Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend: Day Trip from Las Vegas

4.74

(782 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the weird hush inside Antelope Canyon X. Our Navajo guide, Sam, kept his voice low as we squeezed between those red walls—honestly, it felt like stepping into a painting. The light came in at these strange angles, making the sand under my shoes almost glow. I tried to get a photo but gave up after a while; it was better just looking up and seeing those ribbons of stone twisting overhead. Sam pointed out shapes in the rock (one looked like an eagle if you squinted) and told us stories about his childhood here. I didn’t expect to laugh so much in such a quiet place.

The drive from Las Vegas is long—bring snacks or just nap—but watching the desert change colors as we crossed into Arizona was worth it. There was a deli lunch somewhere near Page (turkey sandwich, nothing fancy but hit the spot). By the time we reached Horseshoe Bend, the sun was already getting sharp. That last bit of hiking is dusty and everyone’s kind of sweating, but then you look down and there’s that wild green curve of the Colorado River below. It’s bigger than any photo makes it seem—I got nervous when someone leaned too close to the edge for a selfie.

I still think about how quiet it got for a second at Horseshoe Bend—just wind and one kid asking if he could see fish from up there (he couldn’t). Our driver cracked a joke about losing hats to the canyon winds. On the way back to Vegas, most people dozed off or scrolled through their photos. My legs were tired but in that good way. If you want a day trip from Las Vegas that feels like more than ticking boxes, this one sticks with you—even if your shoes fill up with red dust.