Unearthly in its beauty, Antelope Canyon is a popular slot canyon on the Navajo Reservation a few miles east of Page and open to tourists by Navajo-led tour only. Wind and water have carved sandstone into an astonishingly sensuous temple of nature where light and shadow play hide and seek. Less than a city block long (about a quarter-mile), its symphony of shapes and textures are a photographer's dream. Lighting conditions are best around mid-morning between April and September, but the other months bring smaller crowds and a more intimate experience.

Four tour companies offer trips into upper Antelope Canyon; Antelope Slot Canyon Tours, owned by Chief Tsotsie, is recommended. The 90- minute sightseeing tour costs $29, while the 2½-hour photographic tour is $46; both include the $6 Navajo Permit Fee. The company also offers tours to lesser-known Cathedral Canyon.