Itinerary • 2026
Upper Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend in One Day
About 15 minutes of driving separates them, so both fit easily into one day. The canyon tour is the only part with a fixed time, so book that first and fit Horseshoe Bend around it.
Quick answer
Yes, you can easily see Upper Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in one day, and for most travelers the best plan is DIY: book an Upper Antelope tour directly, then drive about 15 minutes to Horseshoe Bend and pay the City of Page's $10 parking fee. Combo tours make sense if you don't have a car, want hotel pickup, or prefer the quieter Secret Antelope + private Horseshoe Bend overlook package.
- Time needed: 4–5 hours minimum (90-minute Upper tour + 30-minute check-in buffer + 1–1.5 hours at Horseshoe Bend + driving). A full day lets you add Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell.
- Best order in summer: Horseshoe Bend at sunrise or late afternoon, Upper Antelope at the 10:40 a.m. Arizona-time "prime" slot.
- DIY cost (2026): about $110–$130 per person for Upper Antelope booked direct, plus $10 per car at Horseshoe Bend.
- Combo cost: about $139–$255+ per person, depending on the canyon and whether pickup is included.
- Watch out for: Arizona time vs. Navajo Nation daylight time, no bags (or clear bags only) in Upper Antelope, and no national park passes at Horseshoe Bend.
Prices and schedules checked October 2026. Recheck before booking, because operators change rates and time slots often.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend options we would use ourselves, and we tell you when booking direct is cheaper.
The Access Split
One needs a tour, one does not
Upper Antelope Canyon is guided-only. It sits on Navajo Nation land, and every visit must be led by an authorized Navajo guide on a fixed departure time. There is no walk-up entry; our guide to why a guide is required explains the rule, and the tickets, prices and permits guide covers what operators charge.
Horseshoe Bend is self-guided. You drive out, pay to park and walk to the rim yourself, any time between sunrise and sunset. No guide, no permit, no booking.
They also look nothing like each other, which is the better reason to do both. Inside Antelope Canyon you are enclosed, walking on sand between curving walls with a thin strip of sky above. At Horseshoe Bend you stand on a cliff looking down about a thousand feet at the Colorado River as it swings through a 270-degree turn. One is a corridor; the other is a balcony.
Round Out The Day
Other experiences you might enjoy near Page
The canyon and the overlook rarely fill a whole day between them. Lower Antelope Canyon tours go down steep stairs and ladders across Highway 98 from Upper, and on Lake Powell the two-hour photo boat tour (4.9★ from 479 reviews) runs from Wahweap past Glen Canyon Dam into the flooded end of Antelope Canyon. At Horseshoe Bend itself, half-day rafting trips put you on the Colorado River at the bottom of the bend, and helicopter flights land on Tower Butte. Live availability for tours around Page is below.
At The Overlook
Horseshoe Bend essentials (2026)
Horseshoe Bend is a roughly 1,000 ft deep, 270° horseshoe-shaped bend in Glen Canyon, carved by the Colorado River. The overlook is inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, but the parking lot and trailhead are on City of Page land, which is why the city, not the National Park Service, collects the fee.
| Item | What to know (checked October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | US-89 between mile markers 544 and 545, about 5 miles south of the Carl Hayden Visitor Center and roughly 5–10 minutes from downtown Page |
| Parking fee | $10 cars, trucks and RVs; $5 motorcycles; commercial vans/buses $35–$140 (City of Page) |
| Passes | America the Beautiful and other national park passes are not accepted |
| Payment | Cash or a physical card; the city no longer takes tap-to-pay, and may go cash-only if card machines fail |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset (times vary by season) |
| Trail | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) round trip on a hardened path, with about 137 feet of climb on the way back; NPS rates it easy |
| Shade | Two shade structures with benches along the trail, none at the overlook |
| Railing | A railed viewing platform at the rim; most of the rim is unfenced |
| Accessibility | Trail built to Architectural Barriers Act standards, with an accessible railed viewing area |
| Restrooms | In the parking lot only; none on the trail |
| Drones | Prohibited without written superintendent approval; signs at the trailhead say no drones |
| Roadside parking | Not allowed on US-89; the city tickets and tows, and drop-offs along the highway are banned |
| Dogs | Allowed on the trail on a leash |
Best time to visit Horseshoe Bend
The overlook faces roughly west, so the sun's position matters more than most people expect:
- Sunrise: the quietest and coolest time of day. The river usually stays in shadow until the sun clears the canyon walls, so the best morning light comes 30–90 minutes after sunrise.
- Midday: the easiest light for seeing the whole bend, but the hottest and most crowded. The lot fills most often between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from May through September.
- Late afternoon / sunset: warm color and sun-star photos, but the busiest time. The inside of the bend can fall into shadow just before sunset. Arrive 45–60 minutes early.
Sources disagree here. Several photography guides call sunrise the best overall visit, while others call going at sunrise a first-timer mistake because of the shadow, and recommend arriving 4:30–6:00 p.m. in summer (3:30–5:30 p.m. in shoulder season). Our take: go at sunrise for comfort and fewer people, or late afternoon for photos. Avoid summer midday.
Heat and storm safety
Summer afternoons are routinely very hot and the trail has almost no shade. Carry at least 1 liter of water per person, even for this short walk, and wear real shoes because the sand gets very hot. During monsoon season (typically mid-June through September), leave the rim at the first sign of thunder: if you hear thunder, you are at risk of being struck. In August 2024, lightning struck and injured two young visitors near the rim, and both were flown to hospital. NPS also urges visitors to stay behind the safety railings after a visitor standing outside the railing fell to his death in February 2022.
Getting Between Them
Distances: Upper Antelope check-in to Horseshoe Bend
Upper Antelope tours start from two kinds of check-in points, and which one you use changes your timing.
| From | To | Approx. drive |
|---|---|---|
| Hwy 98 tribal park entrance (e.g., Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours, 3 miles east of Page) | Horseshoe Bend lot, ~8 miles via Page and US-89 | 15 minutes |
| Downtown Page operators (e.g., Antelope Canyon Tours, which drives you to the canyon) | Horseshoe Bend lot, ~5 miles | 10 minutes |
| Horseshoe Bend lot | Carl Hayden Visitor Center / Glen Canyon Dam, ~5 miles | 10 minutes |
Allow 15–20 minutes between sites in peak season for the parking line at Horseshoe Bend, and don't schedule them so tightly that a canyon tour running long leaves you rushing the walk to the rim.
Read Before You Book
The time zone trap
Page and the Upper Antelope tour operators run on Arizona time (MST, no daylight saving time). The surrounding Navajo Nation does observe daylight saving time, and so do Utah and Nevada.
From early March to early November, your phone may show Navajo Nation time (one hour ahead) near the canyon. Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours lists its slots as 8:20, 10:40, 1:00 and 3:20 on Phoenix time, yet prices a premium "11:40" slot, very likely the 10:40 Arizona departure expressed in Navajo daylight time. Always confirm the time zone on your voucher. Late check-ins typically get no refund.
In 2026, daylight saving time ends November 1. From then until March, Arizona and Navajo time are the same.
Sample Days
Sample one-day itineraries (all times Arizona time)
The canyon tour is the one fixed time, so each plan starts from it. If you're chasing the light beams, that means a midday Upper slot with Horseshoe Bend early or late; if your canyon time falls in the afternoon, do the overlook in the morning while the lot is emptier and the walk back is cool.
(a) Summer light-beam day (April–September; weaker beams from late March into early October)
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| ~5:15 a.m. | Arrive at Horseshoe Bend as the lot opens at sunrise (about 5:10 a.m. in late June) |
| 5:30–6:45 | Walk the trail, watch the light reach the river, walk back before the heat |
| 7:15 | Breakfast in Page |
| 9:45 | Drive to the Hwy 98 check-in |
| 10:10 | Check in (Navajo Tours asks for 30 minutes before; some resellers ask for 45–60) |
| 10:40–12:10 | Upper Antelope prime-time tour |
| 12:30 | Lunch, then rest at your hotel during the hottest hours |
| 4:00 | Carl Hayden Visitor Center (open until 5 p.m. in season) and the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook |
| 5:30–sunset | Optional: The New Wave, the Lake Powell shoreline at Wahweap, or a return to Horseshoe Bend for sunset (re-entry likely means paying another $10) |
For the 10:40 slot: Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours is an option on the Upper Antelope Canyon Entry Ticket and Guided Tour (4.5★ from 3,043 reviews, from $115, permit extra), and the Upper Antelope Canyon Prime Time Entry & Navajo Guide meets at Tsé Bíghanílíní Tours (4.5★ from 594 reviews). For light-beam timing by month, see our light beam timing guide.
(b) Winter day (November–February)
There are no strong light beams in winter, but midday still gives Upper Antelope its best glow, and Horseshoe Bend is far less crowded. Sunrise is around 7:25 a.m. and sunset around 5:15 p.m. in late December, and mornings can be below freezing.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Horseshoe Bend once the light reaches the river; crowds are light |
| 10:10 | Check in for the 10:40 Upper tour |
| 12:30 | Lunch in Page |
| 2:00 | Carl Hayden Visitor Center (winter hours 9 a.m.–4 p.m.) and Dam Overlook |
| 4:30 | Sunset at Wahweap or on the Page Rim View Trail |
More on the cold season: what Upper Antelope looks like in winter.
(c) Arriving the same day from Zion, the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas
- From Zion (~2 hours): Utah is one hour ahead of Arizona in summer, so you "gain" an hour on the drive. Leave Springdale at 7:00 a.m. Utah time, reach Horseshoe Bend around 8:30 Arizona time, then do the 10:40 Upper slot.
- From Grand Canyon South Rim (~2.5 hours via Desert View): book the 1:00 p.m. Upper slot and do Horseshoe Bend around 4:30–5:00 p.m. A 10:40 slot is possible but leaves no buffer.
- From Las Vegas (~4.5 hours each way): don't try both sights and a round-trip drive in one day by car. Stay overnight, or join a guided day trip such as the Las Vegas Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend day trip with lunch (4.7★ from 2,478 reviews; choose the Upper option). Details are in our Las Vegas day-trip guide.
(d) With kids
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 6:30 a.m. | Horseshoe Bend while it's cool; hold hands near the unfenced rim |
| 7:50 | Check in for the 8:20 a.m. Upper slot (cheaper and cooler) |
| 10:00 | Pool or nap break |
| Afternoon | Carl Hayden Visitor Center exhibits, then a Lake Powell beach |
Kid notes: Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours charges children (including infants) the same as adults and requires a car seat for kids 5 and under. Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours doesn't allow children under 6. Antelope Canyon Tours says strollers aren't allowed in Upper Antelope.
Combo Tours
Combo tours: Upper Antelope (or another canyon) + Horseshoe Bend
| Operator / tour | Price from (pp) | Canyon | Navajo $15 fee included? | Duration | Pickup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navajo Tours Direct – Upper Antelope + Horseshoe Bend | $235 | Upper | Not clearly stated, so ask | ~4 hrs | Your Page lodging | No car, want Upper + pickup |
| Navajo Tours Direct – Premium (Upper + Lower + HB) | $375 | Upper + Lower | Ask | ~6.5 hrs | Your Page lodging | Both canyons in one morning |
| GetYourGuide – Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend & Glen Canyon Dam Tour (Upper or Lower + Dam Overlook) | ~$233 | Upper or Lower | Yes, per listing | Half day (40 min at HB) | Page | One-click booking, adds dam stop |
| TakeTours – Half Day Upper + Horseshoe Bend | $255 | Upper | Check listing | ~half day (1.5 hrs Upper, 1 hr HB) | Page meeting point | Multilingual groups |
| Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours – Secret Antelope + private HB overlook (Viator, 5.0★ from 459) | $139 direct (+6% online fee) | Secret Antelope (not Upper) | Not listed on operator site; one reseller says $15 is paid on arrival | ~2.5 hrs | Office in Page | Fewer crowds, short walk to rim |
| Deer Spring Tours – Secret Antelope + HB Overlook (GetYourGuide, 4.8★ from 63) | $159 + $15 permit | Secret Antelope | No ($15 paid at activity) | ~3 hrs | Page | Small groups (max 12) |
On GetYourGuide: Deer Spring's Secret Antelope Canyon to Horseshoe Bend Overlook Tour (4.8★, 63 reviews), and a third operator, JoyFun Tour, runs the Secret Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour (4.8★, 220 reviews), the most-reviewed pairing there. Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours' established listing is on Viator; its new GetYourGuide listing has no reviews yet. All of them visit Secret Antelope Canyon rather than Upper.
What the Secret Antelope combo is: a 4x4 truck takes you six miles off-road to Secret Antelope Canyon, then down a private Navajo dirt road to a Horseshoe Bend viewpoint within about 100 meters of the rim, next to the public overlook. It skips the public lot and the 1.5-mile walk. It is not Upper Antelope Canyon, so don't expect the classic Upper light beams. Departures run roughly hourly from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a four-paid-seat minimum.
Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours doesn't sell a Horseshoe Bend combo that we could find. It sells Upper Antelope from $120 and an Upper + Owl + Rattlesnake Canyons tour from $275 (on Viator, with only 4 reviews so far), so pair either with a DIY Horseshoe Bend stop.
Pros of combos: pickup, no parking stress, and timing handled for you. Cons: you'll typically pay $50–$100+ more per person than DIY, get less time at Horseshoe Bend (often 40–60 minutes), and usually can't pick the light.
Coming in for the day: the Las Vegas trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend pairs both with lunch at 4.7★ from 2,478 reviews, and the Sedona trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend does the same on a shorter drive, rated 5.0★ across 67 reviews. From Phoenix, the Phoenix day trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend is rated 4.8★ on only 18 reviews so far, so read them before booking. The Sedona and Phoenix trips visit Lower Antelope Canyon.
Beyond The Rim
Horseshoe Bend from the river and the air
Rafting (Wilderness River Adventures)
The half-day Horseshoe Bend Rafting Trip (formerly the Glen Canyon Float Trip) is a smooth-water motorized raft trip with no rapids. It starts with a 1-hour bus ride from Page to Lees Ferry, then goes upriver past Petroglyph Beach and back through Horseshoe Bend.
- Price: $129 adults (16+), $113.82 children (4–15), plus a $15 park entrance fee. Resellers list it at about $149.51.
- 2026 season: March 1–October 31. The October schedule is 9:15 a.m. check-in, 10:00 departure, about 3:00 p.m. return. Summer adds early-morning and afternoon departures.
- Rules: ages 4+; at least 8 full-fare passengers or the trip is canceled; no refunds within 48 hours.
- Same-day fit: a morning float conflicts with the 10:40 Upper slot, so pair it with a 3:20 p.m. Upper tour or do it on a second day.
On GetYourGuide, this Wilderness River Adventures trip is the Horseshoe Bend Colorado River half-day rafting trip (4.9★, 90 reviews).
Air tours
| Tour | Aircraft | Duration | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon Airlines / Scenic – Horseshoe Bend Flightseeing (Page airport) | Airplane | ~30 min | $194 (window seat request $15) |
| Papillon – Horseshoe Bend Air Tour (Lake Powell, Dam, HB; Viator, 5.0★ from 6) | EC130 helicopter | ~10–12 min | $149–$199 (sources conflict) |
| Westwind Air Service – Lake Powell flight incl. Horseshoe Bend | Airplane | 30–45 min | Check site |
On GetYourGuide, Papillon sells a longer version, the Horseshoe Bend helicopter flight with a Tower Butte landing (about 45 minutes including a 15-minute flight; 4.6★, 137 reviews). The short Papillon flight is on Viator with only 6 reviews. The Grand Canyon Airlines and Westwind flights aren't sold on GetYourGuide or Viator, so book those direct.
Make A Day Of It
Other add-ons for the same day
- Glen Canyon Dam Overlook: a short walk down rock steps with a handrail, off Scenic View Drive, 1.5 miles south of the Carl Hayden Visitor Center. Free.
- Carl Hayden Visitor Center: open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. MST in season, and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. in winter. Free. Tours inside the dam remain closed in 2026.
- Wahweap Overlook / Lake Powell: going down to the Wahweap lakeshore means entering Glen Canyon NRA, which costs $30 per vehicle for 7 days (America the Beautiful pass accepted). From Wahweap, the two-hour photo boat tour runs into the flooded end of Antelope Canyon; our Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell guide compares it with the kayak trips.
- The New Wave: a short, family-friendly sandstone loop near Wahweap.
- Page Rim View Trail: a 10-mile loop around Manson Mesa. Walk any short stretch for lake views.
- Lower Antelope Canyon: possible on the same day if you leave about 2 hours between tours. Ken's tour costs about $80.50 including the permit; on GetYourGuide, the Lower Antelope Canyon Tour with Trained Navajo Guide is Ken's (4.7★ from 3,077 reviews). See Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon.
What It Costs
Cost breakdown: DIY vs. combo (2 adults, 2026)
| Item | DIY | Navajo Tours Direct combo | Secret Antelope + HB combo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon tour | $240 (2 × $120 for the premium slot booked direct; $200 for other slots) | $470 (2 × $235) | $278 (2 × $139) |
| Fees | Processing fee + tax (permit included in the $120) | Ask whether the permit is included | +6% online fee (~$17); possibly +$30 permit |
| Horseshoe Bend | $10 parking | Included | Private overlook included |
| Guide tips (suggested) | ~$10–$20 | ~$20–$40 | ~$20 |
| Approx. total | ~$260–$290 | ~$490–$540 | ~$315–$345 |
Verdict: if you have a car, DIY saves roughly $200 for two people and lets you choose the light at Horseshoe Bend. The Secret Antelope combo is the best-value package, but it isn't Upper Antelope. Navajo Tours Direct makes the most sense if you have no car, or if a Navajo-guided, door-to-door day matters more to you than cost.
For a full price breakdown, see How Much Does Upper Antelope Canyon Cost?, and compare operators in Upper Antelope Canyon Tours Compared.
Choosing A Canyon
Which canyon to pair, and timing the beams
Either Upper or Lower pairs well with the overlook; both are minutes away, so the choice comes down to the experience you want. Upper plus Horseshoe Bend is the classic version: the light beams and a flat walk on sand with no ladders. Lower plus Horseshoe Bend suits anyone who would rather climb, down steep stairs and metal ladders through narrower passages, and it often costs less.
The vertical beams appear in Upper Antelope Canyon around midday, roughly 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Arizona time depending on the operator, mainly from April through September and strongest from late spring into summer. If the beams aren't essential, earlier and later canyon tours cost less and carry fewer people, and you can hand the sunrise or sunset window to Horseshoe Bend instead. A beam is direct sunlight, so heavy cloud removes it even in June. Our best time to visit guide gives the sun angle and weather for a specific date.
For the Lower pairing: Lower Antelope Canyon Entry and Navajo Guided Tour, 4.7★ from 9,705 reviews, the most-reviewed Antelope Canyon tour on GetYourGuide.
Pack For Both
What to bring
- For Upper Antelope: phone or camera only. Rules vary by operator: Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours and Antelope Canyon Tours allow clear bags only, while some reseller listings say no bags at all, not even clear ones. No tripods, monopods or selfie sticks. Each operator's rules are in our Antelope Canyon rules guide.
- For Horseshoe Bend: water (1 liter or more per person in summer), a sun hat, closed-toe shoes, and a jacket at sunrise in shoulder season.
- Cash for guide tips (often $5 per person suggested) and as a backup for Horseshoe Bend parking.
Flash floods: Navajo operators close the slot canyons when rain threatens, mostly during monsoon season (officially from mid-June through September, with most storms from July). Refund and rebooking rules depend on the operator. Read the policy before you pay, and keep a flexible afternoon.
Photos
Photography notes
- Horseshoe Bend: you need a wide lens (about 14–16 mm full-frame, or your phone's 0.5x ultra-wide) to fit the whole bend. A polarizer helps cut midday glare. Tripods are fine on the rim, but stay behind the railing.
- Upper Antelope: midday light gives the best glow, and the beams peak in summer. No tripods on standard tours. Choosing a photo tour is covered in our Antelope Canyon photography guide, and phone and camera settings in how to photograph Upper Antelope Canyon.
FAQ
Upper Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend questions
Can you do Upper Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in one day?
Yes. They're about 15 minutes apart. Budget 4–5 hours for both, or a full day to add Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell.
Which should I do first?
In summer, do Horseshoe Bend at sunrise and Upper Antelope at 10:40 a.m. Arizona time. In winter, the order matters less; just keep Upper at midday. Either way, plan around your canyon tour, since it's the only part with a fixed time.
How far is Antelope Canyon from Horseshoe Bend?
About 8 miles, or 15 minutes, from the Highway 98 check-in points east of Page, and about 5 miles, or 10 minutes, from the downtown Page operators.
Do I need a tour for Horseshoe Bend?
No. It's self-guided. You pay $10 per car (City of Page) and walk 1.5 miles round trip. Upper Antelope, by contrast, always requires a Navajo-guided tour.
Is there an entrance fee for Horseshoe Bend?
There's a parking fee rather than an entrance fee: $10 for cars, trucks and RVs and $5 for motorcycles, paid to the City of Page by cash or physical card.
Does my America the Beautiful pass cover Horseshoe Bend parking?
No. The City of Page doesn't accept federal passes. The pass does cover Glen Canyon NRA entry at Wahweap, but not the Navajo fees for Antelope Canyon.
How long is the walk at Horseshoe Bend?
1.5 miles round trip on a hardened path, with about 137 feet of climb on the way back. Allow 1–1.5 hours including time at the overlook, and bring water: there are two shade structures on the trail and none at the viewpoint.
Is the $15 Navajo fee included in combo tours?
It depends. Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours builds it into its $100/$120 prices. Some Secret Antelope listings collect it separately on arrival. Check the "not included" line before you pay.
Which Antelope Canyon is better to pair with Horseshoe Bend?
Both work well. Pair Upper if you want the light beams and an easy walk; pair Lower for a more adventurous route, often at a lower price. The Secret Antelope combos are quieter but don't have Upper's beams.
Is Horseshoe Bend wheelchair accessible?
Mostly. NPS says the trail meets Architectural Barriers Act standards and has an accessible railed viewing area, but the trail is long and exposed, so plan for the heat.
What time zone are Antelope Canyon tours in?
Arizona time (MST). The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time from March to early November, so your phone may show a time one hour ahead.
Can I fly a drone at Horseshoe Bend?
No. Drones are prohibited in Glen Canyon NRA without written approval, and the Navajo Nation also bans them.
Can I do both from Las Vegas, Sedona or Phoenix in one day?
On a guided day tour, yes, and many include both. Driving yourself from Las Vegas or Phoenix, about 4.5 hours each way, makes for a very long day, so an overnight in Page is better; from Sedona it's about 2.5 hours. Our Las Vegas guide covers the timings.
Bottom Line
The best way to do both in one day
For most visitors with a car, the best day is Horseshoe Bend early (or late) on your own, plus a directly booked Upper Antelope tour at 10:40 a.m. Arizona time. That costs about $130 per person and gives you control over the light and the crowds. Choose the Secret Antelope + private overlook combo if you hate crowds and don't need Upper's light beams. Choose Navajo Tours Direct if you have no car and want door-to-door service. Whichever you pick, confirm your voucher's time zone, carry water, and recheck prices before you book.
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