Canyon X Antelope Canyon
Guided and Unguided Hunting Trips
Upper Canyon Outfitters offers guided and unguided hunting trips for archery and/or rifle season. Our hunts include elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, antelope, moose, and mountain goat. Hunts start right out our back door. Located in the heart of southwest Montana, hunting trips from the ranch give unlimited access to the ranges of the Snowcrest, Greenhorn, and Gravelly Mountains in the Beaverhead National Forest and nearby private ranches.
The land varies from the river bottom and hay meadows to rolling sagebrush hills and high mountain plains. Then the terrain transforms into high ridges, deep canyons, scattered timber, and high mountain springs with aspen groves – ideal elk habitat. With so much ground to cover, you can choose your terrain, choose your hunt, and know that you have room to roam. The ranch is at 6000 feet elevation and we hunt up to 9000 feet. There are more than 800,000 acres of public and private land we have access to hunt.
The Antelope Canyon X Experience. We arrived 30 minutes early for our reservation time as requested, and after paying the fee and signing in, we waited for a few more people to show up. There were about a dozen people booked for the 11 a.m. Tour, and we all loaded up in two 4WD vehicles to make the 3-mile commute to the mouth of the canyon. Canyon-X Tours, Page, Arizona. 1,608 likes 5 talking about this 1,092 were here. We offer guided tours to Canyon X and Cardiac Canyon. Visit our website for more information. And yes, it would be nice to hear form someone who has been to both Canyon X and upper or lower Antelope recently. Report inappropriate content. Re: Antelope Canyon vs Canyon X. I toured Lower Antelope on February 27. We just drove up and got into a tour leaving within 20.
Whitetail Deer
Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goat
Elk and Mule Deer
UCO offers both guided and unguided National Forest hunts that take place in the Snowcrest, Greenhorn, and Gravelly ranges. A limited number of guided private ranch hunts are available. We are located in hunting areas 330,324, 326 & 322 which offers some of the best elk hunting in the state of Montana. Elk numbers are higher than the FWP objective in our area, this allows you to harvest a bull elk or cow elk with your big game elk license. The average bull is 5×5 or larger. Elk hunting can be one of the most rewarding hunts and it can also be one of the most challenging hunts. For one of the most exciting hunts, there is nothing that compares to an archery bugling bull hunt.
Mule Deer are also abundant in our area, and we get a number of respectable bucks. Area #330 is a general permit area and area #324 is a permit-only area and UCO will help you with this process.
Seasons and Dates
Archery:
– Labor Day Weekend to Mid-October
– General Permit Area
Rifle:
– Late October through November
– General Permit Area
Special Permits:
– Elk B (Cow elk) Permit area #399-00
– Mule Deer (Trophy Buck) Permit area #324-50
Application Deadline:
– April 1 General Big Game License and Deer Permit – June 1 Elk B Permit
Canyon X Antelope Canyon Petroglyphs
License Cost Non-Resident
– UCO helps in the application process to help you get a license. Licenses are not included in the cost of the hunt. Estimated cost for 2021 Big Game Combo Elk/Deer License, Preference points, and state fees $1,170.00.
Guided Hunting Rates
Our guided Private Land and National Forest hunts take place in the Snowcrest, Greenhorn, and Gravelly ranges on more than 800,000 acres of National Forest mountainous terrain. Our private ranch hunts offer you not only hunting on these ranches, but access into the backcountry. These ranches offer elk, mule deer, whitetail and antelope hunting. There is more then 9000 acres of private ranch land. We have experienced well-qualified guides who know the country and understand animal habitat. All our hunts are fair chase hunting.
Each hunt pairs one of our UCO guides working together with two guests who will spend each day hunting resident herds. To ensure the highest success, the majority of hunts are done by hiking. We also provide four-wheel-drive vehicles and ATVs when needed. For those who prefer to hunt one-on-one, upgrades are available.
1 guide per 2 hunters
Guided Private & National Forest HuntsElk/Mule Deer Combination Hunt on National Forest Lands. Includes meals, lodging, and guided hunt (two hunters on one guide).
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Guided Archery HuntsElk/Mule Deer/Antelope Combination Archery Hunt on National Forest Lands. Includes meals, lodging, and guided hunt (two hunters on one guide).
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Guided Antelope HuntsAntelope Hunt on Private Ranch Lands. Includes meals, lodging, and guided hunt (two hunters on one guide).
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Guided Youth HuntsAll the above packages are half price for youth between the ages of 12 – 17 yrs old. | ||||||
One-on-One Hunt Upgrade$1,000 / Person | ||||||
Non Hunting GuestsIncludes accommodations in the lodge and meals: for guided clients only. |
Unguided Hunting Rates
Our unguided hunts take place on the Beaverhead National Forest which is right out the back door your hunts start anywhere from 10 minutes to 40 minutes from the lodge. We show you the area; tell you where we have been seeing game. We encourage you to check in with us so we can help answer any questions and give advice on how to hunt each area. Our grandfather homesteaded here in 1910 so we do know the area and enjoy sharing it. This gives you a quality hunt with guidance. We offer game retrieval for your harvested game at an additional charge. There is a walk-in cooler and shooting range available to our guests.
Unguided Lodge HuntsIncludes accommodations in the lodge and meals (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
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Unguided Cabin HuntsIncludes accommodations in the cabins and does not include meals. Cabins include full kitchens, and meals may be purchased a la carte.
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À La Carte Meals
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Policies and Additional Info
Solo TravelerPackages are based on double occupancy. An additional fee of 25% is charged for solo travelers. |
Licensing and TaxesTaxes, hunting licenses, and gratuity are not included in the prices listed. The customary gratuity for satisfied guests is 15-20% of the total stay. Due to the increase in people applying for Montana’s limited non-resident hunting licenses, we have updated the process in which we apply for all licenses and permits. Upper Canyon Outfitters now applies for all booked hunters’ preference points, licenses, and permits. If hunters apply on their own and do not receive a license, deposits are not refunded. UCO will do everything we can to acquire a license, but due to the limited amount of licenses, we cannot guarantee hunters will draw. If UCO applies for you and you do not draw, you will be fully refunded your deposit or move your deposit to the following year. Because of the high demand for nonresident licenses, the state suggests that out-of-state hunters start planning hunting trips two years in advance. This allows hunters to purchase preference points in advance which increases the hunter’s chance of drawing. |
Reservations and CancellationsBecause we accommodate only a few hunters, it is suggested hunters make reservations in advance. A deposit of 30% is required to book a hunt. Deposits are fully refundable if our hunters are unsuccessful in drawing a license, only when UCO applied for licenses. Should a hunter cancel a hunt prior to February 1, the deposit will be returned in full, less a $50 cancellation fee. If you cancel your hunt after February 1, your deposit will be transferred to the following year IF another replacement hunter is found and all fees are paid, otherwise all deposits are non-refundable. We strongly encourage you to obtain Travel Insurance endorsed by the Montana Outfitter and Guide Association (MOGA). Insurance also protects you from damage or loss of equipment and provides medical benefits and emergency evacuation coverage during your hunt. All of our hunts are fair chase, therefore there is a chance you may not harvest an animal during your hunt. If the thought of going home without an animal is not acceptable to you, we suggest that you not book a hunt. In the occurrence of any unforeseen shutdown of Upper Canyon Outfitters, such as a forest fire, all money received will be transferred to the following year. |
Client ResponsibilitiesAll clients will be required to follow the ranch/stable and guides’ safety policies and procedures and all clients will be required to sign a Participant Assumption of Risks, Acknowledgment of Inherent Risks and Indemnity Agreement in favor of Upper Canyon Outfitters, Inc. upon arrival. UCO is the home to many pets and livestock, for this reason, we do not allow any outside pets at the ranch. |
DepositA deposit of 30% is required for all reservations, the remaining balance, taxes and gratuity is due upon arrival at Upper Canyon Outfitters. We prefer check, cash, or debit, but also accept visa or MasterCard. A 2.75% convenience fee will be added if paying by credit card. |
Transportation to RanchDue to our new health standards, we no longer offer a shuttle service. We highly recommend renting a vehicle. Having your own car gives you the freedom to enjoy evening activities and wildlife viewing on your own. |
Visiting Antelope Canyon X, you’ll witness the same soaring walls and windy labyrinth paths as the popular Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, but with one key difference – far fewer crowds.
Antelope Canyon tours in Page, Arizona, have soared in popularity in recent years, thanks in part to stunning images circulating the internet and social sphere of the smooth reddish-orange rock walls and sunbeams shooting down from ceiling crevices hundreds of feet above. It’s such an alluring sight, that a photo of Antelope Canyon once sold for $6.5 million dollars.
The sandstone slot canyon is on the Navajo Nation land of northern Arizona, running east of Page toward Antelope Creek, which connects to Lake Powell on the border of Utah.
Most visitors join guided tours at one of two well-known spots – Upper Antelope Canyon, with an easily accessible, ground-level entrance, and Lower Antelope Canyon, which requires climbing down metal stairways. While both offer incredible experiences for travelers and photographers alike, their popularity means that you’ll often be sharing the narrow passageways with dozens of other people in multiple tour groups.
>>> Antelope Canyon Tours
>>> Upper Antelope Canyon Tours
>>>Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
>>>Antelope Canyon X Tours
If you’d rather not bump elbows with strangers, or have them show up in all your pictures, a quieter alternative exists just a couple of miles down the road. Antelope Canyon X Tours operates small-group excursions into a different section of the same canyon, and since they are the only tour provider here, you don’t have to worry about overcrowding and can enjoy a more serene visit to the natural wonder.
We visited the canyon in late April at the most popular time of day (late morning) to see how it measured up to the photos we’ve seen online. Read on for tips for visiting Antelope Canyon X and why we think this is the best Antelope Canyon tour you can take.
The Antelope Canyon X Experience
We arrived 30 minutes early for our reservation time as requested, and after paying the fee and signing in, we waited for a few more people to show up. There were about a dozen people booked for the 11 a.m. tour, and we all loaded up in two 4WD vehicles to make the 3-mile commute to the mouth of the canyon. Once there, we hiked down a sandy hill to the first of two slots we would enter.
The previous tour of about the same size was wrapping up as we began with our guide – the only time it felt ever so slightly crowded. We decided to hang back from the others a little to get a few photos without people in them, which was easy to do with such a small group.
After taking turns admiring the different corridors and rooms in the first slot canyon we entered, we proceeded to follow our guide a short walk away to the second one, where we finally got to see the X opening at the ceiling that the site is named for.
Both canyons have the curvy, winding passageways often seen in photos of Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon, smoothed by erosion but with a brushed texture on the walls. It was a little early in the year to see the sunbeams that shoot down from above around the summer solstice, but some light snuck in around midday to make shapes on the walls and show off all the different shades of limestone rock.
While our guide accompanied the group the whole time, we never felt rushed and were able to linger wherever we wanted to take lots of pictures or just admire the scenery. Staying within earshot proved valuable though, as she pointed out several features to us that we may have missed (like openings in the ceiling that form interesting shapes) and helped everyone get the creative photos she knew we’d want.
The tour lasted about 90 minutes, including the car rides, but the end was very loose, as our guide let us wander around the first canyon again on our own after we walked back to the start.
The only negative part of the whole thing – the walk back up the sand hill to the car. It’s not far by any means, but trekking through sand is hard work, and we were thankful for the employee watering it down in spots to help us climb our way out. At the end, you’ll ride back to the entrance and be on your way with some amazing photos to look back on.
The Antelope Canyon X Difference
Aside from the obvious benefits of a small group experience, like the ability to get more photos and not feeling crowded and rushed, we noticed a number of small touches that really put the Antelope Canyon X experience over the edge.
First, they take care of you. From a cooler of waters at the bottom of the hill to an employee stationed to take our picture, all of our needs and wants were met. Even though we hung back from our group a couple of times, our guide made sure that we didn’t miss anything she pointed out, even leading us back into the first canyon to point out a photo spot we had missed her mentioning the first time.
They also knew exactly what pictures we would want before we even did. When we started the tour, our guide told us what settings we should switch our phones to for the best results and along the way pointed out features we should snap. She stopped in one spot to pour sand over a ledge and let us all take turns posing with it, and tossed sand in the air in another location for us to capture it swirling in a beam of light.
While Antelope Canyon photo tours are available here at double the price and length, we had no problem finding backdrops for our Instagram shots and our small group was able to spread out enough that we were rarely in each other’s way. There was one photographer in the canyon when we arrived, and they made sure we stayed out of his way as much as possible, too. So whichever tour you book, you’re sure to get plentiful crowd-free Antelope Canyon photos.
This tour also is a winner because it’s a bit longer than most of the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon tours but at a lower price. While we wrapped up at about an hour and a half, we realized afterward that we probably could have lingered for bit. Our guide let us wander around at the end without rushing us at all, and the group coming in behind us only had about four people on it. I got the vibe that they wouldn’t have minded us hanging around a little longer, as it was all very casual.
Tour Location
Canyon X Tours Page Az
Antelope Canyon X tours meet on Highway 98 southeast of Page. After passing parking areas for other Antelope Canyon tours, you’ll see a sign that says Canyon X and a parking area with a trailer. This is on the Navajo Nation Reservation, so Navajo Nation hiking permits are required and included in your ticket price. You’ll depart from this parking area in a 4WD vehicle with a guide to the beginning of your Antelope Canyon hike. Be careful where you park. The lot is sand and gravel, and we witnessed a car get stuck in a soft spot.
You can plug the following address into your GPS to pull up directions to the location: MP 308 Highway 98 #3784, Page, AZ 86040.
Tips for visiting Antelope Canyon X
1. Tours follow Arizona time, which is in the Mountain Standard Time (MST) zone and does NOT observe daylight savings time. This means that during daylight savings time (generally March-early November), it’s the same time in Arizona as in Nevada and the West Coast. This may be confusing while you’re staying in Page, because the Navajo Nation in this corner of the state DOES observe daylight savings time and spring forward to Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), so your clock may freak out and change back and forth a lot. If you get confused, just call Taadidiin Tours the morning of your reservation to confirm the time.
2. Booking ahead is recommended for busy times (like holiday weekends and summer break), but you’ll likely find openings if you need to walk up instead. The midday tours, around 11 a.m., are the preferred time and will likely have the largest crowds. You can reserve a time online and pay when you arrive, and Taadidiin Tours prefers cash payments to credit cards.
3. Wear comfortable shoes for the Antelope Canyon hike, as you’ll walk up and down a sand hill, and dress appropriately for the season (winter may require a sweater in the cool canyon).
4. Arizona gets extremely hot in the summer, and sometimes the shoulder months, so wear sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids before, during and after your tour. Waters are provided at the entrance of the canyon.
5. Bathrooms consist of portable toilets near where you’re dropped off to begin your Antelope Canyon hike. Page is about a 15-minute drive away, so plan your bathroom breaks accordingly.
Credit to Michelle Joy, from www.harborsandhavens.com
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