Antelope Canyon X Hiking Tour (with Option Upgrade to Photo Tour)

Two slot canyons, one compact adventure. Antelope Canyon X gives you a Navajo guided walk through two sculpted sandstone canyons, reached by a short 4WD ride from Highway 98. I like the smaller setting and the way guides help with photos, especially guides such as Van, Nick, Ethel, and Orvid, who have been praised for patience, stories, and picture-taking. The $89 price is fair if you want the famous canyon shapes without spending half a day on one attraction.

The catch is time. The standard visit lasts about 90 minutes, and the canyon route can feel brisk when groups are moving through. I also like that Canyon X generally sees fewer people than Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, but you should expect stairs, no canyon restrooms, and a strict arrival rule. Miss the departure because of the time-zone mix-up, and there is no refund.

Canyon X in a nutshell

• Two different canyon sections: You walk about 100 meters into the first slot canyon, then continue roughly 200 meters to a second section with its own shapes and light.
• A short 4WD approach: The vehicle covers about three miles from the meeting point to the canyon mouth, saving you a long desert walk.
• Navajo-guided experience: Guides explain the canyon, local geology, and sometimes Navajo heritage, while helping you find good camera angles.
• Less crowded than the famous alternatives: Canyon X is the lesser-known cousin of Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, though it is not empty.
• Photo upgrade available: The longer photography option allows about 2.5 hours in the canyon and gives you time to set up a tripod.
• Simple but real physical demands: Expect a staircase of about 200 feet, an uphill walk back to the vehicle, and no stroller or wheelchair access.

Why Antelope Canyon X is worth your time

Antelope Canyon is famous for its smooth, wave-like Navajo Sandstone. Rainwater and wind have shaped the stone over millions of years, carving narrow passages that twist between pale orange and red walls. Canyon X gets its name from two canyon cuts that form an X in the rock.

The setting is the main event. Light enters from above, sliding across curved walls and changing the color and texture of the sandstone. You may see occasional light beams, but lighting depends on the time of day, season, and conditions. Do not book this only for a guaranteed shaft of sunlight. Book it for the sculpted rock, close quarters, and the chance to walk through two distinct sections.

I especially like the two-canyon format. The first section is reached after a 100-meter walk into the canyon. Once that portion is complete, your guide leads you another 200 meters to the second slot canyon. Some descriptions characterize the sections as an A-shaped canyon and a V-shaped canyon, which helps explain why the formations feel different rather than like one repeated corridor.

From Highway 98 to the canyon mouth

You meet at Antelope Canyon X by Taadidiin Tours, at Milepost 308 on Highway 98, outside Page. There is no hotel pickup, so you need your own car or another way to reach the meeting point.

Arrive at least 45 minutes before departure. That may sound excessive for a short tour, but it gives you time to park, check in, use the portable toilets, and deal with the time-zone issue. Page is close to the Arizona and Navajo Nation time-zone boundary, so read the departure information carefully. The exact time on your reservation and voucher matters more than what your phone happens to display.

After check-in, a 4WD transport vehicle takes you about three miles across the desert. The ride lasts roughly 15 minutes according to the practical timing provided for the tour. Seat belts should be used whenever available, and you should check that your seat belt works before the vehicle leaves. One poor report raised concerns about nonworking belts, so this is a sensible safety check rather than a fussy extra.

At the canyon entrance, the walking portion begins. The route is not a technical hike and has no ladders, but it is not completely flat from start to finish. You should be comfortable with stairs and a short uphill walk back to the vehicle.

The 100-meter walk into the first slot canyon

The entrance is where the character of the place changes. You leave the open desert and move into a narrow sandstone corridor, where the walls curve, pinch, and widen in ways that are hard to predict from the outside.

Your guide leads the group and controls the pace. This matters because Canyon X is narrow, and several groups may be using the same route. You may stop for photos, but you cannot treat the canyon like a private studio during the standard tour.

Guides often make the visit better than a self-guided walk would be. Mike has been praised for demonstrating how the rock formed, while Orvid explained the canyon, local plants, and its past. Another guide, Brandon, was appreciated for sharing information without talking nonstop, then allowing quiet time to take in the stone. That balance is useful. The canyon is worth hearing about, but it also deserves a few quiet minutes.

Photo help is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Guides may point out promising formations, suggest settings, or take pictures of you with your phone. Josh was praised for helping with photos and adding special effects, while Ethel was remembered for a calm manner and terrific pictures. You should still know that photo help depends on the group and guide. It is a welcome service, not a substitute for hiring a dedicated photographer.

The 200-meter walk to the second canyon

Once you finish the first slot canyon, you walk about 200 meters to the second. This short connection is part of what makes Canyon X feel like a small exploration instead of a single photo stop.

The two sections offer different shapes and sight lines. You may find narrow walls, smooth bends, shadowed recesses, and open cuts where daylight reaches farther down. The exact visual effect changes with the sun, but the attraction is always the close view of the sandstone.

The standard tour lasts about an hour and a half from start to finish. That includes the 4WD transport, the walk into the canyon, both canyon sections, and the return to the meeting point. Ninety minutes is enough to see the place without committing an entire day, but it passes quickly if you want to compose careful photographs.

This is also where the main drawback appears. One visitor found the walk rushed because a group behind kept pressing forward. Guides need to keep groups moving for safety and scheduling, so you should not expect unlimited time at every bend. If you are the kind of person who wants to wait for perfect light, adjust a tripod, and make several versions of one image, the standard tour may frustrate you.

The photo upgrade for slower camera work

The photography option gives you about 2.5 hours in the canyon rather than the standard 1.5 hours. It is designed for people who want more time, plan to use a tripod, or simply prefer not to hurry through the formations.

This is the better choice for serious photography. One photo group had only four people, which made tripod setup and careful compositions much easier. Another group found that the longer visit created periods when the canyon felt nearly private between regular tours. That kind of quiet is a major reason to pay more.

The upgrade does not turn Canyon X into an unrestricted private shoot. You still follow the guide and local rules, and the canyon remains a shared public attraction. Still, an extra hour makes a real difference. You can wait for light, take your time with a curved wall, and avoid the feeling that your best shot is being cut short.

For a casual camera or phone user, the standard tour is probably enough. Guides are often happy to take photos for you and point out good angles. For a serious hobbyist, the photography option is easier to justify than paying for extra equipment or returning another day.

What the $89 price buys you

The advertised standard price is $89 per person. It includes admission to Canyon X, the Navajo permit fee of $8 per person, the 4WD ride, the guided walk, and bottled water. Food and snacks are not included.

At that price, I see the tour as reasonable rather than cheap. You are paying for access to a protected Navajo Nation site, transportation across the desert, a guide, and a tightly managed canyon visit. The value improves if you want a shorter attraction that leaves time for another Page sight or hike.

The value is less convincing if you only get a few hurried photo stops or if you expect a private experience. One complaint described the tour as too expensive for the time provided, and another raised concern about a group larger than the advertised maximum of 10. The stated limit is important, so check your confirmation and speak up if the group seems much larger.

You should also budget for a guide tip. Tips are not included, and the suggested amount is $2 to $5 per person. If your guide takes photos, answers questions, and keeps the group comfortable, that small extra cost is well deserved.

Physical effort, clothing, and family details

The route is usually an easy walk once you are inside the canyon. The difficult parts are the stairs and the return to the vehicle. Information for the tour describes a staircase of about 200 feet into Canyon X, while practical accounts describe roughly 100 steps on the way out. Either way, you need to be comfortable with a sustained staircase.

Wear closed-toe shoes with a good grip. Hiking boots are not required, and trail-running shoes or sturdy sneakers should work well. Skip flip-flops, open-toe shoes, and heels. A canyon can also feel cool at times, so a light layer is sensible even on a warm day.

There are no restrooms inside the canyon or at the canyon site. Use the portable toilets at check-in before departure. Bring water if you like, though bottled water is provided.

Infants need a car seat for the vehicle ride and must be carried through the canyon. Strollers and wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. A chest or backpack-style child carrier is the practical option, but you should think carefully about the stairs and narrow route before bringing a very young child.

The tour is not recommended for people with physical limitations or those who are pregnant. Most people who can manage stairs and an easy walk should find the route manageable, but the operator makes the final call on suitability.

How the guide shapes the visit

The quality of the guide can change the entire mood of a Canyon X tour. A good guide points out formations, explains how water shaped the Navajo Sandstone, and helps you get a photo without turning every stop into a lecture.

Several guides have received especially warm praise. Van shared stories about slot canyons and his Navajo heritage. Nick was appreciated for his humor, patience, and repeated offers to take phone pictures. Thomas was praised for making a family visit memorable, while Tyler earned praise for clear explanations and patience.

The guiding style may vary. One otherwise happy visitor wished for more facts about the canyon and the land. That is worth keeping in mind if cultural and geological interpretation is your top priority. You may get a lively, detailed explanation, or you may get a quieter guide who focuses on moving the group and helping with photos.

Timing, crowds, and the best kind of visitor

Canyon X is generally less busy than Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon because it is less well known. That does not mean solitude on a normal departure. You are still part of a scheduled system, and the narrow canyon requires groups to keep moving.

The tour suits you best if you want:

• A shorter slot canyon visit near Page
• Strong photo opportunities without a difficult hike
• A Navajo guide and organized transport
• Two canyon sections in one outing
• Time afterward for another local activity

Choose the photography upgrade if you use a tripod, care about light, or dislike rushed compositions. Choose the standard visit if you mainly want to see the canyon, take phone pictures, and keep your day flexible.

Book carefully because the experience is non-refundable and cannot normally be changed. If bad weather cancels the tour, you can receive another date or a full refund. Late arrival is not covered, so the 45-minute early arrival rule is one to take seriously.

Should you book Antelope Canyon X?

I would book the standard tour if you want a well-organized, visually striking introduction to a slot canyon and you value a manageable 90-minute schedule. The two canyon sections, 4WD approach, and helpful photo assistance make the $89 price defensible, especially if you are already visiting Page.

I would pay for the photo upgrade if photography is a central reason for your visit. The extra time, smaller groups when available, and chance to use a tripod solve the standard tour’s biggest weakness.

I would skip it if stairs are difficult, you need guaranteed quiet time, or you dislike strict schedules. Canyon X is beautiful, but it is not a private wander. Arrive early, wear proper shoes, check the time zone, and use the facilities before you leave. Do that, and this compact tour can produce some of the most memorable images of a Page visit.

FAQ

What is included in the Antelope Canyon X tour?

The tour includes admission to Canyon X, the $8 Navajo permit fee, 4WD transportation to the canyon, the guided walking tour, and bottled water.

Is hotel pickup provided?

No. You must make your own way to Antelope Canyon X by Taadidiin Tours at Milepost 308 on Highway 98 near Page, Arizona.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive at least 45 minutes before your scheduled departure. Check the voucher carefully for time-zone information and the final departure time.

How long does the standard tour last?

The standard tour lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes, including transportation and the canyon walk.

How long is the photography tour?

The photography option provides about 2.5 hours in the canyon and is intended for people who want extra time for photography and tripod use.

Is the hike difficult?

The canyon walk is generally easy and has no ladders, but there is a staircase of about 200 feet and an uphill walk back to the vehicle. The tour is not recommended for people with physical limitations or those who are pregnant.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable seasonal clothing and closed-toe shoes suitable for walking. Flip-flops, open-toe shoes, and heeled shoes are not allowed for safety reasons.

Are restrooms available at the canyon?

No. There are no restrooms on-site, so use the portable toilets at the check-in area before departure.

Can young children use a stroller?

No. Strollers and wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Infants need a car seat for the vehicle ride and must be carried through the canyon. A chest or backpack-style child carrier may be used in the canyon.