Discovering Arizona's Lake Powell

by Kent Davies

It's a great RV vacation. In fact, it only requires one wheel - the one with you at the helm piloting your mighty vessel on a one-of-a-kind houseboat vacation on northern Arizona and southern Utah's beautiful Lake Powell. A great family and friends destination, the high desert sunlight mixes a rich natural palette into a stunning Navajo sandstone tapestry; transforming mammoth mesas, vermillion cliffs, narrow canyons and rugged mountains into a multi-colored panorama of incomparable grandeur above gleaming turquoise waters. This manmade oasis behind the 710 foot high Glen Canyon Dam becomes ever more fascinating as flaming orange and red sunsets fade to dreamy night skies of bright stars and distant galaxies you never knew existed.

Boating on 186-mile long Lake Powell

The 186-mile long Lake Powell reservoir resides within the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, just east of the Grand Canyon. Lake Powell's shoreline of coves, canyons and 96 major tributary gorges stretches to 1960 miles—equaling the West Coast's entire shoreline. So immense is the reservoir behind the Glen Canyon Dam that after its completion in 1963 it took 17 years to fill to a total surface area of 266 square miles.

Such is Lake Powell's grandeur and its limitless opportunities for waterborne exploration that 60 percent of houseboat renters return, and the average visitor stay at the Glen Canyon National Recreation area is 4.1 days (the national park system's longest). In comparison, visitor stays average less than one-hour at the Grand Canyon National Park.

Lake Powell is named after 35 year old Civil War hero John Wesley Powell who in 1869, along with nine other intrepid explorers, embarked on a perilous three-month journey through uncharted rapids and canyons. Imagine the trepidation expedition leader Powell and his men experienced on such a journey through the Grand Canyon's fearsome rapids, only to find the beauty of Lake Powell as a welcomed retreat at the journey's end.

Lake Powell is a sparkling paradise offering water-based adventures for everyone, from teens exploring their jet skiing skills to grandparents enjoying all-day fully accessible tour boat excursions to spectacular destinations. Playing in and on the water comes naturally for almost everyone, with summer water temperatures averaging a very pleasant 80+ degrees.

Natural wonders, like the world's largest natural bridge near the lake's fifty-mile marker, keep vacationers returning. Rainbow Bridge towers above its desert canyon base an awesome 290-foot high with a 275-foot long span.

The bridge, widely considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is now more accessible because of the lake. Before Lake Powell's formation, Rainbow Bridge could only be viewed by hikers able to transverse the arduous 16-mile hike through rugged desert from Highway 98 or by rafting down the Colorado River and then hiking up to it.

Rainbow Bridge - One of the 7 Wonders

When Lake Powell's water level is sufficiently high, you can even captain your own houseboat or runabout close enough to admire its beauty from the comfort of your deck. Tour boats conduct daylong excursions to the bridge, but during low water visitors should check to determine if they feel they can transverse the short trail from the docks to viewing areas. Visitors to the Rainbow Bridge are asked to respect the Navajo religious site below the bridge.

For many visitors the ideal vacation with friends and family is renting a houseboat from one of ARAMARK's marinas as a comfortable base camp for cruising, camping, waterskiing, fishing and hiking expeditions. The houseboats, ranging in length up to 75-feet, are equipped with marine radios. More fuel efficient and maneuverable jet skis and runabouts are then used for exploring narrow sheer walled slot canyons rising hundreds of feet skyward or fishing for record breaking striped bass and rainbow trout.

Houseboats commonly leave Wahweap Bay towing colorful armadas of jet skis and runabouts for these very reasons.

Nancy Wheeler, from Phoenix, Arizona, has rented 48 and 59-foot accessible houseboats at the Lake Powell Resort and Marina with her husband and friends. Nancy passionately recommends a Lake Powell houseboat vacation.

"I just wanted to soak up everything. It is so peaceful, so quiet. An experience of a lifetime."  

Lake Powell Resort and Marina at Wahweap Bay off Highway 89A just north of Page, Arizona is your vacation headquarters. The resort's and campground's dramatic setting overlooks the lake's marina and immense vistas. The 348-room full service lodge's shops, restaurants and pools are open to all campground guests. The campground's store, showers and laundry facilities are clean and tidy—one of the best-maintained campgrounds you'll find.

For convenience, full shuttle services are available to both RV/campground and lodge guests.

Strolling Lake Powell's shores

Lake Powell RV Park & Campground at Wahweap Bay features a total of 90 full hook ups with numerous pull-through spaces, 112 non-hook ups and seven group tent sites for camping. Additionally, there are 77 full hook-up sites that are under construction and scheduled for completion in the spring of 2007.

To the east end of Lake Powell the RV Park at the Bullfrog features 20 pull-through spaces and four back-in spaces. The Village Center RV Park at Halls Crossing offers 32 pull-through spaces.

Nancy found the ARAMARK operated Lake Powell Resort and Marina staff very conscientious. "It's a whole different atmosphere from many vacation spots. Everyone is very friendly and accommodating."

Carefully plan your Lake Powell vacation. Lake Powell's seemingly endless recreation opportunities require prioritizing your itinerary. Various Web sites offer useful local knowledge from current lake levels to the latest fishing tips. Planning is imperative, given seasonal lake conditions.

"Lake Powell," Nancy recommends with a big smile, "is a once in a lifetime vacation. I would go again in a heartbeat."