Lake Powell has been on my bucket list ever since we decided that being a lake family was our destiny and it is every bit as beautiful as I imagined it would be! With it's turquoise waters and deep red rock canyon walls, it's no wonder it's one of the world's premier boating destinations. Here are some things we learned from our first time and recommendations that I would pass on to help you plan your trip.
Where to stay
I think what held us back from going to Powell for so long was that we always associated Powell with houseboats. While I still think staying on a houseboat would be amazing, it's nice to know that there are other great options available (if you are interested in a houseboat there are plenty of rental options, I would recommend starting your search here). You can also get a hotel in Page which is about 15 minutes from the Wahweap marina. Tent camping on the beach is also an option but we were warned against it since Lake Powell is known for it's harsh winds that kick up. We opted to rent an RV and it was a great option for us. We rented ours from Cruise America in Flagstaff and then set up camp at Lone Rock Beach. There are no designated campsites and no reservations, I would recommend getting up as early as you can and preferably on a weekday just to ensure that you get a spot. There is a fee of $10 per vehicle per night. There are flush toilets and rinse showers located at the campground information center and outhouse toilets located on the beach. If you do decide to tent camp be sure to bring a porta-potty if you plan to camp a few hundred feet away from the outhouses, rangers regularly patrol the area to enforce this. At this campground you can drive right up on the sand which is great to be so close to the lake, but 4WD is recommended since many vehicles get stuck in the sand. We had no problem driving the RV on the sand. We loved this beach, but for information on other campgrounds in the area, click here. You'll launch your boat from the Wahweap Marina about 8 miles away then you can just anchor your boat right on the beach by your campsite so you can wake up early and get the first run on that glassy water! As an added bonus, digging holes in the sand kept the kids highly entertained when we weren't on the water!
Where to explore
Lake Powell is obviously best explored by boat. If you don't own a boat, there are boat rentals available along with houseboats, kayaks, and a variety of water toys through Antelope Point Rentals (out of Antelope Point Marina) or Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas (out of Wahweap and Bullfrog Marinas). You can also take a boat tour to several different destinations on the lake. I totally underestimated the size of Lake Powell, it is massive! The nice thing about it being so big is that it never feels crowded and it also means that there are so many cool places to explore.
Labyrinth Slot Canyon
This spot is amazing! It is very similar to Antelope Canyon, but you don't have to pay for a tour and can spend as much time as you want exploring around. Here is a map showing the location of the slot canyon (the red marker) from Lone Rock Beach.
Getting there is half the adventure! You cruise through the canyon as the walls slowly narrow, just use caution especially if following behind other boats so that the waves don't push you into the walls. We just kept going until the canyon became so narrow that the boat couldn't fit anymore then we just tied buoys on the side of the boat to avoid bumping into the canyon wall and dropped an anchor then climbed out and walked the rest of the way to the slot canyon entrance. The water is only about waist deep at this point. Or a smarter and more considerate option would be to anchor the boat a little farther back before it gets too narrow so that others wanting to visit the canyon don't have to climb over your boat to get to it- ha! Rookie mistake.
When you see this rock formation, turn to your right and go through this small passage that you can see in the picture below
We were following behind our friends and their wake sloshed us around like we were in a washing machine, the kids thought it was so fun, but I was a little nervous! Just go slow and give yourself space behind other boats. Besides that, it's an incredibly beautiful (and exciting) ride!
You'll walk for a short distance in the water (water shoes recommended) until you reach dry ground, then be prepared to be blown away by the beauty of these slot canyons. The kids had the best time exploring all over and is something they still talk about today. I think I took about 254 pictures in here, so please appreciate that I managed to narrow it down to 7! Just trying to give you a visual of how amazing this place is.
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Rainbow Bridge is the largest natural bridge in the world and can't be missed. It's a good 90 minute boat ride at full throttle from Lone Rock Beach, so set aside at least a half day to explore this area. Of course the boat ride out is just as enjoyable and scenic, but be sure you have a full tank of gas and either bring an extra gas container or plan to fill up at Dangling Rope Marina, just to be safe. Also use caution through the narrower passages, it can get busy in this area and boats will be coming both ways.
Sightseeing
Honestly, the most fun is just cruising around without an agenda, there are so many hidden gems just waiting to be discovered! A few areas that are fun to explore are Padre Bay, Cookie Jar Butte, La Gorce Arch, Navajo Canyon, Rock Creek Canyon. Reflection Canyon is an iconic photo op if the water level is low enough, as well as Cathedral in the Desert.
The Sand Hill
I don't know if there's an actual name for this, but not too far up from Lone Rock Beach you will see a huge sand hill to your left. It's quite a workout hiking to the top, it's massive! But the kids had so much fun running down, for added fun bring some boogie boards and go sand boarding!
Horseshoe Bend
I know it's hard to get off the water, but this will be worth it! Horseshoe Bend has been on my bucket list for a while now. Ever since I discovered that it existed, thanks to Pinterest. It is only a short walk over a hill at an unassuming parking lot on the side of the road right outside of Page. We've made that drive so many times and I had no idea that jaw dropping beauty lay a mere 3/4 mile down a dusty trail. The thing about this place is that it is crazy beautiful but also crazy scary. Those sheer drops are no joke. With so many people milling around and taking selfies on the edge of the cliffs, it's amazing that no one stumbles and falls. I had eagle eyes and a death grip on my little guy's hand and I breathed a deep sigh as we headed back to the car. It's making me anxious just thinking about it, but for now let's just focus on the immense peace and beauty radiating from this natural wonder, it's definitely a place you need to see at least once!
Last of all, have fun!
Whether you're wake boarding, tubing, jet skiing, kayaking, hiking, having a bonfire on the beach or just enjoying the scenery with family and friends, your Lake Powell trip is guaranteed to be an unforgettable one!
You might like these travel guides as well (click on an image):
If you have any favorite locations at Lake Powell, I would love to know what they are!
