Mead or Powell?

[dad25]

I have never visited either of these. I want to take a 4-day family boating trip around October 21st. The kids' primary concerns will be (1) that the water temperature is still good for skiing/boarding and (2) that we can find plenty of "glass." My concerns, on the other hand, will be that we can find a nice beach to camp on that will be relatively peaceful, yet not too far from civilization. I won't be able to carry all of the gas we need, so I will probably need to make daily runs to a marina for a fill up. Also, we would like to have some fun shore areas to explore when we want to be off the water. Can anyone tell me the "perfect" spot for all of this? My research so far is leaning toward the Overton Arm of Mead. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Mead or Powell?

Hi dad25. Welcome to iboats. Lake Mead is a great place for all of the above and may actually be a better choice for you depending where you want to launch. Late October is going to be a little chilly, maybe alot chilly, on Powell especially at night although the water will still be fine for boarding during the day. I still like Powell for sheer beauty and exploring potential though. Especially now with the water as low as it is, there are miles and miles of navigable slot canyon to explore. Absolutely breathtaking! Not sure where you are in Utah, but the Hite marina is still closed, so you're going to have to travel at least to Bullfrog to put in. <br /><br />Lake Mead should be wonderful that time of year and plenty warm. You can get as remote as you want to there. You can easily spend a week there in some areas and not see anybody. I haven't spent a whole lot of time in the Overton arm, but I'm sure QuietCat will be along to fill you in. <br /><br />Hope you have a great time. Post some pics when you get back.<br /><br />DR

 

[DJ]

Re: Mead or Powell?

Ditto DR on Powell and Mead recommendations.<br />Powell is QUITE low.

 

[QC]

Re: Mead or Powell?

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br /> I'm sure QuietCat will be along to fill you in.

Thanks for the lead-in DR . . . <br /><br />I would agree. That late in the season Mead's water and air temp are bound to be higher. The Overton Arm is likely to be the closest to you and is probably the best for camping. There is a lot of sand up there in Glory Hole and Kline Hole. They are across the arm from two major marinas. Echo Bay being the largest, but Overton Marina is substantial too. I have never shopped at Overton, but Echo has some groceries along with fuel, ice etc. There are some great sites in the Overton Arm, Cathedral Cove comes to mind as one of the prettiest, but the most picturesque parts of the lake are a farther drive. If you want remote and beautiful I would drive to Temple Bar and camp at Sandy Point. DR can defintiely comment on that . . .<br /><br />Here are some links for you. Wish I was going . . .<br /><br /> http://www.nps.gov/lame/home.html <br /><br /> http://www.reineri.org/ <br /><br /> http://www.instacam.com/showcam.asp?id=LAKMD&size=S <br /><br /> http://www.nps.gov/lame/water.html

 

[dad25]

Re: Mead or Powell?

Thanks all! After reading your posts and devouring all the info on the links, I think Mead sounds like the best choice this time. So, next is the selection of a location on Mead.<br /><br />Coming down from Utah, Overton would certainly be the closest drive, but Sandy Point sounds like a great place to camp. If I go to Gregg Basin, then it appears I have two choices for launching. Quietcat mentioned Temple Bar. I saw, however, that there is a ramp at South Cove. I sent an email to nps.gov and they replied that they expect the lake to be at 1135' at that time, so the South Cove ramp should still be fine. Are there any reasons to prefer launching at Temple Bar over South Cove?<br /><br />If I go to Overton then I guess I would launch at Overton Bay, and look for a camping spot in the Glory Hole / Kline Hole area.<br /><br />I wonder if there are any significant differences in water temperature between the two locations? I read on http://www.riverlakes.com that the skiing conditions are probably best in Gregg Basin. What about Overton?<br /><br />I won't be able to carry all of the gas we need, so I will probably need to make a couple runs for a fill up. If I am in Overton, I assume that a marina will be fairly close (either Overton Bay or Echo Bay). On the other hand, from Sandy Point I would either have to boat to Temple Bar or else I could trailer over to Meadview. Does that sound reasonable?<br /><br />Either way, I'm really looking forward to the trip!

 

[QC]

Re: Mead or Powell?

Sounds like you have got it. Temple Bar is a 35 minute boat ride from Sandy Point. I like the little routine in the morning, but yuo suck a lot of fuel to get fuel . . . You will have no problem launching either place at 1135', but Temple Bar is much more developed and protected. The skiing water is awesome in the Greg Basin. That whole damn thing glasses off at different times throughout the day. Overton less likely for that as the wind blows out of the south all the way up the arm. Still good though.<br /><br />The guy from Riverlakes is pretty good, but DR is better fot the Gregg Basin.<br /><br />Here's a lake level site and they give three weeks of future stuff too.<br /><br /> http://www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html <br /><br />Check this one out too. I use the later one as a map .. . It was shot at 1143 feet. My avatar is the older shot at 1200'<br /> http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/LakeMead/lake_mead.html

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Mead or Powell?

dad25. South Cove is a fine place to launch, but man, talk about a drive for you from Utah! Also, no ammenities there, so like you said you'll have to go into Meadview for everything, about a 15 mile trip all uphill, and there's not much there either. We're talking pretty remote here. The trade off is it's beautiful there with the Grand Canyon just off to the East. Plenty of huge sandy beaches and it's never busy there. It'll be completely dead that time of year. Water temp. at the cove is the same as the rest of the lake, but if you get out of lake effect to the East, it gets downright frigid. Look for where the brown water meets blue. Lots to do and see! Have a great trip.

 

[carrotsnapper]

Re: Mead or Powell?

I just got back from Bullfrog. I think everyone should stay away from powell. It is a mud hole. Gas is sky-high and the Hite marina is closed. Yes dad25, go to Mead, by all means. That way there will be less people at Bullfrog.

 

[jmorgan1]

Re: Mead or Powell?

I don't agree. We go to Powell every UEA holiday. Leaving next Wed. Water temp is about 70 degrees. Air can be variable. Usually the highs are in the 70's to 80 degrees. Lots more scenery and smooth water due to the cliffs. We have been blown-out by the lack of windbreaks at Mead. Mead will be a little warmer this time of year...a lot warmer during the winter. We go to Overton when we go to Mead. We save Mead for Nov-Feb, and go to Powell the rest of the time.<br />Jim

 

[QC]

Re: Mead or Powell?

Jim,<br /><br />Your problem with Mead is the Overton arm. I know it's closer for you, but the prevailing wind is out of the south, so theoretically the worst place is the northernmost tip . . . Overton. Anyway, I don't dissagree that wind is generally tougher at Mead, but there ARE cliffs and windbreaks elsewhere. Overton has the flatest terrain on the lake . . .<br /><br />I also love Powell, it's just too far for us.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Mead or Powell?

cs, Powell is a mudpit that far North right now, but areas to the South are as beautiful as ever. Even though it's a madhouse sometimes, put in in Page and you'll have a great trip.