Lower Antelope Canyon - Page AZ

Click on any photo to enlarge. 

We would like to thank our friends Barbara & Andy for recommending the Lower Antelope Canyon.  We met Barbara & Andy (who are from England) back in 2007 at Yellowstone while we were waiting for geysers to erupt.  Lower Antelope Canyon, called Hazdistazí, or "spiral rock arches" by the Navajo, is located in Page AZ. The road to Antelope Canyon is gated by the Navajo Nation. 

From above, Lower Antelope Canyon is just a crack in the ground. The excitement and joy started to take over on the first sight of what is below the ground.

Even following the installation of stairways, it is a more difficult hike than Upper Antelope—it is longer, narrower in spots, and even footing is not available in all areas.

Despite these limitations, Lower Antelope Canyon draws a considerable number of photographers, though casual sightseers are much less common there than in Upper.

The lower canyon is in the shape of a "V" and shallower than the Upper Antelope. Lighting is better in the early hours and late afternoon.

 To show only a few of the exquisite photos of the canyon would not do it justice.

On a bright sunny day the colors of the canyon are incredible. 

 Today, ladder systems have been bolted in place, and deployable cargo nets are installed at the top of the canyon.

Antelope Canyon is visited exclusively through guided tours, in part because rains during monsoon season can quickly flood the canyon. Rain does not have to fall on or near the Antelope Canyon slots for flash floods to whip through, as rain falling dozens of miles away 'upstream' of the canyons can funnel into them with little prior notice.

August 12, 1997, eleven tourists, including seven from France, one from the United Kingdom, one from Sweden and two from the United States, were killed in Lower Antelope Canyon by a flash flood.

Very little rain fell at the site that day, but an earlier thunderstorm had dumped a large amount of water into the canyon basin, seven miles upstream.

At that time, the ladder system consisted of amateur-built wood ladders that were swept away by the flash flood. 

They say that the right center section looks like the face of an Eagle coming out of the rock.

Our guide takes a picture of Kathy and me.  The floor of the canyon is sand which is easily removed during a severe storm.  The guides then have to haul in sand to reinstall a new floor. 

Look at the contrast of colors in the following photos. 

The walk at Lower Antelope Canyon is long, narrow, and there were a few spots where there was hardly any footing.

Grains of sand fall from the funnel rock formation. 

  

For the most part when we were inside Lower Antelope Canyon, we felt like we had the canyon all to ourselves. There were other tourists of course, but the canyon is long enough for us to spread apart and have our small private spaces. Occasionally, we bumped into each other, or we had to stop because someone was taking a picture or was composing a picture, but for the most part, our time at the canyon was fantastic. 

At the end, the climb out requires several flights of stairs.

We had about a 1/4 mile walk back to our staging area.  We would highly recommend this canyon to anyone passing by Page AZ.  It was truly a great experience!  Kathy & I agree that the Lower Antelope Canyon tour is in our top 5 of places that we have visited in our travels.

Day 4 - Zion National Park

Emerald Pools is a Zion classic: an oasis in the middle of the desert. The hike is a collection of short trails that meander past a small, lushly-vegetated stream that rolls down from the cliffs and forms several interesting "pools."

Cross the footbridge and follow the trail that goes north along the Virgin River.

The kids take a photo with Mom on the edge of a large rock.

In less than half a mile, the vegetation becomes more lush and the trail makes its way along a tall alcove under two tall waterfalls and the pools below.

Sydney draws a cute flower along the trail.  

There are several spots during the hike where you have some very good views of the east side of Zion.

Another great photo of Mom and the kids.  

  

The year round water supply provides for abundant vegetation, some that grows directly on the vertical rock. 

Kathy and Sydney stop for a short rest on the trail. 

Samantha and Andrew rock climbing.  

Trey and Mom rest for a bit. 

Everyone decides to get into the act. 

Something gets the girls attention while the boys are feeling quite at home.

The first part of the Riverwalk hike is paved and takes you by a swamp and lush vegetation. It seems so out of place in the desert. Then the trail ends at the river.

The well-traveled path, host to approximately 3,000 people a day in the summer, ends where Navajo Sandstone walls close in and water is forced into the narrow walls of the world renowned Zion Narrows.

The ease and beauty of this hike is the reason for its popularity and many young people do play and delight in the river at the end of the pavement on hot summer days.

Be warned that the water in the North Fork of the Virgin River is frigid in the winter and spring.  A fellow hiker aids Andrews in crossing a short section of the stream.

Mom and the kids decide to take a break and pose for a photo.

The Narrows is one of the most unusual hikes on the Colorado Plateau. Hiking is done largely in the river as, for a third of the route, the river runs canyon wall to canyon wall. The walls are vertical and sheer, and often red in color. Water levels change from season to season; most hikers will wade at least waist-deep and many will swim a few short sections.

  Here you can see two hikers returning wearing wet suits.

On a good day this trip is popular, and depending on your tolerance for your fellow visitor you might consider it crowded but its certainly worth the trip.  We hope Dr. Chris and the kids had a great time visiting their first National Parks .  We thoroughly enjoyed being their host and look forward to future adventures. 

Day 3 - Bryce Canyon

Thanks to our great cooks, we start the day with a delightful breakfast:  Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon and Hash Browns, followed by Samantha and Sydney's birthday!

The kids enjoy breakfast at Dave & Kathy's Diner.

Trey was in charge of the birthday cake decoration.

Andrew was in charge of the cupcake decoration, while the girls each decorated their own cupcakes.

Sydney did a great job with her cupcake.

Samantha with her cupcake.  Happy Birthday Girls!

Mossy Cave is the trail you want to go to if you have a very short time and want to do a little hike. Or, if you have kids that do not like to break a sweat on a hike, this is a perfect little stroll where you can get a canyon experience without the hike down.

As you come down off the low ridge, you see the first of a couple bridges that will take you across the creek.

As you step across the second bridge, look to your right and you will see the waterfall. A few steps off the bridge and you will see the trail junction to either go left up to Mossy Cave or go right to the waterfall.

We noticed that snow was still noticeable in the Cave area.

Here you get a great view of the hoodoos above and across from Mossy Cave.

  

Chris and the kids pose for a photo along the trail.

Look up to see some windows in the sandstone formations above. If you feel up to it, you can climb up to these and look through the windows at where you are now.

Beautiful views in all directions as you can look through the window down on the trail you came up on and down toward the waterfall and beyond.

After we safely walk back down the slope, we decide its time explore some more of the canyon.  

Chris has a moment for a photo.

The kids were very active and crossed the creek many times.

We arrive at the corral for our 2-hour horseback ride in Bryce Canyon.  

Samantha on Crazy Alice.

Andrew on Dynamite.  It was Dynamite's first trip down into the canyon with a rider on board.  That is why you will see a lead rope from Matt to Dynamite.  It was a wild ride to be sure for Andrew.  Dynamite didn't like to stay right on the trail - just like Andrew when he is hiking.

Sydney on Croppy.

Trey on Raspberry, Chris on Pango.

Kathy in the rear of this photo on Tuffie.

Here we are exiting the corral and heading to the trailhead.

You head down the trail into the canyon.

Taking photos while riding is not an easy task but I managed to get a nice shot of one of the Hoodoos along the trail.

Here's Matt, our Wrangler, talking about the canyon.

We are almost done and Matt asks if we had a great time during our ride.

We all take our time getting off the horses.  No injuries, that's great!

Dave riding Kimber.  

Matt with Samantha and Sydney. 

Matt with Trey and Andrew.  It was amazing that the kids were never scared.  This ride definitely convinced me that I would never ride a mule down into Grand Canyon.  I do not care how old I am, I am walking!