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Antelope Canyon with Kids: Everything You Need to Know
Wondering if and how to visit Antelope Canyon with kids? You’ve come to the right place!
When our family spent a winter holiday season in southern Nevada, we wanted to make the most of our time there. So we took a short road trip to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon.
I was a bit nervous about whether the adventure would be family-friendly. It turns out that visiting Antelope Canyon with kids is pretty easy!
And I couldn’t keep all that to myself! I had to share our experience with others who might be uncertain about taking their kiddos to this unique slot canyon.
Based on my personal experience and research, here are all my top tips and tricks for making your visit to Antelope Canyon with kids truly amazing!
Tours of Antelope Canyon with Kids
Not all Antelope Canyon tours are kid-friendly. Several companies only allow participants 18+. So I did your research for you. These three tours welcome families! Some even offer discounts for the kiddos.
👉 Antelope Canyon X has discounts for kids 17 and under.
👉 Lower Antelope Canyon has discounts for 4 to 11-year-old kids. Little ones 3 and under are free.
👉 This Upper Canyon tour welcomes kids of all ages, but everyone is charged the same rate.
What is Antelope Canyon?
Antelope Canyon got its name from the belief that Antelopes once grazed along the canyon in the winter. One local legend says it was discovered by a local girl tending her sheep.
Regardless of its history, it is certainly one of the most beautiful natural wonders we’ve seen so far in our travels.
This underground slot canyon was formed during the Jurassic Period in what is now a Navajo Tribal Park.
The sandstone canyon walls were carved by water and wind around 191 million to 174 million years ago. The canyon continues to change over time and the place has a truly magical feeling.
It’s popular with tourists because of the light beams shining down into the canyon as the sun moves overhead.
During cooler weather, the orange and red canyon walls start to appear blue and/or purple in Antelope Canyon photos. This color change is due to the zinc and manganese present throughout the canyon.
Fun Fact: Antelope Canyon is the most-visited slot canyon in the American Southwest and it’s the most-photographed in the world.
Every four years in Antelope Canyon, Navajo people perform blessings and give thanks to nature for shaping its amazing beauty. After all, the canyon is a symbol of Mother Nature’s gifts and power.
It is a sacred site to the Navajo and holds deep religious significance for them. It’s vital that all visitors be respectful and appreciative to the Navajo Nation for allowing entry to sightseers and photographers.
Upper Antelope Canyon
This part of the canyon is called “The Crack” because all you see from above ground is a crack in the ground.
It is an A-shaped canyon that is more open at the bottom. It is the most popular of the slot canyons that comprise Antelope Canyon.
The light beams of sun that shine through it in the spring and summer are one of its main claims to fame. April is typically the earliest to visit to see them!
However, the purple and blue hues in the fall and winter are another worthwhile sight to see.
Fun fact: In Navajo, Upper Antelope Canyon is called Tsé bighánílíní which means, “the place where water runs through rocks” in English.
The upper canyon is a quarter of a mile of almost completely flat walking. However, there is a 20-minute drive to the entry point in the back of a jeep or truck.
Parents must provide car seats for young children on the vehicles which can be left in the trucks during the actual hiking portion of the tour.
Lower Antelope Canyon
The Antelope Lower Canyon is V-shaped, which means it’s narrowest at the bottom and widest at the top. Although this tour only covers a quarter of a mile, it is certainly not flat.
There are a couple of ladders on the trek that must be scaled facing inward. This is because they’re too steep to walk like regular stairs.
This tour is much closer to the starting point, though. After a short ~100 yard walk from the parking area, visitors descend into the canyon via metal stairs.
No cameras are permitted on the descent, or on any stairs in the canyon. This rule helps ensure visitor safety so people watch where they’re going instead of worrying about getting the best photos.
Antelope Canyon X
Canyon X is named for the Xs carved into the canyon walls by rain and wind over millions of years. It is the southernmost part of Antelope Canyon. In addition, it is the least visited and the most recently opened.
Planning Tip: If your goal is avoiding crowds, then visit this part of the canyon.
Visitors doing this tour are transported three miles in a 4×4 transport vehicle to the mouth of Antelope Canyon X. Parents must also supply car seats on this tour, too.
Then visitors hike 100 meters into the first canyon. After the first slot canyon hike is complete, there is another 200-meter hike through the second slot canyon in the X shape.
Is Antelope Canyon kid-friendly?
Yes, this is a kid friendly excursion! Is Antelope Canyon baby-friendly? Yes, sort of. Even for families with a baby or newborn Antelope Canyon can be a fairly easy hike if you’re feeling adventurous.
It just takes a bit of pre-planning to make your experience a positive one.
Once you’ve committed to hiking Antelope Canyon, it’s important to think about how to decide which antelope slot canyon tours to take with kids. These are some factors to consider before booking a tour either with kids or babies.
Bathrooms
There are no restroom facilities inside any of the three canyon areas. Once you leave the group check-in area, there are no facilities of any type that are conducive to changing diapers or addressing other infant or toddler hygienic needs.
Parents must take care of any diaper changes, clothing clean-ups, etc., before arriving at the canyon site.
Parent Tip: If you have a recently potty-trained toddler, consider having them wear pull-ups during the tour in case of an accident.
I’ve changed diapers in some pretty weird places as a parent, including on the Great Wall of China when it was 50 degrees. However, it’s always easier to plan ahead a bit than react in a panic as I did.
Strollers & Carriers
For safety reasons, both strollers and baby carriers are prohibited on tours of all three Antelope Canyon sites.
The ground is uneven so stroller usage would be impossible. In addition, each canyon area has portions that are a tight fit.
Note for Parents of Infants: Be prepared to carry non-walking infants in your arms throughout the canyon.
Unfortunately, wearing a baby carrier is a safety issue because doing so risks accidentally bumping the baby on the canyon walls.
Bags & Backpacks
No bags or backpacks are permitted to be worn inside the canyon, including water pouch carriers.
Previously, clear backpacks and clear waist pouches were permitted. This rule helps protect the canyon walls from damage.
If you take a bag on an Upper Antelope Canyon or Antelope Canyon X tour, you will be allowed to leave them in the vehicle. This includes diaper bags.
Participants in Lower Antelope Canyon Navajo tours are required to leave all personal effects in their cars.
Diaper bags are permitted to be taken on tour vehicles to the Upper Canyon and Canyon X. However, the bags must remain in the trucks when you actually go on the tour.
So they don’t have a lot of benefits for parents except for snacks, etc. before or after the walking part of the tour.
Tour Length
Each of the tours in the Lower Canyon, Upper Canyon, and Canyon X last approximately 90 minutes. These times are calculated from when the tour departs and returns to the staging area.
Planning Tip: The time in Lower Canyon is a bit longer due to not needing to drive to the entry point.
However, the tour guide still stops to show hikers interesting things on the way to and from the gathering point. On our tour, the guide showed us fossilized plants and even dinosaur footprints! So our time in the canyon itself was still roughly an hour.
Water
Contrary to what we read in some blogs and even on some tour company websites, only small water bottles are permitted to be hand-carried into Antelope Canyon.
Water bladders in low-profile backpacks are prohibited, as are small messenger-style pouches for hands-free water bottle carrying.
David managed to fit a small water bottle from a convenience mart into his front sweatshirt pocket.
However, at certain points, he had to take it out to squeeze through some narrow portions of Lower Antelope Canyon.
👉 I wish we’d had this water bottle with us on our Antelope Canyon trek. It would have been easier to fit into a pocket!
To ensure every member of your group stays hydrated, each adult should carry a small water bottle to share with the kiddos.
Because it was cooler during our trip, I didn’t drink any water during our hike but Little Man did at several points. I was grateful that David had one available.
Terrain
The upper canyon is the flattest one. The walking portion is also shorter than the other two. The stairs and tight spaces in the lower canyon were a really fun adventure for Little Man.
Antelope Canyon X has a 200 ft staircase to enter the canyon but no ladders. Once inside the canyon, the ground is fairly flat but there are some tight spaces through which to squeeze while on the tour.
Elementary-age and older kids won’t mind the climbing and narrow spots in either the Lower Canyon or Canyon X. It may entice them to keep wandering and walking. For Little Man that was certainly the case.
Visiting Antelope Canyon with Kids
There are a limited number of Antelope Canyon Tour Companies permitted to operate walking tours in the Antelope slot canyon. Each tour company that is permitted to lead groups into the canyons is owned by the Navajo.
While each company sets its own Antelope Canyon tickets price, there is an Antelope Canyon entrance fee of $8 USD added to all tours. This fee goes directly to the Navajo Nation.
Because there are so few companies leading tours, there are generally no Antelope Canyon discount tickets available.
Fun Fact: Contrary to popular belief, the canyon is not called Antelope Canyon National Park.
It is not part of the National Park Service. This also means that holders of a national park annual pass cannot use it to see or tour Antelope Canyon.
Visiting by Water
The walking tours are by far the most popular way to see the canyon. However, there is also a kayak tour that leaves from Lake Powell.
While this tour is much less crowded than the walking tours are, there are some serious downsides.
Most of the kayak route goes through a Lake Powell wake zone. This means jet skis and boats are flying past, creating large waves that make kayaking difficult.
In addition, the kayaking route is seven miles round trip. Instead of a 45-90 minute tour, the excursion will likely take all day. For active younger kiddos, sitting in a kayak for several hours might not be enjoyable for anyone.
If you want to see Antelope Canyon with kids from the water, you may want to spend some extra money to rent a boat for the day on Lake Powell.
Then, just take the boat to the Antelope Canyon water entrance. This will help ensure you don’t risk tipping over in a kayak with kiddos aboard.
Visiting by Land
Four tour companies operate in the upper canyon, two in the lower canyon, and a fifth operates only in Canyon X. We did a LOT of research to find the tour companies that provide the best rates for families.
Not all tour companies allow children. Some tour companies charge adult pricing for kids and infants, while other (our preferred) Navajo tours companies have a more fair, tiered pricing system.
👉 The company offering tours in Canyon X discounts tickets for kids 17 and under.
👉 This Lower Canyon tour has discounted rates for 4 to 11-year-old kids. Little ones 3 and under are free.
Unfortunately, the Upper Canyon tours don’t offer any discounts for kids.
👉 This Upper Canyon tour welcomes kids of all ages.
Before the Tour
We booked the first tour of the day on a Tuesday in November. This meant that there weren’t crowds waiting in front of us and there weren’t big crowds at the check-in desk.
Our guide had sent us the waivers to sign in advance via email so we didn’t have to spend time doing that.
Travel Tip: When visiting Antelope Canyon with kids, arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled tour time.
Once our tour time was called, we were taken out back to some benches. Once we sat down, a Navajo man gave us a demonstration of the Navajo Hoop Dance.
The hoop is a symbol of everlasting life to many tribal groups across North America. These dances get so intricate that there are Hoop Dance World Championships each year!
By the time the hoop dance demonstration was over, the guides had assembled and our group of nine was called over to one of them. It seemed like people had booked through a variety of methods.
Pro Tip: Pick the tour time that best suits your schedule. Don’t worry about the company.
We were put together by scheduled time rather than the company with which we booked. So like our trip to Isla Contoy, it doesn’t seem to matter which tour company you choose.
On the Tour
Our guide was thorough in telling us about the canyon’s history as we walked to it. So we didn’t feel like the walking time was boring. We even stopped to see the fossilized dinosaur footprints, which Little Man thought was cool!
Our guide even told us that based on the shape and indentation, they knew the dinosaur that made the prints was running when it made them!
Throughout the tour, our guide would stop us at various points to talk about a cool feature in the canyons.
He also pointed out multiple photo ops and explained where several famous photographs, like the wallpaper that Samsung used for its Note 8 phone in 2017 and some of the shots that Microsoft used for its Windows 7 theme in 2009.
The upper and lower canyon tours have a new one-way pattern. This means everyone enters at one end and exits at the other. It didn’t use to be this way, which is why some older blogs talk about the slot canyon being overcrowded.
Between the one-way walking pattern and the smaller groups due to the pandemic, we did not feel like the experience was too full or too rushed.
What is the best month to visit Antelope Canyon?
There isn’t a bad time of year to visit Antelope Canyon.
Benefits of Visiting in the Fall and Winter:
👍 You don’t risk getting overheated in the desert sun.
👍 Cooler weather allows for a lot more color variety in the canyon walls.
👍 The blue and purple tones only show up in cooler weather.
👍 It’s easier to get a last-minute booking during cooler months.
Note: We booked our November Lower Antelope Canyon tour just three days in advance.
Benefits of Visiting in the Spring and Summer:
👍 The light beams popular with photographers only occur in the summer.
👍 Weather is warmer so you don’t have to worry about kiddos getting cold.
👍 It’s easier for families to visit due to school breaks.
👍 You can spend extra time here doing water activities.
If seeing the light beams is your goal, book a tour between 11 am and 1:30 pm during the spring or summer on a sunny day. May through early August is a good time span to catch a glimpse of the beams in Antelope Canyon X and Upper Antelope Canyon.
6 Tips for an Amazing Antelope Canyon Experience
1. Wear closed-toe shoes.
Little Man and I wore sneakers. David wore his Keens hiking sandals. David had to empty his shoes of sand after the tour while Little Man and I did not.
I’d recommend sneakers or hiking boots over trekking sandals if you have a choice in footwear.
2. Check your camera settings.
Use the vivid warm setting on an iPhone camera for the best shots. A good guide will advise you of this before entering the canyon.
Android cameras will adjust more automatically for the lighting. We have Samsung phones and did not need to change any settings to get great pictures. David used a Samsung A52. I used a Fuji DSLR throughout our trek.
3. Beware of dust.
Your shoes and clothes will likely be covered by the end of your tour. If using a DSLR, do not open your camera or take off the lenses.
Use the lens cover whenever you are not actively shooting a photo. Consider buying a protective camera body cover.
4. Keep close track of time.
Don’t miss your tour! Almost all of Arizona is on Mountain Standard Time (MST) all year long. Most of the state stopped observing daylight saving time in 1968.
If you’re traveling from another state immediately before your tour, you may experience a time zone shift without realizing it.
Photo Credit: Time.gov
5. Bring cash to tip your tour guide.
Most guides work hard to provide good experiences. Ours even took some photos for us, that we never could have taken as well ourselves. A general rule of thumb is to tip a good guide 15-20% of the tour cost.
6. Take only photos. Leave only footprints.
When visiting Antelope Canyon with kids (or without!) please help conserve it for future visitors. You can do this by following the Leave No Trace principles.
Where to Stay near Antelope Canyon
Page is a small town of under 8,000 residents. However, there are so many fun things to do near Page, Arizona that there is a booming tourist industry there.
👉 There are many hotels near Antelope Canyon that suit a variety of budgets.
The town is fairly small, and there are a couple of streets with most of the hotels next to each other. It doesn’t really matter where you stay in those hotels since they are all the same distance from Antelope Canyon.
👉 We chose the Best Western Plus at Lake Powell because it included free breakfast and had two queen beds at a decent price.
Although the hotel wasn’t very crowded when we stayed, we did have David go down to the restaurant and bring breakfast back up to the room.
This allowed us to keep getting ready while we ate and for Little Man to relax a bit longer before heading out for our hike.
The hotel had cold options like cereal and muffins as well as hot items like eggs and sausage. So there was something for everyone in our morning meal.
Things to Do Near Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is the most popular thing to do in Page, Arizona. However, there are several other fun activities to enjoy there are well.
To make the most of your time in the area, plan to spend at least a night or two visiting a couple of these places as well.
Lake Powell
Lake Powell has over 2,000 miles of shoreline and is well known for its water recreation options.
The most popular things to do in Lake Powell are scenic boat rides, waterskiing, and water tubing as well as fishing. Visitors can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and boats there.
👉 Make boat and jet ski reservations in advance during the summer months to avoid disappointment!
You can also rent water toys in advance, just like boats. If you plan to fish, ensure you have a fishing license from both Utah and Arizona. The lake is large enough to border both states and it’s important to be compliant.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument is also adjacent to Lake Powell. It’s only accessible by water. But it’s worth a stop if you rent a boat because it’s one of the largest known natural bridges in the world. Over 85,000 people a year visit this unique landmark.
Horseshoe Bend
This unique landmark was created over millions of years due to the water erosion of the Navajo sandstone. It’s our top recommendation of things to do in Page when visiting Antelope Canyon with kids.
Horseshoe Bend Trail is a 1.5-mile out-and-back trail. This means it is 3/4 mile to the bend and the same 3/4 mile back to the parking lot.
It is relatively flat or has a very slight incline, so it is easy for all skill levels including younger children. Avoid bringing strollers here. The path is sandy dirt. We saw several strollers stuck in the path.
👉 I recommend the Tula Carrier for its durability and comfort. Plus it has different carriers that fit little ones from 7-60 pounds.
The National Park Service (NPS) does not charge an admission fee to Horseshoe Bend. However, the parking lot is located on property owned by Page and they charge visitors to park. NPS annual park passes are not accepted.
To enter you can pay by cash or credit card. We only had a card and almost didn’t get to enter because the only credit card machine they had was temporarily down.
Thankfully it came back online before we gave up! Have some cash on hand just in case.
Travel Tips for Visiting Horseshoe Bend
As of this year, the entrance fees for Horseshoe Bend are as follows:
💲 Motorcycles: $5
💲 Cars & RVs: $10
💲 Commercial Van/Bus (Up to 14 people): $35
💲 Commercial Van/Bus (15-34 people): $70
💲 Commercial Van/Bus (35+ people): $140
The best time to visit is at sunrise when it opens to avoid crowds and sunset for the best photography. These are also the coolest parts of the day.
Because it’s in the desert, we don’t recommend visiting at midday when the sun is hottest. If you do so, wear sunscreen or sun-protective clothing and bring plenty of water. There is no shade once you reach the bend itself.
If you go for sunset, take a blanket, jacket, and a flashlight. Stay when the crowds begin to disperse and do some stargazing.
Glen Canyon Dam
This dam is where Lake Powell ends and the Grand Canyon begins. If you’ve already visited the Grand Canyon, this experience gives a real perspective on just how expansive the canyon is.
The dam is a concrete arch dam, similar in style to the Hoover Dam on the Arizona/Nevada border. This 710-foot dam has a visitor center and daily tours.
It’s an excellent way to see Lake Powell from up high in contrast to boating or paddling through it on a different day.
Toadstools Trail
The Toadstool Hoodoos Trailhead is only a thirty-minute drive from Page, just over the Utah border. The relatively flat trail is 1.5-miles round trip and is pretty easy for kids to navigate.
At the end of the trail, hikers can find balanced rock formations that look like mushrooms and have some fabulous views. It’s a perfect stop on your way to/from Zion National Park; St. George, Utah; or Las Vegas, Nevada.
Further Afield
While not immediately within the Page vicinity, there are several other well-known sites to see either before or after visiting Antelope Canyon with Kids.
Within 2.5 hours you can drive to the Grand Canyon South Rim, Bryce Canyon, or Zion National Park.
Antelope Canyon with Kids: FAQs
Still have questions about visiting Antelope Canyon with kids? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the experience.
Is Antelope Canyon kid-friendly?
Yes, absolutely! Antelope Canyon is a great destination for kids. With its stunning sandstone formations and colorful, ever-changing light, it’s an amazing place to visit with kids at any time of year.
Which Antelope Canyon is best with kids?
The Upper Antelope Canyon is best for families with kids. It has somewhat wider passages, so it’s easier to navigate and the light beams are more visible. Plus, the tour guides are used to working with kids and can provide custom tours for the little ones.
What’s better Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon?
That really depends on what you’re looking for in your visit. Upper Antelope Canyon is more suited to families with kids as it has wider passages that are easier to navigate and the light beams are more visible.
Lower Antelope Canyon is a bit more challenging with its narrow slots and staircases, which can be fun for older kids to climb on during the tour.
Is it difficult to walk Antelope Canyon?
It depends on the canyon you choose to tour, but even the steps and ladders aren’t hard to use. The tour guides will provide plenty of assistance during the tour. However, the Lower Canyon is not stroller or wheelchair friendly.
Can you take kids to the Grand Canyon?
Yes! We went to the Grand Canyon for a few days before visiting Antelope Canyon. It’s a great place to explore with kids. There are plenty of hiking trails, breathtaking views, and unique experiences to be had there. Kids will love it!
Is Antelope Canyon worth it?
Yes! Antelope Canyon is definitely worth the visit. With its stunning sandstone formations, colorful ever-changing light, and knowledgeable tour guides, it’s an amazing destination for families with kids.
Can you go to Antelope Canyon without a tour?
No, Antelope Canyon is a Navajo Tribal Park and private tour companies are required to provide guided tours. This ensures that you get the most out of your visit and that everyone is safe.
Is there an entrance fee for Antelope Canyon?
Yes, there are entrance fees to Lower Antelope Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, and Antelope Canyon X. These fees help support the Navajo Tribal Park, keep the canyon in pristine condition, and ensure the guides receive a fair wage for their services.
How long is the walk through Antelope Canyon?
The walk through the Upper Antelope Canyon is about 1.5 miles and takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how long you take to explore.
The Lower Antelope Canyon is much shorter, at just 0.5 miles. Due to the ladders and stairs, it also takes about 45 minutes to complete.
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Final Thoughts on Antelope Canyon with Kids
Antelope Canyon with kids is a great experience! I can’t recommend it enough to any parent considering going.
For maximum safety, Upper Antelope Canyon is a better choice for families with infants, toddlers, and preschool-age kids.
Either Antelope Canyon X or Lower Antelope Canyon with kids elementary age or older can be fun choices for adventurous families.
It’s also pretty easy to get to Antelope Canyon from around Arizona, including Scottsdale.
Regardless of which slot canyon tour you choose, your family will certainly have a memorable experience together!
