10 Slot Canyons in Page, AZ (Antelope Canyon & Alternatives)

Page, Arizona and the surrounding desert are home to dozens of stunning slot canyons where midday lightbeams shine down through tightly curved red canyon walls. But which Page slot canyon is worth visiting if you can only see one—and do you have to go on a tour?

I was really confused when I was trying to figure out how to visit a slot canyon in Page for the first time, and this article is the simplified guide I wish I’d had! It’s based on my firsthand experience and research, with insights into why I honestly chose one Page slot canyon over all the others.

I’m comparing the famed Antelope Canyon (all the sections—Upper, Lower, Antelope X, and the kayak-accessible part), along with several other gorgeous (and less crowded) slot canyons in the area. My favorite is a canyoneering-style adventure through an otherwise unaccessible slot canyon, plus the longest slot canyon in the world, which is just across the border in Utah and only costs $6!

Quick overview of Page’s top slot canyons

📷 Most picturesque (but also most crowded): Upper Antelope Canyon
🧗🏽 Most adventurous: Antelope Ridge Via Ferrata Route
✨ Cheapest: Wind Canyon OR Antelope X
📍 Self guided: Buckskin Gulch Hike
🛶 Kayaking option: Antelope Canyon Kayaking via Lake Powell

Via Ferrata through a slot canyon near Page AZ

My photos from Antelope Ridge Via Ferrata & Buckskin Gulch via Viator

☀️🌺🌿 Article Outline (Jump Ahead)

What to Know Before About Page Slot Canyons

Page and the nearby Navajo Nation (the United States’ largest Native American reservation) are home to dozens of slot canyons. These narrow, winding canyons usually have tall sandstone walls, with wave-like striations formed by rushing flood waters and debris.

Since almost all of Page’s slot canyons are located on Navajo land, you’re required to hire a local Navajo guide to visit. In this article I do share another slot canyon across the border in Utah that can be visited without a tour guide—but for every other slot canyon, you’ll have to book a tour in advance!

Page slot canyon tours vary in price, and the prices have dramatically risen over the past few years—especially for visits to the famous Antelope Canyon. But keep in mind that the cheapest slot canyon tour might not actually be cheapest, once you add in extra fees (many charge a Navajo visitor fee on top of the tour price).

The Upper and Lower sections of Antelope Canyon are the most popular, and both slot canyons can be wildly crowded, packed with several of tour groups at a time. If you’re set on visiting Antelope Canyon specifically, keep this in mind—and if you’re a photographer, you should consider booking a special photography tour, which allows you to explore more slow and bring a tripod.

Upper Antelope Canyon slot canyon in Page AZ

Upper Antelope Canyon photo via Viator

1. Upper Antelope Canyon

With the ethereal light-beams that perfectly shine down daily, Upper Antelope Canyon (Tsé bighánílíní in Navajo) is the most popular slot canyon in Page—and the one you’ve likely seen photos of!

It’s also the most visited slot canyon, and gets quite busy. Tour groups can be anywhere from 15-40 people, and there are numerous groups in the canyon at any time. The guides make sure everyone gets photos, but it happens fast!

Unlike many of the other slot canyons in Page, the path through Upper Antelope Canyon is flat throughout, with no scrambling or climbing up ladders!

Lower Antelope Canyon, one of the most famous slot canyons in the world

Lower Antelope Canyon photo via Viator

2. Lower Antelope Canyon

About three miles down from Upper Antelope Canyon, the Lower Antelope Canyon (Hazdistazí in Navajo) was once marketed as a less crowded alternative to the Upper section, but these days, its almost just as popular!

Navajo-led tours of Lower Antelope Canyon tend to be more affordable, and more adventurous, with a variety of ladders to climb—ranging from 3 to 25 feet tall.

The trek through the canyon is a bit longer, too, so you get more time to enjoy and more photo opportunities! That said, you won’t get the same light beams that the Upper section is famous for—and it’s still quite crowded.

Rappelling into a slot canyon in Page Arizona

3. Antelope Ridge Via Ferrata Route (MY CHOICE)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Adventurous Canyoneering & Rappelling | $130 | Booking Link

The Antelope Ridge Via Ferrata is what we chose—and it was one of my favorite travel experiences of all time! We got the entire slot canyon to ourselves (the two of us, our guide, and one other visitor), and spent two hours rappelling, climbing, squeezing, and wandering through the ever-changing landscapes of this stunning slot canyon.

Via Ferrata (which means the iron way in Italian), is similar to canyoneering—you navigate through the slot canyon along iron rungs and cables, which makes it possible to venture into parts of the slot canyon that would otherwise be inaccessible!

We were equipped and led by Arizona’s best (and most hilarious) Via Ferrata guide, who made sure we were safe and having fun the whole time! The tour is advertised as beginner friendly—with an optional ‘challenging’ ending that includes a steep overhang climb (or choose the easy way out).

Never for a moment did we feel like we were missing out by choosing the Via Ferrata over the popular Antelope Canyon tours… instead, it felt like we’d discovered a true hidden gem with more thrill, zero crowds, and an exceptional guide. 💎

Kayaking to Antelope Canyon from Lake Powell

Lake Powell Antelope Canyon kayaking via Viator

4. Antelope Canyon Kayaking via Lake Powell

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Kayaking, Swimming & Hiking | $119+ for kayak tour | Booking Link

Another adventurous alternative to the classic Antelope Canyon walking tour is to kayak to the mouth of Antelope Canyon on Lake Powell and then explore the famous slot canyon on foot! And you get to experience two of the most iconic southwest landscapes all in one.

The kayak route starts at Antelope Point Marina, then follows the meandering Antelope Creek upstream. It takes about 1 hour each way, and the kayak journey is about 2.5 miles—so, be prepared and bring plenty of water and snacks! Along the way, you enjoy views of the turquoise water and tan-orange sandstone cliffs.

Once you reach the end of the creek, you arrive at the bottom of the famed Antelope Canyon! The views through this part of Antelope Canyon are ever-changing and it narrows, curves, and widens, then narrows again.

If you rent a kayak, you can explore this part of Antelope without a tour guide, and get plenty of crowd-free photos! Alternatively, join a local-led kayak and Antelope Canyon tour or even this speedboat tour if you’re not keen to kayak 5+ miles in the heat!

Waterhole Canyon, an underrated slot canyon tour in Northern Arizona

Waterhole Canyon via Viator

5. Waterhole Canyon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Quieter Alternative to Antelope Canyon | $128+ | Booking Link

Located just a few minutes away from Horseshoe Bend (a must-visit overlook!), Waterhole Canyon is a gorgeous 2-mile-long V-shaped slot canyon that leads to the Colorado River.

Like the other slot canyons in Page, you can only visit with a Navajo guide, and the 1.5-hour long tour costs about $128. Like Lower Antelope Canyon, there are a few ladders to climb along the way, with mesmerizing curved walls and wave-like striations formed into the vibrant red walls.

Theoretically, you could explore Waterhole Canyon via the Colorado River if you were kayaking down the river, but I’m honestly not sure if this is allowed—please let me know if you know/try accessing the canyon via the river!

Buckskin Gulch via Viator

6. Buckskin Gulch via Wire Pass Trail

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Longest slot canyon in the world | $200 tour or $6 self-guided | Tour Booking | Self Guided Info

While it is an hour away from Page, Buckskin Gulch is the longest continuous slot canyon in the world, and its one that you can visit without a tour guide (budget option!), so I had to give it a shoutout!

The slot canyon is wider than the ones you’ll find in Page, but absolutely stunning! That said, it is quite a challenging and long hike (~10 miles, depending on which route you take). You can either go by yourself and pay the $6 per person permit on Recreation.gov, or hike with this local tour guide.

Upper view of Secret Canyon on the Navajo Reservation

Secret Canyon via Viator

7. Secret Canyon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Best light beams outside of Antelope Canyon | $125+ | Tour Booking

If you’re looking for the picturesque light-beams that Antelope Canyon is famous for—but without the crowds, Secret Canyon is a great option!

There is only one tour provider that takes people to Secret Canyon, which means you’ll get to the place to yourself! And when you have the place to yourself, instead of rushing, you get more time to hear from the guide about the unique geology, history, and cultural significance of Secret Canyon and the southwest as a whole.

And one more bonus is that these Navajo-led Secret Canyon tours often also include a stop at a private Horseshoe Bend overlook, where you can get the famous view all to yourself.

Light beams inside Deer Canyon, a Navajo slot canyon

Deer Canyon via Viator

8. Deer Canyon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Navajo history, plants, and storytelling | $106+ | Tour Booking

Another uncrowded but stunning slot canyon in Page is Deer Canyon. It’s around half a mile long, and the Navajo tour guides here have a special emphasis on Navajo storytelling, history, and the landscapes’ flora and fauna.

The two hour tour is highly-rated and costs $106 per person—with an additional $15 Navajo entry fee that has to be paid in person.

Wind Canyon in the Navajo Nation near Page, Arizona

Wind Canyon via Viator

9. Wind Canyon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Underrated slot canyon with local feel | $80+ | Tour Booking

Wind Canyon is one of the least commercialized slot canyons, with tours run by a small Navajo business. The canyon itself is stunning, with orange wave-like sandstone walls.

The tour includes a 6-mile 4×4 ride through the desert to the entrance to the canyon—tucked away deep in the Navajo reservation, then a 2-hour walk through the slot canyon. Reviewers say the guides feel more like friends than tour guides, and share plenty of personal stories of Navajo life.

Antelope Canyon X via Viator

10. Canyon X

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Less crowded area of Antelope Canyon | $89+ | Tour Booking

Antelope Canyon X is the least crowded section of the famed Antelope Canyon, and one of the more affordable slot canyon tour options!

Like the other sections of Antelope Canyon, Canyon X is known for the wave-like striations along its towering walls. And this tour takes you to not just one, but two slot canyons!

The normal version of the Canyon X tour is 1.5 hours, but you can upgrade to the photography tour for a slower exploration of the slot canyons, with plenty of time to set up shots on tripods.