Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

[caken]

Hey everyone!

I am heading to Lake Powell for the first time in 3 weeks and would love to get some input from people that have been there recently. The last time I was there I was 4 so I don't remember anything! I know there are a lot of threads already but I was hoping to get an idea of good camping spots from people that recently were there.

We plan to launch at Wahweap and camp for 4 days. Any suggestions on good places to look for a nice beach or must see areas for day trips? Also, what areas are the best for wakeboarding? And are there any dangerous things that we need to look out for besides the wind?

All help and suggestions are appreciated

 

[12vMan]

Re: Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

Hi caken

John3 was there recently so hopefully he will tune in.

Wind is the main thing at Powell. Be sure you're in a protected cove, and if you're houseboating tie it off real good!

 

[Sawz]

Re: Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

One of the best campsites down in that are is behind a rock called the Cookie Jar nice and secluded protected yet close to open water for skiing we fished the area and others close for 3 days without covering new , Lots of great exploring up lake not to far

 

[John3]

Re: Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

We were there in April & were blessed with fine weather. 4 days should be a good trip. Hope you can carry enough Gas for exploring the side canyons. Once on the Lake, gas, food, ice, etc are available at Dangling Rope, Halls & Bullfrog. Gas was about $5.10/gal. Fill up before you launch.
You must see Rainbow Bridge. As I recall it's about a 1 1/2 mile walk from where you leave your boat.
We boat camped & played it by ear, didn't plan on any specific places to stop each night. Just looked for a sandy beach in a cove where we wouldn't be exposed to wind or the wake of a passing boat. My boat's pretty well self contained, so we didn't worry about any facilities: Drinking water (Don't drink the lake water), electricity, toilets, besides that there aren't any. A map will show you where the few toilets on the lake are located, but you probably should have a Porta Pottie.
Guess I didn't post a report, shame on me, but I did reply to someone elses thread including a couple of pictures:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=549777
Have a Great Trip, wish I was going.
John

 

[caken]

Re: Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

John3, do you know how many miles between the marinas with gas? We have a 47 gallon tank and can go approx. 150 miles on 1 tank. We weren't planning on carrying cans since 5-10 gallons probably won't help that much if we can get to marinas throughout the trip.

Do you have any good spots for camping? coordinates or general fingers of the lake would be really helpful. Also, did you purchase the porta pottie? Since we are camping out we will definitely need to buy or rent one of those for the trip

 

[John3]

Re: Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

47 Gallons should do it. That's about what I have & I never had to worry. It's not so much the distance between marinas, it's sight seeing in the side canyons. I think it's a little over 100 miles from the Dam to Bullfrog, Dangling Rope is about 1/2 way. Click on the following link, it has a satellite view of the world. You'll have to find Lake Powell & then zoom in. It will show you what the lake looks like & if you see a spot you want to visit, you can get the Lat & Long. Wahweap is in Northern AZ, the lake is mostly in Utah. It's called Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
http://www.itouchmap.com/latlong.html

Also the following Bulletin Board is specifically about Lake Powell. It has good general information on the Lake. It's free you can join and ask questions:
http://wayneswords.com/index.php/ww-bulletinboard

If you don't have one, you'll have to buy a Porta Pottie, with a holding tank. You can Dump it out or Pump it out at any of the Marinas. No Overboard Discharge. The Lake is our water supply.

Be prepared for a boat inspection before launching. They are looking for some sort of fresh water growth that boats that have been used in polluted waters can bring in. They'll want to know where you've been. It's best if your Bilge is absolutely dry when you arrive & your fresh water cooling completely drained.

 

[az45]

Re: Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

We go to Powell a few times a year, its amazing. A GPS with Powell on it is helpful, its easy to get confused where you are the first time on the lake. When picking a camp spot, get something on the west side that will give you morning shade.
We were in Face Canyon last weekend and found a few good spot.

Be careful of the rocks, just because your in a wide open space doesn't mean there's not a rock ridge 2 feet under water.

I wouldn't go crazy and burn a bunch of gas trying to go to far up the lake, Rainbow you can see plenty between Wahweap and Rainbow Bridge.

 

[Skiya]

Re: Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

Caken, I'll be camping this year also, usually houseboat but just wasn't in the budget this year. You HAVE to have a port a pottie, they will write you up if you don't.
Navionics is a great app for Powell. Two years ago I went out w/ first timers, I took my boat on up ahead of the HB to find a beach. My buddy driving the HB thought he'd never find me. The app shows where the river ran (a purple line) which is the deepest and safest route around the lake. I told him to just keep the HB on the purple line and after I find a beach I'll come back down on the purple line, ran right into to him and we were 30 miles apart at one point.
Rock Creek, Friendship cove and I think it's called Dove cove are good spots to camp b/c you are close to Last Chance canyon which is a great place to get your water sports on at and you are only about 10 miles or less from Dangling Rope. Thats about in the 30-35 mile marker range. From there you can explore the lake pretty good.
Rainbow Bridge has been mention already, so have a day planned to go up the Escalante River (mm 69). If you hit Cathedral in the Desert about 10:30 am the sun reflects the water around a tight bend and looks like a aurora borealis dancing on the canyon walls. Thats at the back of Clear Creek. Go up the Escalante to the next canyon which is Davis Gulch and you'll find La Gorce arch, which is a cool site to see. This year I want to go to the next canyon up, Fftymile canyon there is a hugh cave that I would like to check out.
Never pass Dangling Rope w/out topping off and getting some soft serve ice cream. I have a 46 gal tank and made the trip from D.R. up the Escalante and back to out camp (mm 29-30) w/ a stop at Rainbow Bridge and used just over half a tank. We were gone for 7 hrs (packed a lunch) and I was too tired to stop at D.R., Besides I was going back there in the morning to dump our trash anyways and I just filled up then.

I know it's early in the season but I like to have a good doppler radar app. Those T-storms that come up at Powell can do some serious damage and should not be taken lightly.

Heres a couple camp sites to check, the back of Frindship cove and the back of Rock Creek.
I like Dove cove @ 37 3.108 - 111 11.678
Last year was @ 37 2 .642 - 111 12.409 and in Rock Creek 37 7.955 - 111 8.184

Cathedral in the desert is @ 37 17.263 - 110 54.962
La Gorce arch is @ 37 18.601 - 110 56.253

Fred's guide to Powell is a cool interactive map of Powell. Click on "Bays" and you can check out all the canyons w/ info on them as well.
http://web.archive.bibalex.org/web/20040603063404/www.elakepowell.com/freds/index.htm

 

[Skiya]

Re: Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

There is never enough time to do and see what you want at Powell. I was there 7 days last year and time just flew by. A couple pics of CITD.

La Gorce ach is cool, you can boat right up to both sides of it

 

[bunker108]

Re: Lake Powell Tips and Suggestions

I was just out there and had a great time. We camped four nights but we were up north around Halls and Bullfrog. Good campsites were everywhere up north. We made it as far south as Rainbow bridge which is a must see. That was over a hundred mile round trip, and ended up having to buy some gas from a house boater to get back to camp. Another day were bobbing in the marina out of gas and luckily we had a five gallon can to put in to get us to the fuel island. You will be fine with 47 gallons but I would carry an extra 5-10 gallons just in case. Fuel seemed to be our biggest limiting factor and we had about the same fuel capacity. It is super easy to get carried away and burn up all your fuel exploring. Have fun!