Glen Canyon Recreation Area’s Jewel
Lake Powell was born in the 1960s, a massive winding reservoir built by man and the Glen Canyon Dam.
Located within the Glen Canyon Recreation area, the entire national recreation area spans one and a quarter million acres and two states, from Lee’s Ferry in Arizona to the brilliant salmon colored cliffs of Utah. Lee’s Ferry is a popular launch spot for Grand Canyon river rafting. Southern Utah’s towering walls and curved formations are named descriptively, like Rainbow Bridge and Orange Cliffs.
The lake is the shimmering oasis meandering through this vast area, all managed by our National Park Service.
The dam responsible for the creation of Lake Powell is located in Page, Arizona. The best vantage point to see the dam is the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge (Route 89) which is another architectural feature itself, rising over 700 feet from the river, making it one of the highest bridges in the US. Parking spots by the bridge allow tourists an opportunity to walk the bridge and capture plenty of pictures of both sides of the river valley below, as well as the gravity-arched dam.
Summer temperatures are sublime for boating and sightseeing over deep turquoise waters. Averages for June through August are rock solid in the 90-100 degree range. The spring and fall shoulder seasons are an excellent option too, with fewer visitors, but still in the 70s to 80s.
Since Lake Powell is a reservoir, it’s waters are pristine. Boaters are required to be educated about keeping it that way with strict rules on sanitation and aquatic invaders (Quagga Mussels).
Marinas on Lake Powell are scattered. It’s about 100 miles from Wahweap Marina in the south to Bullfrog Marina to the north. Dangling Rope provides services and fuel midway (but is accessible only by boat).
Our trip included a stay within the Glen Canyon National Recreation area, at Lake Powell Resort which is managed by the National Park Service’s concessionaire, Aramark. The first venture out on the water was a tour, in a cruise boat with a 20 or so capacity. The captain also served as our tour guide providing everything from fun facts to rich geological histories of the sights. Our afternoon trip was through Antelope Canyon which may the most convenient, abbreviated way to sample Lake Powell’s stunning red and orange slot canyons up close. (From proximity to Page, Arizona) Fellow floaters included a few throttled down runabout boats, kayakers slicing by, and paddle boarders, sometimes accompanied by canine navigators.
Houseboats abound. As dusk deepens, their nightlights softly bob in the marina slips, a direct counterpoint to the star filled navy black skies above. The weather is nearly always clear within this arid climate. The scarce population is a bonus, it means little light pollution.
Sightseeing from the lake will take some time, with nearly 2000 miles of shoreline and a hundred large side canyons to view. Those numbers go down somewhat when not at full water capacity and certain areas become less accessible. The Lake Powell reservoir hasn’t been at full capacity for many years since it’s creation due to changing weather patterns and water management. An easy way to see full capacity or high water mark is to look for the white line, or “bathtub ring.” The mark is from hard mineral deposits and calcium carbonate that deposits residue in the rock. Water levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead is a subject that has a huge amount of attention and opinion. As a precious resource for the southern states, controversy and proposals abound for it’s management.
Some say that Lake Powell is a secret celebrity hang out. Stunning vistas and crystal clear waters make boating under the southwest desert heat a world class experience.
You are such a wonderfully expressive writer!
Thanks for your feedback! You may appreciate the article on Oregon’s waterfronts. The main picture is the view from the deck at a hotel on Lake Oswego.