slot canyons - how do Willis creek, Lick Wash or Bull Valley Gorge compare to Antelope Slot canyon
 

Between Bryce and Monument valley we are trying to decide between Page and Torrey for a one night stay. The main thing drawing us to Page is the Antelope slot canyon and half day float trip. However I have now seen Skutumpah Road between Zion and Bryce which gives access to Bull Valley, Willis creek and Lick wash slot canyons. Are they as spectacular/touristy/worthwhile or is Antelope the best?
it is a good job the trip is not for fifteen months or I wouldn't be able to ask so many questions, the downside being the difficulty in deciding between all the great places I am discovering.

What do you mean by "the best"?

Certainly Antelope will have the most tourists - I've heard it's quite difficult to get a photo without a person in the picture. The photos you see of it are taken by professionals with great lighting conditions, so don't expect to see the exact same thing when/if you do it.

The other slot canyons are more difficult to access and probably not as photogenic, but less popular and less crowded. So it really depends on what you're looking for and what you consider important.

Of all the places you mentioned, I was in Bryce Canyon, Zion and Antelope Canyon a week ago.

Antelope Canyon is spectacular. You will not have trouble taking photographs without strangers getting the way. The guides and other tourists cooperate quite well. My photos (about 20) look very much like the promos you see.

What you will definitely need is a tripod since it's quite dim and using a flash ruins the lighting.

In addition to Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend (free) is about 4 miles from there directly on Route 89 and so is "The Best Dam View" (free).

Be aware that Horseshoe Canyon is a 3/4 mile hot walk from the parking lot and there's no fence or barrier of any kind. I lied down on my stomach and crawled to the edge of the cliff. It's a long way staight down.

Hey Myer,

We want a trip report from you buddy! Want to hear how it all went for you and your impressions.

Dayle,
The report is almost complete though very long and blow-by-blow in way too much detail.

I'm also going thu hundreds of photos to get them on my web site for display at the same time that I post the report.

A monstrous job.

Give me a couple of more days.

Antelope Canyon has an upper section which you are driven to the entrance of and then simply walk thru. Most tourists go here. The lower section which is located across the highway from the upper and not as visited will require you to walk on slickrock, down ladders and is more open then upper and more difficult to walk in. Plan on being at upper from 11-2pm most days if you want to see the "sunbeams" hitting the slot floor. Do not go if it is cloudy as will not get good photos. Both offer rich red, yellow & orange colors.
The other sites you mentioned will require high clearance vehicle to visit are on BLM land (no fee as opposed to Antelope) and much wider in nature. You don't get the rich colors or formations you do in Antelope. You can spend as much time in them as you want.
You might want to check out Dry Fork Canyon which you can access off Hole-in-Wall Rd. Have three slots here. Peek-a-boo, Spooky & Brimstone. Check out www.americansouthwest.net. It lists a number of sites including the ones you are interested in.

Photodog - have you been to Spooky and Peekaboo slots? We've been to the Southwest 3 times, but haven't gotten to these slots yet.

Each visit we took to the Southwest, I feel like we did see and experience a lot, but there is SO MUCH to see. The "to do" list in this area can be quite long!

If you're interested in slot canyons, I would HIGHLY recommend Buckskin Gulch, near Kanab. You could detour easily on the way to either Bryce or Zion and it's the best slot and one of the greatest hikes I've ever done! Antelope is crowded and you need a Navajo guide, Spooky and Peekaboo are both short and way off the beaten path. Buckskin can be hiked fairly easily for miles and it is the ultimate in slot canyons!

thsnks Trsveller
Do you have any photos?
I will do more research on buckskin.
Is it just a walk/hike or are climbs/ladders involved
Hilary