Lake Powell
Overview
|
Mon 70 | 38 |
Tue 72 | 43 |
Wed 66 | 41 |
Thu 73 | 47 |
Fri 77 | 45 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
|
Mon 70 | 38 |
Tue 72 | 43 |
Wed 66 | 41 |
Thu 73 | 47 |
Fri 77 | 45 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
Lake Powell was completed in 1963, and forms the second largest man made reservoir in the United States. It covers a large expanse of land on the southern Utah / northern Arizona border. Although hotly debated on the merits of damning, and flooding such a unique wilderness with many primitive cultural sites, Lake Powell does provide unique outdoor opportunities. Boating, hiking, and canyoneering opportunities abound throughout the lakes length. Be forewarned, however, it is rugged country and unforgiving. The lake is huge, covering about 140 miles from Glen Canyon Dam to Hite, in it's upper reaches. Some areas are accessible via car or overland, while many/most are easiest to access via boat.
Season to visit
Anytime, although canyoneering is best done in the late spring through early fall. Summers can be brutally hot, necessitating early starts, and carrying plenty of water. Canyons on the lake often contain much water, and will require wetsuits in even the hottest times of the year. Powell is home to some of the most beautiful, yet also hard to access and challenging canyons on the Colorado Plateau.
Lake level can have a significant impact on where you can climb out of the lake to the slick rock above, as well as how much of a canyon is accessible. Drought and usage demands in current years are making many amazing canyons that had been submerged since the 1960's, now visible and accessible.
Lake Powell Travel Intro
The Rules of the Lake: Understanding the Buoys
Lake Powell follows the U.S. Aids to Navigation System (ATON). Think of these as the traffic lights and street signs of the canyon.
Going Up-Lake (Away from the Dam): Keep the Red Buoys (cone-shaped "Nuns") on your Right and the Green Buoys (cylindrical "Cans") on your Left.
Going Down-Lake (Toward the Dam): The colors flip. Keep the green on your right and the red on your left.
Information & Danger: White buoys with orange diamonds mark underwater hazards (rocks and shallow points), while circles indicate "No Wake" zones near marinas.
The Numbers: Every main channel buoy has a number representing its distance from Glen Canyon Dam. If Labyrinth Canyon is at Mile 18, it will always be at Mile 18. These numbers are the "fixed address" on the lake.
The Movement: While the number stays the same, the physical buoy moves. As water levels drop, the deepest part of the channel shifts. The NPS "Aids to Navigation" (ATON) team constantly re-surveys the lake, physically hauling anchors to deeper water to ensure the buoys always guide you through the safest passage.
Shifting Channels: In narrow spots like "The Cut," markers are moved weekly during rapid level changes to prevent groundings. For example, Castle Rock Cut is a famous "shortcut" near Wahweap. When the water is high, you can take this cut and skip several miles of travel. However, the buoy numbers in the main channel don't change to accommodate your shortcut—you just "jump" from Mile 2 to Mile 8, for example.
The Golden Rule: Always trust the physical buoy in the water over your GPS or paper map. If your screen says you’re in deep water but a "Danger" buoy is in front of you-believe the buoy.
Lake Powell Classics
The lake is filled with classic adventures of almost all types. Trips such as West Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, Cathedral in the Desert, and many other attractions leave more to do than time to do them. Most of the trips here will be accessible by land, although there will be some boat trips as well.
