Antelope Canyon

Dramatic game of colours and curves

Soft pink/orange pastel shades and flowing curves decorate the sandstone walls of Antelope Canyon. A few beams of sunlight descend from various directions onto the unique rock formations. The beauty inside is overwhelming, every minute you see the canyon in a different light, literally.

We’re trapped in a narrow corridor, but the surroundings are absolutely breathtaking.

The drive to Antelope Canyon takes about 20 minutes from Page (Arizona). Sitting in the back of an open jeep we already enjoy some spectacular views on the way there. Once we’re off the main road our route continues as quite a bumpy, sandy dirt road. Most of the time we can only drive around 10 km/hr and I’ve heard the engine make sounds it’s probably not supposed to make. The way to get to the Canyon is an adventure in itself, with the sun on my face and the wind in my hair, I’m loving every second of the ride.

Entrance Antelope Canyon

Our jeep stops in front of a big rock with one slim crack in it. It’s even hard to distinguish the crack from the other lines on the outside of this sandstone lump. It doesn’t surprise me to hear that the Navajo Indians used to seek refuge here when the army came looking for them back in the 19th century. The Navajo Indians discovered this hiding place when a young Navajo girl walked past the rock and saw a group of antelopes entering through the crack.

Inside Antelope Canyon

There are more jeeps there of people coming and going, so I guess this really is Antelope Canyon. We walk through the slit and suddenly we’re in a different world where light falls down in beams or is reflected on the soft orange/yellow toned sides of the canyon. It’s tranquil and by far not as hot as outside in the sun.

Most canyons are V-shaped, they have a large open space at the top and taper off towards the bottom. Antelope Canyon is a so-called slot canyon, which is a combination of a U- and O-shape, the ‘roof’ is nearly closed. The narrow canyon is formed by erosion and flash floods running through it. Over the course of centuries these infrequent floods have drawn lines and sculpted curves in the soft sandstone. Every so often nature comes around to change the scenery, filling the canyon top-to-bottom with water. At some points the passage is so small only one person at the time can pass through, while a few meters further ahead there’s enough space for a small group of people to stand and gaze in awe at their surroundings.

Colours & shades

Almost every line on the walls is sooner or later disrupted by another wave, another set of lines. At some points light is coming through, only to be broken by another protruding stone or a stick (probably brought there by a previous flood, probably to be taken away by the next flood). The walls are covered with warm pink/orange/yellow tones while the lines are playing a dramatic catch-me-if-you-can game with a few sunrays peeking inside this secluded area.

Curves & colours

The natural beauty of Antelope Canyon has impressed me, a lot. Every single detail in the canyon adds the total picture of serenity and perfection. Nature didn’t hold back in showing off its magnificence on this palette of colours, shades, shapes, sizes and lighting. Beginning to end, every scene is simply breathtaking. No matter how had you try, no person on earth can ever make something as beautiful as Antelope Canyon.

Lines & curves

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If you’d like to read or see more of the Antelope Canyon, you might be interested in Canyon Wilderness of the Southwest by Jon Ortner
For travelling in this region I recommend you to read the Lonely Planet Country & Regional Guide for Arizona, New Mexico and the Grand Canyon Trips