Page AZ: Antelope Canyon Photo Boat Tour, Open Bow & Small Groups

Antelope Canyon by Open Boat: Smaller Groups, Narrower Canyon Access

You get a two-hour photo boat tour of Antelope Canyon in a small open-bow boat with a Coast Guard captain who knows the canyon and helps with lighting and composition. The narrow boat access lets you reach sections larger tours can't, and the small group size means you're not competing for space or angles. Includes the captain and fuel; you'll need a $30 National Park pass to enter Glen Canyon.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Depart from Wahweap Launch ramp
• Enjoy panoramic desert views
• Pass Glen Canyon Dam and learn history
• Explore narrow sections in open-bow boat
• Capture photos of canyon rock formations
• View Grand Staircase-Escalante and surrounding buttes
• Optional swim during warmer months
• Receive photography help from licensed captain

The Experience

So yeah, most people show up expecting the big enclosed tour boats, and then they realize half the canyon is off-limits because those things can't fit through the tight sections. The difference here is the open-bow setup — your captain can take you into the narrower parts where the light actually does that thing that makes photographers lose their minds. Two hours sounds short until you're standing in a boat with maybe a dozen other people instead of fifty, and you can actually move around, frame a shot, breathe. The captains are U.S. Coast Guard licensed, which matters more than it sounds when you're on Lake Powell, and they know the canyon's history — Glen Canyon Dam, the Colorado River, how the whole thing got carved. They'll help you nail the light and the angle, not just point and move on.

The boat leaves from Wahweap Launch Ramp, which is at the end of Wahweap Boulevard where it turns into the actual ramp. You park on the left side, check in with your captain on the left dock, and then you're heading out past Wahweap Bay toward the canyon walls. On the way you'll see the Glen Canyon Dam — 710 feet tall, took a decade to build, holds Lake Powell — and the panoramic stuff around it: Castle Rock, Tower Butte, Navajo Mountain, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument stretched across the desert. The canyon itself is narrow enough that the light changes as you move through it, and that's what makes the photos work. During summer months (June through September) you can bring a towel and swim if you want, which is its own kind of surreal.

One thing to know: Page is on Mountain Standard Time year-round, not daylight time like most of Arizona. Check your phone before you leave the hotel or you'll be that person showing up an hour early or late. You'll also need a National Park pass to enter the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area — $30 per vehicle if you don't have an America the Beautiful pass already. Fuel surcharge is included in what you pay, and infants have to sit on an adult's lap. The boat's small by design, which is why you're not jammed in with a hundred other people trying to get the same shot.

What’s included

• Your tour includes the captained boat, fuel surcharge, and a Coast Guard licensed captain who shares knowledge of the canyon's history and geography and assists with photography.
• You'll need to arrange your own National Park pass ($30/vehicle) before entering Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
• Infants ride on an adult's lap.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lake Powell Experience LPX

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to photograph Antelope Canyon without fighting crowds on a large boat — the open bow and small group size let you access narrower sections and move freely to frame shots, which is what makes the two hours feel long enough.

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Top questions

What's the difference between this tour and the big enclosed boat tours?

Open-bow boats can access narrower canyon sections, and passenger capacity is limited to keep the boat comfortable and give you more room to move and photograph.

How long is the tour?

Two hours on the water, departing from Wahweap Launch Ramp.

Can you swim during the tour?

Yes, during the warmer months from June through September. Bring a towel if you want to take a quick swim in Antelope Canyon.

Do I need a park pass?

Yes. Lake Powell is within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which requires a $30 National Park pass per vehicle. An America the Beautiful pass also works.

What time zone is Page in?

Mountain Standard Time (MST) year-round, the same as Phoenix. Not Mountain Daylight Time.

Where do I park and check in?

Drive to the end of Wahweap Boulevard where it becomes the launch ramp. Park on the left side, then walk below the traffic barricades to the left dock to check in with your captain.

Is this tour good for families with young children?

Infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour involves being on a boat for two hours, so consider your child's comfort with water and movement.

What will I see besides Antelope Canyon?

Glen Canyon Dam, Wahweap Bay, Castle Rock, Tower Butte, Navajo Mountain, and views of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.