Winter is a great time to visit Antelope Canyon and a magical experience. Book one of our tours, and you’ll be amazed. However, there are a few things you should know before going.
Daytime highs typically drop from the low 60s °F (around 16°C) to the mid-40s °F (around 7°C) at the coldest, with mornings often in the 30s °F (0–4°C). In late winter, they rise again to the mid-50s °F (13–14°C).
First of all, the most important questions answered:
Is Antelope Canyon open and accessible in winter?
100%! All the Antelope Canyon tours run throughout winter, like in other seasons. Both canyon tours, Upper and Lower, can be booked. However, sometimes part of the canyon might be closed for cleaning or holidays, but those will be scheduled far in advance.
Good to know: You still need to book a tour in the winter months. Like during every other season, you can’t visit the canyon on your own!
Can you see the light beams in in winter?
The iconic light beams are not visible in Antelope Canyon during winter. That means your tour guide won’t be throwing sand in the air for those stunning photos you can take during the ‘beam season’.
However, there’s still enough light during those cooler months to create beautiful photos of the orangey Navajo sandstone walls. Many visitors do not know that the Canyon produces beautiful changing colors on its walls during the winter. If you want to see and photograph this gorgeous sight, book one of our winter tours.
Does it snow at Antelope Canyon in the winter?
Yes, it does snow a few times each year around Antelope Canyon. The tour operators might occasionally cancel the tours if the snow and ice have made the canyon’s steps too slippery. That’s for your own safety.
Please check out some details for each month below:
November Visit
November starts feeling chilly, with average highs around 60°F (15°C). Mornings are colder, and the temps can drop to the low 40s (about 5°C). Please pack a jacket for those times in Antelope Canyon.
We think November is a great time to visit. It’s not that cold and also less busy than before. Just keep in mind that there is no real off-season anymore in terms of crowds. That means booking ahead of time is still required.
You won’t see the famous light beams in November, but you’ll enjoy a calmer canyon and plenty of space for photos. Lighting, in general, is limited in November, as there is less daylight.
However, there’s plenty of sunlight to illuminate the canyon walls! They look magical!
Dressing in layers is a smart move, and bringing a hat or beanie can help on those crisp mornings.
Customer Testimonial:
“Upper Antelope Canyon is wonderful in November. Since it’s the off-season for tours, we booked the tour about one and a half weeks before. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the canyon and the history of the area. She also helped us take the best pictures of the canyon. We wanted to avoid the busy times because even in November, it can get busy. So we went early enough in the day, before noon, and the canyon wasn’t as crowded. It was well worth the experience.
If you are visiting in November, I would suggest bringing a warm jacket and maybe a scarf to cover your face. It gets a bit cold.“
Average High Temps:
- Early November: ~61°F (16°C)
- Mid-November: ~58°F (14°C)
- Late November: ~55°F (13°C)
Temperatures drop at Antelope Canyon in December, but it’s still a good time to visit. Daily highs in Page are usually in the 40s, though they can drop into the 30s. Snow is also possible.
December Visit
December is one of the coldest months around Antelope Canyon. The average highs hover around 47–50°F (8–10°C). Morning temperatures can dip into the 30s (around 0–4°C). Please pack a warm jacket and/or layers when visiting.
Snow is also possible during this month.
Lighting in the Canyon is limited in December, as it is the month with the least amount of daylight. Still, there’s plenty of sunlight to illuminate the canyon walls for stunning photos.
Tours operate through the holidays, but they may be unavailable on Christmas Day.
Like in the rest of the winter months, the sun is lower in the sky at this time of year, so light beams are not visible, but you can still appreciate the canyon’s stunning rock formations.
Average High Temps:
- Late December: ~45°F (7°C)
- Early December: ~50°F (10°C)
- Mid-December: ~47°F (8°C)
January Visit
During January, it’s still cold here at Antelope Canyon. The highs hover around 45–50°F (7–10°C) on average, and mornings can even fall into the 20s or 30s (-1 to 4°C).
If you visit in January, expect even fewer tourists, giving you more space and time to admire the canyon.
It’s important to check the forecast because winter storms can still happen. While light beams won’t be visible this month, the canyon’s quiet winter setting can fantastic!
Average High Temps:
- Early January: ~46°F (8°C)
- Mid-January: ~45°F (7°C)
- Late January: ~48°F (9°C)
Customer Testimonial:
We did a tour through Lower Antelope Canyon at the end of January. This is definitely the time to avoid crowds and fully booked tours! We seriously had the whole canyon to ourselves. They allow six people per tour and 15-20 min between each group, but they didn’t have a tour scheduled after ours, so we had all the time we needed. During peak season, you often get rushed through!
February Visit
February brings slightly warmer temps compared to the previous month. The average highs can climb to around 50–55°F (10–13°C). Mornings, though, can still be cold, sometimes dipping below freezing.
While the famous light beams won’t appear yet, exploring the winding passages without the peak-season crowds is a big advantage.
Customer Testimonial:
“We visited the canyon in early February when there were unusually cold temperatures and highs in the 30s. However, it did not affect our excitement a bit. We had layered clothing and were comfortable the whole time.”
Average High Temps:
- Early February: ~50°F (10°C)
- Mid-February: ~53°F (12°C)
- Late February: ~57°F (14°C)