Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is the most popular and the most visited
place in the LeChee district of the Navajo Nation, near Page,
Arizona. Although the LeChee district hosts a number of slot
canyons, the Antelope Canyon slots—Upper Antelope and Lower
Antelope—is by far the most popular. People from around the globe
love to visit this beautiful place, and capture amazing scenes in
their cameras!
Upper Antelope, also known as The Corkscrew, isn’t as long
and deep as many other slot canyons, but it is amazingly beautiful.
It is also one of the easiest slot canyons to visit, because you
can drive right up to the entrance and the ground is even and
leveled. During summer—tourist season in the slot canyon—you are
need to be cooperative and patient and helpful to others in order
to enjoy the time, because it is overcrowded and is sometimes
frustrating.
On the other hand, Lower Antelope is a
long, deep, and more challenging slot canyon—entry is through a
slit in the rocks, uneven and rocky ground. Only the first third of
the slot canyon is open for tourists, and is the easiest to travel.
Other two sections, i.e., the middle and the last sections, are
more rugged with sharp drop offs, and require serious rope work.
You must take care while in the slot canyon, and never go in if
there are predictions for rain in the region, as it will be very
risky.
Hiking and camping is allowed only through a valid permit,
as the Antelope Canyon lies under the Navajo lands. A separate
permit is required for entry into Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower
Antelope Canyon; this permit has to be purchased from the Antelope
Canyon Unit Office. You will need to keep copy to keep alongwith
you during the visit.
You will have to pay a nominal fee to get a permit for
hiking—$5 per person per day. An additional amount of $2.50 per
person per night will be charged for permitted camping; however, it
is restricted to some specified areas. Sometimes, during a
particular period of the year, you are required to be accompanied
by a licensed tour guide, which is an additional
cost.
While planning a trip to Antelope Canyon, you must be
aware of the weather conditions, because if the weather is stormy
you will not be permitted to enter due to the danger of
flood.
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