Want a one-of-a-kind experience at Antelope Canyon? With virtually no light pollution, it's the perfect spot to stargaze. Mind-blowing!
Stargazing at Antelope Canyon
At the designated time, we'll meet at Milepost 35.5 for a safety briefing and nighttime orientation. As the sun sets, we'll start making our way into Antelope Canyon.
From the very first moment, we'll discover a winding crack carved into sandstone. With every step, the canyon draws us in with its striated walls of sedimentary layers and surfaces smoothed by erosion.
As we walk, we'll identify geological features typical of Antelope Canyon. We'll spot S-curves, which tend to form when water flow is channeled through very narrow passages, and talk about why these canyons, despite being in a desert environment, can actually be dangerous during sporadic rainfall. Did you know water can build up incredibly fast here?
As the canyon cuts us off from artificial light and we descend via staircases, we'll stop at open, stable spots to observe the sky. With no light pollution to speak of, we'll be able to see the Milky Way. We'll find the best viewing area depending on the time of year and time of night, and learn to identify the constellations.
Satellites passing overhead are a common sight too, and with a bit of luck, we might even catch a shooting star. In exceptional conditions, we could spot a faint northern lights display, though in Arizona, that's rare and depends on intense geomagnetic storms.
Finally, we'll head back to the meeting point, where we'll say our goodbyes after a total of 2 hours on the route.