Waterhole Canyon

There are many slot canyons around Page. The most famous ones are the upper and lower Antelope Canyons. We have visited them in the past but this time we decided to avoid the crowds and visit some of the less known slot canyons in the area.

Our choice was for the Waterhole canyon since it was on our way out of Page towards Marble Canyon

Slot canyons are formed and carved mainly by water, but wind also helps in shaping the walls of the canyon. Utah and Arizona have an abundance of slot canyons.

They usually start on a dry open river bed and as you moved downstream you will see the river bed becoming narrower and deeper leading to the slot canyon

As the passages become narrower you need to squeeze yourself between the walls to reach the bottom.

The sunlight hitting the canyon walls provides a colorful display

The waterhole canyon eventually opens up again into a dry river bed.

Some of the most famous slot canyons are now operated by tour groups. This helps in preserving the landscape preventing vandals from destroying this beautiful landform.

There are still many slot canyons that are in public lands and therefore can be explored without being in a group tour.

However, you must be extremely careful when exploring them on your own. They are natural water pathways and rain and storm across the basin or faraway mountains have killed many people in the past that are caught off guard on a sunny day by the power of a rushing water head.

Tour groups will monitor weather and will close the canyons they operate when those conditions occur.