After visiting Zion National Park, my next destination was Antelope Canyon. One of the great things about trips like this is that plans can sometimes change on the fly, and you have to improvise — and this trip was no exception.

On my way to Page, I saw a sign for Coral Pink Sand Dunes and thought it would be a perfect sunrise shooting location. I turned off my route and headed toward the campground, but all my plans were washed away by heavy rain. The next morning, when I woke up at 7 a.m., the campground was a mud pit. There was nothing to do but drive straight to Antelope Canyon.

The rain continued, and I began to accept the possibility that the canyon might be closed — and I was right when I reached the Lower Antelope Canyon. To enter, you need a guide. When I arrived, I saw two guys sitting in an old muscle car. My first thought was that they were visitors, and I felt a small relief that the canyon was open. Unfortunately, they were local guides — and they told me it was closed for the day due to rain. I could try again the next morning.

It was a shame that the weather ruined this part of the visit, but there was still hope: the Upper Antelope Canyon might be open. Luckily, it was! The only downside is that it’s incredibly crowded, making it nearly impossible to get a clean shot. But I thought, better than nothing.

I paid for the tour — the most expensive one so far at $40 — and joined a group of Japanese tourists. We climbed into the back of a pickup truck and headed to the canyon entrance. It was still raining, but surprisingly, inside the canyon it was dry.

Once inside, the walls of the canyon were mesmerizing. Their twisted, flowing shapes change dramatically depending on the angle you view them from. If you use your imagination, you can see faces, animals, or even famous people carved by wind over millennia. The guides know exactly where to stand to spot certain shapes, and they were happy to take photos for us with our cameras.

Watching my Japanese group react to every shape and every photo was hilarious — their constant “woooow!” made me pause from shooting just to enjoy their excitement. The wind has carved these tunnels in such a unique way that you truly won’t find anything like it anywhere else.

Unfortunately, the overcast sky meant the iconic sunbeams weren’t visible. On sunny days, rays of light shine all the way from the top of the canyon down to the floor, creating a magical effect. But even without the beams, I was thrilled to experience this incredible place and managed to capture a few great shots, which you can see below.