American Boating Association....

BOATERS LOVE LAKE POWELL

Located on the border of Utah and Arizona amidst the towering red rock canyons in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, picturesque Lake Powell is a boater’s paradise. The lake is almost 200 miles long and stretches from the Glen Canyon Dam up the Colorado River through Utah, resulting in miles of magnificent shoreline--including lots of sandy beaches!

The lake was formed by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1956. Rivers from the upper regions of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico flow into Lake Powell and result in the second largest manmade lake in the U.S. (Lake Mead is the largest).

The lake has an average depth of around 500 feet and it’s shoreline is a nature lover’s paradise, with more than 90 red rock canyons, 170 species of birds, and 800 different mammals. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area overall encompasses more than one million acres of diverse lands and has become the central feature of the amazing “Grand Circle,” a collection of seven national parks, eight national monuments, numerous state parks, and prehistoric Native American ruins.

Ideal in the springtime and fall, but also quite popular in summer, Lake Powell enjoys spring and fall temperatures in the 70s and 80s, while the summer heats up to the 90s and low 100s. Brilliant green warm water temperatures reach the high 70s by August.

With a wide array of activities and amenities, Lake Powell is the perfect place for a boating-oriented vacation. The possibilities include: scenic cruising (including countless coves); world-class fishing; river rafting and other paddlesports; other watersports like waterskiing, wakeboarding, on-water trampolines, and much more; organized scenic tours; varied dining; camping; and, at night, crackling campfires on deserted beaches.

Extensive boater services provided by ARAMARK’s Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, an authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service, make the boating experience one of the best in North America. Lake Powell is known as “America’s Favorite Boating Destination,” thanks to a wide range of houseboat rentals ranging from 44 to 75 feet, but the lake is also great for powerboating (you can even rent 14- to 23-footers, if you don’t trailer your own).

Marinas on Lake Powell include: Lake Powell Resort & Wahweap Marina (on the south end of the lake in Arizona); Bullfrog Resort & Marina (in Utah, midway on Lake Powell); Halls Crossing Marina (across the bay from Bullfrog); and Dangling Rope Marina (in Dangling Rope Canyon, about 40 miles uplake from Wahweap Marina). Each of the marinas has a general store for essential provisions (including fishing licenses, which many boaters consider essential). Fuel stations are available at all four marinas and towing or repair services are offered at all but Dangling Rope. Public launch facilities and ramps are also available at Wahweap, Bullfrog, Stateline, Halls Crossing, and Antelope Point.

For those not staying on their boat each night, varied accommodations options await. The possibilities include: Lake Powell Resort (350 rooms and lots of amenities on the south end of the lake); Defiance House Lodge (48 rooms on the north end of the lake); “Family Units” at Hite, Halls Crossing, and Bullfrog Marinas (three-bedroom/two-bath rentals with living rooms and kitchens for up to eight people); and a wide variety of campgrounds (three) for RVers and tent campers.

Visiting boaters should also be sure to enjoy one of Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas many dining options. The options include: the Rainbow Room restaurant located in Lake Powell Resort, the Bene Pizzeria near the resort’s main boat ramp, and the Anasazi Restaurant in Defiance House Lodge at Bullfrog.

Wilderness River Adventures, managed by ARAMARK, provides visiting boaters with an array or awe-inspiring journeys on the Colorado River. These include mild single-day trips to wild multi-day Grand Canyon adventures. With the scenic beauty of the red sandstone canyon walls towering up to 1400 feet high, as well as lots of history, the un-dammed portion of Glen Canyon can be just as interesting as Lake Powell below the dam. The half-day river float trips offer flatwater rafting, a short hike, and lots of scenery. The Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trips run from three-and-a-half to 14 days.

Scenic cruises (great for first-time exploration) are also available to stunning Rainbow Bridge National Monument (see below) and Antelope Canyon, as well as a number of other picturesque locations. “Canyon Cruise Adventures” include a variety of scenic voyages to choose from, including Antelope Canyon, Eden Canyon, Moki Canyon, or the Forgotten Canyon (trips differ depending on departure location). The “Sunset Dinner Cruise” on the Canyon King, a 95-foot authentic paddle wheeler, is also a fun choice out of Wahweap Marina.

Boaters shouldn’t miss Rainbow Bridge, which is the world’s largest natural bridge. Tucked among the rugged and isolated canyons at the base of Navajo Mountain, the bridge is 290 feet high (nearly the height of the Statue of Liberty) and spans 275 feet. Departing from Lake Powell Resort, boat tours run to Rainbow Bridge two or three times daily from April to October (of course, private boaters can also head there).

All of this varied scenery and availability of boating-oriented activities have made Lake Powell quite popular (more than three million visitors annually). But boaters won’t have a problem finding their own private water oasis anytime of year!

For more information, simply visit www.lakepowell.com, a one-stop Lake Powell visit planner. In addition, for more information and reservations, call 888-486-4665.