Take a Break from Vegas
and Step Into the Trippy World of Antelope Canyon
(The Crack, The Corkscrew, and the Horseshoe
are Part of a Navajo Rabbit Hole That Will Spiritually Connect You
to Mother Earth.)
Is there ever too much Las Vegas? YES! Symptoms include no longer wanting to go to the buffet, dreading pulling another $200 out of the ATM for the slots, the annoying stink of weed everywhere, herds of gentlemen’s club pamphleteers asking if you "like lady," hidden resort fees that cost as much as the room itself, and the aggressive homeless guy who demands a tip for his bad version of "American Pie." Yes, it’s Vegas, and for the first couple of days, it’s tolerable (like Times Square in NYC). But then sensory overload starts to grind, and, well, you need to get out. And I don’t mean locking yourself in your hotel room with an overpriced six-pack of Bud you bought at Walgreens. Instead, I’m talking about Antelope Canyon.
Vegas-Life Balance
That’s right. Antelope Canyon, a mystical high-desert sanctuary located near Page, AZ, on the spiritual lands of the Navajo Nation. I can already hear you breathing in, breathing out. Good. Best to get your blood pressure back to equilibrium. I need your full attention. Antelope Canyon is divided into two sections: Upper Antelope Canyon (aka The Crack) and Lower Antelope Canyon (aka The Corkscrew). These slots, which have nothing to do with the one-armed bandits in Vegas, have been formed by centuries of flash floods carving through Navajo sandstone, which has tiramisu-like layers. In some places, the slot walls reach heights of up to 120 feet, selectively letting in heavenly beams of sunlight.
It’s illegal to just show up with in flip-flops, Dodgers ball cap, and support animal and crash the canyon. This is Navajo land. You must employ a member of the tribe to guide you through the sacred maze. The tour takes about 45 minutes. Make sure you’ve charged your phone. A backup charger is a good idea. I’ve seen excited guests line up for the perfect selfie, only to discover their device is dead. Hopefully, you’re with an Eagle Scout who’s got a gimbal rig, portable LED light, and wireless mic that can bail you out. Be sure you leave Las Vegas w/ cash (if you’ve got any left) as I recommend tipping the guide. The amount can range between $10 to $20. This isn’t like that tip request you get from a barista or the Chipotle cashier. Not at all. This is from a tribe that truly deserves and needs your generosity. Please. Do it.
So, how do you get to Antelope Canyon? Don’t drive. It’s a 5-hour, one-way trip that turns into a white-knuckler between Ash Fork and Flagstaff. I can’t imagine going back to Vegas after that. I’d overnight it. But why? There’s a daily direct flight from Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon that takes 1.15 hours. You’ll fly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon (West & South Rims), and Glen Canyon before landing in Page. Next, you’ll transfer to a 4x4 Jeep or Hummer and hit the blacktop.
But first, you make a stop at Horseshoe Bend. This landmark, a horseshoe-shaped kink (270 degrees, to be exact) in the mighty Colorado River, is five miles downstream from Glen Canyon Dam. The roundtrip walk to the overlook is 1.5 miles. There’s no slope, and it’s sandy. Running shoes will get the job done. There are a couple of viewing platforms. The distance from top to bottom is 1,000 feet. Take this seriously. Every year, some traveler thinks the rules of gravity. Use common sense. The views are incredible, and if it’s quiet enough, you can hear the river churn and carve the banks as it’s done for millennia. There's a quick headcount at the Jeep, and then you’re off to Antelope for the finale.
The Whole Enchilada
OK, I really like this tour. It takes a full day — nine hours to be exact. You’ll have seen nearly all of northern Arizona. There is no stone unturned. Add in Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, the Navajo Indian Reservation, and your Navajo guide, and this is a truly special package. This tour is super limited and leaves once a day. That’s it. The flight over is on an 18-seat Vistaliner airplane, modified for sightseeing, incorporating oversized viewing windows and wings attached to the top of the cabin for unblocked views. The tour is NOT cheap, but it’s worth it. When you get back to Vegas, you’ll be purified, refreshed, and a better person.
That, my friends, you can’t put a price on.
Click Here for Prices & Flight Times for Antelope Canyon Plane Tour
Make it a GRAND day!
