Horseshoe Bend & Canyon X | Antelope Canyon Alternative!

[@randallstewart1224]

What a difference commercial development can make. I got my Antelope Canyon fix between 1984 and around 2000. The first time I went, there was nothing at Upper AC. The tribe delegated control of access to a family, and the idea was that someone would be in a hut along the highway where you pulled off for the three mile or so trip to the canyon. Half the time, the old guy didn't show up to open the fence and collect the tribal fee. It was a river wash full of sand. Sometimes you could get there in a truck or a four-wheel of some sort. You could hire a tribal guide to drive you in and out, and to give little to no supervision. No time limit. $15. Over later trips, they added some more organized access and required guided trips, at a cost which ran from about $40 to $65. The last visit, they had added some paving off the highway and a toll booth to account for the tour groups going in and out. They still ran designated "photo tours" which favored longer access and minimized other groups in there at the same time. From the YT videos thereafter, the place has ditched the photo tours, so they can run through more walking tours (more money), and they have increased prices and the volume of access to the point where it's more like a weird Disney World experience. The Lower AC was, for those earlier years, totally primitive. Someone collected $15 at the parking lot, and you were on your own. No stairs; a few old ladders. It didn't get more than a fraction of the visitation. That changed as the Upper AC got more restricted or exploited. Now, they seem to be the same. Since you cannot take photos anymore, I personally do not see the old canyons as being worth the time or money required. The tribe is milking the yak, and you're the yak.

[@martinforrester8249]

I'm from the UK, I was due to visit this site in September 1997. Didn't make it, I was elsewhere in the Four Corners. Good job I didn't, eleven folks died in a flash flood on 12 August that year ! Tragic. I went in 2003, much quieter than present day.

[@Thekennel177]

Hey dude, super happy you are advertising this beautiful place. Thanks a million. Really. Thanks.

[@JDPhotography7]

Thank you for a very informative video of these two locations. Great shots.

[@mosheovadya]

Thank you for a very detailed video. Great photos.

[@georgecastro181]

In the middle of May I also photographed Horseshoe Bend and Canyon X! My photographs turned out spectacular because I got to Horseshoe Bend 90 minutes before sunset and I stayed there 45 minutes after sunset! I enjoyed watching your video thank you!

[@warqaaakram9466]

Thank you for this, I never been to any of the antelopes and after thorough search I found canyon X. Booked a tour photography for me and my dad, to take our time photographing and also to have a better visit. I am really happy with your report, hopefully we have the same experience

[@DeltaLimaActual-t2o]

Good information, good shot of The Bend, but hardly different than thousands out there already. If I cannot setup for the Golden Hours, without crowds, then I'll go elsewhere than The Bend. You explained you feel differently and I respect that. Now Canyon X photo tour (I don't take video), that is interesting. Very good photos. Plenty of slot canyons elsewhere, many that are not well-known. Stairs? What's next, an escalator or Segway Tours?

[@robertshaver1612]

Thank you. Useful information.

[@jeffkelly1122]

Beautiful. Thanks.

[@christophertran8896]

Thanks for your advice and comments Mr Parker. Your photography is a personal joy. Thank you for sharing how you’ve captured the sublime. I hope I am lucky enough to witness such beauty and have the pleasure to capture such transcendental the light and shadows.

[@22dreadpirate]

Great pictures and information!

[@timbonnette6615]

Great information and wonderful photography. I passed on Antelope a few years ago due to the crowds. This one will be added to my list of new interests when I get back. Thanks again for effort and presentation.

[@michaelacookePDX]

Wow! Wonderful photos.

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Many thanks!

[@liafiol-matta2736]

Loved this, thank you! I dream of visiting the canyons. 🥰 Your photos of Horseshoe Bend are spectacular. ♥️

[@mikeclancy4956]

Thank You so much for sharing your tour, will be going there later this year!!

[@ailyncarrion1584]

I truly enjoyed your video. Thanks

[@cuppa2023]

Beautiful shots, I'm going in December this information will be very Helpful Thank you.... really enjoy your videos 😊

[@DavidStella]

I really appreciate the insight. Taking my family to Arizona for the first time in March, this helps.

[@duffporteous1039]

Great pics!

[@lynnnorthrup8914]

Nice job!😀👍

[@amandakeller7441]

Great video! We loved Canyon X, our tour guide was the sweetest, they help you with the settings in your phone camera so you get the best shots. She even took panoramic pictures of us. We made friends with the photography guide as we were walking through and he set us up for a falling sand shot, AMAZING! I'd love to go back and do the photography tour just to get some more time n the canyon.

[@kimcornelius7134]

What time of day did you go? Heading there end of September

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

@kimcornelius7134 - I’d recommend towards the middle of the day when sun is highest so you can get the reflected light.

[@only1salinas]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@geonerd]

Waaaay back in the day, Lower Antelope would sell you a 4 hour ticket where you were free to roam w/o a guide of any sort. It was wonderful. Now... you are a cow. Follow the herd and don't stray!

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Absolutely beautiful. I have never heard of Antelope Canyon before. Nice video and adventure. New follower here. Crow

[@humblysassy]

Great tips Mr Parker! And the photos you took were just breathtaking.

[@glenh2159]

I had first visited Antelope canyon in 2002 when It was just discovered by the world. No problems taking your time walking thru either upper or lower canyons. At that time the parking lot for the lower canyon would hold about 40 cars. Last visit five years ago (about 2018) the parking lot held about 40 busses plus however many cars. I was able to get some shots but the description about disturbing an ant hill is very accurate. Many times they seem to require reservations and even with that a visitor might have to wait 4-5 hours go go thru the canyon- especially during holidays and any busy days. ( the busses hold tours of out of country visitors and large tour groups)

[@S.A.Bukhari007]

Nice

[@tcbtcb]

Great video. It’s disappointing some of these cools spots are now behind a “timed” pay wall money grab. I just purchased a Shelta how do you like yours?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Thanks! I love my hat. Super sturdy and keeps the sun off everything.

[@maureencabrera7029]

Love this very informative esp I'm going soon for Canyon X Aug 11, 2023 3:30 pm though. This time frame, will it still show great sunlight in the CANYON SLOT X? This slot is way cheaper, and as what I gathered from You and other Vlogs- less crowded.

[@h2ofrogman]

Thanks for the video. Love the first shot on your website. Where is that? Mike in Memphis

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

North Cascades National Park in Washington.

[@QuinonesBoysForms]

James, thank you for this. I'm planning a trip next week to the Antelope Slot Canyons and I had heard that they had discontinued the Photography tours in the Upper and Lower and was wondering whether it was worth going at all. Your video has convinced me to take the plunge. It's very nice to see a video describing all the salient points from a photography perspective. Liked and subscribed.

[@randallstewart175]

Having done the Upper Antelope Canyon tours from before they had any organized tours ($15 to the old guy at the highway, and you are on your own) down to the tour group only access with photo tour (Their truck;, $65), I have to say that news of photo tour termination in favor of pushing bodies in and out leads me to conclusion that there is no point in trying to photography Upper Antelope Canyon now. Even if you're familiar with the layout and photo opts (most are not), the interference of tourist bodies coming and going would make any serious work impossible. Save your money.

[@Don-md6wn]

@@randallstewart175 I'm planning 8 weeks in SW Colorado, southern Utah and northern Arizona in late summer and early fall this year to camp, hike and photograph and from my research there are far more great places to see and photograph than I can get to. Paying to get pushed through Antelope Canyon with a crowd of people taking selfies for Instagram is completely unappealing. Not only did they stop photo tours, they won't even allow people to carry a tripod because speed is the priority. I'll pass. I'm planning to spend 3 nights somewhere in the Kanab/Page area and am planning to focus on Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch, the Toadstools, Horseshoe Bend and the Glen Canyon area. I'll put an application in the lottery to hike to The Wave, but have seen people saying they have applied every month for years without ever getting a spot.

[@mrpotter8340]

Hi, do you sell your photographs?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Yes - contact me via email or website.

[@davidyow7757]

Hi James, just sub to your channel and view your video which is informative. I plan to visit Arizona in 2023 and the Horseshoe Bend is one of the places I will visit. Now that you intro the Canyon X photography tour, I will definitely have a look at exploring the place. I have the following questions: Do they allow tripod for Canyon X? At the Horseshoe Bend, do they have restriction for drone flying? I have register my drone with US FAA for recreation flying. thanks. David

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

David - thanks for the sub and comment! Tripods are allowed only if you purchase the photography tour. Drones are not permitted at Horseshoe Bend, even with a Part 107 license. There may be ways to apply for a waiver, but I did not investigate that. The other option is to do a helicopter tour at sunset out of Page.

[@klaudiatash]

Hey! Great photos! ❤️ What time was it? What month was it? Do you recommend a specific time of day? 😊

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Spring/Summer/early fall if you want light coming in the top of the canyon, and around mid day if you can.

[@ferretapocalypse]

Don’t go on weekends ANYWHERE in Az. The urban hoardes are everywhere

[@terrysmith8133]

nice shots. how much time did you spend parking lot to parking lot?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

At canyon x, the drive was about 10 minutes or less.

[@terrysmith8133]

wondering how long in time the walking part of the tour was?@@JamesParkerPhotography

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

@@terrysmith8133 - the photography tour gives you a couple of hours. I think it was up to three when I was there. The guide takes you down and once you are there, he/she lets you do whatever. No rush, not hoards of people. You can go back and forth between the 2 sides of the canyon as well.

[@mikeday8470]

Are you doing anything else in the Southwest?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Mike - not this year. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter on my website (www.jamesparkerphoto.com) to keep updated on my workshops.

[@suzannedeclercq2734]

What is the best time to visit this canyon , around noon or morning and evening

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

I’d recommend around middle of the day.

[@jmfoty4280]

Awesome images. I did lower antelope canyon long ago. I was the only one in my group with a tripod so the guide pretty much focused his attention on me and getting people out of my way. It was a great experience. I think over the years I have improved my techniques and would capture even better images. I won't be afraid to raise my ISO. I will do a few 2 or 3 image panos. I might even try a few HDR images so I can get more detail in both the bright areas and in the darks. Thank you for sharing your experiences and images. QUESTION: Is there ANY WAY to get Milky Way or Star Trail images at Horseshoe Bend?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Thanks! As for night photography and doing it legally, no. The parking lot is closed with a gate. Signs state no camping, no overnight parking, and open only from sunrise to sunset. There is no parking on the main road - they state you will be towed if you do park there. If you really wanted to do this, maybe contact the city of Page and ask.

[@victorperdue7217]

For horse bend, do you think someone could ride their bike from the parking lot to the viewing area? You may have seen it or not or perhaps heard about it. Thanks for any info.

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Hmm. I’m not sure if that is allowed. You’d have to check.

[@judilecompte9377]

Thanks for the video! Great shots! Two questions: I’m curious why you used 800 iso… it seems like you could have used a slightly longer shutter speed to compensate. And 2: did it really take 3 hours? Not that I’m adverse to that. But Brendon Van Son said they’re both pretty short canyons.

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Judi - Thanks for the question and comment! The canyon is small, and you can spend as little or as much as you want. You have up to 3 hours with your guide. We didn't stay in the canyon that long. As for the ISO, it was really dark and I could have used a slower shutter speed but simply chose to keep them faster due to helping my clients and moving a little faster. 5 seconds @ ISO 800 is 40 sec at ISO 100. My Sony does great at higher ISOs so I wasn't worried about it. Some were handheld due to the tightness of the canyon and allowing space for others to pass and shoot. Hope that answers your questions!

[@cre8tivity06]

James is that the reason for the “no backpacks” because it’s places in the canyon that’s tight?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Chuck - I don’t know the reason. You can bring a backpack if you buy the photography tour. Canyon X is not THAT tight.

[@cre8tivity06]

@@JamesParkerPhotography oh ok cool, thank you!

[@leonardvernon7176]

Maybe Canyon X for me?, I canceled my trip because I can't climb and walk far. Thank you for your post!

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

You saw how the walk down to the canyon looked and you know your ability level. Nothing is any harder than what's in the video, unless it's changed a lot.

[@mikemalloy1681]

Second Question: I noted your exposure times on your photos at the end of the video. 5 seconds, 6 seconds @ ISO 800. It must be darker than it looks. Do you adjust your +EV at all???????

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Mike - I shoot full manual and will shoot to match the conditions. Sometimes under exposed by a stop or so, or sometimes right at zero. And in some instances to preserve shadow detail and keep noise down I'll shoot a little over exposed (2/3 of a stop or so).

[@VintageInsightPhotography]

Thank you. Excellent video about the experience. I am planning a trip to Sedona and am thinking of doing the Canyon X tour. No video... 😔. Did they put any stipulations on the photos you took? Commercial use, sale, your YT channel, etc?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

The only permit required that I am aware of is if you are running a landscape photography workshop you need to apply 2 weeks prior to your tour date. You may be able to get a video permit from the Lake Powell Tribal Parks and Recreation Office, but I didn't try or look into it.

[@VintageInsightPhotography]

@@JamesParkerPhotography Thanks for your super speedy reply!

[@martinforrester8249]

There are more churches in Page, maybe these charges go to subsidise more denominations ?

[@timothylinn]

This was well done. I’m curious about one thing though. You showed a sign at Canyon X that said absolutely no purses or backpacks allowed. Then you showed a picture of the stairway down into the canyon and one of the people walking down had a big backpack. Are photographers allowed to bring backpacks?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

You are allowed to bring backpacks if you are on the photography tour. I recommend checking out they website for any policy changes before going to be safe.

[@timothylinn]

@@JamesParkerPhotography Thanks!

[@shmuelherschberg3869]

Very informative! Thank you. I'm looking to book a tour -- only got time for 1 of them -- and I just heard that I should consider Canyon X because it's not overcrowded. However, based on your experience, do you suggest Upper, Lower, or X?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Canyon X if you are a photographer. If not, and you just want to see a slot canyon, then I think Upper Antelope as it’s easiest to access and a little bigger. However- Upper and Lower are WAY more crowded. If crowds are a factor then Canyon X. If you are a photographer then Canyon X.

[@verofen8]

Do they really strick about can't bring gopro?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Yes - they stopped people who tried to video. However if you look on KZbin you’ll find many people who broke the rules and got away with it.

[@verofen8]

@@JamesParkerPhotography thanks, that is why I was wondering, seen lots of video on KZbin

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

@@verofen8 - It's not too hard to break their rules as there is only one guide per group and they can't see everything all the time. For me, I followed their rules as I want they photography tours to continue. There aren't many easily accessible slot canyons that do this any more.

[@nguyenloanngoc]

What tour agency did you book with?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

I booked directly through Canyon X.

[@MarkRomine]

Thank you for sharing! Very informative, I had no idea that there was this much ‘control’ put into place, wow. In spite of that you still got some pretty decent images. What was the cost of the photo tour in X canyon?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Mark - It was around $120 plus some tax/fees. Well worth it, in my opinion. Avoid the other non-photography tours. They are awful.

[@cre8tivity06]

If you are paying for a 3 hour tour, why are they so anal for lack of a better word for not wanting visitors to record video or have backpacks? If someone in your group is taking longer to get their shots, do you have to sit there and wait for them before you can move forward? What time of the year did you go and what time of the day?

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Chuck - We went in March. Tour time was mid day. Our photography tour had 4-5 people in it and we had 3 hours to photograph in the canyon. Our guide did not have to corral us or anything and you could get ahead and wander about with no issues. That's not to say all guides will be this chill - I imagine it also depends on how many on the tour. I didn't understand the no backpacks and no video either, but it's their land and their rules and I respected that. The photography tour DOES allow backpacks. The regular tours are much much larger (20-30 people) and they move through quickly in a single large group. These groups aren't allowed tripods or backpacks. We saw 3-4 groups go through while we were there photographing.

[@cre8tivity06]

@@JamesParkerPhotography oh ok great info! Thanks so much!!

[@mikemalloy1681]

Why do you need a tripod? It seems that there is plenty of light so, I would say 125 to 250 of a second would be about right? No need for a tripod. Unless I am wrong???

[@JamesParkerPhotography]

Mike - Are you talking about inside the slot canyon or at the rim of Horseshoe Bend? Inside the canyon it is very dark - using a low ISO and shutter speeds get too long to hand held. At the rim of Horseshoe Bend, you are technically correct. It's bright enough to hand hold. But even with a wide angle lens it's pretty touchy to ensure you have the entire bowl of the canyon in the frame and that it's even. Another couple of reasons I used a tripod are it allowed me to bracket should I need to and it kind of reserves my spot due to all of the people there.

[@Don-md6wn]

Why do you need a tripod? To frame an image exactly the way you want it, to look at the edges to make sure you don't have any distracting elements. Derp.

[@climbnride58]

Too many people.

[@jeffbrown8974]

You go to the biggest tourist spots and then complain about not getting your shot sheesh.I suspect you're not from the West