One of the guys also brought along some short 6 x 6 leftover scraps of wood from a work project. Below, well describe in more detail each section of the kayaking trip, starting at mile 16 and working our way back to Lees Ferry at mile 0. He created an Arizona bucket list and began checking places off. These cookies do not store any personal information. We were scheduled for a 3 day, 2 night float but had to cancel our departure day due to predicted high winds. Although permits or reservations are not required to camp, you must camp in designated camping zones, which are marked with a sign. You would not be able to make it to Horseshoe Bend and back in one day (18 miles total). It takes about 3 hours to kayak Horseshoe Bend. I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you click or make a purchase through any of them. Elevation highpoint on Trail - 4373 feet. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Horseshoe Bend campsite at mile 9 has some shade and great fishing. In addition, here are some other places to camp near Horseshoe Bend. Before long, you can see the viewing platform and crowds of people at the rim of the canyon! 6-mile campsite is the first campsite upriver from Lees Ferry so you would have to make it at least 6 miles on the first day. . The question of "how long does it take to kayak Horseshoe Bend?" is almost like "how high is up?". Our boats were ready on arrival. (You can see it in the upper right corner of the video frame at the beginning of the video clip.) After Waterholes Canyon, continue for another 4 miles until you arrive back at Lees Ferry. . I want to be a part of an exclusive group of kick-butt woman and supportive men. On one page of the website for the backhaul outfitter we hired, they referenced 30 pounds max carry-on weight. Goodness! Heres what I take: For information on kayak camping gear check out my post on the best sea kayaking camping gear. For years Ive seen those beautiful photos of horseshoe bend and want to visit so badly, but I never dreamed of being able to get that close and actually kayak it. You cant miss them. Glen Canyon. The 15-mile section of the Colorado River below the Glen Canyon Dam is mostly calm water with a few gentle rapids and plenty of places to pull over and take breaks. I loved reading this so much! Each camping area has at least one metal fire ring available. The last campsite before Lees Ferry is located at mile 6. To the left it continues to a dead-end in about 10 minutes; to the right, it opens up to a wider canyon. Glen Canyon Dam. . Most view it from above during a trip to Page, Arizona. As with all canyon adventures, an early start is key to see more wildlife and avoid the heat of the day and the crowds. If you choose not to use the backhaul service, the trip becomes significantly more challenging. Their rule is that any kayak not returned by the end of the day, so that its available for rental the next day, is charged for two days. National Park Service passes do not apply . The kayaks are stable sit-on-top boats. By this point, youre going to be hot, tired, and ready to be back at your car. I am heading back for a day trip with a couple of my girlfriends in a couple weeksMay 2022 but this time I am paddleboarding. Have questions? The vast majority of people start their day between 8am - noon. 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. Jennifer, it took us about two or three hours to paddle out. They use a numbering system that runs from 0 at the starting point (Lees Ferry) to 15 at the uppermost point (Glen Canyon Dam). We want to hear from you! To make things even worse, Arizona experiences monsoon season in July and August. 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. This looks like so much fun. Remember to practice Leave No Trace when visiting Earth's spectacular places (and spending any time in nature at all), so that we can continue to enjoy them! Therefore, your smart phone will adjust as you travel through. . . 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. Yes, you can go to Horseshoe Bend by yourself as long as you're comfortable doing so. Kayakers at a campsite in Horseshoe Bend | Photo credit: Ivana Cajina on Unsplash. The kayaking trip is moderate in difficulty. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Learn more about me and the blog. This kayaking trip will put you in the bend. I had a lot of questions before our crew of six embarked on this adventure. With the river flowing, if the kids are tired of paddling with you they can just hang out. For those who dont have a lot of time, great news: a half-day trip is enough to kayak Horseshoe Bend! Located less than one hour from Boise! 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. Located just minutes from the Lees Ferry boat launch is Lees Ferry Campground, the perfect spot to spend the night before your kayaking trip if you plan to get an early start. Its the second highest concrete dam in the U.S., second only to Hoover Dam. 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. Drop a note in the comment box below. Visit on weekdays if possible. For the record, no scales were used to weigh our stuff when we boarded. First of all, this kayaking trip was EPIC because of the location alone- its seriously an Arizona must do. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This trip takes about eight hours, of course depending on the number of stops and how quickly you paddle. email info@kayakthecolorado.com or give a holler 928-856-0012. Take it slow and absorb all the wonder of drifting on clear water through the geologic story of the canyon. You saw a mountain lion from your boat!? [See document on camping.] There are several places to climb out of the slot canyon to see it from above. 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. I want to empower more people to take the steps to living their dreams and enjoy life on the road. In general, kayaking Horseshoe Bend is easy. Large riverside decks, catering facilities available, gift shop, cafe, free parking. We found it to be a nice and easy kayak because you go with the current. Your email address will not be published. Kayaking the Colorado from below is an experience of a life time. Approximate hiking time - 30 minutes to an hour. It was great to see where we had paddled. Best of all, however, are the resident wild mustangs! Love it. The next 2 campsites are on Horseshoe Bend with views of the teeming hordes of tourists atop the cliffs across the river. If the lot is full, staff will ask . 300 Feet down then back up. The earlier you get on the water, the more you will have the canyon to yourself in the morning. A viewing platform was put in place to prevent people from getting too close due to an unfortunate act of vandalism in 2021, so please do not try to go beyond the rock wall. Highly recommend! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Beginner paddleboarders should only paddle on Lake Powell when visiting Glen Canyon for safety reasons. The hour-long paddle through the canyon winds past huge cliffs of Navajo sandstone. It's fairly affordable to visit Horseshoe Bend. Being at the bottom of such a deep canyon, wind really accelerates down on the water. Famous sites are well worth seeing, but once you do, find lesser-known hikes, get away from the main areas for lunch, and seek hidden gems to catch sunset. The starting (and ending) point of all Horseshoe Bend kayak trips is the Lees Ferry Boat Launch. Can I camp out overnight? If you've been looking for an excuse to get out and hike or visit those national and state parks that have been on your list for awhile, here it is! This remote motel is surrounded by breathtaking views of the layered Navajo sandstone of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. 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. Get off the beaten path! 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. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To get to Horseshoe Bend from Flagstaff, take Highway 89 north approximately 125 miles. There are 5 designated campsites with toilets and fire pits. 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. In sum, enjoy connecting to the rhythms of the water and the canyon. I did it! Great info! Excellent service and being that I am also a fishing guide please take care of the persons that provide a service. The smooth undulating rock in reds and purples is like walking through a geological playhouse. The map below displays each of the key sites, landmarks and campsites along the Colorado River from Lees Ferry to Glen Canyon Dam: After hopping on the backhaul from Lees Ferry, it takes about 45 minutes to boat up river all the way to Glen Canyon Dam, at which point its not possible to continue any further. Here your captain will pull over on a sandy beach, help you get your kayaks into the water, and then youre off! A must taste trip to your exploration of Arizona. What a treat! #giantsequoia #sequoias #kingscanyon #bigtrees #giantsequoias #sequoiatrees #kingscanyonnationalpark #snowshoeing #itsbetteroutside, TIP TUESDAY for visiting national parks this season It looks like a beautiful kayak trip to Antelope Canyon and combined with the hike makes the perfect adventure. While its technically possible to kayak the Colorado River without the backhaul, we would highly recommend using it. Call now! Dont miss this kayak trip through the free-flowing section of the Colorado River in Glen Canyon. The earlier you get on the water, the more you will have the canyon to yourself in the morning. 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. 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. For a fee, Lazy River Outfitters offers tubing, canoe, and kayak rentals as well as shuttles to the Horse Shoe River Access Park. There are four campgrounds between Glen Canyon Dam and Horseshoe Bend at numerous points. Assuming you opt to use a backhaul service, youll be driven 16 miles upriver from Lees Ferry in a motor boat until you reach the Glen Canyon Dam.

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