Lake Powell Trips
Where is a good place to go with my Rental kayak or SUP?
Recommended day trips for kayaks & Paddleboards:
1) Lone Rock Beach - When this is available with proper water levels we launch from Lone Rock Beach, a sandy beach on the Utah side of Lake Powell a 25 minute drive from our office. Time needed: 4 hours or more. Paddling distance: 4-8 miles in general, but more is possible. Highlights: Narrow canyons, huge cliffs, great beaches and swimming areas, ample opportunities to explore on land.
2) Ice Cream Canyon & Wahweap Window - Launch from Stateline launch ramp, a 20 minute drive from our office also on the Utah side of Lake Powell. Time needed: 6 hours or more. Paddling distance: 5 to 8 miles in general. Highlights: Long canyon, islands, cliffs, sand dunes, and a hike to the Wahweap Window, an interesting geological feature.
3) Antelope Canyon - Launch from Antelope Point, a 20 minute drive from our office. Time needed: 4 hours or more. Paddling distance: 5 miles in general, but more is possible. Highlights: Long, deep red canyon and an excellent slot canyon hike.
What are some good overnight trips?
There are unlimited options depending on your experience, interests, budget, and amount of time. There are no designated campsites or toilets on Lake Powell and all solid waste must be carried out in an approved container, which we sell. For calculating distances for custom routes you are considering, use a google maps distance calculator and enter zip code 86040. Some of the most common overnight trips include:
1) Colorado River - See Colorado River tab for details. Designated campsites with toilets. No rapids, but cold water. Time needed: At least 1.5 days. Paddling distance: 15 miles. Highlights: Incredible Grand Canyon-esque scenery. Trout fishing.
2) Lone Rock Canyon - Launch from Lone Rock beach, a 25 minute drive from our office. Time needed: 1 night. Paddling distance: 4-8 miles in general, but more is possible. Highlights: Lots of camping options, narrow canyons, small inlets, good hiking and swimming.
3) Ice Cream Canyon & Wahweap Window. - Launch from the Stateline launch ramp, a 20 minute drive from our office. Time needed: 1 night. Paddling distance: 5 to 8 miles in general. Highlights: Lots of camping options, long canyon, islands, cliffs, sand dunes, and a hike to the Wahweap Window, an interesting geological feature.
4) Lone Rock AND Ice Cream Canyon - combine #2 & 3. Launch at Stateline. Time needed: 1 or 2 nights. Paddling Distance: generally 12-16 miles.
5) Navajo Canyon - Launch from Antelope Point Marina, a 15 minute drive from our office. Time needed: 1-3 nights. Paddling distance: 10 - 40 miles. Highlights: Nice camping only 5 miles away at the mouth of Navajo Canyon, which makes an excellent base for day trips into the canyon. Steep, red walled canyon. Opportunity to explore Antelope Canyon (see above). Additional information: Powerboat wakes can make paddling up Navajo Canyon difficult. Once you enter the canyon, there is no place to camp or even exit your kayak for the first 8 miles.
6) Labyrinth Canyon - Launch from Antelope Point Marina, a 15 minute drive from our office. Time needed: 2-4 nights. Paddling distance - 32 miles. Highlights: Very scenic slot canyon, with opportunities to explore on land and water. Nice camping spots in Labyrinth Bay. Additional information: Powerboat wakes can make paddling up the main channel (mile 6-10 especially) very challenging, especially on weekends. High cliff walls on the main channel may make it impossible to reach shore for long stretches of several miles.
7) Labyrinth Canyon with motorboat shuttle - For most paddlers, hiring a motorboat shuttle is required. Contact info later in FAQ. Time needed: 1-2 nights. Paddling distance - 8 to 20 miles.
8) Face Canyon - 18 miles from Antelope Point Marina (6 miles up lake from Labyrinth Canyon). The Canyon is about 4 miles long. For most paddlers, hiring a motorboat shuttle is required. Time Needed: 4+ days without water taxi. Highlights - Scenic canyon with very high walls and good camping within the canyon. Hike to an arch possible.
9) West Canyon - 24 miles from Antelope Point Marina (6 miles up from Face Canyon and 12 miles up from Labyrinth Canyon). The Canyon is about 7 miles long. For most paddlers, hiring a motorboat shuttle is required. Time needed: 5+ days without a water taxi. Highlights - Very long canyon. One of the best hikes on Lake Powell is at the end. Be prepared for wading or swimming though cold water. Usually there are sandbars for camping at the very end of the canyon.
Can I paddle to Rainbow Bridge or The Escalante Arm?
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No, unless you have lots of experience and 1-2 weeks. Rainbow Bridge is about 53 miles each way and the canyon entrance can be very tricky, even for experienced paddlers. We recommend joining one of the daily boat tours from Wahweap Marina if you want to see Rainbow Bridge. The Escalante is 70 miles away.
Horse Shoe Bend/ Colorado River Trips
Horseshoe Bend Trips
Overview:
Enjoy your own Grand Canyon-esque adventure without the cost, time, or hassle! The 15 mile canoe trip between the Glen Canyon Dam and Lee's Ferry will amaze you with towering red canyon walls, clear water, legendary trout fishing, and wonderful campsites. There are no rapids. The water is extremely cold, so no swimming but quick dips will cool you off.
The trip starts and ends at Lee's Ferry. You will need to reserve a "backhaul," which is a motorized raft that will take you from Lees Ferry upstream to the dam. You then paddle about 6 hours downstream, stopping halfway to camp overnight, and end back at Lee's Ferry the next day, where your vehicle is parked. Pickup and return your boats, using your own vehicle, at our office in Page, which is 45 minutes away. Lees Ferry is a 45 minute drive from Page, a 2.5 hour drive from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon or Zion and 2 hours from the North Rim. View a photo tour of the trip.
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Step by Step Guide:
1) Book your kayak or paddleboard online, or call us at 928-660-1836.
2) Make a 2:30pm backhaul reservation with Marble Canyon Outfitters (800-533-7339). A backhaul is mandatory.
3) On the day of your reservation, pick up your rental at the Kayak Powell Office between the hours of 8am and 6pm.
4) Load up your rental equipment on your own vehicle(s). One canoe can fit on most vehicles. Pads and straps are provided. If you need to make more than one trip (for example, 2 canoes are rented but you only have 1 vehicle), make sure to arrive as early as possible.
5) Drive to the Lee's Ferry boat ramp and unload your gear. Overnight parking is a short distance before the boat ramp. There are bathrooms, water, and a shaded picnic area. Meet the Marble Canyon Outfitters rafts at the docks just upstream from the boat ramp. Load your equipment onto the rafts and get a ride 15 miles upstream.
6) Make camp at one of the 6 campsites on the river. No reservations are required and they are included with your $30 park entrance fee. Room for tents generally isn't a problem, but you may need to walk in a bit from the beach landing on popular weekends. All campsites have toilets. Fires are allowed, but wood collecting is prohibited. Bring your own firewood.
7) Finish your paddle down the river. Navigating is very easy - it's a big gorge. Print this river map so you can track your progress and find what you are looking for - campsites, petroglyphs, side canyon hikes, or bathrooms. 6 hours is a good estimate for how long the entire paddle will take. Add in extra time for stops on shore. This is just a rough guideline - how hard you paddle, your consistency, the water flow, and the wind conditions are all key factors. If strong winds are in the forecast, it is very important to get an early start on your day, as winds usually increase in the afternoons.
8) You arrive back at Lees Ferry, load your boats back on your car, and return your equipment to the Hidden Canyon Kayak and Paddleboard Office in Page by 6pm.