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Home › Waters › Arizona › Colorado River (Lees Ferry)
Tailwater · Northern Arizona · Arizona

Colorado River (Lees Ferry) Fishing Guides

Fifteen miles of clear tailwater between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry, wild rainbows under red canyon walls and the launch point for the Grand Canyon.

Green river water in a deep sandstone canyon in northern Arizona

Map of the Colorado River (Lees Ferry)

24 numbered points: 2 access points, 6 campsites, 1 outfitter, 1 bridge, 1 park or conservation area, 2 agency offices, 3 regulation section limits, 2 hazards, 1 USGS gauge, 5 points of interest. Tap a marker for details. Reviewed Sep 25, 2026.

Printable version →
  • Access / boat ramp (2)
  • Campsite (6)
  • Outfitter / canoe rental (1)
  • Bridge crossing (1)
  • Park / conservation area (1)
  • Agency / conservation office (2)
  • Regulation section limit (3)
  • Dam / hazard (2)
  • USGS gauge (1)
  • Point of interest (5)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Points are curated from OpenStreetMap and state agency sources; confirm access and hours before you go.

Print it. Bag it. Bring it.Phones die, screens crack, and most of this water has no signal. Print this map, fold it into a zip-top bag or dry bag with your license, and you have a backup your electronics can’t give you. Every marker is numbered so you can say exactly where you are.

Open the printable map
All 24 points on this map
#PointTypeLat, LonNotes
1Glen Canyon Dam
Bureau of Reclamation - head of the reach		Dam / hazard36.93713, -111.48399Releases from the dam set the flow and the water temperature for the whole 15.5-mile tailwater. No boat access at the dam face.
2Glen Canyon Dam Bridge
US 89 - the only road bridge on the reach		Bridge crossing36.93556, -111.48328Carries US 89 across the gorge just below the dam; the next crossing downstream is Navajo Bridge, below Lees Ferry.
3Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center
National Park Service - US 89 at the dam		Agency / conservation office36.93570, -111.48574Park information, exhibits and dam tours on the rim above the head of the reach.
4Upstream boat closure - the three buoys
About 1/4 mile below the dam		Regulation section limit36.93427, -111.48297River travel above the three closure buoys is prohibited without a Bureau of Reclamation permit; signs are posted on both banks. Position measured 0.25 mi down the channel from the dam, not from a published coordinate.
5Kayak Beach seasonal closure
River mile -15.1, river right		Regulation section limit36.92630, -111.48129Closed to all recreational use from 15 March to 1 September for osprey nesting. Coordinate converted from the NAD83 UTM reference NPS publishes in its Superintendent's Compendium.
6Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Headquarters
National Park Service - Page, AZ		Agency / conservation office36.91932, -111.47550Park headquarters for the recreation area that manages the whole dam-to-Lees-Ferry reach.
7Wilderness River Adventures
Page, AZ - river outfitter		Outfitter / canoe rental36.90248, -111.47477Guide office in Page, tagged in OSM as a river outfitter for the Glen Canyon reach. Confirm trip offerings direct before travelling.
8Ropes Trail
Glen Canyon NRA - boat-in only		Campsite36.91827, -111.49138One of the five designated primitive camping areas between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. Signed, first-come, no fee; toilet and fire pit, and a short walk up from the boat. Boat-in only.
9Ferry Swale
Glen Canyon NRA - boat-in only		Campsite36.89818, -111.52293One of the five designated primitive camping areas between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. Signed, first-come, no fee; toilet and fire pit, and a short walk up from the boat. Boat-in only.
10Navajo Petroglyphs
River-level rock art panel		Point of interest36.88685, -111.52589Archaeological site recorded on the bank about nine miles below the dam. Look, photograph, touch nothing.
11Horseshoe Bend
The 270-degree meander		Point of interest36.88045, -111.51613The rim overlook above this bend is the famous one; from the water it is a long slow curve under sheer Navajo sandstone.
129 Mile
Glen Canyon NRA - boat-in only		Campsite36.87953, -111.51497One of the five designated primitive camping areas between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. Signed, first-come, no fee; toilet and fire pit, and a short walk up from the boat. Boat-in only.
138 Mile
Glen Canyon NRA - boat-in only		Campsite36.87824, -111.52426One of the five designated primitive camping areas between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. Signed, first-come, no fee; toilet and fire pit, and a short walk up from the boat. Boat-in only.
14Lunch Beach
NPS picnic site - boat-in		Point of interest36.87481, -111.54822Named day-use beach on the reach; the usual stop on the half-day float down from the dam.
156 Mile
Glen Canyon NRA - boat-in only		Campsite36.87531, -111.56215One of the five designated primitive camping areas between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. Signed, first-come, no fee; toilet and fire pit, and a short walk up from the boat. Boat-in only.
16Water Holes Canyon
Slot canyon at river level		Point of interest36.85032, -111.54337Side-canyon access point on the bank, tagged in OSM as a waterway access point. Foot access from the river only.
17Spencer Trail Lookout
Above the river, upstream of Lees Ferry		Point of interest36.86872, -111.57532Viewpoint on the Spencer Trail, the switchback climb out of the canyon that starts from the Lees Ferry historic area.
18Lees Ferry Boat Launch - paved section
NPS - upstream use, the only road access		Access / boat ramp36.86576, -111.58646The paved upstream half of the split ramp, for boats running up into the tailwater. Lees Ferry is the only place a road reaches the Colorado in over 700 miles of canyon. A 30-minute limit applies at the ramp and courtesy docks.
19Lees Ferry launch ramp - downriver section
NPS - gravel section, permit launches		Access / boat ramp36.86566, -111.58696The gravel downstream half of the ramp, used for loading and launching Grand Canyon river trips. OSM records it as access=permit; NPS describes it as the downriver section of the same ramp.
20USGS 09380000 - Colorado River at Lees Ferry
Flow and temperature for the whole reach		USGS gauge36.86433, -111.58787The reference gauge for Glen Canyon Dam releases; read it before you plan a run upriver.
21The cable below the launch ramp
Downstream limit for Lees Ferry boats		Dam / hazard36.86485, -111.58774NPS: do not boat below the cable downstream of the launch ramp. Dangerous rapids start below it and a Grand Canyon National Park permit is required to float on. OSM records an unnamed weir structure at this point.
22Lonely Dell Ranch Historic Site
Glen Canyon NRA - mouth of the Paria		Park / conservation area36.86897, -111.59510Pioneer ranch, orchard, log cabins and cemetery; self-guided walking loop of about a mile round trip. Picnic tables and shade, no water.
23Lees Ferry Campground
NPS - drive-in, dump station		Campsite36.85934, -111.60630The drive-in campground above the ferry site. NPS reports the upper loop closed for renovation with the lower loop open; check before you arrive.
24Paria riffle - regulation boundary
Foot of the Lees Ferry reach		Regulation section limit36.85739, -111.60159Arizona lists 'Lees Ferry on Colorado River' as its own water, and lists the Colorado River reach below it as running from the Paria riffle to Navajo Bridge. Read the current regulations before you fish.

Guides on the Colorado River (Lees Ferry)

Claimed profiles take booking requests. Unclaimed profiles are built from public records so the river is never empty; the guide can claim or remove one any time.

About the Colorado River (Lees Ferry)

Lees Ferry is where two famous rivers meet in one place: the fifteen-mile trout tailwater below Glen Canyon Dam, and the launch ramp where every Grand Canyon raft trip begins. The tailwater is clear, cold and startlingly beautiful, running between vertical Navajo sandstone walls with gravel bars and grassy shelves where wild rainbow trout hold in numbers that make this one of the most productive trout fisheries in the Southwest.

Fishing is done two ways. The walk-in water at the Lees Ferry ramp is public, easy to reach and fishes well on foot. The upper fifteen miles to the dam is boat-only, reached by motoring up from the ferry, and guides run that water daily, anchoring on the gravel bars and fishing small nymphs and midges to sighted fish. The rainbows are wild and self-sustaining, and management here also balances the needs of the endangered humpback chub, which shapes the regulations.

Flows come out of Glen Canyon Dam on a hydropower schedule and change through the day, often between roughly 8,000 and 15,000 cfs, with occasional experimental high-flow releases much larger. Anglers plan around the daily fluctuation: a dropping tide concentrates fish on the bars, and a rising one moves them. Water temperature stays cold and stable year-round, so this river fishes in every month.

Marble Canyon and Page are the base, with Flagstaff about two hours away. Boat rentals, guides and lodging are all clustered at Marble Canyon, and a walk-in day at the ferry costs nothing but a fishing license.

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5. What we may do

We choose which photos to publish and may decline any submission without giving a reason. We may crop, resize, sharpen or colour-correct a photo for display, and we may remove a photo at any time. We will not alter a photo in a way that misrepresents the fish, the water or you.

6. Your details

We keep your name, email address, the credit name, the water and date you gave us, and the network address the submission came from, with the submission record, as our evidence of this license. We hold that record for as long as the photo is published and for the retention period described in our privacy policy. Location data that your camera or phone embedded in the file is removed before the photo is published.

7. Versions

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Posting to Colorado River (Lees Ferry).

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The name shown under the photo. Leave blank to stay anonymous.

Reader photo license v1.0 — the short version:

  • You grant Guided Floats, LLC a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish, resize and crop your photo on guidedfloats.com and in GuidedFloats’ own social posts and apps. You keep the copyright and can use the photo anywhere else.
  • You confirm that you took the photo yourself, that publishing it does not infringe anyone else’s rights, and that anyone recognisable in it (or a parent or guardian, if they are under 18) is happy for it to appear here.
  • Credit is printed beside the photo wherever it appears on the site, using the credit name you give us. Leave it blank and we use your name; write “Anonymous” for no name. Your email address is never published.
  • Withdrawing is one email to hello@guidedfloats.com naming the photo. It comes off the site within 7 days.
Read the full license

Version 1.0, dated 6 September 2026. Applies to every photograph submitted to GuidedFloats through the contact form, a species page, or the community board.

1. What you give us

By ticking the box on the form you grant Guided Floats, LLC (“GuidedFloats”, “we”) a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to store, copy, resize, crop and display your photograph on guidedfloats.com, in GuidedFloats’ own social media accounts and mobile apps, and in material that promotes the site itself, in connection with the fish, water or community feature you sent it in for. The license lasts until you withdraw it (section 4).

You keep the copyright. The license is not exclusive, so you can use the photo anywhere else and license it to anyone else. We will not sell your photo, license it on to anyone else on its own, or use it in paid advertising for a third party.

2. What you confirm

You confirm that you took the photograph yourself (or otherwise own the rights to it), that you have the right to grant this license, and that publishing the photo does not infringe anyone else’s copyright, privacy or other rights.

If any person is recognisable in the photo, you confirm that they have agreed to its being published here, and that a parent or guardian has agreed on behalf of anyone under 18. Please do not send photographs of other people’s catches, screenshots, or pictures copied from other websites or social media.

3. Credit

We print the credit name you give us beside the photo wherever it appears on the site, and record it as the photo’s creator in the page’s structured data. If you leave the credit blank we use the name you gave us on the form. Write “Anonymous” if you prefer no name at all. Your email address, phone number and the exact spot the photo was taken are never published.

4. Withdrawing the license

You can withdraw the license at any time by emailing hello@guidedfloats.com, or by using the contact form, and telling us which photo you mean. We will remove the photo from guidedfloats.com within 7 days of receiving your message and stop using it in anything new. Copies that are already outside our control — search-engine caches, social posts that have already gone out, printed material already produced — may take longer to disappear or may not be recallable, and we are not responsible for those.

5. What we may do

We choose which photos to publish and may decline any submission without giving a reason. We may crop, resize, sharpen or colour-correct a photo for display, and we may remove a photo at any time. We will not alter a photo in a way that misrepresents the fish, the water or you.

6. Your details

We keep your name, email address, the credit name, the water and date you gave us, and the network address the submission came from, with the submission record, as our evidence of this license. We hold that record for as long as the photo is published and for the retention period described in our privacy policy. Location data that your camera or phone embedded in the file is removed before the photo is published.

7. Versions

The version of this license you accepted is stored with your submission and printed with the photo. A later version does not apply to a photo you have already sent unless you agree to it.

Flow alert

Tell me when the Colorado River (Lees Ferry) cfs

Now: 5,390 cfs, read 4:00 am CDT, Mon Oct 19, 2026 (USGS 09380000, COLORADO RIVER AT LEES FERRY, AZ).

We never use this address for anything else and never share it. See the privacy policy.

Access

Lees Ferry boat ramp: the main access, the walk-in fishery and the Grand Canyon launch point.
The walk-in reach: public bank access downstream of the ramp, no boat needed.
Upper fifteen miles to Glen Canyon Dam: boat-only access, guided or by rental.
Marble Canyon: lodging, guides and supplies at the highway junction.
Navajo Bridge: the overlook just downstream of the ferry.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: the administering agency; entrance fees apply.

Seasons

Year-round; the tailwater temperature barely changes.
March through May: comfortable weather, strong midge fishing and light crowds.
June through August: hot air, cold water, early starts and afternoon shade under the walls.
September through February: the best months for many guides, stable flows and very few boats.

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Questions

What is the current flow on the Colorado River (Lees Ferry)?

As of Oct 19, 4:00 am, the USGS gauge COLORADO RIVER AT LEES FERRY, AZ reads 5,390 cfs, the 17th percentile for this date, with water temperature 66.7 F. Conditions update every 15 minutes.

What species can you catch on the Colorado River (Lees Ferry)?

Anglers target Brown Trout, Humpback Chub, Rainbow Trout on the Colorado River (Lees Ferry) in Arizona.

Are there fishing guides on the Colorado River (Lees Ferry)?

GuidedFloats lists 2 guides and outfitters on the Colorado River (Lees Ferry). Claimed profiles accept booking requests; unclaimed profiles are built from public records and link to the business.

Where can you access the Colorado River (Lees Ferry)?

Lees Ferry boat ramp: the main access, the walk-in fishery and the Grand Canyon launch point. The walk-in reach: public bank access downstream of the ramp, no boat needed. Upper fifteen miles to Glen Canyon Dam: boat-only access, guided or by rental. Marble Canyon: lodging, guides and supplies at the highway junction. Navajo Bridge: the overlook just downstream of the ferry. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: the administering agency; entrance fees apply.

When is the best time to fish the Colorado River (Lees Ferry)?

Year-round; the tailwater temperature barely changes. March through May: comfortable weather, strong midge fishing and light crowds. June through August: hot air, cold water, early starts and afternoon shade under the walls. September through February: the best months for many guides, stable flows and very few boats.

Where are the fishing regulations for the Colorado River (Lees Ferry)?

Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Arizona agency site: https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/licenses-and-regulations/