National park
National recreation area · Southern Utah
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell)
Lake Powell’s red-rock shoreline winds through nearly 200 miles of flooded canyons. Houseboats, kayaks and side canyons make it one of the great boating destinations in the West.
Photo: Tuxyso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Glen Canyon Dam backed up the Colorado River in the 1960s to create Lake Powell, a reservoir that twists through drowned canyons of Navajo Sandstone across the Utah–Arizona line. The recreation area covers more than a million acres, from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the edge of Canyonlands.
Lake Powell is best seen from the water. Houseboats are a classic multi-day trip, and kayakers and powerboaters explore side canyons where the walls rise straight from the water. Bullfrog, on the Utah side, and Wahweap and Antelope Point near Page are the main marinas. Lone Rock Beach is a popular spot for camping right on the sand.
The lake has dropped dramatically in recent years, which has closed some ramps and changed access to sites like Rainbow Bridge. It has also exposed canyons, arches and archaeology not seen in decades. Check current lake levels and ramp status before you plan.
Don't miss
- HouseboatingMulti-day trips through side canyons with a floating base camp.
- Kayaking side canyonsPaddle narrow arms of the lake where the walls rise straight from the water.
- Lone Rock BeachCamp right on the sand near a huge sandstone monolith.
- Horseshoe BendThe famous Colorado River meander, on the Arizona side near Page.
- Hole-in-the-RockThe spot where Mormon pioneers lowered wagons down a cliff in 1880, reachable by boat or a long dirt road.
Good to know
- Lake levels change access every year. Check current ramp and marina status on the park’s site before you go.
- Book houseboats and boat rentals well ahead for summer.
- Summer storms and wind can make the lake dangerous; check the forecast and carry life jackets for everyone.