Lake Powell - Is it worth it and rental options?

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I will be knocking off some National Parks in July with my family (2 adults, 3 kids - 8,11,14) and flying into Las Vegas on July 9th. Will end up doing a day at Zion, Antelope, North Rim and maybe Bryce. So the question for my my boating friends, should I reserve a day for Lake Powell? I have seen travel videos on Lake Powell before and it looks stunning. I keep a 212X at home, but it will not be travelling with me. Any rental recommendations? Is it better to rent a boat or a pair of wave runners? Not sure the exact date I will pick for the lake, but probably July 11th or 12th.

Any wisdom and advice will be greatly appreciated. If you know of someone on here from the area and would be willing to tag the in the post, that would certainly also be helpful!

Thanks in advance,
Brian

 

[Rumbo]

Lake Powell is very much worth it! The scenery is stunning. I’m there every 3 weeks in the summer and see something new every time I go.

The decision to rent a boat or wave runners depend on what you’re going to do. If you want to stay close to the marina and just play in the bays or a close cove then wave runners are a blast. If you want to make a trip up lake and explore then definitely a boat. The lake gets choppy that time of year, wake bounces back and forth between the canyon walls. Also, afternoons can get windy with some decent waves in the bigger bays. All the chop gets miserable on wave runners. Either way, I recommend trying to rent in Page. Aramark is the only consessioner allowed inside the park so they charge a lot more for rentals on the water than they do in Page.

If you just want to explore the lake for a day then maybe consider taking a ride on a tour boat. They offer several options but a trip to Rainbow Bridge is a great trip. Here’s a link for the tour boats. Wahweap Marina - Lake Powell AZ - Boat Tours | Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas AZ & UT

I’m happy to answer any questions you have. I love this lake and happy to hear about others getting to experience it!

 

[swatski]

Lake Powell is very much worth it! The scenery is stunning. I’m there every 3 weeks in the summer and see something new every time I go.

The decision to rent a boat or wave runners depend on what you’re going to do. If you want to stay close to the marina and just play in the bays or a close cove then wave runners are a blast. If you want to make a trip up lake and explore then definitely a boat. The lake gets choppy that time of year, wake bounces back and forth between the canyon walls. Also, afternoons can get windy with some decent waves in the bigger bays. All the chop gets miserable on wave runners. Either way, I recommend trying to rent in Page. Aramark is the only consessioner allowed inside the park so they charge a lot more for rentals on the water than they do in Page.

If you just want to explore the lake for a day then maybe consider taking a ride on a tour boat. They offer several options but a trip to Rainbow Bridge is a great trip. Here’s a link for the tour boats. Wahweap Marina - Lake Powell AZ - Boat Tours | Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas AZ & UT

I’m happy to answer any questions you have. I love this lake and happy to hear about others getting to experience it!

You have provided and continue to provide awesome Lake Powell info - thanks a bunch!

I know of houseboats rentals on Powell, was not clear what else is readily available.
We are planning the trip for the first week of June, trailering our Yami. Our experience with rentals on Lake Mead was not so great, they tend to enforce draconian restrictions on the range that's allowed to travel. On a windy day it could be... few hundred yards. (I don;t know how that works on Powell)

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[J-RAD]

Lake Powell is always worth it! Those are all beautifully scenic places, you seem to have your plate full. The only criticism I would have is that your only spending "a day". But I get it, it's a different story when you don't have your boat with you.

Renting or what to rent, like @Rumbo pointed out, all depends on what you intend to do. A boat will get you farther, if your intentions are to see as much of the lake as possible. If you just want a day on the water to play, maybe go for the skis. Maybe both could happen in a way though...? Perhaps rent the skis and play for a few hours and take a relaxing tour boat ride and hike Rainbow Bridge...? There's also a sunset diner cruise you could you might consider.

It sounds like it will be a memorable adventure no matter how you play it. Safe travels!

 

[sysinu]

If you're going to hail from Wahweap and want to see rainbow bridge, then you need to rent a boat and you need to plan your fuel consumption carefully. Dangling Rope Marina has closed early on many jet ski's or wave runners and left them screwed for the night (usually having to sleep in the rec room).

If you just want to tinker and have fun for a day or two, then a Jet Ski can get you to quite a few slot canyons, some great sights, a lot of fun. IF you rent a jet ski, get insurance on it and then go download the tour schedule for Rainbow Bridge. Those tour boats throw off a HUGE wake and when they get up on a plane it can be the ride of a lifetime to jump for the thrill junkie. ;-). I've never done that, but every time we go up lake and see a tour boat, it's like barnacles on a whale. Wave runners all over behind those things.

If you rent a boat, beware of the tour boats. Those Master Craft boats that the marina typically rents out do not take those wakes well. I have seen boats take tons of water over the bow.

Make sure you have a lake map or follow the channel markers. The lake levels fluctuate quite a bit and in July it's going to be situational as to runoff is concerned. Last year runoff ended super early and underwater structure became collision capable as the lake level dropped. Every year I see a boat "beached" in the middle of the lake it seems.

There are also tours that you can book. They are expensive and they take a really long time, but if you don't have a boat, it's the only way to experience the lake. In July, it's going to be hot. Plan for that.


Not trying to flag you with a ton of warnings, it's totally worth it. I would say it's better than some of the other places that you're considering.

 

[J-RAD]

IF you rent a jet ski, get insurance on it and then go download the tour schedule for Rainbow Bridge. Those tour boats throw off a HUGE wake and when they get up on a plane it can be the ride of a lifetime to jump for the thrill junkie. ;-). I've never done that, but every time we go up lake and see a tour boat, it's like barnacles on a whale. Wave runners all over behind those things.

We once camped in a small cove right off the main channel just a few miles upstream of Antelope Point. It was perfect, because every day at the same time the tour boat came by an gave us their wake. We planned for it because there was a shallow peninsula at the entrance to the cove that created a perfect water-break. We were literally body surfing the wake as it broke 100 or more yards away from where the boat passed... it was awesome! We caught as it passed both to and from Rainbow Bridge some days.

 

[Williamsone46]

Always worth IT