Your hosts will take you by boat from Lee's Ferry to the starting point of the kayaking adventure just before Marble Canyon. For kayaking on Lake Powell to Antelope Canyon, Page makes a good base. I had a lot of questions before our crew of six embarked on this adventure. The gem of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is iconic Horseshoe Bend, with its unique shape carved out of the massive rock. The Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. The Antelope Canyon kayak trip was sponsored by Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks. However, after the pandemic hit and we embarked on a permanent road trip, we found ourselves living in southern Utah for several months. We were completely blown away by the beauty of the canyon and the glass-like water of the Colorado River. If you get hot when its not raining, you can always splash the refreshing water on yourself to cool off. This is where youll board your backhaul boat along with all your gear, then head up to the point upriver where you start your paddle. ; a shuttle) to go upstream and get dropped off wherever you wish. Although there arent any physical signs along the river, boaters use a mile marker system for navigation, with 0 being the Lees Ferry launch point and 15 being the Glen Canyon Dam. No reservations are available. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. To Kayak Horseshoe Bend, you will start from Lees Ferry, located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, about 50 minutes from Page, Arizona and 1 hour 30 minutes from Kanab, Utah. How long does it take to kayak horseshoe bend? Iwould definitely enjoy the kayaking piece. . Both are all-day excursions. It takes about 30 minutes to get from the Lees Ferry boat ramp to the drop-off point. Using the backhaul service, its possible to kayak the entire 16 miles from Glen Canyon through Horseshoe Bend and back to Lees Ferry in one day. After the mountain lion took a lengthy drink, it slipped back into the bushes and out of sight. They have singles and doubles. Dont miss this kayak trip through the free-flowing section of the Colorado River in Glen Canyon. It worked out perfectly because I was able to fill up the three empty water bottles I brought along. Combining two tips, if you must visit on a weekend, hit the popular sites early/late and spend peak hours at less-visited areas. We saw so many trout in the crystal clear water I wished I had a pole to catch dinner. Hello. The one-way paddle to the landing for the canyon hike is about 2.5 miles and takes 1.5 hours. . It depends on where we drop you off, but for most people, you can do the whole river in 6-8 hours with a stop or two on your way down. Its a busy place as the multi-day whitewater Grand Canyon trips with their huge rafts begin there. My back haul captain was friendly and helpful. So many people see Horseshoe Bend from the top but so few see it from the bottom! At the mouth of Antelope Canyon, the no-wake zone starts. Yes. We meet the Kayak the Colorado outfitters at Lees Ferry launch. I had brought my own equipment and needed hauling service to paddle the river, I was also hesitant to paddle 13 miles of the Colorado River by myself but after talking to Kayak Horseshoe Bend owner Wendy who took the time to explain how safe it was to paddle it by myself, I signed up for it, my only retreat I have is not doing the full river paddle from Glen Canyon Dam. Kayak Horseshoe Bend in Arizona: Rentals, trips on Colorado River He IS a kayaker. Goodness! We are a company that shuttles people (back-hauls) and their Kayaks, Canoes, SUPs, and Rafts upriver from Lees Ferry into Glen Canyon below Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. How Long Does It Take To Kayak Horseshoe Bend Thank you for supporting my blog. Instead, we checked in at the Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks well-stocked equipment store, picked out our lifejackets, and headed to the Antelope Point public boat launch. The weeks immediately before and after major holidays are also a great time. You definitely want to pack lightly, but you should be able to bring a tent as long as you stick to the necessities. Hiking tours to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon on Navajo lands are very popular. Take it slow and absorb all the wonder of drifting on clear water through the geologic story of the canyon. Keep in mind that flash floods will be a concern throughout much of the summer, and avalanches are also a major concern at higher elevations. It has a nice selection of restaurants and accommodations for all budgets. How To Kayak Antelope Canyon? - Kayakaa Hola, no quiero perderme la experiencia pues se ve maravillosa, pero voy en febrero y con una familia grande, de diferentes edades y gustos, podramos encontrar actividades activas para los jvenes y ms tranquilas para los mayores? Start in Flagstaff, Arizona's third-largest city about two hours north of Phoenix. The Glen Canyon Dam was created in 1956-1966 and holds back enough water to form Lake Powell. Manually set your time to the Phoenix time zone so you can show up to outfitters at the correct time. Instead of going all the way up the dam, have them drop you off just upstream of Horseshoe Bend itself, at whats known as Petroglyph Beach. To combine those and then pair it with more kayaking and camping would be a dream. Hi how far in advance would we need to book our trip if we wanted to go? How difficult is kayaking Horseshoe Bend? We brought our small backpacking tent, and had no trouble fitting it in the kayak. The trail to Horseshoe Bend is 1.5 miles long and gains about 480 feet in elevation. They move small boats from the launch ramp at Lees Ferry up the Colorado River to just below Glen Canyon Dam. It also gets COLD in this area in the winter, as Horseshoe Bend sits at 4,200 feet elevation. For a longer river trip: Click here for turn-by- turn directions or GPS uses . He dropped us off above horseshoe bend (at our request), gave us a brief our kayaks and then said you should check out the petroglyphs right there before you head it., Kayak Horseshoe Bend (Marble Canyon) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go, Hotels near Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Highway, Hotels near Old Cliff Dwellers Lodge (Blanche Russell Rock House), Fishing Charters & Tours in Marble Canyon, Boat Tours & Water Sports in Marble Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Highway: Tickets & Tours, Dunn's River Falls & Blue Hole Combo Tour from Ocho Rios, Intro to Scuba Diving in Lahaina (Swimming Ability Required), Paragliding Tandem Experience From Dajti Mountain, 1-Day Kisoji, Nakasendo Trail Tour: Tsumago & Magome Post Towns, Atlanta Ghosts: Hauntings, Ghouls, and Phantoms of Atlanta, 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise on Willamette River, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Admission Ticket in Chicago. Our kayak rental was sponsored by Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks. The average time it takes to kayak Horseshoe Bend is about 3 hours. There are 5 designated campsites with toilets and fire pits. To find it: Keep an eye out for a massive boulder on the right side of the river causing a large whirlpool that literally pulls you back upstream. Theyre often drinking from a shoreline or wading in the river to cool off, especially when its hot out. I bet you were glad you didnt see her when you were camping in the open! Do you offer kayak rentals and transportation.. Glen Canyon Dam to Lee's Ferry? Heres what the leading paddleboard rental company in the area has to say: Due to the long paddling distance and very cold water temperatures, this trip is NOT recommended for beginner paddleboarders. I did a 4 day trip down the river with camping for 3 nights, was absolutely magnificent, I rented a kayak and had the time of my life. The ancient etchings are of the bighorn sheep that frequent the cliffs across the river. It was just enough to supply all my water needs for the two-day excursion. I want to be a part of an exclusive group of kick-butt woman and supportive men. Yes. Located on the Arizona side, just a few minutes from Lake Powell, many hike to the overlook for Instagram-worthy photos. You drift pretty fast on the river so its much easier paddling than Antelope Canyon, especially if the wind comes up on Lake Powell. Timing: Anywhere from five hours to overnight; best from September . I definitely want to kayak here, it seems like the most self sufficient way to go, and the most cost effective. PRO TIP: theres a freshwater spring that pours into the river directly beneath the lookout point at the top of Horseshoe Bend. High winds do not make for an enjoyable kayaking trip, even in Horseshoe Bend! The Backhaul taxi service is the most convenient way to see Horseshoe Bend and kayak . We rented a boat on Lake Powell about a month ago but the water was too low to get there via boat. This may vary by the outfitter, so check with them first. Just give them a call, they're very helpful and super flexible, but there are probably limits to how late they'll take you out. But 1,000 feet directly below the viewpoint, others know that the best way to enjoy this spectacular area is to kayak Horseshoe Bend (yes, those tiny specks you can see from above are kayakers!). This is where KHB comes in. Thanks for sharing! This pic is at sunset on a very busy Saturday, but we stopped between two uber-popular viewpoints. You should be able to book this on fairly short notice but a week before or longer if possible, would guarantee you the date and time that you want. Arizona Bucket List Adventure Guide & Journal includes his list of top 50 natural wonders. SUP of a lifetime! Thousands of people kayak the stretch of river between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry every year with no issues. Antelope Canyon is Instagram famous worldwide. 45 minutes - 65 minutes depending on how crowded it is. Best of all, however, are the resident wild mustangs! Large riverside decks, catering facilities available, gift shop, cafe, free parking. In total, there are about 130 steps inside Lower Antelope Canyon. The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect RV. The summer months are extremely hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures soaring above 100 degrees. A backhaul service will transport your kayak up the river and then take you down, allowing you to complete the whole trip in six to nine hours, depending on the conditions. It was an awe inspiring trip which could have been scary but we knew we were covered with the help of KHB. By this point, youre going to be hot, tired, and ready to be back at your car. All Horseshoe Bend kayaking trips launch from the Lees Ferry Boat Launch in Marble Canyon, AZ, Beginning paddlers should start their kayak trip from Petroglyph Beach, while more experienced folks can tackle the entire length from the dam to Lees Ferry in one day, You can technically shuttle two vehicles and bring your own gear, like an, The water on this stretch of the Colorado is exceptionally calm, with Class I rapids (the gentlest), There are several little beaches, coves, and other places to safely stop or pull out of the water if you want to take a break, If you plan to camp overnight in Horseshoe Bend, keep in mind youll need to pack (and paddle!)
