Boating

 

Have fun and stay safe on the water

NPS

By far the most popular activity in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is boating. On a private vessel or a rental, over two million visitors enjoy the deep turquoise waters of Lake Powell every year.

There are fees for your vessel in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

 

Halls Crossing Marina

NPS / Brent&Dawn Davis

Services and Locations

There are four marinas on Lake Powell, two of them with ramps where you can launch a private vessel. For the latest launching conditions check our Changing Lake Levels page. Services (like convenience stores and boat gas) and hours of operation vary at each marina.

Public Launch Ramps

• Antelope Point Public

• Wahweap Main

• Wahweap State Line/Auxiliary

• Halls Crossing

• Bullfrog Main

• Bullfrog North

 

Ensure you have all proper equipment before heading out.

NPS

Regulations

All boaters must follow federal and state regulations and carry all required equipment on their vessels

• United States Coast Guard
• Utah Division of Natural Resources: Boating
• Arizona Game and Fish

 

Stay Safe!

Stay aware of your surroundings when you are on the water. Check out the Safety page before you embark.

Bow riding (sitting on the top front part of the vessel) is illegal unless the vessel is designed for people to ride in the bow section (the bow section will have seats).
Watch your limbs! Approaching a dock with your arm or leg to brace your vessel is not a great idea, unless your idea is to crush your fingers or toes.

Learn more about boating safety in the National Park Service.

Weather

Be sure to look at a weather forecast before your day on the water. Afternoon storms can rise out of calm mornings. Check the National Weather Service Marine webpage for 3-day forecasts and specific information on Lake Powell conditions. Mouse over Lake Powell on the map for an overview, then select either Arizona or Utah side for in-depth area forecasts.

Lifejackets

Boaters are required to carry a personal flotation device (also known as PFD) of proper size for every passenger in the boat. Children 12 years of age and younger must wear a Type I, II, or III US Coast Guard approved lifejacket when the boat is underway. It is recommended that children always wear a lifejacket when they are around water, even if they are not on a boat.

People on personal watercraft must wear a life jacket regardless of their age, as must anybody being towed by a boat (skiing, tubing, etc).

On the Colorado River between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry, paddlecraft operators and passengers must wear life jackets. 

Navigation

Lake levels fluctuate throughout the year. The lake may be many feet higher in the summer than it is in the winter, translating into a very different shoreline to contend with. Use a good map to navigate. There are many unmarked underwater hazards in Lake Powell. Boating at night is not recommended.

Use the red and green navigational buoys to aid your travel. These buoys indicate deepest water. Numbers on main channel buoys are APPROXIMATE mileage from Glen Canyon Dam.

Wakes & Wakeless Zones

Be aware of wakes and waves that bounce back and forth between canyon walls. Slow down when passing boats. Look at the size of the wake, not the size of the boat. Depending on hull design, even relatively smaller boats can produce serious wakes. Approach large wakes at a 45-degree angle. Bouncing on wakes might sound like fun, but compression injuries are very common on Lake Powell.

Operating in excess of 5 mph or creating a wake is prohibited in harbors, marinas, designated swimming areas, and other areas marked "No Wake".
Do not create a wake when you are within 100 ft of:
-A designated area
-A downed skier, tuber 
-Wading, fishing in water, floating, swimming (person in the water)
-Another vessel (propelled, anchored or drifting vessel)
-Designated launch site
-Diving flag marker

Rainbow Bridge National Monument and Antelope, Labyrinth and Lost Eden Canyons are also wakeless zones.

Carbon Monoxide Dangers

Do not allow passengers to congregate around engines or the backs of vessels when engines or generators are running. In vessels that vent CO out the back, this deadly gas can collect under the swim step and spaces under the boat. The CO remains there long after engines and generators have been shut down. Don't play or swim under the swim step or under the vessel. Use carbon monoxide detectors.

Camping on the Shore

You can camp anywhere on the shorelines of Lake Powell except in developed marinas and within the boundaries of Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Learn more about primitive shoreline camping on the Camping page. Houseboaters must know how to properly anchor a houseboats—staking damages the shoreline, creates risks to others, and is considered vandalism. All campsites are required to have a portable toilet unless toilets are available on the vessel or within 200 yards of the campsite. Do your part to keep Lake Powell Pure.

 

Vessel Services

• Vessel Caretaking
• Minor Vessel Repair
• Launch and Retrieval Services
• Marine Salvage
• Alternative Anchoring

Vessel Services

The National Park Service requires specific authorizations for commercial businesses to operate in national parks. If you're interested in providing a service in Glen Canyon, read more about doing business with us.

Approved companies provide a variety of vessel-based inside Glen Canyon, including:

• Vessel Caretaking
• Minor Vessel Repair
• Launch and Retrieval – Motorized Vessels less than 26’ (Commercially Owned Only)
• Launch & Retrieval – Human Powered Vessels less than 26’ (Commercially Owned Only)
• Launch and Retrieval Services (Privately Owned Vessels)
• Marine Salvage
• Alternative Anchoring

 

Floating restroom stations are provided to help you follow the rules of Lake Powell Pure

NPS

When You Need to Go

• Plan ahead to keep Lake Powell Pure. Those camping on shorelines need a human sanitation device (portable toilet) that does not use plastic bags to contain the waste.

• Digging a cat hole is not allowed because the area could be covered with water later, resulting in your human waste floating in the lake.

• Don't dump your tank in the lake. There are floating restrooms/pumpout stations on Lake Powell. They are marked with a special icon on the park map. There are also boat pumpout or dump stations at many of the marinas.

 

Due to the dangers caused by misuse of Lake Powell beaches, the following advisory is in place:

Any time that you do recreational activities (swimming, water skiing, making sand castles, etc.) on the beaches or in the waters of Lake Powell you are strongly encouraged to follow basic hygiene practices:

1. Do not ingest the water

2. Wash your hands before eating and touching your eyes or mouth

3. Shower with soap after participating in any water activities

4. Wash your hands after handling fish, gathering up your water gear and toys, changing out of your swimming suit, etc.

5. Do not enter the water if you have open sores or cuts or if you are currently sick with diarrhea as one of your symptoms

 

Anchor Your Houseboat Correctly

 

Play it safe and wear a helmet

NPS

Personal Watercraft

People on personal watercraft must wear a life jacket at all times regardless of their age. Read the personal watercraft regulations.

Children ages 12-17 who wish to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) in Utah must take a certification course in order to do so. Classes must be taken online through the Utah State Parks website.

PWC are not allowed on the Colorado River at Lees Ferry.

 

Get a thorough hot wash at a decontamination station. Don't forget to clean your anchor too!

NPS

Clean. Drain. Dry.

Because quagga mussels have been confirmed both above and below the dam, all boaters and fishermen must clean, drain, and dry their vessels and all equipment after contact with these waters.

Educate yourself on the threats of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and state regulations in place to prevent their spread. In addition to ecological impacts, quagga mussels have devastating financial impacts on marina infrastructure and boats.

Do Your Part

Before launching
Ensure your watercraft and equipment are clean, drained, and free of aquatic hitchhikers.

Exiting Lake Powell

• Remove debris when you pull your anchor

• Pull your plugs and leave them out

• Clean debris, then drain all water from engine and interior compartments. (A technician can assist you if the inspection station is open.)

• Prepare for watercraft inspection—leave compartments open and accessible

• Visit the NPS watercraft inspection and decontamination stations

Without proper decontamination, quagga mussels can clog internal systems on vessels resulting in engine failure and boat fires. Check state regulations (AZ, CO, Utah) regarding mandatory dry times and decontamination. Check out these Lake Powell FAQs from the state of Utah.

 

Rent a boat for a day or stay aboard for a week!

NPS

Boat Rentals & Tours

There is no need to feel left out if you do not have a boat of your own. There are two park consessioners who rent boats on Lake Powell.

• Antelope Point Marina, at Antelope Point, rents houseboats, cruisers, water toys, and kayaks.
• Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas rents boats and toys of many shapes and sizes out of Wahweap and Bullfrog.

There are also boat tour options for those that want to sit back and enjoy the ride.