Both Upper and lower canyons or?

Question

Greetings all,

Thank you up front for any info advice you can share. I will be traveling to the Grand Canyon with my new camera & plan on going over to Page to photograph the first week of March. I will be staying at Bright Angel in the village Monday & Tuesday night 3/3&4/25. Depart for Page early AM Wed. March 5 headed to Antelope canyon for a lower canyon tour from 1:15 to 2:45. Can I fit in an upper tour late in the day as well? or should head up to the horseshoe bend for a few photos there? I will be doing the 3 hour photo tour at X canyon the following day form 10:00-1:00. Departing after to Flagstaff for the night and off to Sky Harbor the next morning.

Thanks again for any thoughts!

Tam

Answer

Hi Tam,

Visiting Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in the same day is definitely possible, but timing is key, especially in early March when daylight hours are shorter and weather can be variable. Here’s a detailed breakdown based on your plan:

Lower Antelope Canyon Tour (1:15–2:45 PM)

This tour lasts about 1.5 hours, plus some time to check in and get from the parking lot to the canyon entrance. Expect roughly 2 hours total from arrival to completion.
Lower Antelope Canyon is narrower, with stairs and some climbing, but generally very photogenic, especially for capturing light beams if the sun is high enough (which may be less pronounced in early March).

Upper Antelope Canyon or Horseshoe Bend

Upper Antelope Canyon tours are slightly shorter in duration (~1–1.5 hours) and easier to walk, but sunlight beams are more pronounced later in the morning. A late afternoon tour may have less dramatic lighting, especially in March.
Horseshoe Bend is only about a 10–15 minute drive from the Antelope Canyon area with a 0.75-mile (one way) uphill hike to the viewpoint. This makes it very feasible to do after your Lower Antelope Canyon tour and still catch good late afternoon light for photography.

Recommended Approach

Stick with your Lower Antelope Canyon tour from 1:15–2:45 PM.
After the tour, drive 10–15 minutes to Horseshoe Bend. Plan for 1–1.5 hours total there to hike, explore viewpoints, and take photos.
Doing a late afternoon Upper Canyon tour on the same day is not ideal because lighting may not be optimal, and scheduling may be tight with your existing Lower Canyon tour.

Additional Tips:

Bring a tripod and wide-angle lens for both Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend for the best photos.
Wear comfortable shoes; Lower Canyon has stairs and some uneven surfaces.
Carry water and dress in layers – early March can be chilly in the morning and warm by mid-afternoon.

Conclusion: Skip the Upper Antelope Canyon on this day and focus on Lower Canyon plus Horseshoe Bend. You’ll have enough time to photograph both and enjoy them without rushing. Your 3-hour photo tour the next day will also allow you to capture additional shots in the X Canyon area, making your schedule efficient and enjoyable.

Both Upper and lower canyons or?

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