Things to do / Travel Guide
Kayaking and canoeing in the southern Utah region means smooth travel down sparkling rivers, streams, and lakes amidst glowing red rock landscape and pine forests. It means relaxation, adventure, and a general good time. Visitors can rent canoes and kayaks from retailers in towns or take out their own equipment to explore the many streams and lakes in the region, all of which promise excellent waterside views of extraordinary landscape.
Kayaking and Canoeing Near Moab
Near the Green and Colorado Rivers you can rent canoes and kayaks for relaxing half-day and full-day river exploration. As they flow north of Moab and into Canyonlands National Park, the rivers are surrounded by brightly-colored rock formations and huge cottonwood trees over untouched beaches, and a ride on the river may also give you a glimpse of local wildlife, including mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and waterfowl. These are top destinations in the U.S. for kayakers and canoeists. Trips on the Green River start in the town of Green River north of Moab. The Colorado River sees a bit more boating action than the Green, and has a greater range of conditions - from flat, glassy waters to rough rapids. Colorado River trips start in Moab. Companies that rent out equipment will give instruction and help decide which stretch of river is best for your abilities and style, and usually they also provide pick ups at the point where the kayak and canoe adventures end. A lesser-known, but very interesting trip can be had down the San Juan River in Bluff, which travels past archeological sites and impressive rock formations.
Kayaking and Canoeing on Lake Powell
Canoeing and kayaking is an excellent way to explore the hundreds of side canyons, coves, and inlets of beautiful Lake Powell, the second-largest man-made reservoir in the U.S. Lake Powell was formed by the Glen Canyon Dam, completed in 1963 - a concrete structure rising 710 feet above the Colorado River that provides water storage and power for much of the southwestern United States. The waters of the Colorado River and its tributaries are backed up almost 200 miles by the dam, located where Glen Canyon and the Grand Canyon meet, forming the reservoir. The lake took 17 years to fill, only reaching its capacity of 27 million acre-feet in 1980. It is uniquely surrounded by colorful canyons, peaks, and buttes, making canoeing and kayaking on its waters a special treat. Rentals are available in all major marinas, including Wahweap and Bullfrog, throughout the year. Kayaks and canoes can be used in protected areas of the lake, and to explore some of the otherwise hard-to-reach monuments and sights, like Rainbow Bridge National Monument, the largest natural bridge in the world.
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