I Kayaked Horseshoe Bend. Here's How You Can, Too.

Horseshoe Bend is a stunning red rock feature of the Colorado River. Less than five miles from the town of Page, this facet of the land is undeniably picturesque and a must on any Arizona road trip.

Until recently, I’d only seen Horseshoe Bend from above. The viewing spot off Highway 89 in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is easily accessible and very popular.

Overlooking view of the Horseshoe Bend — *Horseshoe Bend from the overlook*

But seeing it from the seat of my kayak and camping at its base? That was a whole new, beautiful perspective.

Here’s my experience kayaking down the Colorado River and camping on the beach at Horseshoe Bend. Stay tuned to find out everything you need to know to book your floating adventure, too.

A drunken idea became the trip of the year

The author's brother with his wife on a speedboat — *Greg, my brother, and his wife on the speedboat up the river*

My brother and Greg, a beloved family friend, met up for beers some months ago. A few pints deep, the topic of Colorado River kayaking came up. Greg hatched an idea. Let’s get a group together to kayak around Horseshoe Bend.

They were both familiar with Page, one of the best places to visit in Arizona, as they’d camped and explored the surrounding areas a thousand times.

But they’d never explored by water. This would be a new way to see an otherwise familiar place. The coming fall weather would make for the perfect kayaking trip.

We stayed at a lodge down the road to ensure an early start

A mug of coffee with a scenic view on the background — *Coffee with a view at our desert lodge*

Our group of seven rented a house for one night at Lee’s Ferry Lodge.

The stay was comfortable and quaint with dazzling views of the Vermillion Cliffs. It was just what we needed before rising bright and early the next morning. Our scheduled boat ride was arranged for 7:30 am. A few snoozed alarms and a pot of coffee later, we hit the road to Lee’s Ferry.

From the dock to the dam

View of people with colorful Kayaks — *We prepared our kayaks for the trip down the river*

We reserved six kayaks and one canoe from Kayak the Colorado. Kayaks from this outfitter were $35 per day, and the backhaul taxi service up the river was $80 per person. We each paid $150 for two days and 13 miles of kayaking. It was super reasonable, in my humble opinion.

We unloaded all of our camping gear by Lee’s Ferry, our starting point for the trip. Then we parked the cars and settled into the speedboat. It was all very seamless and quick, even for those of us who were half asleep (me).

Clear blue sky over the cliff walls — *The cliff walls towered higher than I imagined*

The boat ride reinvigorated my love for local travel through Arizona. It was a premonition for a glorious sightseeing trip. The red rocks towered over us around each bend, and the water reflected every colorful cliff. The cold breeze and the views woke me right up.

Clear blue sky over the Glen Canyon Dam — *The first rays of daylight illuminating Glen Canyon Dam*

It took 45 minutes to boat from Lee’s Ferry to Glenn Canyon Dam. This dam takes credit for Lake Powell’s existence. The boatman dropped us off on the shore and went on his way for another pick-up.

🚨 Tour Alert: Nearby Antelope Canyon is 100% worth your time. Check out these guided tour bundles to make the most of your time in Page.

The perfect weekend of sparkling water & stunning views

Scenic view during an early morning — *I mean, come on… it’s like a painting!*

We strapped our gear to each of our kayaks and set out on the river. I didn’t realize how little effort I had to put in until I was on the water. The light current carried us lazily down the Colorado, just slow enough to enjoy every riverside view.

I never experienced anything close to rapids, so don’t worry if that’s a concern for you.

The author's brother smiling while kayaking the Colorado River — *Look closely for the wild horses behind my brother*

I basked in the warmth and fell into a foreign state of relaxation as the sound of the river took me to another place. I hadn’t felt this at peace for as long as I could remember.

Fishermen cast for trout around every bend (you can, too — just make sure you have a fishing permit). Bighorn sheep and wild horses paid little attention along the banks as our group floated past.

The author Betty Hurd with her brother with the bighorn sheep petroglyphs on their background — *Beautifully preserved bighorn sheep petroglyphs*

We even found the most detailed petroglyphs I’ve ever seen at mile marker 10. You can park your kayak here and take a quick 5-minute walk to these drawings, which are estimated to be 3,000 to 6,000 years old!

There are informative posts here about the history of the artwork, as well as info about vandalism and how to protect these ancient treasures.

We camped for one night, but the trip was doable in a day

View of camping tents on a campsite — *My flimsy backpacking tent barely held up through the windy night*

My group camped at mile marker 9 located at the base of Horseshoe Bend. The rock formation looked so different from the ground than I’d remembered from above.

We set up our tents in a perfect sandy spot while ant-like silhouettes peered down from the lookout above us. The crowds barely fluctuated at all hours of the day.

Scenic view while having a coffee in the morning — *Daytime…*

View of camping tent on a campsite at night — *and nighttime views of our campsite*

While we decided to camp, this wasn’t a must for the trip. You can easily kayak the full 15-mile route in one day if you arrive early.

We floated at an estimated rate of 2 miles per hour, so you can complete the stretch in around 7 hours. Speed does depend on water conditions, so be wary of those before you go.

The author with her group and dogs on a photo — *Our group of seven at the campsite (and a stranger’s dogs)*

If you do intend to camp, reservations are not required. You can set up camp steps away from your kayaks.

Each of the five campsites is equipped with fairly clean, modern toilets. Fire pits are abundant. Don’t forget to bring firewood!

You can stop to hike along the river

View of the author's group during a scenic trail — *A scenic walk up the trail*

My group stopped to get a short hike in at Cathedral Wash Trailhead before our final stretch back to the dock. This out-and-back trail is accessible for all skill levels, but some sections can be challenging.

Make sure to bring sturdy shoes if you intend to explore these rocky areas alongside the river.

Anyone can take this trip — no skill level is required

The author Betty Hurd smiling for a photo while kayaking on a river — *Me lazily floating to our campsite*

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never kayaked before or if you’re a seasoned pro. Anyone can take this trip to Horseshoe Bend.

The hardest part is getting there (Page is about 4 hours north of Phoenix). But once you make it to Lee’s Ferry, transportation up the river and the float back down is a breeze. And the views are stunning all along the way.

If you want to add some challenge to your trip, you can rent a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) in lieu of a kayak. But it’ll still be a peaceful float. Whether you’re a solo explorer or planning a family excursion, kayaking Horseshoe Bend should be on everyone’s Arizona bucket list.

***

View while kayaking on the Colorado River — *Kayaking through pure bliss*

I hope this article inspired you to check out this glorious piece of northern Arizona. At the very least, I hope you get outdoors and explore the beauty of the Grand Canyon State. There are tons of Arizona lakes you can visit to try out watersports before you head north, too.

If you have any questions or want to share your Colorado River experience with me, feel free to drop a comment below. And if you need a handcrafted Arizona road trip itinerary, I’ve got you covered.

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