Dreaming of spending the day kayaking or SUPing down the cool glistening Colorado River with red rock canyons on either side? Perhaps sharing the adventure with friends and family, or soaking in the serene solitude and beauty with the ducks and herons along the way?
Captain Tim at kayakthecolorado.com can make your dreams come true and all for about $100 per person, including kayak, canoe, raft, inflatable, or SUP rental—less if you want to byo. He’ll pick you up at the dock at Lee’s Ferry and drop you off as far up the river as you like. The total run from Hoover Dam is 16 miles (overnight suggested) and 10 miles from Petroglyph Beach down. Our excursion was 11.5 miles. You can spend the day, or camp out for an overnighter or more. (Get in while the getting is good. Right now, no permits are needed to camp, but there’s a permitting system in the works.) And yes, Tim is a Coast Guard Captain—required because the Colorado River’s fresh water meets salt water at the Gulf of California.
Whether you day trip it or overnight it, it’s an excellent way to immerse yourself in nature and cool off on a hot summer day. Granted there are tour pontoons, outfitter boats, and other kayakers in the mix; even so, there are moments of bliss when it’s just you, the river, the canyon walls, and the reflections on the glassy green surface. I’m guessing if you’re an early bird or prefer off-season (Sept & Oct), you’ll have more solitude and smooth water. There are options to check out petroglyphs, hike, and make use of the pit toilets, if needed, along the way. Please Leave No Trace on the petroglyphs, on the land, or in the river.
Important safety note, storms often come through in the afternoon (another reason to get an early start)—be prepared to wait out the storm. Be safe–keep your life jackets on and keep your dream from turning into a nightmare. The water is about 50 degrees so hypothermia can be a danger as can dehydration and heat stroke.
A quick squall hit us. The wind made it impossible for me to remain standing on my SUP and it was so strong, it pushed me upriver. It’s best to take shelter in a cove and if it’s lightning, get off the water immediately. Unfortunately, I wasn’t near a cove when it hit and had to hold tight to reeds and branches with one hand and my SUP, which was trying to take flight, with the other. The water went from smooth to super choppy, 2ft whitewater waves in a second.
Luckily, the storm cleared nearly as fast as it came.
If you need a rescue, you can flag one of the outfitter boats that are going up and down the river. While it’s easier to handle rough conditions in a kayak than a SUP, I will probably still take a SUP next time. Personally, I prefer the experience and the workout to a kayak.
This adventure was especially cool for us as it would be for anyone who has been up at the Horseshoe Bend and looked down in envy at the kayakers below. As they say, I’ve looked at it from both sides now—both views are 100% worth it.
Happy Paddles!
On the Loose Live 