Discovering Arizona’s slot canyons

Water Holes, Lower Antelope, Upper Antelope. Are these the names of hiking trails? No, they’re slot canyons located on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Alan and I discovered the photogenic gems while on a photo workshop with exposure36. But you don’t have to be a baby boomer photographer to enjoy exploring canyons carved by nature’s power. Walking through the twists and turns of slot canyons will spark the imagination of any boomer adventure lover.

Upper Antelope Canyon is the easiest to maneuver. After paying a hiking and permit fee (around $21 on our last visit), a truck takes visitors from the starting point off Highway 89 near Page, Arizona to the canyon’s opening. Access is via a level, sandy path, no stairs or climbing. A guide accompanies travelers through the canyon on a one-hour trip where a combination of water and sand has etched the walls into a wonderland of texture and curves. Beams of sunlight shine down from the cracks in the canyon overhead. When the wind blows, dust drifts in, swirling through the light in a ghostly dance.

Adventure seekers will prefer Lower Antelope Canyon. Located on Copper Mine Rd., off of Highway 89, entrance requires a permit and hiking fee (around $21 at the time of my visit). There’s no wide opening for entering. You follow the guide along a crack in the earth’s stony surface until it widens, leading to stairs that descend into the canyon. Warning, this is not an adventure for claustrophobics. They way is narrow but oh so worth it. We spent almost three hours exploring this photogenic fun house, slipping through narrow passageways, maneuvering several short drops via stairs, craning our necks for the view above us. When the light pees in through overhead cracks, the textured walls turn into purple, yellow and orange curtains of rippling stone.

Water Holes Canyon involves a bit of orienteering. A permit and hiking fee is required to access this slot canyon located south of Page on Highway 89. There’s no signage on the highway to direct you so it’s best to go with someone who’s familiar with the area. After a short hike, the canyon is accessed by walking down its sloping walls. The portion of Water Holes that we visited is not as dramatic as Lower  or Upper Antelope, but has a more rugged feel to it.

Exploring slot canyons is a boomer adventure that Alan and I will be repeating. But, we won’t be going during monsoon season when flash floods make hiking in the canyons a dangerous endeavor.

Are you a slot canyon enthusiast? Post a comment to tell me about your adventures in Lower Antelope, Upper Antelope or Water Holes Canyon.

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Tagged as: adventure, antelope canyon, Arizona, Baby boomer travel, baby boomers, boomer, boomer adventure, boomers, nature, Navajo, Page, photography, slot canyon, travel