LAKE POWELL • SLOT CANYON • PADDLEBOARD

Antelope Canyon by Paddleboard

A VR guide to glassy waters, towering narrows, and a $20 cheat.

⚡ The Quick Scoop

The Adventure: Paddleboarding from Lake Powell into a world-famous slot canyon.

Distance: ~5-6 miles paddling + 2-4 miles hiking (round trip).

Difficulty: Strenuous (battling boat wakes!).

Must Do: Launch at sunrise to get the glassy mirror reflections.

Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (Epic Bucket List)

This adventure has it all: amazing scenery, gorgeous reflections, adventurous hiking, a stunning slot canyon, and beautiful glassy water.

Paddling from Lake Powell into the water-filled portion of Antelope Canyon is, without a doubt, one of the most epic adventures you can have in the Southwest. It is a journey that makes you feel incredibly small in the best way possible, surrounded by the immense beauty of water and stone. I couldn’t possibly have asked for a more beautiful visit here.

Part I: The Challenge

The Choppy Channel

This adventure is a tale of two parts. The first mile, starting from the Antelope Point boat ramp, is the hardest. I was in the parking lot around 5:00 AM, getting sunscreen on, waterproofing everything in my backpack, and securing it to my paddleboard before heading left from the ramp.

⚠️ The Washing Machine Effect

The main channel of Lake Powell is busy. Even launching at sunrise, I had to deal with a HUGE houseboat towing another large boat.

The real danger here isn't just the size of the waves—it's that they bounce directly off the sheer cliff walls. You end up with waves coming at you from both directions at the same time, like a washing machine! You have to push through and stay balanced. I was incredibly grateful I went early and didn't have to navigate a fleet of these massive boats!

Part II: The Reward

The Wakeless Zone

Once you survive that first mile, the magic happens. Entering the "wakeless zone" of Antelope Canyon is like entering a sanctuary. The moment you round that first corner, the chop disappears and the water becomes glassy smooth.

The wind suddenly dies down, the birds start chirping, and the towering sandstone walls enclose you in an extremely calm embrace.

The Golden Nugget: The Reflections 🌟

Don't Miss This: If you get into the canyon early in the morning before the tour boats arrive, the water becomes a perfect, mirror-like surface.

Because I started at sunrise, I had this entire two-mile stretch to my lovely self. No boat noise, no laughing crowds—just quiet. Paddling through the narrow canyon with the towering red walls reflected perfectly on the water all around you is a truly unforgettable experience.

🐚 The Bad Hitchhikers

As you paddle close to the walls, look right at the waterline. You will see thousands of tiny white barnacles growing on the cliff faces. These are the invasive quagga and zebra mussels you hear so much about at boat inspection stations. They are the exact reason Lake Powell has strict decontamination rules—they don't want these little "hitchhikers" spreading to other lakes!

Shauna on a Paddleboard in Antelope Canyon Lake Powell

Part III: Boots on the Ground

Bouldering the Dry Slot

After paddling those three miles, the water simply runs out. You pull your kayak or paddleboard up onto the sandy beach and transition into hiking mode.

I hiked about two miles up into the dry section of Lower Antelope Canyon before hitting a dead end. It’s a fantastic natural obstacle course! The canyon walls offer a fascinating mix of textures—some spots are gritty like sandpaper, while others have been polished completely smooth by ancient water. The only tricky part was navigating underneath a huge, jammed cluster of flood debris!

Beat the Heat: Going in hot June meant the deep, shaded slot canyon felt amazingly nice and cool. But the second it opened up and the sun hit my skin, it was an oven! I was so glad I hiked early. By the time I headed back to my board, it was warming up fast, and tour groups were starting to stack up in the narrow canyon, already complaining about battling the waves on their way in.

📸 The "Famous Picture" Illusion

I was actively looking for a specific, famous photograph spot I had seen online. I'm still not sure if it's in the Upper section of Antelope, or if it's just a highly deceiving picture!

I later heard someone say that a guide took them to a very specific spot, squeezed between a fallen rock and the slot wall, and said, "Shoot right here." It made me realize that sometimes, those viral photos aren't a true representation of the whole canyon. The real adventure is the entire hike itself!

Part IV: The Return Trip

The $20 Cheat

Eventually, you have to turn around and paddle back. Which brings me to the silly ending of my story.

📖 Traveler's Tale: Flagging a Ride

On my way back out of the wakeless zone, I was not thrilled about paddling through the main channel again. The big boats were out in full force. I asked one passing boat for a ride, and they said they'd get me on their way back, but they were taking FOREVER.

Then, a large tour ferry boat headed out of the canyon. I thought, "How can it hurt? A government guy getting a nice extra tip?"

I asked, and he said sure, BUT he couldn't take me all the way to the dock. I'd have to get off early at the big tire breakwater. He gave me a lift up, we hauled my heavy paddleboard onto the ferry, and I happily handed over $20.

The Ultimate Irony: When we reached the drop-off point, I realized what a terrible mistake I had made. The "dock" was a wall of massive, floating truck tires bouncing violently in the boat wakes. I had to dismount the high ferry, balance on those wet, bobbing tires 3 feet above the water, and somehow launch myself and my gear back onto my paddleboard.

I miraculously managed to remount without falling in and paddled the rest of the way. I was quite proud of myself, but looking back, my brilliant idea to "decrease my chances of flipping" actually gave me the highest probability of taking a plunge all day!

Part V: The Story in the Stone

Geology & Flash Floods

Antelope Canyon is a world-famous slot canyon carved into vibrant, red-orange Navajo Sandstone. This rock was formed from ancient sand dunes during the Jurassic period, over 190 million years ago.

⚠️ The Power of Water

The canyon itself was sculpted over millions of years by the incredible power of flash floods. Rushing water, thick with abrasive sand and debris, blasts through narrow cracks in the sandstone, carving and smoothing the walls into the flowing, wave-like shapes we see today.

The canyon is a living work of art, constantly being reshaped. This is why checking the weather is critical. If there is rain anywhere in the surrounding miles, you do not enter a slot canyon!

Part VI: Another Great Paddle

Lees Ferry to Grand Canyon Mile 0

If you love paddleboarding and are in the Lake Powell area, you absolutely must try the trip from Glen Canyon Dam down to Lees Ferry.

You pay a local outfitter (I used Kayak Horseshoe Bend) to take you and your board 15.5 miles upriver on a motorboat to the base of the massive dam. They drop you off, and you float all the way back down to Lees Ferry, which is officially Grand Canyon Mile 0!

✨ Petroglyphs: Pull off to see ancient rock art carved into the cliffs.
✨ Horseshoe Bend: You get to eat lunch at the very bottom of the iconic Horseshoe Bend! The cliff wall from the water is unimaginably massive. Our guide pointed out a landmark beach to look up at with binoculars. The tourists at the top overlook were so tiny, it was super difficult to figure out if those tiny dots were actually people!
✨ Wildlife: Watch the canyon walls for mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and wild horses drinking from the river.

Part VII: Virtual Reality

Transport Yourself to Antelope

Join me on the water for this incredible journey. Put on your VR headset and experience the transition from the choppy main channel to the serene, glassy narrows and the adventurous dry hike beyond. This is one you have to see in 360°!

Part VIII: Interactive Guide

✨ Ask the AI River Ranger

Got a question about planning your own Lake Powell paddling trip? Not sure where to launch or what the "wakeless zone" means? Ask our AI Ranger!

Part IX: Know Before You Go

Shauna's Survival Guide

⏰ Go Early!: To avoid boat traffic, choppy water, and to see the best reflections, launch from the Antelope Point Marina public boat ramp as close to sunrise as possible.
🛶 DIY vs. Tour: You can rent kayaks or paddleboards from companies in Page. This gives you the freedom to go at your own pace. Guided tours are great, but they often leave later in the day when the water is rougher and more crowded.
🥾 The Hike: The dry canyon hike is a fun scramble. Wear sturdy shoes you can get wet, and be prepared for some minor bouldering.
🌩️ Flash Flood Safety: Check the weather forecast carefully. If there is any chance of rain in the region, do not enter the slot canyon.

The Effort and the Payoff

Paddling into Antelope Canyon is a bucket-list adventure that combines a physical challenge (battling those crazy wakes!) with a massive scenic payoff.

It’s a journey that makes you feel small in the best way possible, surrounded by the immense beauty of water and stone. What's the most rewarding adventure you've ever had to work a little extra hard for? Share your story in the comments below!

Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna from VRGetaway