Kayaking Antelope Canyon on Lake Powell

Paddling into Antelope Canyon from Lake Powell is one of the most peaceful ways to see the canyon country around Page. Sandstone walls rise straight out of the water, the canyon narrows with every bend, and at the end you can step out onto the sand and walk into the slot. Here is how to plan the trip.

Antelope Canyon by Water vs. the Famous Slots

The Antelope Canyon you reach by kayak is the lower end of the canyon where it meets Lake Powell, inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The famous Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon slots, the ones with light beams, are several miles upstream on Navajo Nation land and can only be visited on a guided tour. See Upper vs. Lower Antelope Canyon for those tours.

Where to Launch

Most paddlers start at the Antelope Point Public Launch Ramp, next to Antelope Point Marina, about 15 minutes east of Page off Highway 98. The ramp is open for hand-launching kayaks and paddleboards even when low water closes it to motorboats, though it can close in winter. There is no extra fee to launch a kayak, but you pay the park entrance fee at the toll booth on the road in, or show your pass. See Lake Powell entrance fees.

The Paddle Route

• Distance: about 5 miles round trip from the launch ramp.
• Time: plan on 2 to 4 hours, including time to walk into the slot at the end.
• Route: from the ramp, paddle west, to your left, along the main channel for about a mile. Turn left into the canyon at the buoy marked Antelope Canyon.
• The main channel: this stretch has boat traffic and wakes. Stay close to the shore, cross quickly at a right angle and point your bow into big wakes.
• Inside the canyon: Antelope Canyon is wakeless at all times, so boats and jet skis move slowly. The walls close in until the water ends at a sandy beach.

At the end of the water, pull your kayak onto the sand and walk a short way into the dry wash to see the narrows. Stay in the canyon bottom near the lake, and turn back if the sky looks stormy.

Best Time to Go

• Time of day: go early. The water is calmest in the morning, there are fewer boats and the light in the canyon is soft. Afternoon wind can make the main channel choppy for the paddle back.
• Season: May through October is the most comfortable. June through September has the warmest water if you want to swim. In spring and fall the water is cold, so dress for a swim, not for the air.
• Weather: from July to September, afternoon thunderstorms can cause flash floods in side canyons. Never go into a slot canyon if rain threatens.

What to Bring

• A life jacket for every paddler, worn the whole time
• Plenty of water, at least 2 liters per person, and snacks
• Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses with a strap
• Water shoes for the rocky ramp and the sandy wash
• A dry bag for your phone, keys and a layer

Rent a Kayak or Paddleboard

We rent kayaks and stand up paddleboards along with our jet skis and boats. See our water toys, or call or text us for help planning your paddle. Booking online is the fastest way to check availability.

Prefer to Ride?

A jet ski gets you from Antelope Point to the mouth of Antelope Canyon in about 10 minutes, so you can see the canyon and still have time to explore Navajo Canyon or Padre Bay in the same morning. See Antelope Canyon by jet ski and the Lake Powell map.