Paddleboarding - Horseshoe Bend 8/25-26/23

Paddle under the iconic Horseshoe Bend through towering red rock cliffs!

Itinerary:

Friday

5:00 am - Carpooling (MUST leave at 5:00 for back haul service)

11:00 am - Arrive at Lee's Ferry (6 hr drive)

11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Unload and prepare gear

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Take back haul boat upstream to Glen Canyon Dam

1:30 pm - 4:00 pm - Paddle down the Colorado to camp (about 6-8 miles down) and checking out Petroglyphs

4:00 pm - Make camp below Horseshoe Bend and explore area

Saturday

8:00 am - Breakfast

9:00 am - Break camp

9:00 am - 10:00 am - Paddle to Waterhole Canyon

10:30 am - 11:30 am - Hike Waterhole Canyon

11:30 am - 12:00 pm - Lunch

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Paddle back to Lee's Ferry and takeout (about 8 miles)

2:30 pm - Head home

8:30 pm - Home

Directions: Lee's Ferry, Arizona

Cost: $30 National Park Pass for the Colorado River (per car)

$10 Horseshoe Bend (per car) - if you choose to check out the view from above on the way there or back

$ 80 Boat Backhaul (tip for boat captain not included)

Activity: Paddleboard Colorado River - Paddle 7-8 miles down the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam (towering cliffs/petroglyphs). Camp below Horseshoe Bend. Next morning, continue paddling the remaining 9 miles down to Lee's Ferry. Stop mid way to hike Waterhole Canyon (wider, less cliffs, more exposed to sun). Route

Tips: it's hot, dry and sunny - No potable water - filters recommended

- Sunscreen, hat,and electrolytes are essential

- Ultralight sleeping like a sheet or minimal sleeping bag

- Sleeping on the paddle boards can be comfortable as long as you deflate them enough or bring a good blowup pad

- We didn’t have to worry about mosquitos and other bugs weren’t a big deal either.

- We found that small ratchet type straps are great for extra gear

- Ice bucket both to keep food cool and as a seat for their board

- Buying a duraflame or something similar would have been nice in the designated firepits. ( no wood gathering allowed)

Gear: Thin T-shirts, thin long-sleeve shirts, fleece, rain jacket, shorts or hiking pants, swimming suit, water shoes, running shoes or sandals ( no flip flops) 2 L water bottles, or filter, snacks, small backpack/drybag, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, first aid kit, Paddleboard (can rent), paddles (can rent), lifejackets(can rent)

Rent: BYU Outdoor - $30 paddleboard/day

UVU Outdoor Adventure Center - $20 paddleboard/day