Travel Tile Lake Powell is a man-made reservoir located in northern Arizona and southern Utah, created by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. With a capacity of over 24 million acre-feet, it is the second-largest reservoir in the United States and the largest in the Southwest. Spanning over 186 miles, Lake Powell offers an incredible variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.

This was our next stop after we departed Zion National Park and our plan was to spend one night in Page, AZ and explore Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. We also wanted to avoid a full day's drive into Durango, CO (our next pit stop) and stopping in Page, AZ allowed us to explore Lake Powell and then drive on to the Four Corners area.

Lake Powell plays a vital role in the region's water supply and hydroelectric power generation. The construction of Glen Canyon Dam in the 1960s created this impressive reservoir, which can store up to 27 million acre-feet of water. Beyond its recreational significance, the area surrounding Lake Powell is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with hiking, camping, and sightseeing opportunities in the nearby Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and beyond. Whether you're seeking adventure or simply looking to immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty of the American Southwest, Lake Powell is a destination that never fails to captivate.

Lake Powell Information 

Lake Powell Interesting Facts

  • Lake Powell is the second largest man-made reservoir by maximum water capacity in the United States behind Lake Mead.
  • Lake Powell has a maximum capacity of 30 cubic kilometers (7.2 cubic miles) or 30 trillion liters (7.9 trillion gallons).
  • Lake Powell's main body stretches up Glen Canyon, but has also filled many (over 90) side canyons.
  • Hundreds of colorful sandstone side canyons, coves, and natural wonders make Lake Powell a paradise for house boating, fishing, photography and of course paddleboarding!
  • Glen Canyon Dam is a major source of hydroelectricity, averaging over 4 billion kilowatt hours per year.
  • Lake Powell is a water storage facility for the Upper Basin states of the Colorado River Compact (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico).
  • Lake Powell is visited by over two million people every year.
  • Lake Powell requires entrance and boating fees that are collected by the National Park Service (NPS). If you have an NPS Senior Pass or a "America the Beautiful" pass then entry will be free (boating fees are separate). The NPS Senior Pass information can be found here and America the Beautiful pass information can be found here.

Lake Powell Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is Lake Powell named after: Lake Powell is named for explorer John Wesley Powell, a one-armed American Civil War veteran who explored the river via three wooden boats in 1869.
  • How big is Lake Powell: Lake Powell is roughly 300 kilometers (186 miles) long and 40 kilometers (25 miles) across at its widest point. It has a surface area of 252 square miles.
  • How Many miles of Shoreline does Lake Powell have: Over 2,000 miles of shore line.
  • How long did it take for Lake Powell to fill: 17 years - Lake Powell started filling in 1963 and reached full pool for the first time in 1980.
  • How deep is Lake Powell: Lake Powell's average depth is 40 meters (132 feet), while the maximum depth is 178 meters (583 feet).
  • What is the current Lake Powell water level: The 22 year long mega-drought has left Lake Powell just 26% of capacity. . However, Lake Powell has risen about 43.85 feet from one year ago. The rise in the water levels at Lake Powell can be attributed to the historic 2022/23 winter season snowpack.
  • What Amenities and facilities are at Lake Powell: six marinas, two visitor centers, permanent mooring for more than two thousand private vessels, restaurants, lodging, RV facilities, and campgrounds. There are convenient services, and that includes the availability of boat rentals and houseboat rentals at the dockside and dry boat storage, water sports gear, fishing, general merchandise, groceries and guided tours.

Where is Lake Powell, AZ Located?   Map

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page

It is more accurate to say that our destination was actually Page, AZ as well as Lake Powell & the Glen Canyon dam. We had selected this area as a stop-over on the way back to Colorado because it is a boater's paradise in the middle of a very arid desert.

You may have noticed on our "route map" that when we departed Springdale, UT we went west instead of the shorter route through the park? This is because the Mt. Carmel Tunnel was being operated one way (switching back & forth), as well as having height & width restrictions. When we entered the park, we did not have to wait to enter the tunnel, however on the western side of the tunnel there was a five mile backup waiting to go east through the tunnel. As we did not want to sit in a traffic queue for our departure, we decided to take the western route.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page
 Camera Image Icon for Fieldset 

Image is the property of The World According to Barbara via her website. This map gives you a better idea of how large this body of water is. The lake is nearly 300 kilometers from end to end, 254 square miles, 7.198 cubic miles total volume and a max depth of 558 feet.

Where to stay in Page, AZ 

Google shows that (as of 10/11/2024) there are 59 hotels in Page, AZ. This list includes all types, ratings, locations, etc. If you would prefer to conduct your own research, click here to view the Google Search Results list for "accommodations in Page, AZ". Once you are on that Google Search Results page, you can then change the filters to resort the hotels list by price, # of stars, property type, etc. This is a very useful tool for when you are research planning a trip.

NOTE: Google calculates a business's review score by averaging all of the ratings that have been published on Google for that business. The rating scale is 1–5 stars, with 5 being the highest possible rating.

Below is what Google says are the "five most popular hotels in Page, AZ" based upon guest ratings;

  1. Dreamkatchers Lake Powell Bed & Breakfast Set off Highway 89, this stylish, 3 star terracotta-colored B&B occupies a contemporary low-rise building. It's 7 miles from Lake Powell and 25 miles from Antelope Canyon. (4.9 guest rating)
  2. Grandview Inn Bed and Breakfast Set in a tranquil residential area, this casual bed-and-breakfast is 1 mile from both John Wesley Powell Museum and Page Municipal Airport, and 2 miles from Glen Canyon Dam. (4.9 guest rating)
  3. The Bears Den B&B This unpretentious B&B is an 8-minute walk from the restaurants in the city center, 3 miles from Lake Powell, and 5 miles from hiking and boating at Horseshoe Bend. (5.0 guest rating)
  4. Lake Powell Motel Set 2 miles from Glen Canyon Dam Overlook at Lake Powell, this unfussy motel is 8 minutes' walk from the Powell Museum, and 5 miles from Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park. (4.7 guest rating)
  5. Lee's Ferry Lodge at Vermilion Cliffs This rustic lodge in a stone-and-timber building is 4 miles from Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center's craft vendors and pedestrian bridge. (4.5 guest rating)

We decided to stay at the Hampton Inn and Suites, as we wanted a comfortable hotel room and easy access to local amenities.

Glen Canyon Dam & Recreation Area 

After 157 miles of desert driving, the first thing we saw as we descended route 89 (into Page) is Lake Powell off to our left and then you come up to the Glen Canyon Dam. The story about the Dam, it's construction and what issues the continued drought is causing, can be read in more detail here. The bottom line is that the Glen Canyon Dam may have to be removed (or bypassed) in order to save Lake Mead (close to Las Vegas).

The dam is a 710 feet high arch-gravity construction positioned such that bridge traffic into Page, AZ receives a full view of the dam as they cross the bridge. The steel arch Glen Canyon Bridge is 1,271 feet in length and is 700 feet above the river. It is the sixth tallest bridge in the United States (the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado is the tallest at 955 feet).

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Your Guide to Lake Powell & Page

Lake Powell has over 2,000 miles of shoreline which is more than the combined states on the Pacific Coast. It is 400 feet deep, 186 miles long and has a water storage capacity of 27,000,000 acre feet of water.

Due to the continued drought, there are a number of launch ramps that are currently closed, you should check the National Park Service alerts list to see what is closed. There are also various webcams available online for sites around Lake Powell, click here to view that page.

More Info for the Glen Canyon Dam

  • Glen Canyon Dam Wikipedia Article:
  • Google Images set for Glen Canyon Dam: Here is a
  • Google Reviews for Glen Canyon Dam

Image Credits:

All images (unless otherwise noted) are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC.

  • Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
  • Lake Powell Website
  • Lake Powell National Park Service page.
  • Google Search Results list for "restaurants in the Lake Powell area"
  • Google Search Results list for "accommodations in the Lake Powell area"
  • Amazon Search Results list for "Lake Powell"
  • Youtube Search Results for "Lake Powell"
  • Things to do and see at Lake Powell on the "Visit Utah" site
  • Lake Powell Cruise w/Rainbow Bridge Walking Tour from the "Get Your Guide" site
  • Visit our Youtube Channel
  • Our Image Gallery for Lake Powell
  • Wikipedia Article for Lake Powell
  • Google Image Gallery for Lake Powell
  • Google Reviews for Lake Powell
Trip Overview
Glenwood Springs, CO
Colorado National Monument
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Little Wild Horse Canyon
Capitol Reef National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Zion National Park
Lake Powell, AZ
Mesa Verde National Park
Telluride, CO
Royal Gorge, CO
 
Trip Itinerary
Section Banner ImageClick above map to view a larger Google Map

As you can see by the this map, our trip covered 3 different states, approximately 1,600 road miles and allowed us to see some spectacular geography. You might think that a trip of this distance would be something that would result in a "tired of driving" mood - but our stops were so diverse with such incredible geography and fun things to do, that we found that we looked forward to each morning to where we could continue our adventures!

Click any link below to go directly to that page;

  1. Denver International Airport
  2. Glenwood Springs, CO
  3. Colorado National Monument, CO
  4. Arches National Park, UT
  5. Canyonlands National Park, UT
  6. Little Wild Horse Canyon, UT
  7. Capitol Reef National Park, UT
  1. Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
  2. Zion National Park, UT
  3. Lake Powell, AZ
  4. Mesa Verde National Park, CO
  5. Telluride, CO
  6. Royal Gorge, CO
 

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Note: All images on this page are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC unless otherwise noted.

Note: If you are interested, click here to view our European Travel Tips & Warnings. Or to take a look at our methods for planning, click here to view our Trip Planning Page..

 

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