Antelope Canyon X & Horseshoe Bend: A Personal Review

Alright, so you’re thinking about hitting up Antelope Canyon X and Horseshoe Bend? That’s really cool, very adventurous of you! I went recently, and it’s almost like stepping onto another planet, the views are so unbelievable. I’m sharing some of my own takeaways and tips, basically just from my own experience, to help you get the most out of this visit.

What’s the Big Deal About Antelope Canyon X?

Now, Antelope Canyon is definitely one of those spots you’ve probably seen a million times on postcards, yet seeing it in person, it really blows you away, it’s hard to describe. Antelope Canyon X, in particular, is just this awesome section that tends to be, like, a bit less crowded than the super famous Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons, so that’s automatically a plus, right?

What makes it amazing? The slot canyon itself. Water and wind took a very, very long time carving these sandstone walls, that they shaped them into crazy smooth, flowing forms. Walking through, the light does these insane tricks, bouncing off the walls and making everything glow different shades of orange and red, it’s visually delicious. I’m talking prime photography real estate; your Instagram feed will thank you. But more than just snapping pics, you are really surrounded by quiet, beautiful work created by nature, and I find that incredibly special, very inspiring.

Booking Your Antelope Canyon X Adventure

Okay, the thing is, you actually can’t just roll up to Antelope Canyon X and wander around by yourself. You will usually need to book a tour with one of the authorized Navajo tour companies. So, check this early. Tour guides are not just being bossy, they do this so that they can share lots of cool info regarding the canyon, about the geology and the history of this amazing place, they offer very knowledgeable insights. I think the prices might be around $50-$70 a person, yet that could certainly be affected by time of year, it seems.

What I picked up is that booking online, like a good way in advance, that’s the golden ticket, especially if you’re heading over during the hotter summer months, a very popular travel time, usually. Spots go super fast, so get organized in advance to save disappointment later, for sure. Think about if you would want to go early in the morning, around midday to catch the absolute best lighting inside the canyon. Honestly, that’s something to discuss when booking, alright?

What to Expect on the Tour

These tour groups often meet near Page, Arizona, so you just head out from there. They often truck you to the canyon entrance, it’s an easy journey. Walking through the canyon is relatively straightforward; but there are some points where you may need to go down steps, it’s kind of an unevern surface. That means wearable walking shoes are a fantastic move. Really, there are sections which may need a little clambering, however generally it’s very much worth the tiny amount of effort involved.

Your tour guide shows important highlights, points out cool rock shapes and makes sure everyone can take all their pictures they want, without rushing. Guides actually have lots of insights about where and when you will achieve great pictures. They will show you settings too! Therefore, don’t feel shy to ask for assistance or questions. Plus, you understand this place has a lot of spiritual importance for the Navajo Nation, so these are very respectful about what is special here. They will speak more about their tradition too!

Horseshoe Bend: That Iconic View

Next stop: Horseshoe Bend. And oh, boy, is this place gorgeous. Picture this: you stroll over very rugged desert terrain and then… BAM! This ginormous, vibrant green river does its curvy dance all around the red rocks. The viewpoint that everyone hits to photograph all this is awesome; it is a total showstopper. Trust your travel companions – it really stands up to expectations!

Getting to the Overlook

Horseshoe Bend is extremely easy to access. Simply head South of Page on US Highway 89, before seeing marked sign. You might get charged some for parking; it’s not typically too expensive, yet always better to have some cash to handle this! The hike through the parking area and across to the lookout is fairly flat and should just be less than a mile. Usually, there are some shelters established alongside that path, to catch some shade – however, always carry plenty of fluids with yourself! It gets super hot there, honestly.

Safety First at Horseshoe Bend

Okay, so the view might seem stunning, right, very picture-postcard pretty; just yet it can be dangerous. Remember! This overlook drops off an insanely vertical cliff, there aren’t any fences and so forth keeping visitors separated. Always take your care at edges – respect the beauty from a safe distance. Don’t mess up all the photos when stepping out of bounds. Supervise children continually and please respect your own limits as it involves selfies that show much edge. Believe everyone, that sight that is open on display means serious falling risks if things turn bad very fast indeed!

Plus, due to exposure from those very fierce temperatures around, always bring hats/sunscreen including lots and lots, so it’s very key to avoid heating from burning out across the trails and on exposed rock fronts, right at Horseshoe bend as expected when enjoying yourself or doing lots, is that you take plenty precautions especially on seriously sunny times!

Combining Antelope Canyon X and Horseshoe Bend in One Day

Can you fit both into a single day? Easily! What I found great about doing that: each attraction brings its very individual ‘vibe’ so everything balances really perfectly as things pass by together, I’d like to share that it might seem really tight with timing particularly getting tours setup, so give some breathing space too!

Schedule your visit to Horseshoe Bend around golden time or midday too get those sunrises and sunsets that strike right and will be something awesome to capture into those digital cameras right and very soon into the trip that may ensue now?

Other Tips for Planning Your Trip

• Wear comfortable shoes: A bit obvious, yet key, as you’ll walk on uneven terrain in Antelope Canyon X and short distance to that viewing location for Horseshoe Bend too, naturally.
• Bring water: Seriously, hydrate constantly, notably if visiting during warmer days as I already had shared just above in some spaces!.
• Protect yourself from the sun: Slather that sunscreen across anything – skin, clothing including hats. Then grab your sunglasses. All that reflected off desert sand makes radiation extreme during high sunlight!.
• Check the weather: Deserts may shift dramatically fast! Do keep watchful over the conditions. Thunderstorms, for example even when far they cause big flash floods so knowing what happens early avoids bad accidents around!.
• Respect the Navajo Nation: Keep a sensitive manner across these sacred places that mean respectfully acknowledging history that does surround any given visits – treat staff nicely just to see those communities as more open too!.