Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in winter: no light beams, but cheaper and quieter (one Upper operator's November base fare is $65 vs $95 in season). Guided Navajo tours only, no tripods or selfie sticks; Upper vs Lower and how the permit fee works; Horseshoe Bend's $10 parking, park passes not accepted, railings only at the overlook; the Arizona/Navajo Nation time-zone trap; fuel, charging and a one-day plan in Page.
Key facts
- Antelope Canyon requires a Navajo guide, so book ahead; winter has no light beams, but it's cheaper and quieter.
- With seniors or kids, choose Upper; to save money and if you don't mind stairs, choose Lower; check the total before paying.
- Horseshoe Bend parking is 10 dollars, park passes don't work, and only the overlook has railings, so stay back from the edge.
- Information as of early November 2026; check the tour companies and official websites again before you go.
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Where is Page?
First, one minute on location.
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are both next to Page, a small town in northern Arizona. It's about 4.5 hours from Las Vegas, about 2.5 hours from the Grand Canyon's South Rim, and about 2 hours from Zion National Park.
Many people stay a night here between the Grand Canyon and Zion. We covered both in earlier episodes, so the routes connect.
One more thing: Antelope Canyon is on the Navajo Nation and Horseshoe Bend is next to a national recreation area; neither is on this year's list of places charging foreign visitors an extra 100 dollars.
Antelope Canyon: guided tours only
First, Antelope Canyon.
The most important rule: you can't go in on your own. Every visitor must be with a licensed Navajo guide, so you must book a tour in advance.
Inside the canyon, no tripods, no monopods and no selfie sticks. The dedicated photo tours were discontinued after 2019. Bag rules differ by tour company, so check when you book.
Tours usually last about an hour. Guides will show you where to take photos; tips are usually in cash, about 5 dollars per person for a standard tour.
Upper or Lower?
Upper Antelope Canyon: you walk in on flat ground, no ladders, so it's easier and good for seniors and kids. But there are many operators and prices vary a lot; on the same day, different time slots range from the 80s to the 130s in dollars.
Lower Antelope Canyon: you go down several steep metal staircases into the canyon and climb back out. It's narrower and more adventurous. Prices are clearer: in 2026 both operators charge a little over 80 dollars, including the 15-dollar Navajo permit.
My advice: with seniors or kids, or if you'd rather skip ladders, choose Upper; if you're fit and want to save, choose Lower.
Also note that some Upper operators add the 15-dollar permit at the end, so check the total before you pay.
Antelope Canyon in winter
What is it like in winter?
From November to March there are no light beams, tour companies don't sell the midday beam tours, and base fares drop. The canyon still has those curving red walls, with far fewer people, so taking photos is actually more relaxed.
But late-morning slots usually cost more than early ones, even in winter. To save money, book an earlier slot.
Horseshoe Bend: 10-dollar parking
Second stop, Horseshoe Bend. Here the Colorado River makes a huge horseshoe-shaped curve; from the rim it's about 300 meters down.
The parking lot is run by the City of Page: 10 dollars per car, 5 per motorcycle. National park passes are not accepted. The lot opens at sunrise and stops admitting new cars after sunset.
From the lot to the overlook is about 2.4 kilometers round trip on a hardened path. There's almost no shade, and no water or restrooms on the trail; restrooms are at the parking lot.
The key safety reminder: only the small overlook platform has railings; everywhere else is a cliff edge, so don't step out for a photo. Drones are also not allowed in the national recreation area.
The time trap: simple in winter
Now the second question.
Arizona doesn't observe daylight saving time, but the Navajo Nation does. So in summer, Antelope Canyon tour times can differ by an hour from Page and from your phone, and that's how many people miss their tour.
In winter, after daylight saving ends, both sides use the same time. So in winter you basically don't need to worry; but if you go after March, check which time zone your tour uses when you book.
Fuel and charging
Page is the biggest town around, with gas stations and supermarkets.
Heading south to the Grand Canyon or west to Zion, many stretches are remote, so fill up in Page before you leave.
EVs: there are fast chargers in Page; confirm on a charging map before you go. Winter mornings and evenings here are cold, so leave extra range.
A one-day plan
If you only have one day in Page, here's how I'd do it.
In the morning, book an earlier Antelope Canyon tour; in winter it's cheaper and less crowded.
Have lunch and fill up in Page. In the afternoon go to Horseshoe Bend; in winter the sun sets around 5 p.m., so arrive at the lot an hour or more before sunset and you'll be done before dark.
The next morning, head south to the Grand Canyon or west to Zion.
General information only. Rules change; check official notices before you go.
Routes, parking and gas stations, shown on maps and real footage, one section at a time.
