Most guests stand on the rim, snap a photograph, and transfer on—however what in case you may paddle beneath that iconic curve, camp on the riverbank, and drift by means of towering sandstone canyons carved by time itself? On this immersive information, I’ll take you on a two-day Arizona paddle boarding highway journey that begins in Phoenix and ends 16 miles down the Colorado River, proper under one in every of America’s most recognizable pure landmarks. From historic ruins and lava fields to wild horses and waterfalls, that is extra than simply paddle boarding Horseshoe Bend—it’s a journey by means of silence, stone, and soul.
The Highway North: An Arizona Paddle Boarding Highway Journey from Phoenix
The journey to paddle boarding Horseshoe Bend doesn’t begin on the river—it begins with a highway journey. Abandoning the sprawl of Phoenix, the panorama rapidly shifts from cacti-studded desert to windswept volcanic plains and painted mesas. This Arizona paddle boarding highway journey is an expertise in itself, unfolding like a geologic storybook with each passing mile.
🚗 Highway Journey Stops from Phoenix to the Vermilion Cliffs
- Sundown Crater Volcano Nationwide Monument
Simply north of Flagstaff, this otherworldly panorama is the results of a volcanic eruption over 900 years in the past. Strolling by means of lava flows and black cinder fields is like stepping onto one other planet. - Wupatki Nationwide Monument
A brief drive from Sundown Crater, Wupatki is residence to well-preserved Native American ruins that whisper tales of historic desert civilizations. The pueblos and ball courts sit starkly in opposition to the pink earth—a must-see for historical past and tradition lovers. - The Painted Desert
A sweeping canvas of pastel hues, the Painted Desert affords a surreal backdrop of layered sedimentary rock. Pull-offs alongside the freeway provide panoramic views that really feel virtually too excellent to be actual. - Navajo Bridge
Spanning the Colorado River, Navajo Bridge affords the primary up-close glimpse of the canyon you’ll quickly be paddling by means of. It’s additionally an excellent spot to stretch your legs and, in case you’re fortunate, spot a California condor hovering overhead. - Vermilion Cliffs Nationwide Monument
These large, rust-colored escarpments rise like a fortress alongside U.S. 89A, setting the scene for the remoteness and majesty to come back. It’s the type of place that humbles you with out saying a phrase.
🛏️ Staying on the Historic Cliff Dwellers Lodge
By late afternoon, we pulled into Cliff Dwellers Lodge, a country outpost tucked on the base of the Vermilion Cliffs. The lodge itself strikes a stability between desert simplicity and heat hospitality. The lodge dates again to the Twenties, when early settlers Blanche and Invoice Russell arrange a buying and selling publish right here close to Cleaning soap Creek. That unique Cliff Dwellers rock home nonetheless stands close by—weather-worn, but proud—serving as a tangible reminder of frontier grit.
🍽️ Dinner on the Lodge
After inflating our paddle boards and organizing our dry luggage for the river, we headed to the on-site restaurant, which proved to be a spotlight in its personal proper. The menu was considerate, the parts hearty, and the execution on level. We toasted the journey forward with chilly drinks and hearty plates, nonetheless slightly in awe that we have been about to launch into such a distant and extraordinary panorama.
🌯 A Fast Chew and a Canyon Drive
Earlier than hitting the highway to our launch level, we fueled up on one final creature consolation—a made-to-order breakfast burrito from the lodge restaurant. Easy, hearty, and precisely what we wanted. With full bellies and boards secured, we started the scenic drive by means of Marble Canyon, watching the sandstone partitions tighten round us as we descended into the cradle of the Colorado River.
The highway twisted and dipped, following the movement of the river. It was quiet, nonetheless, and impossibly stunning. We have been headed to Lee’s Ferry, the historic gateway to the Grand Canyon—and the beginning of our Arizona paddle boarding highway journey in earnest.
🏄♂️ My New BOTE Paddle Board
This was the inaugural journey for my new BOTE HD Aero Low Rider (this can be a hybrid SUP/Kayak)—and it didn’t disappoint. Light-weight but extremely sturdy, this inflatable SUP dealt with like a dream, even beneath the load of totally loaded dry luggage and a heavy Kula Cooler. Its extra-wide deck provided wonderful stability, and the built-in bungees made gear storage easy and safe. Designed for journey, the BOTE board was greater than only a piece of substances—it was a dependable companion for the 16-mile journey forward.
🎒 Packing for a River Expedition
River packing is equal components technique and restraint. Every little thing wanted to suit securely onto our boards and keep dry. We laid out our necessities with care—sleeping luggage, tents, water filtration, meals, first assist, layers for chilly canyon nights, and even a dry bag filled with firewood for a correct riverside hearth. With the whole lot packed down and cinched tight, our boards have been prepared. So have been we.
Day One: The River Welcomes Us
The morning air was crisp and nonetheless as we rolled into Lee’s Ferry, a spot steeped in each legend and legacy. That is the place rafters launch into the Grand Canyon and the place our personal journey would start—upstream. Not like most who head downriver from this iconic level, we met our Kayak Horseshoe Bend captain to go in opposition to the present, hitching a backhaul experience 16 miles upriver to the bottom of the Glen Canyon Dam.
🛥️ The Backhaul Experience to the Dam
We loaded our gear onto the boat—paddle boards, dry luggage, camp necessities, and set off, bundled in jackets because the morning wind curled by means of the canyon. The backhaul experience itself was nothing in need of spectacular. As we motored upstream, the rising solar forged golden gentle throughout the canyon partitions, illuminating streaks of iron and sandstone carved by millennia of flowing water.
Our captain identified key landmarks and potential campsites, peppering the experience with insights solely a seasoned river runner may present. Many of the passengers have been day trippers planning to paddle only a few miles downriver. We, alternatively, had a full two-day paddle boarding journey forward and deliberate to camp throughout the canyon, proper beneath the 1000′ towering cliffs of Horseshoe Bend.
🏁 Launching from the Base of Glen Canyon Dam
The boat pulled as much as a sandy seashore slightly below the Glen Canyon Dam, the place our journey would actually start. Because the roar of the outboard light, a profound silence settled over the river hall. We loaded our gear onto our SUP’s, gave the whole lot one last test, and pushed off into the slow-moving water.
It was a surreal second, the beginning of a long-anticipated journey that we had dreamed about for months. Forward lay 16 miles of uncooked, cinematic magnificence. We have been formally paddle boarding Horseshoe Bend, gliding silently over the Colorado River as thousand-foot cliffs rose on both facet of us.
Drifting By means of Stone: Paddle Boarding Horseshoe Bend Beneath the Canyon Partitions
From the second our paddles first touched the water, the river took over. No roads. No cell sign. Simply the quiet present of the Colorado carrying us deeper into the guts of the canyon. Towering sandstone partitions closed in round us, whereas the surprisingly crystal-clear water revealed an abundance of fish swimming simply beneath the floor. It was humbling, surreal, and impossibly quiet (till in fact a back-haul boat would cross us by), like floating by means of a cathedral carved by time.
This stretch of the Colorado is in contrast to every other. With few rapids and loads of flat water, it’s best for SUP (stand-up paddle boarding). Often, we’d dip our paddles in to steer, however for probably the most half, the river did the work (till the very finish, the place we had a little bit of headwind). I even discovered myself grinning on the digital camera and saying, “No paddling required,” as we glided downstream with the assistance of the light present, another excuse this stretch is ideal for an Arizona paddle boarding highway journey. There have been nonetheless various slower components of the river that did required some effort. I think about this might fluctuate relying on how a lot water they’re sending downstream.
🌊 Moments Alongside the Approach
The fantastic thing about this journey wasn’t simply within the vacation spot—it was within the sudden moments that unfolded alongside the river.
We floated as much as a tiny pure waterfall cascading down a rock face, nothing dramatic, however simply sufficient to step off the board, cup my fingers, and drink straight from the stream. It was ice chilly, pure, and completely timed.
Wildlife made refined appearances all through the day. A bunch of untamed horses grazed alongside the shoreline, unfazed by our presence. Later, a bighorn sheep and her calf emerged alongside the shore, additionally grazing. Even a daring little chipmunk made an look at our campsite, darting between rocks prefer it owned the place.
Between these moments, I had time to absorb the main points—the shifting colours of the canyon partitions, the best way my BOTE board minimize silently by means of the water, and the sensation of full detachment from the trendy world. There have been no distractions, no schedules. Simply the movement of water and the motion of thought.
🏕️ Closing in on Horseshoe Bend
By late afternoon, we had traveled roughly midway downriver. We scouted a couple of potential websites, however one spot stood out instantly: a sandy seashore tucked beneath a shady cottonwood tree, simply downstream of the bend itself. Because the cliffs curved above us, it hit me—we have been about to camp on the base of Horseshoe Bend, a spot thousands and thousands go to annually however few ever see from under. There are a number of camp spots on this space, but when not for a small group leaving simply as we arrived, we would not have discovered the best possible place to camp.
We pulled in, secured our boards, and arrange camp with wide-eyed appreciation. Essentially the most iconic landmark of this area now towered silently in entrance of us. The crowds have been far above, unaware that under them, two paddlers have been claiming an evening in one of the crucial extraordinary campsites within the Southwest.
Dusk at Horseshoe Bend: A Camp Like No Different
We arrived at our campsite within the early afternoon, giving us loads of time to settle in and take in the surreal setting. Tucked beneath the vertical cliffs simply downstream from the long-lasting bend, our patch of riverbank felt like a non-public sanctuary—quiet, shaded, and completely positioned. Most individuals solely view this place from above. We have been doing one thing totally different. We have been paddle boarding Horseshoe Bend, and now, we have been spending the night time beneath it.
🛶 A Riverside Afternoon, Slowed to Perfection
With camp set and our boards unloaded, we strung a hammock between the outstretched limbs of a cottonwood and took turns sinking into afternoon naps beneath the shade of the tree. Earlier that day, our Kayak Horseshoe Bend captain had talked about that the dam would briefly scale back its outflow between 1 and 5 p.m., and certain sufficient, by midafternoon the river measurement and movement was considerably diminished. The river slowly receded, exposing new shoreline and revealing simply how a lot the movement may shift. With out the burden of our gear we put our boards within the river and paddled lazily by means of the calm, taking within the sheer canyon partitions from each angle. Then, simply as the sunshine started to fade, the water started rising once more—finally lapping larger than it had once we first arrived. It was like watching the heartbeat of the Colorado itself.
Cool drinks and snacks adopted, the type of riverside ritual that turns a very good afternoon into an excellent one. This wasn’t simply one other cease on an Arizona paddle boarding highway journey—this was the second we’d been ready for.
🔥 Firelight, Pasta, and Moonshine
Because the solar dipped behind the cliffs, we lit a fireplace with the wooden we’d packed in and cooked a gourmand pasta dinner (which was ready earlier than we left and positioned into vacuum sealed luggage, all we needed to do was warmth up in boiling water). With the glow of the hearth on the rocks and the canyon slowly dimming, the night took on a quiet magic.
Then, the moon rose. Virtually full and excessive within the sky, it forged a silver sheen throughout your complete river hall. The cliffs glowed faintly, the water shimmered, and no flashlight was wanted. The entire place was illuminated by pure moonlight, only one extra layer of surprise added to the day.
We turned in round 10 p.m., completely content material and comfortably heat. The temperatures this time of 12 months have been best for sleeping—cool sufficient to bundle up, however not chilly sufficient to chase you deeper into your sleeping bag. Cocooned beneath the celebrities and stone, we drifted off to the faint sound of the river lapping in opposition to the shore.
The Remaining Stretch: Magnificence within the Journey’s Finish
Morning got here gently. The primary gentle warmed the cliffs behind us, and the Colorado River, now flowing steadily once more, sparkled because it slipped previous our camp. We packed up slowly, not fairly prepared to go away a spot so nonetheless, so soul-stirring. After breakfast and a last sweep of the location, we pushed off for the ultimate leg of our journey.
This was the final stretch of our Arizona paddle boarding highway journey, and it didn’t disappoint. The cliffs started to drag again barely, providing broader views of the river hall, however the sense of scale and solitude remained. The paddle was simple, clean, and meditative. At instances, we drifted and not using a sound—no wind, no chatter, simply the rhythmic splash of water breaking across the board. The final mile or so nonetheless was a bit arduous as we hit some head winds, by that time I used to be prepared for the paddle to finish.
🐾 Encounters Alongside the River
Alongside the best way, we stopped briefly at Ropes Path, the place historic petroglyphs are etched into the canyon partitions. Although we didn’t hike the path this time, we did meet a solo hiker rising from the trail, sun-baked and smiling after a brief day journey down from the rim.
🏁 Return to Lee’s Ferry
Ultimately, the take-out level at Lee’s Ferry got here into view. The identical spot we had departed from now marked the top of our two-day odyssey. We pulled in slowly, reluctant however grateful, our boards flippantly scraping the seashore we’d left not way back. The journey had looped again, however we weren’t the identical paddlers who had launched from this shore.
This wasn’t nearly paddle boarding Horseshoe Bend. It was about disconnecting, slowing down, and experiencing a spot that thousands and thousands of individuals go to—however only some actually really feel.
Planning Your Personal Horseshoe Bend Paddle Board Journey: Suggestions and Takeaways
If the concept of paddle boarding Horseshoe Bend has you dreaming of drifting between canyon partitions and tenting beneath the celebrities, the excellent news is—it’s completely doable. This journey is wild, distant, and soul-stirring, however it’s additionally accessible with slightly planning and preparation. Right here’s what you should know to make it occur.
🚗 Getting There
Your Arizona paddle boarding highway journey begins in Phoenix, with a scenic 5-hour drive north. Take into account making it a journey by stopping at landmarks like Sundown Crater, Wupatki Nationwide Monument, the Painted Desert, and Navajo Bridge. We suggest staying at Cliff Dwellers Lodge, just15 minutes from Lee’s Ferry and nestled beneath the towering Vermilion Cliffs.
🛶 Backhaul Service
To start your river journey, you’ll want a bacokayhaul shuttle to take you from Lee’s Ferry upriver to Glen Canyon Dam (or earlier than if solely doing a day journey). We booked by means of Kayak Horseshoe Bend, and so they have been unbelievable. The boat experience is roughly an hour and affords a surprising preview of the route you’ll paddle again down. Make reservations upfront, particularly throughout peak season (spring and fall).
🏄♂️ Paddle Boards & Gear
Carry a high-quality inflatable paddle board that may carry each you and your gear. As you learn, I used the BOTE HD Aero Low Rider, which carried out superbly—steady, responsive, and constructed for journey. NOTE: Remember to get a river fin, infrequently you possibly can hit a low spot.
Gear Guidelines:
- Dry luggage (a number of sizes)
- Sleeping bag and light-weight tent
- Water filtration system or loads of water
- Meals, snacks, and cooking gear
- Firewood (optionally available however extremely really helpful)
- Layers for cool nights
- First assist equipment and restore equipment
- Sunscreen, hat, and sun shades
- Moist wipes
- River footwear or sandals
🏕️ Tenting Data
There are a number of primitive campsites alongside the river, however tenting at Horseshoe Bend is next-level (Mile 7-7.5) – Tenting at Mile 8 can also be an excellent spot. No permits are required for in a single day journeys at the moment, however all the time double-check with the Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation Space for the most recent guidelines. Follow Go away No Hint ideas—pack it in, pack it out. FYI, there are loos on the campsites, which is very nice!
📅 Finest Time to Go
Spring and fall are best. We went in Might, when daytime temps have been heat (mid-80s) however manageable, and nighttime temperatures have been excellent for sleeping beneath the celebrities (round 60). Noon dam releases can have an effect on water ranges, so ask your backhaul operator about scheduled movement adjustments—they’ll truly improve the expertise if timed proper.
💡 Remaining Ideas
This isn’t only a SUP or kayak journey—it’s a journey into one of the crucial awe-inspiring landscapes in North America. From paddling beneath sandstone giants to falling asleep beneath a near-full moon, each second on this river felt like a present. If you happen to’re able to commerce overlooks for immersion, and postcards for recollections, then this Arizona paddle boarding highway journey is looking your title.
If in case you have any questions on paddle boarding Horseshoe Bend, or tenting alongside the Colorado River, please depart a remark under, completely satisfied to assist. So, till subsequent time, we’ll see ya on the highway…