Render the Adventure: Kayaking Lower Antelope Canyon

You know what's awesome about the Colorado Plateau? Slot canyons. Everywhere!

One such canyon near Page, AZ, has become wildly popular over the past 20 years as a photogenic tourist destination: Antelope Canyon.

Now, don't get me wrong. I wanted to check out Antelope Canyon. But I also did not want to pay $30 to get in and then $25 for a mandatory guided tour, only to wade through crowds of people on paved (yes, paved), trails.

So is it possible to explore the beauty of Antelope without all the crowds? Yes it is! I led a group trip to Lake Powell in Arizona. We rented open-top kayaks for $45 each (the boats seat two people and hold all your gear quite well). From Antelope Marina, we paddled south until we saw the mouth of Antelope Canyon on our left. It's about a two hour paddle to the end of the canyon. The beach head was covered in disgusting layers of dead organic matter, mostly fish. This stuff just washes up (or down) during the monsoon season, so if you go in Autumn, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

We beached our boats here, and then took our daypacks with us to explore the rest of the canyon on foot. You can hike for about an hour and half before you reach the "permit only" section of Antelope. Even so, you'll see stunning formations, narrow sections and wave geology, without encountering a single person even on a summer weekend.

Bonus Points: When you are hiking UP the canyon, from the lake, you'll hit a fork in the canyon about 45 minutes in. Head left at this intersection to get into an unnamed technical slot canyon. It's super fun, but a little sketchy, so expect to wade through some deep stagnant pools and boulder up some precarious walls. A harness, rope, and helmet would be helpful. Be safe.

Route Note: At that same fork, if you go right you will have an easier route that is interesting, but not technical. There's a dry-fall that will halt your journey, about 45 minutes past the intersection.

Camping: See my post on where to backcountry camp for free in the Page/Escalante area, here.

More like this: Check out another spectacular slot canyon trip 20 minutes away from Antelope that is rarely visited, here.