Lake Powell Exploration Family Adventure

Lake Powell Exploration Family Adventure Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins in Phoenix, Arizona. Arrive in time to meet your guides and the other group members at our 9:00 a.m. rendezvous at the host hotel near the Phoenix Airport. It’s recommended that you arrive the night before departure to allow for some relaxation time and to avoid any potential problems with delayed luggage. From Phoenix, we head north to Lake Powell (roughly 3600’) making a stop to stretch our legs and enjoy a short hike in Walnut Canyon National Monument. We hike in the footsteps of people who built their cliff dwellings in these canyons more than 700 years ago. Continue our drive to Antelope Point Marina on the southern shores of Lake Powell.  There’s nothing subtle about the beauty here – dramatic red sandstone spires and majestic cliffs rising out of the cerulean blue waters of Lake Powell define this as a desert paradise. We meet our boat captain and hop aboard for six days of canyon exploration.  Heading northeast along the main channel, we leave civilization behind for our wilderness home in a secluded cove.  Set up camp and then sit back to enjoy a scrumptious dinner prepared by your guides while soaking up fantastic views. Your guides will entertain you with a fireside chat and provide additional insight into the history of Glen Canyon and the creation of Lake Powell.  Slumber well in the quiet of the Canyon! All meals included from lunch today through breakfast on Day 7.

• Day 2

  “If there is a magic on this planet” wrote Loren Eisley, "it is contained in water."  With its nearly 2000 miles of shoreline, Lake Powell combines the magic of water with the red-rock glory of the desert Southwest to create a stunning marriage of water, stone, and sky.  Following a short kayak skills session we shove off for a paddle exploration of Labyrinth Canyon, a spectacular sandstone slot sculpted over the millennia by wind and water. The Navajo phrase describing a slot canyon is “Tse neh gi too na aah dis zjaa.” Translated, it means, “A place where water has painted a picture of itself”.  This is certainly evident here. Once the water gives way to land we bank our kayaks to finish our exploration on foot.  We wind our way through the twisted corridor of stone into tributary canyons so narrow you can touch both sides at once. You will be amazed by how the sun creates columns of angelic light providing for incredible photographic opportunities.  After a couple of hours treading through this seldom-seen beauty of Labyrinth Canyon, we paddle back to our base camp and a much deserved meal.
  
  Hiking: 2-5 miles; kayaking 1-3 miles.

• Day 3

  Awake to the smell of fresh-brewed coffee, enjoy a hearty breakfast and prepare for another action-packed day on the lake.  Boarding our pontoon boat we are transferred a short 15 minutes up-lake to the entrance of Face Canyon where we begin today’s paddling. The hours melt away as each stroke forward creates a new perspective from which to marvel at the canyon’s beauty.  Enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch and, of course, take time for splashing and cooling off in the lake. Back at base camp this evening, you’re treated to another culinary creation by your guides, each one a backcountry chef extraordinaire.
  
  Hiking: 1-5 miles depending upon interests/ability; Kayaking 2-6 miles.

• Day 4

  Following an energy packed breakfast, we shuttle over to West Canyon for an exciting day of kayaking and canyoneering.  With our smaller support boat following the group, we paddle about two miles up the canyon until it narrows into a tight slot with high, sheer walls. Here we leave our boats and continue onwards wading and sometimes swimming through deep pools (life jackets worn, of course) following the canyon’s contorted twists and turns. As you round one corner you encounter a seven-foot waterfall that, with the assistance of your guides, you scramble right up the face to a ledge—it’s a thrilling (if not challenging!) experience that both the kids and the parents will love.  We continue our canyoneering as far as time and energy allow.  If you like, you can opt out of this adventure and remain with boats, relaxing in the quiet of the canyon.  At the end of the day, we powerboat back to camp for dinner, campfire and a bit of stargazing.
  
  Hiking: 1-3 miles based on water levels in the slot canyon; Kayaking: 1-3 miles.

• Day 5

  A lazy morning with time to watch the rising sun paint the canyon wall shades of yellow, orange and red. Then it’s time to get a little “canyon crazy” with what our guides fondly refer to as “canyon criddles”.  After a skill-building seminar on the use of map, compass and GPS, each family unit will navigate a very fun course that includes solving “canyon riddles”, a blind navigation course, a trivia quiz about the Glen Canyon, walking the plank and much, much more!  Canyon criddles is designed to be quite interactive and child-friendly. It’s a blast. Following lunch and a dip in the lake, we spend this afternoon hiking and exploring the mesa above camp.  Wild Horse Mesa (4160’) offers stupendous views in all directions; it’s a great way to fully appreciate the immensity of this desert paradise.  Tonight is our final beach party.
  
  Hiking: 3-5 miles with 500’ elevation gain and loss; some paddling involved in the “criddles course”.

• Day 6

  After our last peaceful awakening on the shores of Lake Powell it is all too soon time to break camp and motor back down the lake.  Although we are leaving the lake behind, another fun family adventure is scheduled this afternoon. We explore on foot two of the crown jewels of America’s National Monuments:  Wupatki Ruins and Sunset Crater. Situated in the rain shadow of Arizona's San Francisco Peaks, Wupatki was once home to prehistoric Anasazi and Sinagua farmers and traders. Today, many free-standing masonry pueblos, field houses, rock art, pottery, baskets and tools are extraordinary evidence of a varied and complex lifestyle. Just 800 years ago, it was the tallest, largest, and perhaps the richest and most influential pueblo in the area.  But life here was interrupted dramatically by the eruption of nearby Sunset Crater Volcano.  Billowing ash, falling cinders, and forest fires blackened the land, and when the world again grew quiet, new mountains existed, including the 1,000-foot-high cinder cone now known as Sunset Crater. Tonight we stay at a hotel in the cool pines of Flagstaff and have our final celebratory meal at Casa Brava.
  
  Hiking: 1-3 miles.

• Day 7

  Final morning transfer to Phoenix/Scottsdale. Arrival in Phoenix will be between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.  Please do not schedule return flights earlier than 1:00 p.m. Breakfast included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations (hotels and tent), you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on this itinerary. If you wish to share accommodations (hotels and tent), we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is one-half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms and tents available on most departures.

One night in hotel; 5 nights base camping on Lake Powell; van transportation from Phoenix to the Lake Powell and return; expert "kid-loving" guides throughout; all meals from lunch on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 7; beverages including coffee, hot tea and cold drinks; custom houseboat used to support base camp activities; pontoon boat for shuttles; kayaks and related equipment; roomy tents with extra-thick sleeping pads; all group camping equipment; park permits and camping fees; and local taxes.

Flights to/from Phoenix, AZ; sleeping bags (rental available at $35 for the week); alcoholic beverages; airport transfers; lunch on Day 7; optional guides gratuities.

This trip is rated Moderate [3]. Beginners are welcome - it is not necessary to be an experienced kayaker although it is beneficial to have had some previous kayaking or canoeing experience (prior camping experience is also a plus but not mandatory).  You should be in a good physical shape.  In addition, you should be at ease in a small boat on the open water and know how to swim.  A typical day will consist of 3-6 hours of activity (paddling and hiking) with occasional breaks for sightseeing, swimming, wildlife viewing and meals.  Participants should come equipped with a spirit of adventure and willingness to pitch in and help with camp chores when necessary.

Lake Powell is the very large lake formed by Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River.  It straddles both Arizona and Utah. The canyon weather is typically sunny and dry and is also typical for high deserts. Summer months can be very hot with average daytime temperatures in the 90s; evenings cool off and become comfortable for sleeping. We are camping and spending most of our time on (or in!) the water…it’s perfect for cooling off. It is important that you stay well covered with sun block during the daytime.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased within 21 days of your initial trip deposit, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

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