This is a good summer to take in the sunshine and canyon country scenery around Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona line (assuming you’ve budgeted for gasoline) because the water in the lake is at its highest level in six years and rising.
www.lakepowell.org
What’s the big deal? The most prominent effect, according to Friends of Lake Powell, is that Castle Rock Cut, a major shortcut between sections of the reservoir, is now open to all boats. It also means there’s now enough water to float your boat farther back into some of the canyons that make the lake so much fun to explore.
www.powellguide.com
There’s a lot of shoreline to tour, whether you bring your own power boat or rent one of the many houseboats available. The Lake Powell Guide says the lake that was formed when the Glen Canyon Dam plugged the Colorado River has nearly 2,000 miles of shore, with 96 major canyons. Get an idea of how jagged the lake is by checking out their map. There’s a directory of outfits that provide land, water and air tours, but the “Fishing” and “Recreation” links all seem to end in dead ends.
www.nps.gov/rabr
The Lake Powell Guide also has a directory of boat rental companies. And yes, you need a boat to see most of the area around the lake because there are few roads in this region. Even Rainbow Bridge National Monument is accessible only by boat, unless you get a backpacking permit from the Navajo Nation and hike in. However you get there, you’ll be rewarded with views of the world’s largest known natural bridge.
www.nps.gov/glca
Rainbow Bridge, Lake Powell and a good bit more are contained within the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, a 1.2-million-acre scenic region of water and land that has been sculpted by wind and water. Check out “Photos &Multimedia” for Webcams and a collection of knockout photos. Then look under “Plan Your Visit” for the essential “Things to Know …” That’s also where you’ll find “Things to Do” including hiking and biking, fishing (with links for Utah and Arizona fishing regs), and two backcountry roads to drive.
www.pagelakepowelltourism.com
Your base for visiting the lake and surrounding area will be the city of Page, sitting on a rise overlooking the lake with a range of motels and restaurants. Try the links contained in the introductory article to other sightseeing and recreation in the area. Then look to the left side of the page for “Itineraries” to find more ideas of things to see and do.
tinyurl.com/7wgud
One of the best scenic views in the area is a spot on the Colorado River just west of Page on U.S. 89 called Horseshoe Bend. At the “Plan Your Visit” section of the recreational area Web site, look under “Things To Do,” “Outdoor Activities” and then “Hiking” for directions. AZCentral has a photo and more details on the trail to the overlook.
tinyurl.com/2zcuur
Then there’s the stunning scenery that you have to see from the inside, from the bottom of the intricately carved Antelope Canyon. The canyon is overseen by the Navajo Nation’s Parks and Recreation Department, which has links to authorized guide tour operators.
Roger Petterson, Associated Press
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