When Does the Light Beam Season Start?

While many visitors focus on dates around the spring equinox, such as March 20 or March 21, as a starting point, it is not possible to pinpoint an exact day in March when Antelope Canyon’s signature light beams begin to appear.

Instead, you should think of this period as a gradual transition, with conditions becoming increasingly favorable rather than flipping on like a switch.

Reasons for Uncertainty:

1. Gradual Increase in Sun Angle:
   The famed light beams occur when the sun reaches a high enough angle for its rays to penetrate deep into the canyon’s narrow passageways. Although the spring equinox signals that the sun’s position is improving, the change does not happen overnight. Each day after March 20 or 21 brings a slightly higher sun angle, but it can take several additional days, or even a week, before the beams are strong and consistent. This incremental nature means the canyon will not necessarily see definitive beams exactly on the equinox.
2. Annual and Atmospheric Variations:
   While the Earth’s orbit and tilt create a predictable pattern, minor variations, such as leap years and subtle shifts in atmospheric clarity, can shift the timing by a day or two. More importantly, the intensity and visibility of beams depend on other unpredictable factors, like weather conditions, dust levels inside the canyon, and the number of visitors stirring up those fine particles that make the beams visible. Even if the geometry of the sun is favorable, a few cloudy afternoons can delay the canyon’s first showcase of well-defined light shafts.
3. Local Topography and Timing Challenges:
   Antelope Canyon’s twisting, narrow walls mean that the timing of light beams within the canyon’s depths is incredibly time-sensitive. The sun’s precise trajectory at midday ensures the beams are most likely from late March onward, but pinning an exact start date remains elusive. Guides and tour operators tend to speak in terms of general periods, for example, “late March,” rather than guaranteeing a specific day.

Summary:

Although the spring equinox around March 20 or 21 is an important milestone, it marks the start of a gradual process rather than a clear-cut launch date. Our visitors who time their trips for late March are more likely to catch the early beams, but certainty grows as you move into April when the angles are reliably sharper, and the canyon’s light show becomes more predictably spectacular.

💡 For those who want to be on the safe side, planning a visit in early April increases the likelihood of clear, well-defined light beams. By choosing to arrive in the first weeks of April, visitors can enjoy a more dependable and visually stunning experience.