Upper Antelope Canyon is the canyon where everybody goes to. There are at least 5 different operators, who lead tours through this canyon. Most of these tours start in Page. If you want to do it yourself, drive to the gate for the Upper Canyon, pay your fees, and park your car there. There is a locally-operated jeep there which, for $26, will take you to the entrance of the canyon, which is still a few miles away. There will be no guide for your party and the jeep will pick you up in an hour to drive you back.

    We actually opted to go with a tour operated by Chief Tsosie. They operate the standard 1 1/2 hour, which is 1/2 hour to get from their Page office to the canyon entrance and back, and 1 hour in the canyon. Chief Tsosie also offers a “photographic tour”, which lasts 2 1/2 hours, of which 2 hours are spent in the canyon. If you can afford it, by all means take the photographic tour. We had the good fortune to have Mylo, a very personable and also very knowledgeable young Navajo as guide. He knew where to go to avoid the biggest concentrations of visitors, and he is also very knowledgeable in adjusting the settings of all the cameras presented to him to get optimum results.  And this included some very expensive toys from visitors, who were laboring under the belief that to make good pictures, all you need is a very expensive camera. Mylo also gave many hints how to make good pictures. And at the end of the tour, he played the flute for us; haunting melodies in this breath-taking surroundings.

    The walking surface of the canyon is essentially flat and it was very easy to get around. If you are in a wheelchair, it may be difficult. The canyon becomes narrow in some places, but even then there is no problem is getting around, even in groups. With the tour groups, it is indeed more difficult to get good pictures without having to include your other tour companions in the picture.

top: A sand waterfall

    In the photography tour, the number of participants is usually smaller and, because more time is allotted, there will be fewer people around at the end of the tour.

left: More marvelous stuff