Antelope Canyon Kayak & Hike: Lake Powell Slot Canyon Tour

Paddle into Antelope Canyon's Slot, Then Walk Its Lowest Floor

You paddle through Antelope Canyon's towering sandstone walls on Lake Powell with a certified guide, then hike the slot canyon's lowest section where water levels and monsoons constantly reshape the scenery. Swimming is optional on the return paddle. The tour includes kayak, paddle, life jacket, and dry bag. You arrive 30 minutes early for waivers and a safety briefing before departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak and hike Antelope Canyon

• Arrive 30 minutes early to check in
• Complete waiver and attend safety briefing
• Kayak through Lake Powell into Antelope Canyon
• Beach kayak and hike lowest part of canyon
• Kayak back through Antelope Canyon
• Swim if time permits

The experience

There's something about rounding a bend in Lake Powell and suddenly seeing those walls rise up on both sides of you: narrow, striped, impossibly tall. That's the moment most people stop paddling and just stare. The Antelope Canyon kayak and hike tour starts at Antelope Point Launch Ramp, where you'll meet your guide (ACA and CPR certified) and get fitted for a life jacket and dry bag. You arrive 30 minutes early to handle waivers and a safety briefing, then the kayaks are already loaded on the ramp waiting: no hauling them yourself, which matters more than it sounds when you're standing on a steep sandy beach in Arizona heat.

Once you're on the water, the paddle into Antelope Canyon takes you through Lake Powell's open expanse and then into the slot itself, where the sandstone walls close in and the light changes completely. Your guide talks through the geology and history as you go, pointing out how the canyon shifts with water levels and monsoons. The lowest section you'll hike through is never quite the same twice. The kayaking part is steady and manageable. The guide controls the pace and handles the technical parts. After you beach the kayak, the hike through Lower Antelope Canyon is where the real texture of the place hits you: the vivid colors in the rock, the narrow passages, the way sound travels differently down there. It's not a long hike, but it's winding and there's scrambling involved, so the guide's knowledge about where to step and what to watch for actually saves time.

On the paddle back through Antelope Canyon toward Lake Powell, you've got time for a swim if the schedule allows: cooling off in the canyon water before heading out. The whole experience sits somewhere between relaxed and engaged. You're not fighting the logistics or the gear, so you can actually pay attention to what you're looking at. Tours run as scheduled, so if you're running late to check-in, there's no refund, which is why showing up early matters. The guide carries the kayaks up and down the beach for you, which keeps the day from turning into a workout before it even starts.

What’s included

• Kayak, paddle, life jacket, and dry bag.
• ACA and CPR certified guide leading the paddle through Antelope Canyon and hike through the slot canyon's lowest section.
• safety briefing and waiver completion at Antelope Point Launch Ramp.
• optional swimming on the return paddle if time allows.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Red Rock Adventure Co.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Antelope Canyon from the water and on foot without arranging your own kayak, gear, or transportation. The guide carries the kayaks up and down the beach, which keeps the day relaxed from start to finish.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the kayak-only tour and the kayak and hike option?

The kayak-only tour stays on the water through Antelope Canyon. The kayak and hike includes paddling in, then beaching the kayak to walk through the lowest section of the slot canyon on foot before paddling back out.

Do I need to bring my own life jacket?

No. Life jackets, kayaks, paddles, and dry bags are all provided. You just need to arrive 30 minutes early to be fitted and briefed.

What happens if I'm late to check-in?

Late arrivals cannot be refunded. Tours begin as scheduled on the water, so arriving 30 minutes early is required to complete waivers and the safety briefing.

Is swimming included?

Swimming is optional and happens on the return paddle if time permits. It's not guaranteed on every tour.

What's the water like in Antelope Canyon?

You're paddling on Lake Powell, which feeds into Antelope Canyon. Water levels and monsoons change the canyon's appearance constantly, so the lowest section you hike through is never the same twice.

Do I need kayaking experience?

No. The guide controls the pace and handles the technical parts. The paddling is steady and manageable for most fitness levels.

What should I bring?

Bring water, sunscreen, and a camera. Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet. The dry bag keeps personal items safe during the paddle.