Antelope Canyon isn't a national park; it is run by the Navajo Reservation on which it is located. When no one showed up to open the gate by 8:30, we drove to the nearest gas station to make sure it wasn't closed for the season or something. Apparently, Antelope Canyon opens when they unlock the gate, rather than a specified time. On that day, they arrived a bit after 9am.

There were only two other couples; one was from Austria and one was from Germany. They were hikers, not photographers. After paying $12.50 each (Upper Antelope admission fee) and $6 for a daily Navajo land permit, they drove us about 3 miles down the wash to the entrance of the canyon. NOTE: very very bumpy ride in the back of a truck.

Upper Antelope Canyon is about 130 feet tall, but you walk right in from the wash. The sandstone reflecting the light filtering in from above casts a crimson hue on everything. It is impossible to describe and these pictures don't do it justice. After an hour, the truck returned to pick us up. You can pay $5 to stay another hour, but we were headed to Lower Antelope.

Lower Antelope Canyon is another $12.50, but the Navajo land permit is good for both. Lower Antelope is narrower, and you enter from above, descending a series of metal ladders. The day of our visit, it was lighter in Lower Antelope, and therefore easier to focus. We had the whole canyon to ourselves for most of the time - there's no time limit here, and we stayed about an hour and a half.

Antelope Canyon is located six miles outside of Page, Arizona, just before the large power plant. The drive from Las Vegas took about five hours - six because of the time change. There are plenty of motels in Page. We stayed at the Best Western, reserved through Expedia. It wasn't Atlantis, but it was clean and cheap and fine for the night.

Next stop on the Southwestern Photo Safari : Monument Valley