Best time to go to the antelope caves in arizona ???

[vivek vibes]

hi all,

anybody knows what time of year and what time of day is the best to go the antelope caves? i heard that only at certain times you can get the light beams shining in.

any suggestions?

paz


V

[argyle]

2 weeks either side of the summer equinox would be the best time...check your calendar.

[FlyingPhotog]

2 weeks either side of the summer equinox would be the best time...check your calendar.

Between the hours of 10am and 2pm...

[argyle]

Between the hours of 10am and 2pm...

...for Upper Antelope :D

[FlyingPhotog]

...for Upper Antelope :D

Why not Lower as well?

[sparker1]

Lower can get good light earlier than Upper. I've only been early in the year (March) so haven't seen the beams at Upper, since they only occur during summer months.

[FlyingPhotog]

Lower can get good light earlier than Upper. I've only been early in the year (March) so haven't seen the beams at Upper, since they only occur during summer months.

I know from my own experience that Lower does NOT get good light in September so your point makes sense.

By good light I mean direct shafts down into the slot. The quality of light down in there is amazing though regardless of season!

[SteveInNZ]

Is there a trick to being there without loads of other people all after the same shot ?

Steve.

[FlyingPhotog]

Is there a trick to being there without loads of other people all after the same shot ?

Steve.

Hiya Steve...

When I was in Page, AZ in September of 2007 and visited Lower Antelope Canyon, I was given a four-hour, no escort needed photo pass and I bet only two guided tours (maybe six people total in each group) came through the entire time I was down.

There were four or five other shooters down there as well on photo passes. A couple of us helped each other by tossing sand into light shafts, holding reflectors or helping to pass gear up/down tight spots.

My results: http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/northern_az

[argyle]

Is there a trick to being there without loads of other people all after the same shot ?

Steve.

The Upper Canyon is the most crowded by far (at least in my experience). Unless things have changed, the Upper canyon requires a tour guide, of which there are plenty in the town of Page. It can get crowded, especially at the peak times, but the tour guides work together and leave a gap between groups so everyone can get their shots. It could be worse, but its doable. Be sure to tell the tour guide that its a photographic tour...the time is extended to 2 hours in the upper.

You can also try Canyon X (google it). There's only a single outfitter in Page that's allowed at the canyon, so crowding shouldn't be a problem at all. I haven't been there yet...that's on my list for next time I'm in the Page area.

[Soda Ant]

2 weeks either side of the summer equinox would be the best time...check your calendar.

The equinoxes occur at the beginning of spring and autumn. What you're thinking of is the summer solstice.

[sparker1]

Having gone to both canyons in March, more than once, I can say that Lower has very few visitors that time of year. Lighting is good, but it can be cold inside. I once spent 3-4 hours in Lower by myself, only seeing a couple people. They were so obnoxious it made me appreciate even more the solitude I had enjoyed.