how long does it take to kayak horseshoe bend how long does it take to kayak horseshoe bend
You can buy a pass at the permit vending station upon arrival. There is a herd of bighorn sheep that live in the area and often use the trail to climb down to the shores of the Colorado River, so keep an eye out even if you dont stop to hike! Highly recommend backhaul service and SUP rental! Horseshoe Bend as an overnight camping trip, Our Essential Backpacking Gear List & Spreadsheet, Moqui Caverns: Exploring the Kanab Sand Caves, Coyote Buttes South: An Epic Alternative to the Wave, Toadstool Hoodoos: An Otherwordly Hike near Page, How to Hike the Worlds Longest Slot Canyon: Buckskin Gulch, Adventurous One Week Road Trip in Arizona and Southern Utah, Toadstool Hoodoos: an Underrated Adventure, Grand Canyon Skeleton Point via South Kaibab Trail: Ultimate Hike Guide, How to Hike to Soldiers Pass Cave: Sedona, Az, Adventurous One Week Arizona to Utah Road Trip, Best Things to Do in Page, Arizona in One Day, 18 Best Things to Do in Escalante, Utah: A Complete Guide, How to Visit Stunning Laguna Humantay in Peru from Cusco, Experience a classic viewpoint from a different perspective, away from the crowds, Enjoy the beauty of the Colorado River and soaring canyon walls, Offers the chance to find solitude, although the campsites tend to be busy, Somewhat expensive to rent kayaks and backhaul service, Campsites tend to be crowded, so you wont have the backcountry wilderness experience you may be hoping for, Motor boats towing kayakers up river detracts from the peace and quiet of the river canyon, If you plan to camp overnight, be sure to. Kayaking Horseshoe Bend is not only an epic adventure and the best way to skip the crowds at the wildly popular tourist attraction. Located less than one hour from Boise! You cant miss them. In 2014, Paul Fiarkoski went on a hiking trip to world-famous Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon. Thank you! The route finding is easy and the paddling distances are reasonable. COPYRIGHT CHASING TRAIL 2022 Site Powered by Pix & Hue. Hi how far in advance would we need to book our trip if we wanted to go? We did an overnight camping trip on this 15-mile section between the Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. Keep in mind, you dont need to camp along the river. They move small boats from the launch ramp at Lees Ferry up the Colorado River to just below Glen Canyon Dam. Definitely one of the highlights of our vacation. But dont forget to soak up your last few minutes in this beautiful canyon! A normal float with a "stretch your legs" stop or two and maybe a quick swim for the kids is generally five to seven hours. 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. What an amazing sight! In general, kayaking Horseshoe Bend is easy. The Bears Den B & B is one of the nicest places in Page. Once I got dropped off my epic adventure started, WOW. We hope that our experiences will help you plan for your next adventure and inspire you to be an outlier! Im actually going to Utah next week and will probably visit Arizona next year. Distance: 10 miles round-trip to Petroglyph Beach (5-7 hours) and 15-16 miles round-trip to the dam (8-10 hours; best as an overnight) Difficulty Rating: Easy to Moderate. At the mouth of Antelope Canyon, the no-wake zone starts. Take lots of water with you. About. The Antelope Canyon hike begins at the landing. Distance - 1.25 miles roundtrip. . They go up and down the center of the river, so always stay to one side. The morning started off with us needing sweaters, but by late morning, we were perfectly comfortable in short sleeves and sandals. We saw so many trout in the crystal clear water I wished I had a pole to catch dinner. The Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. Terry Gunn the owner, was totally agreeable to letting us use the 1 kayak we rented prior to our rescheduled float and we had a really fun day. I'm Angelica. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Best time to kayak horseshoe bend. The water is cold and youll have a safeguard against drowning. (You can see it in the upper right corner of the video frame at the beginning of the video clip.) . Its tough to say theres one best time to complete this adventure. The smooth undulating rock in reds and purples is like walking through a geological playhouse. The Colorado River current runs at about 3 mph. Once again, because of its distance from Horseshoe Bend, this campsite tends to be less popular. I had never thought to kayak here before, but now I really want to! We did an overnight . They have singles and doubles. The first one we discovered is located on river right about 1/4-mile downstream from where the backhaul service dropped us off. Plan on the 15-mile trip taking between six and eight hours. Horseshoe Bend - Your Hike Guide Be the first to get access to this essential guide that will help you determine your dream set-up: Motorhome, Trailer, Tent, Van. Ill let you know how that turns out. Also, wear a good sun hat, slather on that sunscreen, and pack a ton of water. The . Its also a fantastic alternative to whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon. Related: Read this before you go see Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ. The guys from Kayak Horseshoe Bend were exceptional and well prepared. The kayaks are stable sit-on-top boats. As this is Arizona, please make sure you check on fire restrictions ahead of time to find out if youre allowed to have one! It was surreal to experience such a popular spot from the quietly flowing water below, away from the crowds at the rim of the canyon. Kayaking the Colorado from below is an experience of a life time. 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. You can stay in a traditional Navajo hogan on a working farm. 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. Ive done the Navajo Tours hike through Upper Antelope, I didnt realize it was accessible other ways. Its very cold and hypothermia can set in quickly. The one-way paddle to the landing for the canyon hike is about 2.5 miles and takes 1.5 hours. Distance. Send me Awesome RV Guides, How To's and Travel Tips! The canyon eventually reaches a fork which is a good turnaround spot. To avoid taking a backhaul you will need at least 2 days to kayak to Horseshoe Bend and back. Glen Canyon Dam. We totally recommend seeing Horseshoe Bend from above. After 5 miles of kayaking, you will come upon the first campsite at mile 11. I was glad to have a stable boat when the waves from power boats on Lake Powell bounced the kayaks around. There are four campgrounds between Glen Canyon Dam and Horseshoe Bend at numerous points. . 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. Arrive at Lees Ferry boat ramp in early afternoon. 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. Starting upriver and kayaking down allows you to take your time, soak in the stunning scenery, stop at the viewpoints and hikes along the way, and of course, makes for a significantly easier trip! 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. I like the sounds of an extended trip like that. Don't miss an adventure! Kayaking the Colorado from below is an experience of a life time. 300 Feet down then back up. If youd prefer slightly cushier accommodations to round out your adventure kayaking Horseshoe Bend, there are plenty of options. It takes about 30 minutes to get from the Lees Ferry boat ramp to the drop-off point. How to Kayak Horseshoe Bend: Insider Tips From a Local No, permits are not required to camp along the Colorado River. 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. Youll even have enough time to visit Horseshoe Bend fro above in the morning! They fill 3 boats of ~6 people in 15-minute intervals; all departed on time. Check out our love of Hot Springs in this article about our visit to a Abandoned Hot Springs! Best Time of Year to Kayak Horseshoe Bend, Half Dome Lottery Guide | Hike the Epic Cables Route. He showed us a short trail to some petroglyphs that I wouldnt have otherwise known about. For those who want to take their time, you can opt to stay the night at a campsite directly along the river, breaking your paddle up over two days. Keep an eye out for ospreys and eagles (look for their huge, impressive telltale nests!) Don't make a mistake! How difficult is kayaking Horseshoe Bend? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. . Any tips I missed? If you could only do one kayak trip and you had younger kids (6), which would you do? Large riverside decks, catering facilities available, gift shop, cafe, free parking. We recently used Kayak Horseshoe Bend on a family trip on the Colorado River. A Guide to Visiting Horseshoe Bend 'the Right Way' If we are looking to only kayak 5-6 miles, could we be dropped off not as far down the river? The dam is a major source of hydroelectricity, but more importantly helps maintain an equitable water supply and . its at the top of my bucketlist for USA travel! 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. How much does Horseshoe Bend cost? On a separate web page, it says 40 pounds is the limit. After Waterholes Canyon, continue for another 4 miles until you arrive back at Lees Ferry. From the petroglyphs, you are just around the corner from the magnificent Horseshoe Bend. . No idea why this isn't better known, but what an amazing experience! Thank you for supporting my blog. To cut down on the length of the trip, you could have your backhaul drop you at mile 10, just north of Horseshoe Bend. Manually set your time to the Phoenix time zone so you can show up to outfitters at the correct time. The kayak experience was incredible - stellar views the whole way. Thank you! If all else fails, you can get fresh water there. We totally recommend seeing Horseshoe Bend from above. So many people see Horseshoe Bend from the top but so few see it from the bottom! You can kayak from Lee's Ferry up the river to the Glen Canyon Dam and back down the river with a backhaul service. I had to tell myself it wasnt a dream! CamelBak Women's Sequoia 24 Hydration Pack. Thanks! The company owns the adjacent Horseshoe Bend Farm, on which it donated a 360-acre conservation easement to Conserving Carolina in 2003. . Elevation at Trailhead - 4327 feet. Many of them have seen a hundred human generations rise, give off their little clamors, and perish. I want to be a part of an exclusive group of kick-butt woman and supportive men. Other companies will help you strap them to your car, but I really didnt want to tie boats on top of my rental car. Both kayaking trips are accessible to anyone with prior paddling experience. Thanks for sharing this adventure! For those who dont have a lot of time, great news: a half-day trip is enough to kayak Horseshoe Bend! Some of the most awesome kayaking in Arizona are trips to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ. Leave no trace. Elevation highpoint on Trail - 4373 feet. While its technically possible to kayak the Colorado River without the backhaul, we would highly recommend using it. Pull up your boat at the landing and start the hike. In addition, we rent kayaks and other float craft. Goodness! Although there arent any physical signs along the river, boaters use a mile marker system for navigation, with 0 being the Lees Ferry launch point and 15 being the Glen Canyon Dam. The scenery was gorgeous and the trip was fantastic. Yes, campfires are permitted in fire rings only. The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect RV. The only thing that can top this is the once-in-a-lifetime experience of sleeping at the bottom of Horseshoe Bend! 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. In addition, here are some other places to camp near Horseshoe Bend. We offer kayak rentals and transport you and the kayak from Lees Ferry to Glen Canyon Dam and you float back to Lees Ferry. Theyre also both on the peninsula that forms Horseshoe Bend. . The first downriver campsite at mile 14 is Ropes Trail. We were scheduled for a 3 day, 2 night float but had to cancel our departure day due to predicted high winds. The hike to Horseshoe Bend overlook begins at the parking lot south of the Carl Hayden Visitor Center off US Highway 89 and takes about 40 minutes or less to trek. No need to pay $10 for a view of Horseshoe Bend from the top, when you can see it from the inside. Experience the same, just-as-scenic river in a calmer section (rated Class I rapids; practically flatwater) suitable for literally everyone without needing special skills, a permit, or any other red tape.. Another approach is to camp at Lees Ferry Campground and just plan for one long day on the river. And sunscreen. Here your captain will pull over on a sandy beach, help you get your kayaks into the water, and then youre off! This kayaking experience is everything! If you plan to do the trip as an overnight, check out our complete list of backpacking gear essentials to help you pack! I may make a small commission from them, at no extra cost to you. Being at the bottom of such a deep canyon, wind really accelerates down on the water. Do you have any national parks on your list this summer? Learn how your comment data is processed. We had a great trip with Kayak Horseshoe Bend/Lee's Ferry Anglers. Make sure you camp on a flat, previously disturbed patch of land and avoid trampling the fragile desert plants or cryptobiotic soil. 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! 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. At mile 13, there is a trail located on the righthand side of the river that leads up and out of the canyon. For a longer river trip: Click here for turn-by- turn directions or GPS uses . 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All are very rustic sites, although there are fire rings and pit toilets. It was purely serendipitous that the distance from . To combine those and then pair it with more kayaking and camping would be a dream. SUP of a lifetime! It can get quite buggy out there along the river, so youd probably be more comfortable with a tent than just a tarp. Take it slow and absorb all the wonder of drifting on clear water through the geologic story of the canyon. We were very pleased with the service Bobby and Brady provided. Hi there - my wife and I are going to be in the area on our honeymoon and wanted to know how long in advance we needed to book a trip (2 inflatables, transport) for either March 10/11th of 2021? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Each camping area has at least one metal fire ring available. This looks like so much fun. It will take 4 minimum hours to paddle back to Lee's Ferry and if you decide to stop and eat lunch or hike, groups can add that time on to the 4 hour paddle back to the dock. How long does it take to float Horseshoe Bend? | Magic Kayak We were scheduled for a 3 day, 2 night float but had to cancel our departure day due to predicted high winds. Below are some of the things I wish I had known before the trip. Kayakers at a campsite in Horseshoe Bend | Photo credit: Ivana Cajina on Unsplash. Yes, you can go to Horseshoe Bend by yourself as long as you're comfortable doing so. All campsites are first-come, first-served. They were also willing to take us up all the way so we could see Horseshoe Bend, but then drop us off farther down the river (we had children with us). . The most popular way to kayak Horseshoe Bend is by taking a backhaul service 16 miles up river from Lees Ferry to the Glen Canyon Dam, and then kayaking back down river. Enter your email to receive updates and new posts straight to your inbox. If you didnt stop much and had a bit more hustle, the trip would take closer to five. I had brought my own equipment and needed hauling service to paddle the river, I was also hesitant to paddle 13 miles of the Colorado River by myself but after talking to Kayak Horseshoe Bend owner Wendy who took the time to explain how safe it was to paddle it by myself, I signed up for it, my only retreat I have is not doing the full river paddle from Glen Canyon Dam. Every turn was a new panorama of red walls and emerald water. It was an easy return of the gear as we could just leave it at the takeout with the outfitters at Lees Ferry. 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. Although I was new to the area and unsure about finding the dock, the guides were very communicative and helped me locate the spot. 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. Approximate tour time. We were happy to take that recommendation and enjoyed a much more leisurely paddle kayaking the Colorado River. It depends on where we drop you off, but for most people, you can do the whole river in 6-8 hours with a stop or two on your way down. 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. If you like quirky, roam around the property to find a working piano at the community fire ring in the back. 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. It is highly unlikely that when construction of the 710 foot tall Glen Canyon Dam was begun in 1956 that there was much thought given to kayaking. If you encounter them, remember that they are wild animals and therefore, unpredictable. The Colorado River below the Glen Canyon Dam flows through ancient canyons on emerald green currents. I think they would be fine. I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you click or make a purchase through any of them. 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. 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. 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!) Our backhaul boat captain recommended we do the shorter Petroglyph Beach route, because in late fall you have very little sunlight in the canyon itself and it gets very cold. Both are all-day excursions. A backhaul boat taking kayaks down the Colorado River. Kayak Horseshoe Bend's shuttle boat is loaded with kayaks and personal boats that can be rented or purchased. When we went in October, we seriously took our time, stopping for lunch and to take endless photos (including of grazing wild horses! Each site is large and well-marked. This was experiencing nature at its best!During our drive up the river, Terry pointed out wild horses and big horn sheep. #sequoianationalpark #superbloom #nationalparkphotography #wildflowers #waterfallhike #sequoia #getoutside #nationalparkobsessed, Just really, really happy to be here. Adventure for all ages and skill levels with half and full day whitewater rafting trips. Note that Lees Ferry has a modern bathroom and there are vault toilets at each milepost except for the Glen Canyon Dam. Antelope Canyon has been on my bucket list for so long. Timing: Anywhere from five hours to overnight; best from September . The fee is $5 for motorcycles. In our opinion, kayaking Horseshoe Bend as an overnight trip is the best option, as you can take your time, really soak in the beauty of the canyon, and enjoy the peaceful serenity of early morning on the river, before the waters become busy with motor boats and other kayakers. The wind that funnels up the canyon in the afternoon and evening affects paddling and sleeping. This post contains affiliate links. Brady, is a Captain, and all captains provide special knowledge for an adventure that fits your individual needs. Contact kayakthecolorado.com to set up your trip. If you get hot when its not raining, you can always splash the refreshing water on yourself to cool off. However, you do need either an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) or a pass for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ($30). Approximate hiking time - 30 minutes to an hour. How long does it take to paddle around the Horseshoe Bend? While the current typically isnt very strong, it definitely helps take some of the effort off your shoulders. This company is amazing. We spend any free time we can get hiking, camping, backpacking, and exploring new places! Your hosts will provide a unique Navajo cultural experience with an emphasis on connecting to the land. My back haul captain was friendly and helpful. Kayak rentals: $25 for a single inflatable or hard-body kayak; $45 for a tandem . Planning to go with my 6-yr old, but realize there wont be room to pack a whole bunch. The campsite at Horseshoe Bend is right on the beachy shore of the river, and tends to be the most crowded of the campsites along the Colorado. Choose the Perfect RV for you with thisFREE E-Book. Hola, no quiero perderme la experiencia pues se ve maravillosa, pero voy en febrero y con una familia grande, de diferentes edades y gustos, podramos encontrar actividades activas para los jvenes y ms tranquilas para los mayores? 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