Reading about Antelope Canyon online can be confusing because it can seem like you can’t go to the canyon without a guided tour. But this is only true if you want to visit the most well-known sections of the canyon on a walking tour.
You CAN get to Antelope Canyon on your own if you go through the water and stay in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. We highly recommend visiting the canyon this way. Our kayak/hike in Antelope Canyon was absolutely breathtaking and a highlight of our time in Arizona.
How to Get There
We rented kayaks from Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks and made the trip on our own without a guided tour. It wasn’t hard at all to know where to go with a few simple directions from the rental company, and we loved having all the time we wanted to explore the canyon.
If you have room in your vehicle and want your own portable kayak(s), check out this inflatable kayak that we love and bring your own. There are single and double options. We use ours to paddle around the lakes near our home and we love that they are so easy to pack in our van and store at home without a lot of garage space.
If you rent from Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks, they will deliver your kayaks (or SUPs) to the Antelope Point Launch Ramp. You will need to pay a fee to park unless you have a National Park Pass, which covers the fee. From there, it’s an easy route into the canyon.
Kayaking and Hiking
After the scenic kayak trip we recommend you walk into the canyon at least as far as the fork. If you turn around before the fork you’ll miss some fun narrow spots! The scenery gets better and better as the canyon narrows, and our whole family really enjoyed the hike. My kids enjoyed scrambling up the sides, and I just couldn’t get enough of the views.
The kayak trip took our family about 1 hour and 15 minutes each way, and we spent a leisurely 3 hours hiking in the canyon and enjoying a picnic lunch. We took our time to explore and enjoy the area. The scenery was incredible and it was so great not to feel rushed. We recommend you plan 5-6 hours for the whole adventure.
Things to Know
Safety First
The danger of flash floods in narrow canyons is real. If there is rain in the forecast anywhere in the area, do not visit the canyon. The staff at Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks can help you know if it is safe to go into the canyon.
Below is a safety notice from the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area website:
Flash Floods
Flash floods are the artists who carve the intricate curves of slot canyons. They are also the assassins of anyone who may be in their paths. Be flash flood aware:
- Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning, and/or increasing wind, that may be signs of an approaching thunderstorm.
- Listen for the sound of thunder. If you are in a canyon, you may hear the storm before you see it.
- If you do venture out and recognize thunderstorms nearby, head to port or safe shelter as quickly as possible. Get to higher ground if you can
- If storms or flash floods are predicted in your area, even if you do not see storm clouds or feel rain, STAY OUT OF NARROW CANYONS.
https://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/safety.htm
Other Considerations
For the first 2/3 mile of kayaking, the water got a little choppy when boats passed by, which was really fun for some of us but made others a little motion sick. Since we were there before the busier summer season it wasn’t too busy and boats only passed occasionally, but we’ve read that it can be pretty busy at times. If you are prone to motion sickness, you might want to take some Dramamine before the trip. Once you enter Antelope canyon after 2/3 mile, it is a posted no-wake zone and this was no longer an issue.
We saw an even mix of sturdy sandals and hiking shoes. My husband and I opted for sandals and were glad we did because the landing area was very muddy so we slipped our sandals off and could then drag our kayaks up through the mud without worrying about shoes. We ended up walking barefoot for most of the hike. Much of the area is sandy and it felt great on our feet! If you decide to wear sneakers, you will probably want to remove them to drag your kayak to dry ground.
Don’t forget to bring plenty of water along, but remember that you won’t have access to a restroom until you return your kayak at the end of the trip! We also recommend that you bring along a picnic lunch to enjoy in the canyon.
Nearby Horseshoe Bend
While you are in the area, don’t miss Horseshoe Bend less than 10 minutes from Page. The view is absolutely breathtaking. We went about an hour before sunset so our pictures aren’t ideal, but we were able to avoid the crowds that were arriving as we left so it was worth the not-so-perfect lighting!
We saw some amazing things on our AZ/UT road trip including the red cliffs of Sedona (my husband’s favorite), The Grand Canyon (my son’s favorite), and Arches National Park (my daughter’s favorite). But hiking in Antelope Canyon was my favorite day.
If your goal is to see the most iconic spots and you don’t mind sticking with a group and being on a schedule then a guided walking tour into Antelope Canyon might be the best fit for you. But if you want fewer people around and more time to explore on your own, we highly recommend kayaking to Antelope Canyon!
Note: This post contains Amazon.com affiliate links. This means that if you buy a product using a link on this page I earn a small commission on your purchase, at no additional cost to you. To give you the best information possible, I will only link to products that I personally use and love.
Try a One-Way Car Rental for a Great Family Road Trip with Only Half the Driving!
Can I ask how old your kids were when you kayaked and how they did stamina wise ?
Absolutely! My kids were 15, 13, and 8. The older kids did just fine, but we did take some extra time on the way back since it was a little tiring with the wake from the boats going by. My youngest was in a double kayak with my husband. I think it would have been a lot for her to kayak on her own.
Do you need to book ahead with Antelope Canyon? If they have no bookings can you still kayak up to the canyon without going in? Also did the kayak company bring your rented kayak to the ramp or did you have to carry it? Thanks! I’m looking to just leisurely kayak Lake Powell. I’ve already been to Antelope Canyon but my daughter wanted to see it but I think its booked up until October and we’re coming next month. Thanks for any and all info.
You don’t have to book anything to go into Antelope Canyon from the water like we did. You only need to book if you do one of the tours in another section of the canyon. If you have your own kayaks or boat, you can get there from the water and hike in all you want.
If you want to rent kayaks, we recommend you book those ahead to make sure they have kayaks for you. The company we rented from delivered our kayaks to the ramp, we just met them there. They also took the kayaks straight from the ramp after our trip. It was so easy!
Let me know if you have any more questions, and have a great trip!
I love this. I have been researching and this makes me feel like this is definitely doable. I have an 8 year old, 12 year old and 14 year old. Your kids loved it and did great?!? I planned on with the grandparents coming along for everyone to do a double kayak. Would you think that would be doable for 2 adults in one?
And can I ask…
when you rented from Lake Powell paddleboards and kayaks did they charge a delivery/pick up fee or is that included in the rental price?
Also you mentioned they deliver to the Antelope Point Launch Ramp, from there how long do you have to kayak before you get out and hike. I really want to do this but am nervous my kids wont enjoy a long hard kayak trip.
I am so sorry I didn’t see your questions sooner! Yes, if your kids are anything like mine, they will love it! We took it slow and kayaked for about 1 hr. 15 minutes before getting out to explore the canyon. I was nervous about it being too long for them, too, but it was mostly relaxing and lots of fun! My daughter did get tired kayaking on the way back, and was also a little motion sick from the wake of boats, but she did fine when we slowed down. It’s nice if you aren’t in a rush. And the canyon was AMAZING and so worth it!
I think two adults in a double kayak should be just fine. Definitely check with Lake Powel Paddleboards. I checked their website just now and saw a note that with low water levels they can’t currently deliver rentals to Antelope Point. Hopefully the water will rise in time for your trip! When we were there, they delivered for no extra fee. Also be sure to check the weather to make sure there is no risk of flash floods! I hope it works out and you have a wonderful time!