Solo Utah Road Trip Lake Powell & Antelope Canyon

Kayaking Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon Hike

Day 5 update…is this 5?? idk

It’s 6…But anyway today was another adventure. It started out bright and early with an 8am kayak tour into Antelope Canyon.

Since Antelope Canyon wasn’t on my initial itinerary due to time, I hadn’t reserved a hiking spot which is needed to do the hike. I decided to go through a guided tour to try and meet some people and honestly I had no idea where I was going anyway! I’m so glad I did.

The company I used was Lake Powell Paddle Boards and Sky was my guide. He was amazing and went above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing time!

5 miles of kayaking, 3 miles of hiking through the canyon! Let me just say, this was no “paddle through the park”. The tour was small; only me, another couple and a guide.

I spent the entire morning exploring, laughing and making new friends! The guide kept telling me he didn’t mind if I needed to be towed in by him if I got too tired…. I’m like “look 26 yr old dude, I know I’m the oldest one here but over my dead body will I let you tow me in!!!”

We kayaked out of the slough and against the current of the river until we saw an inlet. Once inside, the waters calmed and that’s when we could marvel in the beautiful canyon walls. It was gorgeous.

The inlet ended at a secret sandy beach where we docked out ‘yaks, and got out to proceed on foot. We hiked about 3 miles or so into the slot canyon and the colors of the canyon walls looked like they had been painted with layers of reds, oranges and brown shades. It was just like the pictures I had seen, only better!

He told us stories about how he grew up playing and swimming in the canyon and how it was where he spent his summers; lucky kid.

As the slot canyon narrowed he let me go ahead and explore on my own, and then I swapped with the other couple to give them exploration time. He also volunteered to take some pictures of me and I’m so glad I let him, because they turned out to be some of my favorite shots!

The other couple passed on swimming in the icy cold water of the Colorado, but we were hot and I was feeling adventurous so we pulled over along the bank and dove in. I channeled my inner William Hoff and breathed through the polar plunge.

The water was so cold it took my breathe away when I went under and it was the most invigorating experience!!! And if you know me, you know I HATE the cold and cold water!

We swam for a bit and paddled back to the ramp….and I did it…all on my own! I asked him when it was over to be honest with me, that he thought he was gonna have to tow me….and he admitted he was impressed that I made it back by myself. whatever.

After that, he told me a few secret spots that locals get a special Navajo Tea that can only be found here and in Africa and where I could go to swim… so I grabbed some drinks and headed that way!

I hiked, completely unprepared for the climb to the shore (I almost had a heat stroke…again) but made it and had to jump straight in again because it’s hot here…like for real hot!

I hung out with some locals and listened to music for the rest of the afternoon before packing up and heading back to my “room-to-go”, “My studio apartment” my “wheeled BNB”, my “mo-tel” room..you get the idea. Spent the rest of the evening on the phone, talking and laughing with an old-new friend.