Horseshoe Bend by kayak

Float the Colorado through Horseshoe Bend, not over it.

Instead of looking down from the crowded overlook, ride a backhaul boat 15 miles up from Lees Ferry toward Glen Canyon Dam and float back through Horseshoe Bend under 1,000-foot red walls. The water is clear, cold and gentle, with petroglyphs, beaches and free first-come camps along the way. A good first canyon trip for anyone comfortable in a kayak for a day.

At a glance

Run

15 mi, Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry

Access

Backhaul upstream from Lees Ferry; no put-in at the dam

Short version

Petroglyph Beach to Lees Ferry, about 4–5 hr

Camping

5 riverside camps with vault toilets, first come

Permit

Free backcountry river permit at the ramp; life jackets required

Good for

Beginner, Intermediate

What’s here

• Flatwater
• Paddle-in camping
• Multi-day trips
• Boat rentals
• Paddleboarding
• Fishing

Rentals, guides and shops

• Wilderness River Adventures

  The park concession’s backhaul service for kayaks, canoes and boards up to 16 feet, from Lees Ferry to below the dam.

• Kayak Horseshoe Bend

  Backhaul water taxi plus kayak and paddleboard rentals; drop-offs anywhere along the 15 miles.

• Kayak Powell

  Kayak and paddleboard rentals in Page for the river or the lake, with trip-planning help.

Where to stay

• lodgeLee’s Ferry Lodge at Vermilion Cliffs

  Small roadside lodge under the Vermilion Cliffs, a few miles from the Lees Ferry turnoff.

  10 min drive
• lodgeCliff Dwellers Lodge

  Rooms, a restaurant and a general store on US-89A; home base for Kayak Horseshoe Bend.

  15 min drive

Nearby

• Navajo Bridge · 10 min drive

  Walk the old bridge about 470 feet above the river; the interpretive center has exhibits, and condors often roost nearby.

• Horseshoe Bend Overlook · 50 min drive

  The famous rim view of the bend you just paddled, a short walk from the lot outside Page.

• Cliff Dwellers Restaurant · 15 min drive

  Hearty breakfasts and dinners on a remote stretch of highway.

Getting there

• Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG) · about 2 hr 10 min drive
• Phoenix · about 4.5 hr
• Las Vegas · about 4.5 hr

Directions in Google Maps