Lake Powell, Utah
This giant reservoir on the Utah Arizona border brings together bright blue waters and massive red rock cliffs.
From houseboating and kayaking to finding hidden canyons and swimming spots, it’s basically a water playground in the desert.
Here’s your guide to the best of Lake Powell.
Take a boat tour to Rainbow Bridge
Towering 290 feet high with a 275-foot span, Rainbow Bridge has amazed visitors for centuries and holds deep sacred importance to Navajo people, who see rainbows as guardians of the universe.
You’ll need a boat to get there since no roads lead to this 160-acre national monument. Most visitors take boat tours from Lake Powell marinas, followed by a short hike from the dock.
The sandstone forming the bridge is 42 feet thick and 33 feet wide at the top, creating a formation that’s lasted millennia.
Fish for striped bass in the Colorado River inlets
You’ll find fantastic fishing at hotspots like Bullfrog Basin, Padre Bay, Wahweap Bay, San Juan Arm, and Halls Creek Bay.
The lake teems with diverse catches – multiple bass species, trout, catfish, bluegill, walleye, green sunfish, crappie, and occasionally northern pike.
You can buy all your fishing supplies right at the marinas.
When houseboating, just drop your line off the back deck for easy fishing without even leaving your accommodation.
For trophy-worthy striped bass in spring, head to river inlets like the Colorado, Dirty Devil, San Juan, and Escalante arms, where they gather in water 30-80 feet deep.
Take as many stripers and walleye as you want because there’s no limit, and catching them actually helps maintain the lake’s ecological balance.
Walk through Antelope Canyon’s twisting passages
This Navajo Tribal Park includes two main sections: Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon.
You can only visit with authorized guides because these magnificent formations sit on sacred Navajo land.
Local guides share cultural insights while leading you through the surreal, flowing walls that photographers from around the world come to capture.
Lower Antelope Canyon, or “Hasdez’ twazi” in Navajo (meaning “the spiral role arches”), sits at 3,704 feet elevation with dramatic 120-foot walls.
Its V-shaped and narrower than Upper Canyon, so skip it if you’re claustrophobic.
For less crowded alternatives, try Antelope Canyon X in the southeastern section or Cardiac Canyon with its impressive 350-foot walls.
Entry costs $8 per person plus the price of your mandatory guided tour.
Kayak into narrow canyons
Access points include U.S. Route 89 and State Route 98 on the southwestern end, or State Routes 95 and 276 on the northeastern side. Rentals are available at all marinas, making it easy to get paddling.
You’ll glide across crystal-clear blue waters against vibrant red cliff backdrops for a contrast you won’t forget.
Get an adrenaline rush with water sports
You’ll find rentals for everything from boats and jet skis to kayaks and paddleboards at the marinas.
The calm, clear waters create ideal conditions for wakeboarding, tubing, and water skiing. Multiple boat ramps welcome those bringing their own vessels.
Summer water temperatures reach a comfortable 70-80 degrees, letting you stay in the water for hours without getting cold.
At Wahweap and Bullfrog Marinas, you can rent 19-foot powerboats with 150 hp engines that seat eight people, perfect for cruising, fishing, and entry-level skiing or tubing.
Learn about John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition
Dive into regional history at the Powell Museum & Archives in Page, established in 1969 and home to over 100,000 artifacts.
You’ll discover how one-armed Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell led the first expedition to navigate the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1869, filling in the last blank spot on the U.S. map.
Spend nights under star-filled skies
You’ll find designated campgrounds at each marina, but many visitors prefer finding their own isolated canyon spots.
If you prefer established facilities, Wahweap RV & Campground on the south shore and Bullfrog RV & Campground up north provide developed sites with modern amenities.
For beach camping from houseboats, plan your trip during late May through early July when water levels make more beaches accessible.
Each marina offers showers, laundry facilities, and convenience stores, so you won’t need to pack absolutely everything for extended stays.
Capture photos of red sandstone walls meeting blue water
You’ll find maze-like red-walled canyons cutting through turquoise water, while side canyons reveal natural wonders like Stevens Arch and La Gorce Arch in the Escalante area.
Visit Antelope Canyon between March and October during midday to capture the famous light shafts piercing through the slot canyons, illuminating pink, orange, and gold wall patterns.
Anchor in secluded coves for complete privacy
With nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline, Lake Powell offers endless private retreats. You can find hidden coves and beaches where you won’t see another soul all day.
The activities are endless: houseboating, hiking, watersports, or simply relaxing on your own private beach.
Hundreds of side canyons and inlets provide natural sanctuaries among stunning rock formations.
Locals recommend exploring areas around Wahweap Bay and near the Dam for particularly picturesque spots.
Join Navajo-led tours
The Lake Powell region holds deep meaning for indigenous peoples.
Antelope Canyon’s Navajo name, “Tsé bighánílíní,” translates to “The place where water runs through rocks,” describing how water shaped these formations over hundreds of years.
Many local tour operators are Navajo-owned and operated, offering authentic cultural insights during your excursions.
The National Park Service officially recognizes Rainbow Bridge as a Traditional Cultural Property due to its sacred significance to Native American tribes.
Marvel at Glen Canyon Dam
This massive engineering achievement transformed the landscape of northern Arizona and southern Utah.
The 710-foot high Glen Canyon Dam ranks as the second highest concrete-arch dam in the United States, just 16 feet shorter than Hoover Dam.
Construction began when President Dwight D. Eisenhower triggered the first explosive from the White House remotely.
The dam fulfilled the water compact between several western states and produces significant hydroelectric power for the region.
It emerged from bedrock as a series of blocks, each seven and a half feet high and up to 60 feet wide by 210 feet long, requiring over 400,000 buckets of concrete to complete.
Hike off-trail through Glen Canyon’s wilderness
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area doesn’t feature many developed trails, but that means you can explore off-trail almost anywhere with proper water and navigation tools.
For established paths, try the Hanging Garden Trail with its impressive views of the lake and sandstone cliffs.
The Page Rimview Trail stretches nearly 10 miles with dramatic overlooks of the canyonlands, Glen Canyon, and Lake Powell.
For the ultimate wilderness experience, tackle the traditional 14+ mile hiking trails to Rainbow Bridge through Navajo Nation land (permits required).
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