How to Paddle Board Lake Powell into Lower Antelope Canyon
Whether you’re local to the Southwest or visiting from out of town, the Arizona and Utah border has many breathtaking sites to see including Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon, one of the best places in the United States to stand up paddle board.
This article is sponsored by Gili Sports. You can learn more about them here and see a video recap of the trip here. Words and photos are by Zak Suhar.
The American Southwest is a natural wonderland offering unique desert towns, a plethora of National Parks, and fascinating landscapes rich in culture and history. The Arizona and Utah border alone offer sites like Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Glen Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, and Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The sandstone scenery and buttes of the area are a hiker, photographer, and filmmaker’s dream, and Lake Powell is known for some of the best boating, fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding in the region.
Lake Powell is an artificial reservoir on the Colorado River created by the flooding of Glen Canyon by the Glen Canyon Dam. It offers about 2,000 miles of shoreline carved by the river, rainfall, wind, and erosion from over hundreds of years. The reservoir is adjacent to Antelope Canyon, famous for its red rock curvatures and twisting facades that let specks of light beam through the canyon cracks. The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tse’ bighanilini, which means “the place where water runs through rocks.” Upper Antelope is at about 4,000 feet elevation and the canyon walls rise 120 feet above the stream bed. Lower Antelope Canyon is Hasdestwazi, or “spiral rock arches.” Both are located within the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation. Read on for how to get the best of both worlds, stand up paddle board the crystal clear waters of Lake Powell, and hike into Lower Antelope Canyon, all within a day’s trip on water and land.
When to Visit
Peak: April to August, warmer temps, many tourists, expensive prices
Off Peak: September to November, cooler temps, low crowds, cheaper prices
There’s really no bad time to visit Lake Powell, and the weather is generally warm enough all year long to enjoy a sunny day on the water. The area is a major vacation destination that hosts roughly two million people every year, so you may want to plan accordingly. During Summer, temperatures reach above 100 degrees in the desert, and during Winter, temperatures can drop to below freezing at night. Go more towards the Summer months if you want to be in the water all day, but if you want to beat the crowds and have more of the reservoir to yourself, the Winter months may suit you better. Check the weather forecast and average temperatures to see what time of year works best for you.
For our trip, we went in early November. The weather was 60–70 degrees and sunny during the day, and dropped to the mid-40’s at night. We wore our swimsuits, sun shirts, and put on long sleeve shirts for our paddle back after sunset. Since the reservoir is in one of the driest regions in the United States, it’s typically half full. You’ll still want to check local websites for water levels, and the National Park Service website to see if there are any ramp closures.
What to Pack
Boards: Gili Air 10’ 6” Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
Bags: Gili Waterproof Roll-Top Backpack and Dry Bag with essentials
The Gili Air is an excellent go-anywhere paddle board which performs well in all conditions, great for beginner and intermediate paddlers. It’s designed for stability, speed and portability, weighing only 19 pounds inflated, and the 6” thickness and snap-in fins ride smoothly and can handle wind chop or boat waves. The board also has front, rear, and center grab handles, with nine total D-Rings to make tying down gear so easy. All of their boards are made from durable military strength PVC so there’s always peace of mind from scratches, dents, dings, and drops.
The Gili Waterproof Backpack has a roll-top to keep water out, is compact, and has plenty of strap tie-downs. We packed two towels, extra changes of clothes, two down jackets, lunch, and camera gear for two people all in the 35 Liter bag. The smaller Dry Bag is only 15 Liters which was used to house a DSLR camera. Pro tip, keep a little bit of air in the bag so it floats if it falls off. We also love their waterproof waist packs, phone cases, microfiber towels, and emergency whistles. You can find more of the gear I use here as well.
It’s important to always over-prepare for any day trip adventure, follow Leave No Trace Principles, and pack out what you pack in. For spending time on the water, bring navigation assistance like phones and paper maps, sun protection, nutrition and snacks, tons of water to stay hydrated, water shoes, and wear water wicking clothes. It’s important to not forget insulation like a down jacket if temperatures drop, illumination like a headlamp or bag reflectors so others can see you, first aid supplies, and repair kits for your paddle board. Fortunately, Gili Sports boards all come with repair kits and their backpacks have reflectors built in.
Where to Paddle
Easy Access: Antelope Point Public Launch Ramp to Lower Antelope Canyon
Other Locations: Wahweap Bay, Lone Rock Canyon, Castle Rock
There are over 94 major canyon sections to paddle at Lake Powell. With over 150 miles of water to explore and constantly fluctuating water levels, it will take you many trips to see all that the Glen Canyon has to offer. A great introduction to the reservoir is parking at Antelope Point Public Launch Ramp and paddling west on the main channel for about a mile into Lower Antelope Canyon. It will take you about another mile to wind through the canyon before hitting the point where the water runs dry. From there, you can tie off your boards and hike as far into the canyon as you want. This area is only accessible to small watercraft, and be sure not to go when there is rain in the forecast due to risk of flash flooding. All access points to Lake Powell are part of the Glen Canyon National Recreational Park area and require an entrance fee for your vehicle. If you have an Annual National Parks pass, it is valid at participating Federal Recreation sites.
It’s worth noting that this is the only way to see Antelope Canyon without a guide. Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon is protected by Navajo Parks and Recreation, and only authorized tour companies owned by the Navajo can take visitors by foot into the canyon.
There are many other popular areas on Lake Powell, many accessed by other beaches or launch ramps, and some accessible only by boat. Another popular area is northern Wahweap Bay, where you can paddle into Lone Rock Canyon. For more adventure-minded folks, you can plan trips on sections of the Colorado River including the Horseshoe Bend section. Learn more about places to paddle in Paddling Mag, blog posts, and local rental places. We highly recommend booking an Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon tour in advance with the local Navajo as well, to learn about the geographical and cultural history.
Places to Stay
Most Convenient: Any budget hotel or motel in Page, Arizona
Most Unique: Off-Grid Shash Dine’ on the Navajo Nation Reservation
The town of Page, Arizona, near the Glen Canyon Dam, serves as a regional hub for paddling at the southern end of the reservoir. There are a handful of chain hotels in Page close to fast-food, grocery stores, and convenience stores. This is the most budget-friendly way to experience Lake Powell, especially during the off-season. To get to Page you can fly direct from the Phoenix or Denver Airports, or it’s a decent drive from other cities (~120 miles from Flagstaff, ~380 miles from Salt Lake City, ~250 miles from Phoenix, ~380 miles from Las Vegas).
There are also several options offering a more expensive but very unique stay just outside of Page on Navajo reservation land. We stayed at The Kyōōb, a modern off-grid cabin that is part of a Native American-owned working sheep ranch. The ranch also has canvas tents, covered wagons, traditional Navajo Hogans, and a hiking trail that overlooks the vast canyons. They also provide breakfast, coffee, or Navajo Tea.
Paddle boarding is an excellent way to experience the great outdoors, explore natural environments, and have fun on the water. Head to the Gili Sports blog to learn more about paddle boarding spots near you and get expert advice. If you’re new to paddle boarding, check out their Beginner’s Guide on how to paddle board. If you want to get your own board, find our what size board you need and use the Gili Sports Board Finder. Lastly, we love Gili boards because we know that every purchase helps to save our oceans, reefs, and endangered sea creatures.
What are some of your favorite places to paddle board? Let us know in the comments and we hope to see you out on the water!
