04/27/2006 to 04/28/2006
We've always wanted to see Antelope Canyon, so we headed up to Page before the weather gets too hot and all the people invade Lake Powell. We had a great time. The Canyon is beautiful and Lake Powell is a lot of fun. I can see why folks love to go there and rent houseboats. Maybe next time!
Since we're up on Lake Powell what else would you do but take "The Dam Tour"?
The dam project started in 1956.
By 1959 the Glen Canyon Bridge was completed allowing trucks to cross with construction equipment.
The dam was finished in 1966 and it took another 17 years for Lake Powell to completely fill for the first time.
It lacks the artistic features Hoover Dam boasts, but we don't build anything like that any more.
It was a great tour however and we enjoyed it.
Arleen & Sharon sitting outside the Visitor's Center by the bridge
The Visitors Center from the bridge
Glen Canyon Bridge
Looking down Glen Canyon from the bridge
Looking out at Lake Powell
Along the top of the dam
One of the cement buckets used during construction
Visitors Center from top of dam
Turbines in the power room
Antelope Canyon is divided into 2 tours, Lower & Upper.
From what we understand each is on land owned by a different family so the tours are totally separate.
The Lower one is very laid back.
You drive up to the little stand, pay the fee and one of the Navajo guides will take you through the canyon.
Once at the end you can wander back on your own, which is very nice.
There were only a handful of people there in the morning so it was very nice and quiet.
The light wasn't quite right but the canyon is so beautiful who cares if the pictures don't come out as well as you'd like.
There are quite a few steps and ladders in the lower canyon
The Gang of 4. Don & George look like they're going to be shot and Arleen and I look happy
There's a reason for this butt shot. Those little indentions to the left of the ladder used to be how you got up and down
This is the way in and out of the canyon. That's me coming out
Accessing Upper Antelope Canyon is a bit more formal.
You must contact one of the 4 guide companies and reserve space on one of their scheduled tours.
Since we did lower in the morning our upper tour was for 1 PM.
After lunch we arrived at the guide company, loaded up in the truck along with 11 others and rode the 4 miles to the upper canyon entrance.
It was packed with tours and clouds moved in making it very overcast.
The experience wasn't as nice as our morning tour but the canyon is lovely to look at once you get the other people to move out of the way.
This is the entrance to the upper canyon. Quite a bit different
The morning we left for home we decided to rent a boat for a couple hours and run around Lake Powell.
We figured we'd motor up Antelope Canyon to complete our inspection of it.
That covered the upper, middle and lower. Perfect.
Captain Don did a great job maneuvering us through the narrowing canyon around the rocks and folks fishing .
Really fun way to end the trip
Some of the house boats just waiting for the summer customers.
Intrepid Captain Don & Second Mate Arleen
Heading up Antelope Canyon
This is Tower Butte