Kayaking Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in Arizona

Posts may contain links to products and services I love. I may make a small commission from them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Some of the most awesome kayaking in Arizona are trips to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ. My daughter and I did a day kayak trip on Lake Powell into lower Antelope Canyon and then hiked into the gorgeous slot canyon. We also did a 2-day overnight camping trip in Glen Canyon and kayaked around the iconic Horseshoe Bend. Both trips were highlights and a magnificent way to explore the canyon country of northern Arizona.

Where is Kayaking in Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend?

Antelope Canyon and Glen Canyon with Horseshoe Bend are located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The entrance fee is $30, however, it’s covered under all the Interagency Passes. Page, Arizona is the best base for exploring these canyons. Boats rentals are located in Page and at Lee’s Ferry.

When travelling in this area, be aware of the different time zones. Arizona time never changes but nearby Utah and the Navajo Nation time zones do. Therefore, your smart phone will adjust as you travel through. Manually set your time to the Phoenix time zone so you can show up to outfitters at the correct time.

Kayaking Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is Instagram famous worldwide. Hiking tours to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon on Navajo lands are very popular. 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. There are organized kayak or paddleboard tours that go to Antelope Canyon but we opted to rent boats and do it ourselves.

Our kayak rental was sponsored by Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks. This family-owned company rents kayaks, paddleboards, and packrafts in Page. They also have tours if you want to explore with a certified guide. The quality of their equipment and the knowledge and friendliness of the staff is unparalleled. The best part of the rental experience is that the company transports your boats to the put-in. Other companies will help you strap them to your car, but I really didn’t want to tie boats on top of my rental car. 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. Our boats were ready on arrival.

The kayaks are stable sit-on-top boats. They have singles and doubles. I saw several people in other company’s less stable boats take an unintentional swim. I was glad to have a stable boat when the waves from power boats on Lake Powell bounced the kayaks around.

The Route to Antelope Canyon

From the public boat launch, it is a half-hour paddle to the mouth of Antelope Canyon. Since the lake is low, we had to wheel our boats down to the water over the gravel. Make sure you have enough energy at the end of the trip to drag your boat back up the hill.

At the mouth of Antelope Canyon, the no-wake zone starts. The hour-long paddle through the canyon winds past huge cliffs of Navajo sandstone. The earlier you get on the water, the more you will have the canyon to yourself in the morning. The one-way paddle to the landing for the canyon hike is about 2.5 miles and takes 1.5 hours. Pull up your boat at the landing and start the hike.

Antelope Canyon Hike

• 

• 

• 

The Antelope Canyon hike begins at the landing. The first part involves walking over sand through a wide canyon. About 15 minutes in the slot canyon begins. The smooth undulating rock in reds and purples is like walking through a geological playhouse.

There are several places to climb out of the slot canyon to see it from above. The canyon eventually reaches a fork which is a good turnaround spot. To the left it continues to a dead-end in about 10 minutes; to the right, it opens up to a wider canyon. The whole hike takes about an hour. Take lots of water with you. And sunscreen. I saw many lobster bodies that were going to be hurting later.

I’ve not been on the official Antelope Canyon hiking tours, but I felt this hike to the very lower part of the canyon rivaled those hikes with fewer people and the ability to explore on your own. However, please continue to support the hiking tours to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon run by the Navajo nation companies. I would have loved to do them but they were closed due to Covid when we visited.

Kayaking Horseshoe Bend

The Colorado River below the Glen Canyon Dam flows through ancient canyons on emerald green currents. We did an overnight camping trip on this 15-mile section between the Glen Canyon Dam and Lee’s Ferry. It’s 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. The river route goes around Horseshoe Bend, the iconic, most photographed viewpoint near Page. It was wild to look up and see the crowds on the canyon rim at Horseshoe Bend looking down at us.

The logistics of the trip involve a backhaul boat trip up to below Glen Canyon Dam. Since it’s impossible to put in at the dam, the backhaul motorboat carried us, our kayaks, and camping gear upriver to a beach below the dam. We used Kayak the Colorado for our outfitter. We were very pleased with the service Bobby and Brady provided. The backhaul costs $75 per person and sit-in hardshell kayaks were $35 per day. They also rent single and double sit-on-top and inflatable kayaks and canoes.

As with all canyon adventures, an early start is key to see more wildlife and avoid the heat of the day and the crowds. We meet the Kayak the Colorado outfitters at Lee’s Ferry launch. It’s a busy place as the multi-day whitewater Grand Canyon trips with their huge rafts begin there. However, the backhaul companies have a separate dock so it’s easy to load. The boat trip up to the dam is about 45 minutes.

Camping on the Colorado through Horseshoe Bend

There are 5 designated campsites with toilets and fire pits. You must bring your own firewood and pack out everything. The first downriver campsite at mile 14 is Ropes Trail. It has a panel of petroglyphs behind the outhouse that is worth seeing. Ferry Swale campsite is next at 11 miles from the takeout at Lee’s Ferry. It’s a popular campsite with some shade. At the 10 mile marker is a day-use area with an impressive wall of petroglyphs down a short trail. The ancient etchings are of the bighorn sheep that frequent the cliffs across the river.

• 

• 

The next 2 campsites are on Horseshoe Bend with views of the teeming hordes of tourists atop the cliffs across the river. Horseshoe Bend campsite at mile 9 has some shade and great fishing. We saw so many trout in the crystal clear water I wished I had a pole to catch dinner. The 8 Mile campsite is a beautiful riverside site with good shade and hiking.

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. Every turn was a new panorama of red walls and emerald water. However, the 6 Mile campground is the last one before Lee’s Ferry so unless we wanted a 15-mile day trip, this was our last chance to camp. We found an isolated campsite with an amazing view of the moon rising over the canyon.

We slept out in the open under clear night skies. The wind that funnels up the canyon in the afternoon and evening affects paddling and sleeping. However, we nestled behind some bushes to keep from being sandblasted by the wind. It was a glorious night in the intensely quiet canyon.

Wildlife of Glen Canyon

The 6-mile paddle the next morning was more of a drift back to the landing as we didn’t want the amazing time to end. The birds on the riverbanks kept us company. The Western Tanagers looked like they had spilled red food coloring over their yellow heads.

As I rounded a curve on the river, I saw an animal moving slowly out of the brush toward the river. As I floated closer I saw that it was a mountain lion taking a drink of water. What an amazing sight! After the mountain lion took a lengthy drink, it slipped back into the bushes and out of sight. I had to tell myself it wasn’t a dream!

It was an easy return of the gear as we could just leave it at the takeout with the outfitters at Lee’s Ferry. We stopped for the quarter-mile hike to the overlook at Horseshoe Bend on our way back to Page. It was great to see where we had paddled.

Don’t miss this kayak trip through the free-flowing section of the Colorado River in Glen Canyon. Take it slow and absorb all the wonder of drifting on clear water through the geologic story of the canyon.

Accommodations for Kayaking Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

For kayaking on Lake Powell to Antelope Canyon, Page makes a good base. It has a nice selection of restaurants and accommodations for all budgets. The Bear’s Den B & B is one of the nicest places in Page. It has a hot tub and a made-to-order breakfast. For those looking for a budget option, we stayed in the Rodeway Inn that was centrally located and had a nice pool.

As we made an early start on the river for the kayak trip in Glen Canyon around Horseshoe Bend, we stayed near Lee’s ferry only 10 minutes from the put-in. The charming Lee’s Ferry Lodge at Vermillion Cliffs was our favorite accommodations of the whole trip. This remote motel is surrounded by breathtaking views of the layered Navajo sandstone of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. The rooms are well-appointed with a desert flair. If you like quirky, roam around the property to find a working piano at the community fire ring in the back. It might be your first chance to play piano in the desert.

Another unique place to stay in the Vermillion Cliffs area is the Shash Dine’ EcoRetreat. You can stay in a traditional Navajo hogan on a working farm. Your hosts will provide a unique Navajo cultural experience with an emphasis on connecting to the land. We wanted to stay in one of their sheep wagons but it didn’t work out this time. We will definitely want to stay with Shash Dine’ EcoRetreat in the future.

Gear List for Kayaking Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

On canyon kayaking trips you need to protect yourself and your gear from sun and water. Here’s what I take:

• Sun shirt
• Quick-dry shorts
• Sun hat – a baseball hat or a wide brim hat to protect your ears and neck
• Sandals for water and hiking – Tevas or Chacos are ideal
• Water bottle
• Dromedary to refill water bottles
• Microfiber towel – I use this for swimming but also to cover my legs in the kayak to prevent sunburn
• Dry Bags – rubberized dry bags can endure the scruff of the canyon
• Sunscreen
• Snacks

For information on kayak camping gear check out my post on the best sea kayaking camping gear.

Wrap Up of Kayaking Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in Arizona

These two kayak trips give you a chance to not only see but experience the iconic landmarks of the canyon country of northern Arizona. The uniqueness of adventuring through canyons by water is a relief from the heat of the desert. Both kayaking trips are accessible to anyone with prior paddling experience. The route finding is easy and the paddling distances are reasonable. Get an early start to avoid afternoon winds and intense heat. In sum, enjoy connecting to the rhythms of the water and the canyon.

For a few more amazing canyons in the Southwest to explore, visit this post.

• 

• 

The Antelope Canyon kayak trip was sponsored by Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks. My opinions are my honest assessment of the experience.