Each camping area has at least one metal fire ring available. Want to Kayak the Colorado River and see the awesome Horseshoe Bend from the bottom? Hi there! He showed us a short trail to some petroglyphs that I wouldnt have otherwise known about. Yes. The birds on the riverbanks kept us company. And sunscreen. Related: Read this before you go see Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ. Since its impossible to put in at the dam, the backhaul motorboat carried us, our kayaks, and camping gear upriver to a beach below the dam. Experience canyon adventures in the Southwest USA including Kanarra Creek, Zion's Subway Canyon, Bryce, Antelope, Horseshoe Bend, and the Grand Canyon from the North Rim. Alternatively, you could kayak a few miles from Lees Ferry before turning back, but youd miss the highlight of the trip: Horseshoe Bend! You would not be able to make it to Horseshoe Bend and back in one day (18 miles total). My daughter and I did a day kayak trip on Lake Powell into lower Antelope Canyon and then hiked into the gorgeous slot canyon. How long does it take to paddle around the Horseshoe Bend? . . We meet the Kayak the Colorado outfitters at Lees Ferry launch. February 23, 2022. . Once again, because of its distance from Horseshoe Bend, this campsite tends to be less popular. How much does Horseshoe Bend cost? No reservations are available. Getting to Horseshoe Bend. Rental kayaks come with paddles and Personal Floatation Devices or PFDs. Crowds are significantly lighter Mon-Thurs. We were not prepared for the cold trip up the river to the drop off point (it was warm away from the river), but they had warm and comfy blankets for us. within walking distance of downtown that sleeps 10, 12 Best Short & Easy Hikes in Yosemite National Park, The Wave Arizona Lottery: Winning a Permit in 2023, Unforgettable Yellowstone Glamping: Yellowstone Tipis, Telluride Camping Guide + 10 Epic Campsites Near Telluride, 7 Spectacular Waterfalls in Costa Rica You Need to See, Alyeska Hideaway | Charming Log Cabins in Alaska, Essential Guide to the 2023 National Parks Annual Pass, Fun & Unique Places to Stay in Florida: Kokomo Farms, Grewingk Glacier | Unforgettable Alaska Glacier Hike. The scenery was gorgeous and the trip was fantastic. 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. In that time Ive helped thousands of people kindle a love of nature and outdoor adventure. The Bears Den B & B is one of the nicest places in Page. On canyon kayaking trips you need to protect yourself and your gear from sun and water. Have an amazing time! The weather was kind of cruddy and he offered blankets to keep us warm while it was raining and hailing. Although you can technically do it year-round (with stipulations; more on that in a minute), the best time to kayak Horseshoe Bend is during fall or spring. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Horseshoe Bend Rafting Experience | Best Half Day Rafting Trip AZ This kayaking trip will put you in the bend. You cant miss them. The trail to Horseshoe Bend is 1.5 miles long and gains about 480 feet in elevation. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We are looking to book the 15th, 16th or 17th. We did an overnight . I was practically swept into the spot by a whirlpool when I was hugging the right bank to make way for a powerboat cruising upstream. We also did a 2-day overnight camping trip in Glen Canyon and kayaked around the iconic Horseshoe Bend. The 6-mile paddle the next morning was more of a drift back to the landing as we didnt want the amazing time to end. Combining two tips, if you must visit on a weekend, hit the popular sites early/late and spend peak hours at less-visited areas. You drift pretty fast on the river so its much easier paddling than Antelope Canyon, especially if the wind comes up on Lake Powell. Our float ended up being just 1 night which was perfect and Terry showed me the best areas to fish. Below weve compiled a few other resources on great things to do in the southern Utah northern Arizona area near Page and Kanab: Which Utah slot canyon would you add to our list? Wind is the main thing that could make kayaking the Colorado River more difficult. Here are a few companies that offer kayak rentals and backhaul services: We used Kayak the Colorado, and had a great experience, but each of the companies above offer similar services and prices. This trip takes about eight hours, of course depending on the number of stops and how quickly you paddle. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Note that the boats leave from Lee's Ferry Launch, NOT Cliff Dweller's Lodge, which was a bit confusing from the instructions sent to us. It takes about 3 hours to kayak Horseshoe Bend. It was purely serendipitous that the distance from . We totally recommend seeing Horseshoe Bend from above. For more information, see our privacy policy. . We hope that our experiences will help you plan for your next adventure and inspire you to be an outlier! Be the first to get access to this essential guide that will help you determine your dream set-up: Motorhome, Trailer, Tent, Van. How To Kayak Glen Canyon? - Kayakaa It may take you around 6-7 hours of paddling to complete the whole stretch of Horseshoe Bend. Thanks! . In total, there are about 130 steps inside Lower Antelope Canyon. We may try to squeeze in a visit to antelope canyon after we get off of the river. We'd planned to kayak Lake Powell into Antelope Canyon but sounded crowded, and then we heard about this alternative from Shash Dine, where we stayed. My back haul captain was friendly and helpful. Can I camp out overnight? Note that Lees Ferry has a modern bathroom and there are vault toilets at each milepost except for the Glen Canyon Dam. 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 kayaked leisurely (easy going with the current) and stopped twice to picnic/take photos; it took 4 hours (almost 5 hours including . . . While its technically possible to kayak the Colorado River without the backhaul, we would highly recommend using it. Thanks! 300 Feet down then back up. 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. Its also possible to do a 10-mile day trip on the river but we wanted more river time on this gorgeous stretch of the Colorado. Trail - Sand and sandstone. What an amazing way to see Horseshoe Bend by kayaking around it. Odds are youve either been to, heard of, or seen photos of Arizonas famous Horseshoe Bend, a sharp curve in the Colorado River that carves a horseshoe shape into massive red cliffs. This remote motel is surrounded by breathtaking views of the layered Navajo sandstone of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Kayaking at Horseshoe Bend. Kayaking Horseshoe Bend at a Glance. Horseshoe Bend campsite at mile 9 has some shade and great fishing. I like the sounds of an extended trip like that. We did our Horseshoe Bend kayaking trip at the very end of October and I cant imagine more perfect weather conditions! Definitely one of the highlights of our vacation. The Colorado River current runs at about 3 mph. If the lot is full, staff will ask . The hour-long paddle through the canyon winds past huge cliffs of Navajo sandstone. He assisted me with deciding the best distance to kayak. Do you offer kayak rentals and transportation.. Glen Canyon Dam to Lee's Ferry? Enjoy! Shorten the downstream trip by about 3 hours by getting dropped off at Petroglyph Beach. The gem of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is iconic Horseshoe Bend, with its unique shape carved out of the massive rock. There is a longer route for kayaking Horseshoe Bend, the 15-mile trip from the Glen Canyon Dam downstream to Lees Ferry. The Antelope Canyon hike begins at the landing. On one page of the website for the backhaul outfitter we hired, they referenced 30 pounds max carry-on weight. Mostly we were floating. However, note that some parks may not have full access due to seasonal roads or weather concerns. Large riverside decks, catering facilities available, gift shop, cafe, free parking. First of all, this kayaking trip was EPIC because of the location alone- its seriously an Arizona must do. The water is cold and youll have a safeguard against drowning. Start your days EARLY or LATE. It should go without saying, but please be respectful, and do not touch, carve or vandalize these precious remnants of Native American history in any way. Do you happen to see it or know where its located? #themeaningoflife #wildflowers #superbloom #sequoias #sequoianationalpark #kingscanyon #yosemite #outsider #wheretonext, "The Sequoias belong to the silences of the millenniums. This kayaking experience is everything! The last campsite before Lees Ferry is located at mile 6. If all else fails, you can get fresh water there. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Glen Canyon Dam was created in 1956-1966 and holds back enough water to form Lake Powell. Whats great about when you kayak Horseshoe Bend is that its an easy route even if you have exactly zero prior paddling experience. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. They would periodically come by on the pontoons as we floated along, and this became particularly important when, just like he said could happen, the monsoon winds hit out of nowhere towards the very end of our route. To make things even worse, Arizona experiences monsoon season in July and August. This company is amazing. Since there were six of us in our party, we each brought a synthetic firelog that you can purchase in stores. We are coming out that way day before Memorial Day May 24th. Visit during 'shoulder season.' I've traveled all different kinds of ways, from backpacks to tents to a 33 foot travel trailer. 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. It's a backhaul service, meaning they meet you at Lee's ferry and take you upriver in a powerboat to wherever you want to start, then you paddle back at your leisure. OMG such a cool experience!! We camped at Ferry Swale campground about a mile upstream from Horsehoe Bend and had no complaints. 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!)

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