Photo of a person standing in the middle of large rock formation with lots of curvature

Antelope Canyon in Arizona gets up to 1,500 visitors a day. The most popular time to visit is March through October, when the sun’s angle is best for dramatic photos.

EmmePi Travel/Alamy Stock Photo

STANDARDS

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4

NCSS: Culture • Time, Continuity, and Change • People, Places, and Environments • Individuals, Groups, and Institutions

GEOGRAPHY

Glam Rock

This Arizona canyon’s otherworldly beauty has made it a social media superstar.

Map highlighting Antelope Canyon in Arizona

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

How would you like to take a selfie here?

Antelope Canyon is a veryWow!” sort of place. It is a slot canyonone with narrow openings that were formed by flash floods over millions of years. The water carved stunning twists and turns through the towering sandstone. When sunlight streams in, the rippled stone’s deep red and orange colors almost glowthe perfect backdrop for a quick pic.

Getting to this photogenic spot isn’t easy though. It’s located in a desert on Navajo Nation land, and parts of it are deep underground. The landmark is about a 4.5-hour drive from Phoenix, Arizona, or Las Vegas, Nevadathe two nearest large cities. And the only way to access the slot canyon is by scoring a spot on a Navajo-led tour.

That hasn’t stopped crowds from coming. Ever since photos of Antelope Canyon went viral about 15 years ago, some 4 million people a year have descended on the remote area.

Visitors pay up to $90 each to be led through the canyon. Gritty sand blows everywhere. And there are no restrooms, trash cans, or breaks from the jostling crowd. But if tourists are in the right spot at the right timejust as the sun strikes those curving wallswho knows? They might get the Antelope Canyon photo of a lifetime.

Question: How might Antelope Canyon’s popularity affect the natural environment and nearby communities?

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