Page, Arizona

Founded in 1957 with the romantic name of "Government Camp" to house the workers building the Glen Canyon Dam, Page, Arizona is primarily a tourist town today.  It is the gateway to Lake Powell and the jumping-off point for many adventures and scenic destinations.  It was only 15 miles from here at Lee's Ferry that we boarded rafts for our 6-day Grand Canyon trip a few weeks ago.  We had come here primarily to visit the local slot canyons that have become somewhat of a photographers' Mecca in recent years.  We only planned to stay a few days as we moved east on the way to Colorado.

Lower and Upper Antelope Canyons are located on the Navajo Nation, which covers significant portions of Arizona and New Mexico.  The only way to visit these canyons is with a Navajo guide and these tours can be quite expensive, depending on the size and length of the tour.  We decided to book a tour that was specifically for photographers, giving us more time in the canyons, and which also included visits to two other canyons only available from this one guide company.  All four canyons we visited were spectacular in their own way.  Nowhere else in all our travels have we seen places like this and the photographic opportunities were endless.  In the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons, the crowds were nearly overwhelming, but our guides did a good job of clearing the way for us (photography tours have a sort of right-of-way in these canyons, which you pay for). The photos of these canyons speak for themselves.

Upper Antelope Canyon:

The entrance to Upper Antelope Canyon is not particularly promising...

...but once you get inside...

...it is truly awesome.

The combination of the red sandstone and the wonderful light filtering down the walls is unique

Rattlesnake Canyon:

Our little 4-person tour was all alone in this beautiful canyon

We had to climb several ladders to exit the canyon.  Navajo power plant in the background.

Owl Canyon:

The entrance to Owl Canyon

One of the Great Horned Owls that resides in Owl Canyon

Our Navajo guide playing the flute in the canyon.  Very moving!

Lower Antelope Canyon:

Entering Lower Antelope Canyon

Both Antelope Canyons are famous for their light beams

Our guide adding effects

The canyon walls are amazing

Can't tell from this picture, but there were literally hundreds of people in the canyon while we were there

Another stolen moment of solitude in the canyon