Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona is a beautiful spot to explore!

These slot canyons will make you feel like you have walked onto another planet, however, the tours into lower Antelope Canyon can be expensive, are hard to get last minute and are usually very crowded. We opted for an alternate route into Antelope Canyon. We were able to tour Antelope Canyon for free, by accessing it from Lake Powell with the help of our inflatable stand-ups!

Our Antelope Canyon Tour via Lake Powell

You can see a more detailed view of the route we took into Antelope Canyon in the video above, but the easiest way to get there from the water is to head to Antelope Point Launch Ramp off of Lake Powell. This is a public boat launch, however, there is a gate fee to access the area. The cost for that is $30 per vehicle. From there you head straight to go to the Antelope Point Launch Ramp. Turning off to the right would take you to the marina. As long as you have your own mode of getting on the water (kayak, stand-up or boat) you will not want to park at the marina. Once you have parked and made it onto the water it is very easy to find your way to into Antelope Canyon. You will start by heading left from the ramp. Then the first outcropping on your left will lead you into Antelope Canyon. It is easily marked and hard to miss. Once you turn into that slot off the main part of Lake Powell you will dead-end into the slot canyon. We rode paddled our stand-ups to shore and walked in from there, making sure we have pulled the stand-ups far enough onto land to not drift away.

Antelope Canyon for Free by Water Page Arizona

Antelope Canyon Things to Know

- It is very muddy when you first get into the slot canyon, make sure you have appropriate shoes or just plan to go barefoot!

- We packed subs and ate on the water; about halfway down the cutoff heading towards the canyon there is a great "cave" you can stop under to get some shade.

- Sunscreen!! Out on the water the sun is pretty brutal, so be prepared.

Antelope Point Marina- What to do if you need a kayak

If you don't have your own means of getting on the water Antelope Pointe Marina rents by the hour, half day or full day. There are also overnight rental options. You can rent single and double kayaks, jets skis or a small boat. They require a $100 security deposit, which is refunded when you return. The cost for rentals range from $10 (single kayak for an hour) up to $470 (full day, deck boat rental). You can also rent a houseboat or a party pontoon (costs start at $660 for the full day, but they come equipped with a slide, bbq, bar etc). If you are renting a kayak I would recommend at least the half-day rental ($30) to give yourself time to get into the slot canyon and explore a bit.

If you have ever wanted to visit Antelope Canyon, but prefer to skip the crowds and the high tour fees I highly recommend entering the canyon via Lake Powell. Not only is your time on the water beautiful, but you are free to explore the canyon at your own pace while having the place practically to yourself. We saw one other couple coming out of the slot canyon as we were headed in. Antelope Canyon is a true remarkable feat of nature!

Happy Adventuring!

Have you ever been to Antelope Canyon?

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