When you are gazing down from the sizzling overlooks of Horseshoe Bend, you will wish you were on a boat below. tour, which got us to the canyons between 11 a.m. It is best to go on an earlier tour so you can see the canyons in their bright, orange glory. The canyons tend to get shaded and dark during the afternoon hours. I imagine many of the companies have the same elements: Native American heritage presentation, ride to and from the canyons and time for pictures. We used Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours for our last-minute booking and they were great. There are multiple companies to use, and you will see many on your way into town. Previously, you could tour the canyons without a guide (like many National Parks), but it is now required to have a tour guide. Page, Arizona and the surrounding canyons sit on a Navajo Indian Reservation. He said the Antelope Canyon tours has at least 20 people per time slot, so he now chooses other canyons. One of the visitors on our tour was a photographer, and he has gone on many of the tours. Our tour was comprised of eight people, which made for significant amounts of time in the canyons by ourselves to take pictures. I am so glad we booked the Slot Canyon tour instead of Antelope Canyons for our first visit. Yes, I know, but the Instagram photos! Trust me, avoid the crowds and book one of the other canyons for your tour (Slot Canyon or Cathedral Canyon are just some examples of the many canyons in this area). Try and visit later in the evening or in the morning for less sun. No need for hiking boots (if you don’t own them), but tennis shoes are recommend. I would recommend bringing water, sunscreen and protective clothing. There are multiple overlooks to see different views of the Bend. The hike is slightly strenuous at first, with an uphill climb through a large sand dune, but gets easier as you cross over to the main path. You can easily drive there and pay to park.

There is no need to take a guided tour to Horseshoe Bend.

Many tour companies offer a (pricey) combination tour for both one of canyons and Horseshoe Bend. Even if you aren’t driving through, I recommend a stop at both Horseshoe Bend and any of the canyons. Thankfully, we figured out a way around this, and ended up having a fantastic time. One problem though, we arrived to town with ZERO reservations, and soon learned this is a must-have to visit.Īlso, Antelope Canyon tours are booked far in advance. On our recent road trip across the country, we stopped in the town of Page, Arizona to see the famous Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyons. Insider’s Guide to Horseshoe Bend, Slot Canyon and Page, Arizona – How to book a Navajo guide to see the canyons in Page, Arizona, how to save money at Horseshoe Bend and more.

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