Antelope Canyon Photography and Light Beams

Entry rules that shape a photo visit

Photographers cannot enter Antelope Canyon independently, since a guided tour is mandatory for entry. Time inside Upper Antelope Canyon has been capped at two hours since May 1, 2011. Drones are not permitted in Antelope Canyon or at Horseshoe Bend, and camping is not allowed in the Antelope Canyon park.

Hiking trail at Antelope Canyon Arizona — Light plays across the layered, wave-like walls of a narrow sandstone canyon. Photo: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0

Rules at a glance
Topic	What applies
Entry	A guided tour is mandatory; there is no independent entry
Time in Upper Antelope Canyon	Limited to two hours since May 1, 2011
Drones	Not permitted in Antelope Canyon or at Horseshoe Bend
Camping	Not allowed in the Antelope Canyon park

Light beams through the year

Light beams occur in Upper Antelope Canyon from late March to late October, and they are strongest from May to September. In winter, from November to February, the upper canyon has no light beams. The sun angle is too low in those months.

Light beams in Upper Antelope Canyon

Activity	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Light beams occur	Not listed	Not listed	MarRuns	AprRuns	MayRuns	JunRuns	JulRuns	AugRuns	SepRuns	OctRuns	Not listed	Not listed
Strongest beams	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	MayRuns	JunRuns	JulRuns	AugRuns	SepRuns	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed

Runs

Guides in Upper Antelope Canyon often throw fine sand into a beam to make it visible, and some of that sand can get on camera gear.

The canyon sections and the rock

The Antelope Canyon area includes six separate slot canyon sections on the Navajo Reservation. Tourism on Navajo land adjacent to Page began in 1997, when Antelope Canyon was opened to visitors. A 2019 radioisotopic analysis suggests that Navajo Sandstone, the rock hosting the canyon, dates to the early Jurassic, beginning around 200-195 million years ago.

Page and the Lake Powell area

Page, Arizona is the gateway town to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell, and it is the main base near Antelope Canyon. The climate in Page, near Antelope Canyon, is arid, with hot, very dry summers.

Antelope Point Marina rents houseboats, cruisers, water toys and kayaks. The houseboats give a lodging-on-the-water option. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has no maintained trails other than the Horseshoe Bend trail, and hiking there means following routes over uneven terrain. National Park Express also runs a daily shuttle between Page and Grand Canyon Village.

Tours that visit the canyon

Antelope Canyon tours

Questions about photographing the canyon

Photography questions

Can photographers enter Antelope Canyon on their own?

No. Entry to Antelope Canyon requires a guided tour, and photographers cannot go in independently.

How long can a visit to Upper Antelope Canyon last?

A two-hour limit on visits inside Upper Antelope Canyon has applied since May 1, 2011.

When do light beams occur in Upper Antelope Canyon?

They occur from late March to late October, and they are strongest from May to September.

Are there light beams in winter?

From November to February the upper canyon has no light beams, as the sun angle is too low in that period.

What is the sand seen in the beams?

Guides at Upper Antelope Canyon often throw fine sand into the beam to make it visible, and the sand can get on camera gear.

Can drones be flown at Antelope Canyon?

Drones are not permitted in Antelope Canyon or at Horseshoe Bend.

Is camping allowed at the canyon?

Camping is not allowed in the Antelope Canyon park.

Antelope Canyon Photography and the Light Beams