how long does it take to kayak horseshoe bend

Brady has been renting hard shell kayaks, canoes, SUPs, and inflatables at Lee's Ferry and Grand Canyon for over 20 years. Enter your email to receive updates and new posts straight to your inbox. To the left it continues to a dead-end in about 10 minutes; to the right, it opens up to a wider canyon. The first half of May and the second half of September into October is a fantastic time to visit many parks. The backhaul costs $75 per person and sit-in hardshell kayaks were $35 per day. We started at 7 or 8 and probably could have done later. Enjoy! Your hosts will provide a unique Navajo cultural experience with an emphasis on connecting to the land. We offer kayak rentals and transport you and the kayak from Lees Ferry to Glen Canyon Dam and you float back to Lees Ferry. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I travel extensively, I kinda like to hike and think of myself as "outdoorsy," and I'm a wannabe photographer. 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. Yes, campfires are permitted in fire rings only. We were debating whether we could make it back when Troys colleague (Im told his name was LR) showed up and we opted to just jump back on the pontoon to be safe. 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. Since the lake is low, we had to wheel our boats down to the water over the gravel. Most view it from above during a trip to Page, Arizona. I had no idea you could get to Antelope Canyon via kayaking! 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. Watch for the parking lot on the west side of the road at mile marker 544, just before entering the town of Page. The Arizona heat and sun exposure is no joke, and rescuers save people on the brink of death from dehydration or sun poisoning every single day. What an amazing way to see Horseshoe Bend by kayaking around it. The petroglyphs shown here are located about 1/8th of a mile hike from a beach landing just upstream from Horseshoe Bend on river left (lefthand side if youre heading downstream). 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. Hi there! It also gets COLD in this area in the winter, as Horseshoe Bend sits at 4,200 feet elevation. No special pass or permit is required to kayak this stretch of the Colorado River; however, a National Parks Pass is required for all activities in this area known as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which spans sections of northern Arizona and southern Utah. . . While its technically possible to kayak the Colorado River without the backhaul, we would highly recommend using it. Horseshoe Bend. The Colorado River is incredibly calm here (Class I rapids), with just enough of a current to gently guide you downstream. The Bears Den B & B is one of the nicest places in Page. I had a lot of questions before our crew of six embarked on this adventure. Any tips I missed? He showed us a short trail to some petroglyphs that I wouldnt have otherwise known about. By this point, youre going to be hot, tired, and ready to be back at your car. The rooms are well-appointed with a desert flair. Kayak rentals: $25 for a single inflatable or hard-body kayak; $45 for a tandem . Best time to kayak horseshoe bend. How difficult is the kayaking trip? 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. Visit on weekdays if possible. Hiking tours to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon on Navajo lands are very popular. . The canyon eventually reaches a fork which is a good turnaround spot. It has a panel of petroglyphs behind the outhouse that is worth seeing. It depends on how far up-river you go, but generally 5-8 hours. We were happy to take that recommendation and enjoyed a much more leisurely paddle kayaking the Colorado River. . Learn how your comment data is processed. Although you dont need any special skills or permits to kayak Horseshoe Bend, there are still a few things to consider and logistics to plan. Plan on the 15-mile trip taking between six and eight hours. Do we have to start at 6am Bc we will be traveling from Sedona and plan to drive back same day. But the Colorado River below the dam and its Lake Powell, became a Mecca for 'yakking individuals, families and groups. We also did a 2-day overnight camping trip in Glen Canyon and kayaked around the iconic Horseshoe Bend. Elevation at Trailhead - 4327 feet. Its a completely different perspective than the one you get from above, and Im sure not many people opt to do it either! While the current typically isnt very strong, it definitely helps take some of the effort off your shoulders. Avoid holidays altogether if you can. During the summer, expect extreme heat with highs often in the 90s and no shade during the day. Rental kayaks come with paddles and Personal Floatation Devices or PFDs. If the lot is full, staff will ask . It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. First of all, this kayaking trip was EPIC because of the location alone- its seriously an Arizona must do. In the opinion of our backhaul boat driver, the summer months are the best time to make this trip because of the added excitement that monsoon rainstorms bring. 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! I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you click or make a purchase through any of them. I'm Angelica. 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. 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. Arizona Bucket List Adventure Guide & Journal includes his list of top 50 natural wonders. Located less than one hour from Boise! Thanks for the tips! 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. Seeing Horseshoe Bend in person is a magical experience, but imagine kayaking the Colorado River and being inside the iconic bend! We do short duration floats, day floats, and arrange for people to do multiple day floats while camping on the river. But we were definitely taking our time because it was so beautiful. You must bring your own firewood and pack out everything. ), plus a few bathroom breaks, and the route took us almost exactly seven hours. We are planning on kayaking and camping Horseshoe Bend in May and I was wondering how long it took you to paddle out from the mile 6 campsite the next morning? With the river flowing, if the kids are tired of paddling with you they can just hang out. Any advice? 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. I saw several people in other companys less stable boats take an unintentional swim. In October 2021, my dream of kayaking through Horseshoe Bend came true. Kayaking Horseshoe Bend at a Glance. While itd be pretty cool to say youve camped at Horseshoe Bend, wed recommend the campsites at miles 8 or 11 if you want to avoid some of the crowds and the ensuing search for a good camping spot. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Kayak the Colorado provides kayak rental and backhaul taxi services to Horseshoe Bend and the dam. Parking Fees. In addition, we rent kayaks and other float craft. Learn more about me and the blog. Contact kayakthecolorado.com to set up your trip. The company owns the adjacent Horseshoe Bend Farm, on which it donated a 360-acre conservation easement to Conserving Carolina in 2003. . 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. Have you done this experience or do you have more questions? The Colorado River current runs at about 3 mph. . Thank you! His advice is to pull over to a sand bar during a rain shower. And I cant believe you saw a mountain lion!!! Also surprised its still accessible despite COVID, I had just been assuming the closure meant you couldnt be on that land at all. . Its about 85 miles upstream from the Grand Canyon on the same river that carved it. They seem indeed to be forms of immortality standing here among the transitory shapes of time." Shorten the downstream trip by about 3 hours by getting dropped off at Petroglyph Beach. You can buy a pass at the permit vending station upon arrival. Located just 10 minutes from Page, Arizona the Horseshoe Bend viewpoint that looks down over the Colorado River is wildly popular and attracts hundreds of visitors per day. From the public boat launch, it is a half-hour paddle to the mouth of Antelope Canyon. The summer months are extremely hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures soaring above 100 degrees. In this article, weve rounded up all the information you need to know to plan the perfect kayaking trip. 45 minutes - 65 minutes depending on how crowded it is. As I floated closer I saw that it was a mountain lion taking a drink of water. To cut down on the length of the trip, you could have your backhaul drop you at mile 10, just north of Horseshoe Bend. Its a popular campsite with some shade. Timing: Anywhere from five hours to overnight; best from September . The earlier you get on the water, the more you will have the canyon to yourself in the morning. 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! 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. That being said, the hike is a nice break from paddling and worth exploring if you have the time. In other words, you could technically bring your own kayak and put-in near Lees Ferry in the winter, but youll have to either coordinate your own vehicle shuttle or paddle upstream as well as downstream. There are 5 designated campsites with toilets and fire pits. The river route goes around Horseshoe Bend, the iconic, most photographed viewpoint near Page. Thanks. For the record, no scales were used to weigh our stuff when we boarded. Its a busy place as the multi-day whitewater Grand Canyon trips with their huge rafts begin there.

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