosion. As the water started to dissipate or evaporate, sand dunes were formed, later going through a process of compression, and ultimately forming into the beautiful layers that exist in the Lower Antelope Canyon today. Antelope Canyon X is a less famous section of the same canyon but has become more popular in recent years. Our second favorite tour of Antelope Canyon was this tour to Canyon X. The Stories Are FascinatingĪs we started our tour, our guide told us that over 500 million years ago, the entire region around Antelope Canyon was underwater. Jess standing inside Antelope Canyon X on our favorite tour. To the Navajo, we call the Upper Antelope Canyon – Tsé’bighanilí – which means “The place where water runs through.” For Lower Antelope Canyon, we call this place Hasdestwazi – which means “Spiral Rock Arches.Sandstone erosionPhoto credit: Cindy Barks 6. But none of those images can match the one you’ll experience when you step into the canyons and see this wonder for yourself. Only 8 to 12 feet wide along the sandy floor, the slot canyons have been featured in Hollywood films and magazine publications around the world. The gorgeous sloping angles of the rocks – coupled with the shifts of light that make their way down from the rim of the canyon – combine for a scene that cannot be fully explained with words. Carved from the red sandstone for millennia by seasonal flood rains and wind, the canyons are narrow passageways that lead several hundred feet away from the mouth. To ensure you can visit, schedule and make a tour reservation with a local Antelope Canyon tour guide company.Īntelope Canyon, located near Page, Arizona is home to one of nature’s most wondrous creations – the slot canyon.

Window Rock Navajo Tribal Park & Veterans Memorial.

Little Colorado River Navajo Tribal Park.

Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park.

Ken's Tours Lower Antelope Canyon