Kayak the Colorado River in Moab: Three Days to Lake Powell
One river, red rock, slot canyons & still water, across Utah and Arizona.
Three days of flatwater paddling, from kayaking the Moab Colorado River under red cliffs to an Antelope Canyon kayak on Lake Powell and the calm Glen Canyon stretch below the dam.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
13 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Colorado River: every stop pinned in order.
Moab, Lake Powell & Glen Canyon · Utah and Arizona
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Colorado River in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 3 days in Colorado River, one step at a time
How 3 days in Colorado River split up
Plan 3 days for Colorado River. Total distance: ~290 mi. Difficulty: Easy. Water type: Flatwater. The Colorado River carved the canyon country of the Southwest, and some of its most beautiful stretches are calm enough to paddle in a sea kayak. This route is built around accessible colorado river kayaking trips: flatwater floats and guided paddles where the scenery does the work and you can keep your eyes on the cliffs instead of the rapids.
Day 1: Moab · flatwater on the Colorado River under red cliffs
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: Drive to Page · an Antelope Canyon kayak on Lake Powell
4 stops · Day two
Day 3: Glen Canyon below the dam · Lees Ferry & Horseshoe Bend
5 stops · Day three
Moab · flatwater on the Colorado River under red cliffs
Start in Moab, the adventure hub of southeast Utah, where the Colorado River runs calm enough to paddle right below town. The classic kayaking the Moab Colorado River day is the mellow flatwater stretch often called the Moab Daily, downstream of town along Highway 128, where the current is gentle and the red sandstone walls tower overhead. It is a forgiving introduction to colorado river kayaking trips, with calm water and big scenery.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Arrive inAdventure hub · outfitters & shuttles · DriveStart in Moab, the adventure hub of southeast Utah, where the Colorado River runs calm enough to paddle right below town. This is your base for the first river day, with outfitters, kayak rentals and shuttle services all close at hand. Fly into Moab (CNY) or Grand Junction (GJT) about two hours away.
- Moab inflatable kayak trip · Wild West Voyages
Guided flatwater · book ahead · activityBook a guided inflatable kayak or raft trip with Wild West Voyages on the mellow flatwater of the Moab Colorado River. They handle the put-in, the route and the shuttle, so you can keep your eyes on the towering red sandstone walls. This is forgiving, calm-water paddling, a great introduction to the river.
- Fisher Towers & Castle Valley
Scenic mild water · soaring spires · ViewpointFor the most scenic put-in, head upstream along Highway 128 toward the Fisher Towers section near Castle Valley, where soaring rock spires rise above mild water. It is one of the prettiest stretches of the Moab river corridor and an unforgettable backdrop for an easy paddle.
Stay in MoabBase for the upper river day · lodgeSpend the night in Moab, close to the outfitters, shuttles and restaurants. It keeps you set up for an early launch and is the natural base for the upper river before you make the long drive south to Page in the morning.
Drive to Page · an Antelope Canyon kayak on Lake Powell
Drive south from Moab to Page, Arizona, gateway to Lake Powell and Glen Canyon (roughly 4.5 to 5 hours, so leave early). The highlight here is one of the most photogenic colorado river kayaking trips anywhere: an Antelope Canyon kayak, where you paddle across the still blue water of Lake Powell and slip into the towering Antelope Canyon slot, the cliffs closing in around you.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive Moab to Page, AZ
~4.5 to 5 hr · leave early · DriveDrive south from Moab to Page, Arizona, gateway to Lake Powell and Glen Canyon, roughly 4.5 to 5 hours. Leave early so you arrive with time to settle in before an early-morning paddle. Fuel up before you go, since service is sparse across the canyon country.
- Antelope Canyon kayak · Lake Powell Adventure Co.
Guided slot-canyon paddle · book ahead · activityBook a guided Antelope Canyon kayak with Lake Powell Adventure Co. out of Page. You paddle across the still blue water of Lake Powell and slip into the towering Antelope Canyon slot, with the cliffs closing in around you. They handle the launch, route and timing so you hit the slot at the best light. The lake gets windy in the afternoon, so go early.
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Ken Lund from Reno, Ne / CC BY-SA 2.0Glen Canyon NRA · Lake PowellRed rock & still water playground · ViewpointLake Powell is the heart of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a vast playground of red rock and still blue water that fills the flooded canyons of the Colorado River. Beyond the Antelope Canyon paddle, there are countless quiet coves and side canyons to explore by kayak when conditions are calm.
- Stay in Page, AZ
Gateway to Lake Powell & Antelope Canyon · lodgeBase in Page, the gateway town for Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. It sets you up for the Glen Canyon flatwater paddle and the Horseshoe Bend overlook in the morning, with lodging, gas and restaurants all in one compact town.
Glen Canyon below the dam · Lees Ferry & Horseshoe Bend
On your last day, paddle the glassy Colorado River in Glen Canyon below Glen Canyon Dam. This is the calm, clear, cold tailwater stretch between the dam and Lees Ferry, the classic example of kayaking the lower Colorado River on flatwater, with sheer canyon walls and Horseshoe Bend curling overhead. Many paddlers take a backhaul boat upstream to the dam and float the 15 miles back down to Lees Ferry, so you go with the gentle current.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Rent a kayak · Kayak the Colorado
Hardshell, inflatable, canoe or SUP · Lees Ferry · return by 6pm · activityPick up your boat from Kayak the Colorado at Lees Ferry, about 45 minutes from Page. They rent hardshell sit-in kayaks, stable inflatables, canoes and paddleboards for the day. The rental does not include the ride upstream, so book the backhaul boat as well, one seat per paddler.
Book this → - Glen Canyon flatwater to Lees Ferry
Kayak the Colorado backhaul up · float back to Lees Ferry · activityPaddle the glassy Colorado River in Glen Canyon below the dam, the calm, clear, cold tailwater stretch between the dam and Lees Ferry. There are no rapids, just deep green water beneath sheer red and tan walls with Horseshoe Bend curling overhead. Kayak the Colorado's backhaul boat carries you upstream from Lees Ferry and drops you wherever you like, most often at Petroglyph Beach below Horseshoe Bend, and you float gently back down to Lees Ferry.
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User:Moondigger / CC BY-SA 2.5Horseshoe Bend overlookShort walk · famous bend from above · ViewpointCap the trip with the short walk to the Horseshoe Bend overlook for the famous view of the Colorado River curling around a towering sandstone fin. It is a quick stop off Highway 89 just south of Page. Go early or late to beat the crowds and the harshest midday light.
Lees FerryHistoric crossing · river take-out · ViewpointLees Ferry sits where the calm Glen Canyon water ends and the Grand Canyon begins. It is the historic river crossing and the take-out for the Glen Canyon flatwater paddle, a peaceful spot of red cliffs and clear water that marks the boundary between the upper and lower Colorado.
Getting home: Page or drive backPGA limited · CNY or larger hub · DrivePage (PGA) has only limited flights, so most travelers drive back toward Moab (CNY) or out to a larger airport like Las Vegas, Salt Lake City or Phoenix. Fuel up before you go and leave with daylight to spare, since service is sparse across the canyon country.
Book the 2 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Colorado River
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
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Specific to Colorado River
What we actually learned on the river.
This is flatwater, not whitewater
These colorado river kayaking trips are mellow flatwater and guided paddles, not rapids. The famous whitewater of Westwater Canyon and Cataract Canyon requires permits and is run on guided, advanced trips, so do not confuse them with a casual day paddle.
Go spring through fall, paddle early
Spring and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures for paddling in red rock country. Summer is very hot, so launch in the morning, wear sun protection, and get off the water before the afternoon heat and wind build.
Carry far more water than you think
The desert is brutally dry and the sun reflects off the water. Carry at least a gallon of drinking water per person per day, plus electrolytes, and never count on filling up out in the canyon country.
Flows are dam-controlled
The Colorado here is regulated by Glen Canyon and other dams, so levels and the Glen Canyon tailwater temperature depend on releases, not rain. Check current flows and release schedules with a local outfitter or the recreation area before you launch.
Plan your shuttles and the long drive
If you rent in Moab, arrange a take-out shuttle before you launch. Moab to Page is a 4.5 to 5 hour drive, so build it into the day and fuel up, since service is sparse across the canyon country.
Base in Moab, Page, or both
Moab is the hub for the upper river day, and Page is the base for Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon and the Glen Canyon stretch. Splitting nights between the two keeps the drives manageable. Guided Page kayak trips book up fast, so reserve ahead.
Afternoon wind can flip a kayak
Lake Powell's glassy morning water can turn to hazardous chop when high afternoon winds pick up, enough to capsize a loaded sea kayak. Launch around 7:30 AM to beat the wind and catch the premium light in Antelope Canyon, then get off open water before midday.
Cold tailwater is a shock risk
The Glen Canyon water below the dam is released from the bottom of the upstream reservoir and stays cold all year. An overheated paddler who jumps in to cool off risks cold-water shock, so ease in slowly, dress for the water not the air, and keep a dry layer within reach.
Colorado River: questions before you go
Kayak in Colorado River: the questions people ask most.
The best beginner-friendly colorado river kayaking trips are the calm flatwater sections. Kayaking the Moab Colorado River on the Moab Daily stretch is gentle and scenic, an Antelope Canyon kayak across Lake Powell from Page is guided and forgiving, and the Glen Canyon stretch below the dam to Lees Ferry is flatwater with no rapids. All three are mellow paddling under big red rock scenery, not whitewater.
The classic kayaking on the Moab Colorado River, the Moab Daily stretch below town along Highway 128, is mostly calm flatwater and is suitable for beginners and families with a guide. The big whitewater near Moab is in Westwater Canyon and Cataract Canyon, which require permits and are run as guided, advanced trips. So no, the everyday Moab float is flatwater, not whitewater.
Yes. An Antelope Canyon kayak is one of the most popular trips on Lake Powell. You paddle across the open lake from a launch near Page and slip into the towering Antelope Canyon slot. Most people go with a local outfitter like Lake Powell Adventure Co., who handle the launch, route and timing. It is calm-water paddling, though the lake can get windy in the afternoon, so go early.
Kayaking the lower Colorado River on the Glen Canyon stretch below the dam is flatwater paddling at its most scenic. The roughly 15-mile run from Glen Canyon Dam down to Lees Ferry has no rapids, just deep, clear, cold water beneath sheer canyon walls, with Horseshoe Bend overhead. Many paddlers take a backhaul boat upstream to the dam and float gently back down to Lees Ferry.
Spring through fall is the season, with spring and fall offering the most comfortable temperatures. Summer is very hot in this red rock country, so paddle in the morning, carry lots of water, and get off the water before the afternoon heat and wind. Winter is cold and quiet, and the Glen Canyon tailwater stays cold year-round because it is released from the bottom of the reservoir.
For the calm day-use flatwater sections in this itinerary, casual kayaking generally does not require a special permit, though you should always check current rules with a local outfitter or land manager. The permitted trips are the whitewater canyons, Westwater Canyon and Cataract Canyon, which require river permits and are run as guided, advanced trips. Guided flatwater trips with an outfitter include any access they need.
Base in Moab for the upper river day and in Page, Arizona for Lake Powell, the Antelope Canyon kayak, and the Glen Canyon stretch. Splitting your nights between the two keeps the 4.5 to 5 hour drive manageable. Moab has the most outfitters and shuttles, while Page is the gateway to Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Moab has a small regional airport (CNY), with Grand Junction (GJT) about two hours away offering more flights. Page has a small airport (PGA) with limited service. Many travelers fly into a larger hub like Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, or Phoenix and drive, which also makes it easy to do both Moab and Page on one road trip. Fuel up often, since service is sparse across the canyon country.
Yes. Page concessionaire launch slots and the Lees Ferry backhaul taxis that carry you upstream to the dam so you can float back down both fill up in peak season, so reserve them weeks ahead rather than showing up and hoping for a spot. The same goes for guided Antelope Canyon kayak trips, which sell out on spring and fall weekends.
Calm at dawn, but Lake Powell can build sudden high winds through the afternoon that turn glassy water into open chop capable of capsizing a sea kayak far from shore. Plan to launch early, around 7:30 AM, when the water is still and the Antelope Canyon light is at its best, and be off the open lake before the wind builds in the afternoon.
Yes. Kayaking the Colorado River in Moab is mostly calm flatwater, especially the Moab Daily stretch below town along Highway 128 and the scenic water near the Fisher Towers and Castle Valley, so it generally suits beginners and families, often on a guided inflatable kayak. The river tends to stay gentle on these dam-controlled sections around Moab, as it does up on Lake Powell near Page. That is very different from kayaking the Grand Canyon or the whitewater of Westwater and Cataract Canyon, which are advanced, permitted runs usually done with an outfitter, not casual day kayaking. Always check current flows and rules with a local outfitter before you launch.
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 3-day route. Same 8 stops.
- 1 night, a campsite near Moab
- $25
- 1 night, a campsite near Page
- $22
- Antelope Canyon kayak · Lake Powell Adventure Co.
- Priced when you book
- Rent a kayak · Kayak the Colorado
- Priced when you book
- Glen Canyon flatwater to Lees Ferry
- Priced when you book
- Rental car, 3 days
- $180
- Gas, about 414 miles
- $60
- 1 night, a room in Moab
- from $140
- 1 night, a room in Page
- from $120
- Antelope Canyon kayak · Lake Powell Adventure Co.
- Priced when you book
- Rent a kayak · Kayak the Colorado
- Priced when you book
- Glen Canyon flatwater to Lees Ferry
- Priced when you book
- Rental car, 3 days
- $180
- Gas, about 414 miles
- $60
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked October 2026
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