Upper Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona within the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, slot canyon sections – one on either side of Route AZ98 a few miles East of Page. These canyons are referred to individually as Upper Antelope Canyon or The Crack; and Lower Antelope Canyon or The Corkscrew.

The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means "the place where water runs through rocks" and water is what created the canyons as it flowed through and eroded the Navajo Sandstone. This primarily happens during flash flooding. Rainwater, especially during monsoon season, runs into the extensive basin above the slot canyon sections, picking up speed and sand as it rushes into the narrow passageways. Over time the passageways are eroded away, making the corridors deeper and smoothing hard edges in such a way as to form characteristic 'flowing' shapes in the rock.

Flooding in the canyon still occurs. A flood occurred on October 30, 2006 that lasted 36 hours, and caused the Tribal Park Authorities to close Lower Antelope Canyon for five months.