Horseshoe Bend Rafting from Page: Lee’s Ferry River Trip to Petroglyph Beach
Difficulty
easy
Duration
5 hours
Fitness Level
Low to moderate—suitable for most fitness levels; involves boarding a raft and sitting for up to three hours on the water
Overview
Board in Page and let the Colorado River reshape your perspective: a three-hour motor-and-float trip to Petroglyph Beach and the Horseshoe Bend curve with interpretive guides. Expect dramatic cliffs, ancient rock art, and a scenic return by bus past Vermillion Cliffs and Navajo Bridge.
Horseshoe Bend Rafting from Page: Lee’s Ferry River Trip to Petroglyph Beach
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The motor coughs, the raft rocks, and the canyon closes in—red walls folding like pages of a very old book. You push off at Lee’s Ferry and the Colorado River takes charge, carrying a scatter of passengers under cliffs that climb 1,000 feet. For three hours the hull hums and the landscape alternates between raw geology and human traces: petroglyphs cut into stone, the careful lines of a Navajo bridge in the distance, and the horseshoe curve that gives this trip its name, daring you to see familiar land from a river’s eye.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Bring your National Park Pass
You must present a National Park pass at check-in—buy one locally if you don’t have it to avoid being turned away.
Sun and heat protection
Bring high-SPF sunscreen, a wide-brim hat, and polarized sunglasses—the reflected canyon light intensifies exposure.
Stabilize your camera
Use a wrist strap or small tripod; the boat is motorized and can pitch during wake and docking at Petroglyph Beach.
Arrive early for check-in
Get to WRA headquarters 45 minutes before departure to complete paperwork, park for free, and catch the shuttle without rush.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Bighorn sheep on cliff ledges
- Great blue heron and river otters along quieter shorelines
History
Lees Ferry served as a crucial crossing and trading point before modern roads; the petroglyphs reflect centuries of Indigenous presence along the river corridor.
Conservation
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area manages high visitor use with permits and education; stay on designated routes, pack out trash, and avoid touching rock art to preserve fragile surfaces.
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Adventure Hotspots in Page
Recommended Gear
National Park Pass
Required for entry and must be shown at check-in.
Sunscreen & lip balm (SPF 30+)
High canyon walls and reflected light increase sun exposure on the river.
summer specific
Light layering jacket
Mornings and late-season trips can be cool on the water; a windbreaker helps.
spring specific
Dry bag or waterproof phone case
Protects electronics and small items from splash and sudden spray.