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It is really an easy float, can be done as a long day trip but we chose to do an overnight and got to camp just below the Horseshoe Bend overlook. First of all, this kayaking trip was EPIC because of the location alone- its seriously an Arizona must do. At this point in the river, youre heading almost directly west. Learn more about me and the blog. Kayaking the Colorado from below is an experience of a life time. Questions about visiting any of the slot canyons on the list? The uniqueness of adventuring through canyons by water is a relief from the heat of the desert. We loved this trip with kayak the colorado at Horseshoe Bend and would highly recommend it to anyone. My back haul captain was friendly and helpful. Posts may contain links to products and services I love. A backhaul boat taking kayaks down the Colorado River. You would not be able to make it to Horseshoe Bend and back in one day (18 miles total). Adventure for all ages and skill levels with half and full day whitewater rafting trips. The river route goes around Horseshoe Bend, the iconic, most photographed viewpoint near Page. He showed us a short trail to some petroglyphs that I wouldnt have otherwise known about. Hello. When we went in October, we seriously took our time, stopping for lunch and to take endless photos (including of grazing wild horses! When I called the office for a straight answer, they told me that well be okay as long as each person brings no more than 100 pounds of total weight onboard kayak, life preserver and paddle included. . The best way to get started is to just put a firm date on the calendar, then used the resources above to start taking care of the details. Since I have zero experience with a stand-up paddleboard, I checked to see what others had to say on this topic. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. I appreciate you! You can safely expect to encounter wildlife while kayaking the Colorado River. Any advice? February 23, 2022. On one page of the website for the backhaul outfitter we hired, they referenced 30 pounds max carry-on weight. However, a kayak trip to where Lake Powell meets the bottom of Antelope Canyon is a unique way to experience Antelope without a canyon tour. Do you have any national parks on your list this summer? What amazing views, this is definitely an adventure Id like to plan one day. During this time, unpredictable thunderstorms and flash floods are frequent, and theres a ton of humidity to deal with (yep Arizona isnt always dry!). PRO TIP: theres a freshwater spring that pours into the river directly beneath the lookout point at the top of Horseshoe Bend. Secret Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour from Page, Lower Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend Half Day Tour from Page, AZ, Half Day Tour of Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon from Page Arizona, Upper Antelope Canyon Admission Ticket (Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours). After 5 miles of kayaking, you will come upon the first campsite at mile 11. If youre an experienced kayaker and up for a challenge, you could kayak 6 miles up river on day one, spend the night at 6-mile campground, and continue 3 miles upriver to Horseshoe Bend in the morning before heading back down river to Lees Ferry. I'm glad you're here and hope you'll stay awhile! We also did a 2-day overnight camping trip in Glen Canyon and kayaked around the iconic Horseshoe Bend. The Bears Den B & B is one of the nicest places in Page. My opinions are my honest assessment of the experience. I definitely want to kayak here, it seems like the most self sufficient way to go, and the most cost effective. There is a gas station and convenience store about 10 minutes from Lees Ferry in Marble Canyon. Here's how to do an easy day kayak through the beginning of the Grand Canyon. We offer kayak rentals and transport you and the kayak from Lees Ferry to Glen Canyon Dam and you float back to Lees Ferry. Although permits or reservations are not required to camp, you must camp in designated camping zones, which are marked with a sign. We were very pleased with the service Bobby and Brady provided. Dont count on finding wood at your intended campsite. The trail to Horseshoe Bend is 1.5 miles long and gains about 480 feet in elevation. Kayaking Horseshoe Bend. Mile 8 and Mile 9 campgrounds are the most popular because theyre at roughly the midpoint from top to bottom. I love kayaking and especially in unique places like this. 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. We were scheduled for a 3 day, 2 night float but had to cancel our departure day due to predicted high winds. Related: Read this before you go see Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ. Trail - Sand and sandstone. It's a quick moving river ride and you won't even have to paddle. Because it is north of Horseshoe Bend, the campsite at mile 11 tends to be the least crowded and still offers lovely views of the canyon. The dam is a major source of hydroelectricity, but more importantly helps maintain an equitable water supply and . I might get a little claustrophobic, but it looks like an absolutely incredible experience! When is the best time of the year to take a kayak tour around horseshoe bend? Will it be safe taking a 11 & 12 years olds? The Colorado River below the Glen Canyon Dam flows through ancient canyons on emerald green currents. Hi how far in advance would we need to book our trip if we wanted to go? Do You Need a Permit to Kayak Horseshoe Bend? No need to pay $10 for a view of Horseshoe Bend from the top, when you can see it from the inside. For a longer river trip: Click here for turn-by- turn directions or GPS uses . As we made an early start on the river for the kayak trip in Glen Canyon around Horseshoe Bend, we stayed near Lees ferry only 10 minutes from the put-in. Parking Fees. The best part of the rental experience is that the company transports your boats to the put-in. To the left it continues to a dead-end in about 10 minutes; to the right, it opens up to a wider canyon. Campsites are located at 6, 8, 9 and 11 miles from Lees Ferry. How long does it take to kayak horseshoe bend? ~ Edwin Markham The birds on the riverbanks kept us company. You can stay in a traditional Navajo hogan on a working farm. Watch out for powerboats! Arrive at Lees Ferry boat ramp in early afternoon. Biggest risk: water temperature. The average time it takes to kayak Horseshoe Bend is about 3 hours. Its a completely different perspective than the one you get from above, and Im sure not many people opt to do it either! In 2014, Paul Fiarkoski went on a hiking trip to world-famous Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon. The whole hike takes about an hour. We kayaked through Horseshoe Bend as an overnight trip in early May, using the backhaul up to Glen Canyon Dam and kayaking 16 miles downriver to Lees Ferry. We spend any free time we can get hiking, camping, backpacking, and exploring new places! Our captain (Captain Luke) was very nice and extremely knowledgeable and helpful, pointing out interesting things along our ride upriver and landmarks so we would know how far we had gone on the paddle back. This company is amazing. ; a shuttle) to go upstream and get dropped off wherever you wish. . Best of all, however, are the resident wild mustangs! . Because youll be paddling downriver, the entire 16 miles can be kayaked as a day trip in about 6 to 9 hours depending on the wind and current. We visited Horseshoe Bend from the popular viewpoint near Page in 2019, and at the time never expected wed get to see the beautiful spot again. Ive been an outdoor adventure leader and educator for almost a half-century. At the mouth of Antelope Canyon, the no-wake zone starts. The best time to kayak on the Colorado River is from spring through fall, around late March to late October. The gem of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is iconic Horseshoe Bend, with its unique shape carved out of the massive rock. There are several campsites along the way. Ive yet to see one anywhere but I often feel like maybe their eyes are on me when I hike in Arizona. Horseshoe Bend is located 9 miles up the Colorado River from Lees Ferry in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in northern Arizona. Many of them have seen a hundred human generations rise, give off their little clamors, and perish. Two Outliers may contain affiliate links we only recommend products we personally use and love. After Waterholes Canyon, continue for another 4 miles until you arrive back at Lees Ferry. This unique geological wonder is located on the stretch of the Colorado River between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. We did an overnight camping trip on this 15-mile section between the Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. From showing the wild horses, to warning us about monsoon winds in the canyon, to handing out extra water bottles (bc Im not from AZ and failed to bring enough), we felt completely at ease because we knew he and his colleagues would be around and could be reached by phone or text if anything came up. To savor the view a little longer, you can beach your kayaks at the Horseshoe Bend campsite and hike up the rock formation that forms the inside of the horseshoe. Find out everything you could possibly want to know about kayaking Horseshoe Bend in this comprehensive guide, written by an Arizona local whos done it! Were Sarah and Matt, two nomads road tripping across the United States with our cat, Fitzgerald, making a new place our home month to month while working full time and adventuring as much as possible. The Antelope Canyon kayak trip was sponsored by Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks. 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!) Goodness! Hi! Get off the beaten path! To make sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible, below are a few key tips for planning your adventure: Below are a few essentials to make sure you pack for your Horseshoe Bend kayaking trip: P.S. Best time to kayak horseshoe bend. . Its little effort for maximum adventure! If you need a little adventure in your life, you can go kayaking between the two sites. I get claustrophobic in tight spaces but this canyon was fineso beautiful. Bottom line: pack as light as you can. Promise you'll have a much better experience! We brought our small backpacking tent, and had no trouble fitting it in the kayak. Want to read about more adventures you can do? National Park Service passes do not apply . What an amazing sight! The kayaking trip is moderate in difficulty. You can kayak from Lee's Ferry up the river to the Glen Canyon Dam and back down the river with a backhaul service. You don't have to have a . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Since there are no actual milepost signs along the river, the only way to know where you are at any given time is to reference a detailed map or to guesstimate your location in relation to some of the waypoints detailed above. Kayaking the Colorado River is permitted on the 15-mile section below the Glen River Dam and above Lees Ferry. Timing: Anywhere from five hours to overnight; best from September . The company owns the adjacent Horseshoe Bend Farm, on which it donated a 360-acre conservation easement to Conserving Carolina in 2003. . 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View all posts by Paul. Slowly floating around the bend, with nothing but the sound of birds chirping and water rippling as you soak in the stunning view of Horseshoe Bend from the Colorado River is a purely magical experience! Iwould definitely enjoy the kayaking piece. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Colorado River current runs at about 3 mph. Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks sounds amazing! The most practical way to take on this adventure is to hire a backhaul service to carry you and your gear upstream from Lees Ferry. In fact, we decided well go back next year and camp! Visit on weekdays if possible. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), How to Kayak Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River. For the record, no scales were used to weigh our stuff when we boarded. We opted for the Mile 6 campsite as we were thoroughly enjoying drifting along in the 2-mile an hour current under the 1000 feet sandstone cliffs. I had no idea you could get to Antelope Canyon via kayaking! Distance. Thousands of people kayak the stretch of river between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry every year with no issues. Kayak rentals: $25 for a single inflatable or hard-body kayak; $45 for a tandem . 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. Yes, campfires are permitted in fire rings only. They seem indeed to be forms of immortality standing here among the transitory shapes of time." He also told us how to signal a passing boat if we needed help and gave us a number to text in case of emergencies. You definitely want to pack lightly, but you should be able to bring a tent as long as you stick to the necessities. Thanks! We are going kayaking next week from petroglyph beach. Call now! The guys from Kayak Horseshoe Bend were exceptional and well prepared. Since there were six of us in our party, we each brought a synthetic firelog that you can purchase in stores. Lake Powell and the surrounding Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are massive, so if you enjoy boondocking, youll find tons of free camping options on public land. That being said, this isnt a lazy river floating trip and youll still need to paddle so expect to finish the trip with sore arms and an aching back! Have questions? #yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #elcapitan #elcap #tiptuesday #sunsetchaser #nationalparkgeek #nationalparkobsessed #getoutside, There really are places that are so spectacular, it seems impossible they exist. We saw so many trout in the crystal clear water I wished I had a pole to catch dinner. Great info! Wow! Note that Lees Ferry has a modern bathroom and there are vault toilets at each milepost except for the Glen Canyon Dam. It simply cant compare to the beauty of Horseshoe Bend and the Colorado River canyon. But dont forget to soak up your last few minutes in this beautiful canyon! If you like quirky, roam around the property to find a working piano at the community fire ring in the back. Kayaking the Colorado from below is an experience of a life time. . At mile 4, you can dock your kayak at the beach to the left hand side of the river and embark on a short 1.5 mile round trip hike up Waterholes Canyon.