Lake Powell
Lake Powell – a Wild Time in the Desert
By Dixie Brunner
Talk about the wild side! A lake in the middle of the desert?
There are other wild things at Lake Powell besides hard bodies. Photo by Kelly Hilding.
Lake Powell offers everything from stunning vistas, boat travel, hiking and quiet family vacations, to fine amenities, extreme sports and a great partying atmosphere.
Football teams, important corporate executives and the rich and famous, as well as retirees, recreational enthusiasts and casual family travelers come to Lake Powell to get away.
When viewing this enormous body of water straddling the Utah/Arizona border, you realize Lake Powell is unarguably one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
The immediate countryside leading to Lake Powell has the mysterious look of moonscape. Large, wind-hewn mountains, scattered boulders and deep crevices mark every turn.
Lake Powell was named after explorer John Wesley Powell, who was one of the first to navigate the Colorado River. The body of water possesses more shoreline than the Pacific Coast of the United States.
The lake, with a dramatic backdrop of Navajo Mountain, was created when the Glen Canyon Dam was built. A huge power plant was constructed to harness the awesome energy of the Colorado River.
Lake Powell is probably first and foremost a boater’s paradise. Most people will tell you the only way to really “experience” the lake is by boat. Aquatic access can offer you the opportunity to view such natural wonders as Hole-in-the-Rock and Rainbow Bridge (the largest natural stone span in the world). You may choose to rent a houseboat to explore the myriad of secret coves and canyons, where 200 to 300 foot rock walls tower above you.
Lone Rock is the first stop travelers should make when coming from Kanab to Lake Powell. Lone Rock is named for the large mountain of rock rising out of the calm lake. With miles of sandy access, the serene beach seems the logical place to unwind after a hot drive. Lone Rock Beach offers swimming, boating access, beach front camping, and remarkably pristine sand.
A word of caution – in your hurry to dip your toes in the refreshing waters of Lone Rock – proceed carefully. The same beautiful sand that’s appealing to beach worshippers is also a nightmare for your vehicle! If you want to keep from spending vacation hours shoveling and pushing your vehicle out of the sand, park on hard ground!
The next logical stop for Lake Powell visitors is Wahweap Marina. This beach and full-service marina offers all the amenities a traveler needs to fully enjoy Lake Powell. From restaurant to motel, boat dock to rental companies, you can get what you need at Wahweap.
