Lower Antelope Canyon — called "The Corkscrew" by the Navajo — is the more adventurous sibling of the famous Upper Canyon. It spirals 35 metres underground through 8 metal staircases, and its narrow chambers create kaleidoscopic colours year-round without the midday-only light beam constraint of Upper. Only two operators are Navajo-authorized to take you in: Ken's Tours and Dixie Ellis. Tickets start at $75 per person, guided tour included.
- Two operators only: Ken's Tours and Dixie Ellis are the sole Navajo-authorized guides for Lower Canyon. No other companies can legally bring visitors inside.
- Tickets from $75 — all prices include the $15 Navajo Nation entry fee. No separate gate fee.
- Tripods permitted — unlike Upper Antelope Canyon (banned since 2019). Lower is the preferred canyon for serious photographers.
- 8 staircases, 35m descent — the canyon is not wheelchair-accessible or suitable for visitors who cannot manage stairs.
- Less crowded than Upper — smaller authorized group sizes and fewer visiting tour groups mean a quieter experience.
Address
Lower Antelope Canyon Rd, Page, AZ 86040
Authorized operators
Ken's Tours + Dixie Ellis (only 2)
Price range
$75 – $302 per person
Entry fee
$15/person (Navajo Nation) — included in tour price
Tour duration
50–60 min (General) · 75–90 min (Deluxe)
Accessibility
8 staircases · 35m descent · not wheelchair-accessible
Tripods
Permitted (banned in Upper Canyon)
Distance from Page
3 miles (5 km) south · 7-min drive
What is Lower Antelope Canyon?
Lower Antelope Canyon (Hazdistaz in Navajo, meaning "the spiral rock arches") is a slot canyon carved by millennia of flash floods through Navajo sandstone near Page, Arizona. At its deepest, it reaches 35 metres below the desert surface — you descend via a series of 8 metal staircases with handrails running the full length.
The canyon sits entirely on Navajo Nation land and has been a protected site since the 1990s. A $15/person entry fee is charged by the Navajo Nation; your tour operator collects it as part of your ticket price, so there is no separate payment at the gate. Tours are legally required — solo visits are not permitted under Navajo law.
Lower Canyon tends to be narrower than Upper, with more complex spiraling chambers and a greater variety of formations — S-curves, hourglass squeezes, and overhanging walls that block direct sunlight and bathe the rock in warm reflected colour. Unlike Upper Canyon, the effect is present throughout the day, not only at midday.
Ken's Tours: four tiers for every budget and interest
Ken's Tours (lowerantelope.com) is one of the two Navajo-authorized operators for Lower Canyon and operates its own direct booking system. They offer four distinct tour tiers — more variation than any competitor — which is useful if you're a photographer or want deeper cultural context.
| Tour | Price/person | Duration | Group size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | $80.50 | 50–60 min | Up to 15 | First-time visitors |
| Deluxe | $173.63 | 75–90 min | Up to 6 | Cultural depth + meal included |
| Combo | $148.00 | Variable | Up to 6 | Canyon + kayak or horseback |
| Premier | $302.41 | 8.5 hours | Private / very small | Professional photography |
All prices include taxes and the $15 Navajo entry fee. The General tour is the standard choice for most visitors. The Deluxe includes a meal at Ken's on-site café and a visit to the deeper Hozho Haza chamber not included in the General route. The Premier Tour is the only canyon experience of its kind in Page — 8.5 hours for dedicated photographers who want the canyon before crowds arrive and after they leave.
Cancellation policy (Ken's Tours):full refund if you cancel 72+ hours before. No refund for cancellations under 72 hours. If Ken's Tours cancels due to a flash flood warning — which happens several times per season during the July–September monsoon — you receive a full refund or free rescheduling at no charge.
Dixie Ellis' Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
The second and only other Navajo-authorized operator is Dixie Ellis' Lower Antelope Canyon Tours. A Navajo-owned company, Dixie Ellis has been guiding visitors through the canyon for decades and holds a direct permit from the Navajo Nation alongside Ken's Tours.
Dixie Ellis does not maintain an active independent website — their bookings are channeled through Viator and OTA platforms. On Viator, their General Guided Tour carries a 4.9/5 rating across 7,000+ reviews, making it the highest-rated Lower Antelope Canyon product on the platform. If you're choosing between Viator listings and social proof is your deciding factor, the Dixie Ellis-operated tour is the one to pick.
Book Lower Antelope Canyon tours on Viator
Viator aggregates tickets from multiple Navajo guides, shows real-time availability, and offers free cancellation on most listings — useful when booking from Europe or Australia months in advance. Prices are comparable to booking direct.
Lower Antelope Canyon Hiking Tour
The top-rated Lower Antelope Canyon tour on Viator, run by Navajo guides. Full canyon route with natural light chambers and spiraling formations. Recommended to book 2–3 weeks ahead in peak season (June–August).
Lower Antelope Canyon Admission Ticket
Most affordable Viator option for Lower Canyon. Guided entry with a licensed Navajo guide. Good choice if you've already visited a slot canyon and want a straightforward, no-frills booking.
Lower Antelope Canyon Tour Ticket
Well-reviewed mid-range option with free cancellation — ideal for travelers who might need to reschedule. A licensed Navajo guide leads the full canyon route, pointing out the best photographic compositions.
Lower vs Upper Antelope Canyon: which should you visit?
Both sit on Navajo land near Page, 3 miles apart. Here is how they actually compare:
| Feature | Lower (“The Corkscrew”) | Upper (“The Crack”) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $75 | From $90–$100 |
| Light beams | No vertical beams — reflected light all day | Mar–Oct midday only (10am–noon) |
| Tripods | Permitted ✓ | Banned since 2019 |
| Accessibility | 8 staircases · 35m descent | Flat sandy floor · no stairs |
| Crowd level | Smaller groups · quieter | More visitors · busier |
| Tour operators | 2 Navajo-authorized | 6 Navajo-authorized |
| Canyon depth | Up to 35m underground | At surface level · open top |
| Best time | Year-round | March–October for light beams |
Choose Lower Canyon if:you have a camera and tripod, you're visiting outside summer, you want smaller groups, or you want the more adventurous physical experience of the staircases.
Choose Upper Canyon if:catching the iconic vertical light beams is your main goal, you have limited mobility (flat floor, no stairs), or it's your first slot canyon visit and you want the most globally recognized image.
Many visitors do both on the same day — the 7-minute drive between them is trivial, and together they take about 3–4 hours. The two canyons are so different that seeing one does not diminish the other.
Photography in Lower Antelope Canyon
Lower Canyon is, in the view of many landscape photographers, the superior shooting location — despite Upper's more famous reputation. The main reason: tripods are permitted, the spiraling chambers offer more compositional variety than Upper's wider uniform walls, and smaller group sizes give you breathing room to set up a shot.
The lighting in Lower Canyon is diffuse and reflected throughout the day. Early morning and late afternoon produce the warmest, deepest orange tones as low-angle sunlight filters into the upper openings. There is no single “magic hour” — every hour has something to offer.
- Camera settings: Manual mode, ISO 400–1,200, shutter 1/15–1/60s, f/8–f/11 for depth. Wide-angle 14–24mm recommended.
- Tripods: Compact travel tripods or gorillpods work well in the narrow sections. Full-size tripods are permitted but may be awkward in tight spots.
- Smartphone: Night Mode or Pro Mode. iPhones handle the canyon's high-contrast light well. Point your phone at the brightest wall and let the camera expose to the mid-tones.
- Flash: Not permitted — banned to avoid bleaching rock colors and disturbing other visitors.
- Guide tips: Ask your Navajo guide where their favourite composition spots are. They have spent years photographing the same walls and know the angles most visitors walk past.
- Premier Tour: Ken's $302.41 Premier Tour is the only dedicated photography option — 8.5 hours in a private or very small group, designed around camera access rather than throughput.
What to expect on your Lower Canyon tour
Arrive at the Lower Antelope Canyon check-in area on Lake Powell Blvd (3 miles from Page center) 30–45 minutes before your scheduled slot. Your guide will verify your ticket and give a safety briefing before leading the group to the first staircase.
- The descent: The first staircase is the steepest and can feel vertiginous on the way down. Once at the bottom, the canyon opens into a series of wider chambers. The 8 staircases are spread throughout the route — some go deeper, some come back up slightly.
- Inside: Your eyes adjust in a few minutes to the dim light. The guide sets a relaxed pace, stopping at photogenic chambers. Stay together — passageways narrow significantly in places and it is easy to fall behind.
- Flash floods: The July–September monsoon season brings a real flood risk. If a flash flood watch is active, operators cancel the tour immediately — even if it is not raining at the canyon entrance, storms 30+ miles upstream can send a wall of water through in minutes. Ken's offers a full refund or reschedule at no charge if they cancel due to weather.
- What to wear: Closed-toe shoes with grip (sneakers or hiking shoes). A light layer — the canyon is noticeably cooler than the desert surface.
- What not to bring: Large bags (lockers available near entrance), powder sunscreen (the dust settles on canyon walls and causes discolouration), selfie sticks, and food or drinks.
Getting to Lower Antelope Canyon
The canyon entrance is at Lower Antelope Canyon Rd, Page, AZ 86040— 3 miles (5 km) south of downtown Page. Both Ken's Tours and Dixie Ellis use this entrance.
- From Page downtown: 7 minutes via S Lake Powell Blvd (US-89 South).
- From Las Vegas: 4.5 hours (270 miles) via I-15 North or US-89.
- From Flagstaff: 2.5 hours (130 miles) via US-89 North.
- From Phoenix: 4.5 hours (280 miles) via US-89 North through Sedona.
- Parking: Free parking at the canyon entrance. Arrives early in peak season (June–August) — the lot fills by mid-morning.
- GPS: Search “Lower Antelope Canyon” in Google Maps or Apple Maps — both navigate correctly to the entrance on Lake Powell Blvd.
If you are combining Lower Canyon with Upper Antelope Canyon or Horseshoe Bend on the same day, start with your Lower Canyon slot in the morning (crowds are thinner), then drive to Upper Canyon or Horseshoe Bend in the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lower or Upper Antelope Canyon better?
It depends on your priorities. Upper Antelope Canyon has the famous vertical light beams (March–October, midday only) and a flat, easy walk — but costs more and feels more crowded. Lower Antelope Canyon is cheaper, allows tripods, has smaller groups, and offers more geological variety with its spiraling staircases. Most photographers prefer Lower; first-time visitors often prefer Upper for the iconic light beams. Many visitors do both in the same day since the two canyons are only 7 minutes apart by car.
How much does Lower Antelope Canyon cost?
Tickets start from $75–$80 per adult for a general 50–60 minute guided tour. Ken's Tours charges $80.50 all-inclusive (taxes and the $15 Navajo entry fee included). On Viator, prices start at $75. Note: all tour prices already include the mandatory $15/person Navajo Nation entry fee — you do not pay it separately at the gate.
Do you need a tour to visit Lower Antelope Canyon?
Yes, a guided tour is legally required. Lower Antelope Canyon is on Navajo Nation land, and Navajo law mandates that all visitors be accompanied by a licensed Navajo guide at all times. Solo entry is not permitted. Only two operators hold authorization: Ken's Tours (lowerantelope.com) and Dixie Ellis' Lower Antelope Canyon Tours.
Can you take photos and use a tripod in Lower Antelope Canyon?
Yes to both. Unlike Upper Antelope Canyon, which banned tripods in 2019, Lower Canyon permits tripods. This is one of the main reasons serious photographers prefer Lower Canyon. Cameras, phones, and compact tripods are all allowed. Flash photography is not permitted as it disturbs other visitors and can bleach the rock colors.
How long is the Lower Antelope Canyon tour?
The standard General tour with Ken's Tours is 50–60 minutes inside the canyon. Add 30–45 minutes for check-in before your slot. Ken's Deluxe Tour is 75–90 minutes with smaller groups and more in-depth commentary. The Premier Photography Tour is 8.5 hours for serious camera work.
What is the difference between Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon?
Upper Antelope Canyon ('The Crack') is wider with a flat sandy floor, famous for vertical light beams at midday in summer. You walk at surface level. Lower Antelope Canyon ('The Corkscrew') is narrower and spirals downward — you descend 35 metres via 8 metal staircases. Lower has more complex rock formations, allows tripods, tends to be less crowded, and costs about $10–$15 less. Upper's light beams are the most photographed natural phenomenon in Arizona; Lower's formations reward photographers year-round.
Is Lower Antelope Canyon accessible for people with mobility limitations?
No. Lower Antelope Canyon requires descending 8 metal staircases to reach the canyon floor approximately 35 metres below the surface. There are handrails throughout, but the terrain is uneven, sandy, and narrow in places. It is not suitable for wheelchairs, walkers, or visitors who cannot manage stairs. If you have mobility limitations, Upper Antelope Canyon has a flat, level surface accessible for most visitors.
What should I wear and bring to Lower Antelope Canyon?
Wear closed-toe shoes with good grip — sneakers or hiking shoes. The sandy floor and metal staircases make flip-flops and heels hazardous. Avoid loose clothing that catches in narrow passages. Bring a camera or phone, a small bag (large backpacks are not allowed inside), and a light layer since the canyon is cooler than the desert surface. Leave food, drinks, powder sunscreen (damages canyon walls), and selfie sticks at your car.
About this guide
Written by Diego Fresno, I visited Lower Antelope Canyon with Ken's General Tour during my July 2025 road trip. The descent into the canyon feels genuinely different from Upper — more physical, more intimate, and more photogenic with a tripod. The Navajo guide pointed me toward a deep chamber where the walls turn a saturated crimson just before noon; you'd walk straight past it. The $15 entry fee is already in your ticket price — nothing to pay at the gate.. Verified quarterly — last review April 2026. About the author →
Antelope Canyon: Complete Guide
Everything about visiting Antelope Canyon — Upper, Lower, tickets, operators, and tips for first-timers.
Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide which canyon to visit — or whether to do both.
Antelope Canyon Tour Operators
All 6 Navajo-authorized Upper Canyon operators compared, with availability links.
Horseshoe Bend Guide
4 miles from the canyon entrance. Most visitors combine both on the same day.