Secret Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend: Private access tour

Drive deep into the desert, then walk slot canyons and river overlooks without the crowds

A 2.5-hour guided tour near Page, Arizona combines a six-mile off-road 4x4 drive across Navajo Nation land with walks through Secret Antelope Canyon and to the Horseshoe Bend rim, using private access roads that bypass the public parking areas. Groups stay under 12. A Navajo Nation permit ($15 per person) is paid separately on arrival.

Step-by-step itinerary

Secret Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

• Check in at Indian Route 6098
• Take 6-mile off-road 4x4 drive
• Walk 300 meters to Secret Antelope Canyon
• Explore and photograph Secret Antelope Canyon
• Drive private dirt road to Horseshoe Bend
• Walk quarter-mile to Horseshoe Bend overlook
• View Colorado River at Horseshoe Bend

The experience

The tour starts at a check-in facility on Indian Route 6098 and loads into a shaded, open-air 4x4 truck for a six-mile off-road drive across desert, rolling hills and wash-beds. The route takes roughly 30 minutes and wildlife (coyotes, foxes, bobcats, owls, hawks) sometimes crosses the path. The truck reaches the entrance to Secret Antelope Canyon, where a 300-meter walk on flat, sandy ground leads into the slot canyon itself. The walk is unhurried. There is time to photograph light moving across the walls without being pushed through.

From Secret Antelope Canyon, the tour moves to Horseshoe Bend. Instead of the congested public parking lot, the private dirt road brings the truck within 100 meters of the rim. A quarter-mile round-trip walk over sandstone reaches the edge, where the Colorado River winds 1,000 feet below in the canyon loop. The small group size (usually 12 or fewer) means the overlook does not feel crowded, and the shorter walk from the truck makes the full outing fit inside the 2.5-hour window.

Your guide is Navajo and speaks English throughout. The tour is operated by Horseshoe Bend Tours, Navajo-owned and running since 2017. Arrive 30 minutes early for check-in. Note that Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so confirm your local time before booking.

What’s included

• Local tour guide in English.
• transportation in a shaded, open-air 4x4 tour vehicle.
• entry to Secret Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Overlook via private access roads.

Information

Lasts 2h 30m, runs every day, 10 start times, from US$ 162.34 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 14:15 and 14:30Tuesday: 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 14:15, 14:30 and 14:45Friday and Saturday: 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 14:15 and 14:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.1 with pickup ›

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Page or the area without a rental car: pickup and transport are built in, and the private dirt roads mean you skip the public parking lots that fill up early. The small group size and private access are what make the full two-site outing fit into 2.5 hours without feeling rushed.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the walk like inside Secret Antelope Canyon?

The walk to the canyon entrance is 300 meters on flat, sandy ground, and the canyon floor itself is also flat and sandy. There is no scrambling or climbing, and the pace allows time to stop and photograph without being rushed through.

How far is the walk to the Horseshoe Bend overlook?

The private dirt road brings the truck within 100 meters of the rim, so the walk is a quarter-mile round trip over sandstone to reach the edge overlooking the Colorado River 1,000 feet below.

What wildlife might I see on the off-road drive?

The six-mile drive across Navajo Nation land sometimes crosses paths with coyotes, foxes, bobcats, owls and hawks, though wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

Is the Navajo Nation permit included in the tour price?

The Navajo Nation permit is $15 per person and is paid separately by each guest on arrival. It is not included in the tour price.

How many people typically go on this tour?

Groups are usually limited to 12 people, keeping the experience smaller than the crowded public areas at both canyons.

Do I need to arrive early?

Yes, arrive 30 minutes early for check-in at the facility on Indian Route 6098 before the tour departs.