Overview
You cannot visit Antelope Canyon on your own. Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation makes tour guides mandatory at every Antelope Canyon location, and only authorized operators can take visitors in: six companies run Upper Antelope Canyon and two run Lower Antelope Canyon. On top of the tour price there is a Navajo park fee of US$15 per person, per location, per day, which some tours include.
Missed the window? Book a guided visit with entry included
Licensed operators hold their own allocation of tickets. A guided visit is the realistic way in when the official release is gone — and you skip the queue.
Exact tour we link to:Lower Antelope Canyon Hike
See guided visits & pricesBooking partner: Civitatis. Free cancellation on most tours.
So the “permit” here is the tour itself. Midday Upper Canyon slots in summer, when light beams reach the floor, are the first to sell out. Lower Antelope Canyon is narrower, with ladders and stairs, and is often easier to book at short notice.
At a glance
| Do you need a permit or reservation? | Authorized guided tour (mandatory) + US$15 park fee |
|---|---|
| Cost | $15 |
| How to get it | Book with an operator on the official Navajo Nation Parks list, or through a reseller of one of those tours. |
| When it opens | Bookable online · Navajo guide · MST |
| All-inclusive alternative | Lower Antelope Canyon Hike |
| Official rules | navajonationparks.org Guided tours in Navajo Nation — Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation |
How the permit works
- 1Book with an operator on the official Navajo Nation Parks list, or through a reseller of one of those tours.
- 2Choose the canyon: Upper (flat walk, famous light beams) or Lower (ladders and stairs, fewer people per tour).
- 3Check whether the US$15 Navajo park fee is included; if not, you pay it on top.
- 4Check in at the operator’s base in or near Page at the time on your booking.
Required documents
- Tour booking confirmation
- Payment for the US$15 Navajo park fee if the tour does not include it
- A small bag at most: many operators do not allow backpacks in the canyon (check your operator’s rules)
Insider tips
- Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, but the Navajo Nation does — confirm which clock your tour time uses.
- Flash floods close the canyons on short notice; operators cancel if rain is forecast upstream.
- Lower Antelope Canyon usually has more availability than midday Upper Canyon in summer.
Sold-out alternatives
If your dates are gone, these get you a comparable experience.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Antelope Canyon without a tour?
No. Tour guides are mandatory at all Antelope Canyon locations, and only operators authorized by Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation can take visitors in.
How much is the Antelope Canyon fee?
The Navajo Nation Parks fee is US$15 per person, per location, per day. The guided tour costs extra, and some operators include the fee in their price.
Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon?
Upper is a flat walk famous for its midday light beams. Lower is narrower, with ladders and stairs, and tends to be easier to book. Each has its own authorized operators.
Which companies can run Lower Antelope Canyon tours?
The official Navajo Nation Parks list names two operators for Lower Antelope Canyon: Ken’s Tours and Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours.
What time zone are Antelope Canyon tours in?
Page, Arizona, stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, while the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time. Check which one your booking uses, especially from March to November.