Water Holes Canyon, Page

I call Waterholes, "Poor Man's Antelope Canyon" As Antelope Canyon Tours tun $80/per person minimum, and this canyon is only $5 and it's self guided. But you have to go to the Navajo office and get a permit, or you can mail it it. Remember, there are 2 sides to this canyon, the east of the road/bridge, and west of the bridge (going towards the river). The east side is pretty boring for a while, you have to keep walking to get to the narrows. The West side is a little prettier. Note there is trash you have to dodge by the bridge. You can spend as little or as much time as you want here. An hour is good.

We hiked Waterholes on Oct. 17 and had a great time. Once we found the way to the canyon floor, we hiked east (away from the overhead highway bridge, not toward and under it). Started about 9 a.m. and we're the first ones there; others coming in as we were leaving a few hours later. Ladders were in good shape. Of course, we had secured permits from the tribal office in Lechee.

Totally a “secret canyon”!!! Away from the tourist traps and great hike with impressive narrows and exciting climbs, although getting the permit is a chore and the office at Lechee chapter House was in a trailer hidden from the main road.

After sitting in the parking lot of upper antelope canyon I couldn't bring myself to do something so packed with crowds. I happened to stumble upon this place online and I was not disappointed. Be aware that it's not for the feint of heart, there are rocks to climb, ladders to scale, ropes to repel down. If you can't climb a rope using mainly your hand and upper body strength there is only so far you can go in the canyon. You can still enjoy the beauty of it, you just won't be able to get very far. If you make it pass those obstacles (and in my case a burro carcass that has fallen into the canyon and died) there's one point where the canyon drops like 50 ft. And if you don't have ropes (there were loops to use ropes with) it's the end of the road. That's as far as I got so I never made it to the end but what I did see was well worth it, and even just to avoid the crowds it was worth the journey.

Fun hike!