How to Houseboat on Lake Powell

Lake Powell is a remote lake located in the southern part of Utah and stretches into Arizona. At 186 miles long, this is the second largest man-made lake in the U.S. and offers over 2,000 miles of red rock shoreline to explore. Sandy beaches and nearly 100 major canyons, some extending 20 miles long, make Lake Powell an ideal lake for a houseboat vacation.

Instructions

Renting a Houseboat

1. Plan to reserve a houseboat well in advance of your trip. Some marinas require a longer lead time to find availability.

2. Determine what size boat you need for your group. Most marinas have watercraft ranging from 44 to 77 feet long. Houseboats sleep 8 to 12 people. In cases of limited availability, you may need to rent more than 1 houseboat for a large group.

3. Set tentative dates for the houseboat rental. Houseboats rentals are available year-round on Lake Powell. The minimum rental period is 3 days. Expect to pay more than $4,000 for a 5-day rental. Prices vary based on size of boat and season.

4. Contact Wahweap or Antelope Point marinas if coming from Los Angeles, Phoenix or Las Vegas. Both marinas are located on the Arizona side of the lake. Wahweap is the largest marina on the lake.

5. Check availability at Bullfrog or Halls Crossing marinas if driving from Salt Lake or Denver. These 2 marinas are directly across the lake from each other. Ferries go back and forth; however, low water levels sometimes force Bullfrog to close.

6. Inquire about renting ski boats, personal watercraft and water toys. Having a smaller watercraft is very useful for scouting ahead in narrow canyons and can be towed behind a houseboat.

7. Reserve a houseboat and expect to pay a large deposit up front. See related eHow titled "How to Enjoy a Houseboating Trip."

Seeing the Region

1. Cruise under the Rainbow Bridge National Monument located 50 miles northeast from Wahweap. This amazing rock formation is the largest natural bridge in the world.

2. Head toward the 587-foot-tall Glen Canyon Dam located 3 miles from Wahweap Marina. Completed in 1963, the dam turned the Colorado river into Lake Powell.

3. Gaze at the 55 foot Hole-in-the-Rock located 28 miles from Bullfrog. This man-made crevasse was made by Mormon pioneers.

4. Fish for bass, walleye, catfish, crappie and bluegill.

5. Moor on a salmon-colored sand beach for the night, preferably out of sight and sound of other boats.

6. Head up Escalante Canyon to see natural bridges and arches in this particularly scenic part of the lake.

7. Stop at 1 of the 6 marinas located on the lake to buy gas or replenish supplies.

Tips & Warnings

• Water temperatures reach 70 to 80 degrees F in summer.

• The ferry connecting Bullfrog and Hall's Crossing takes approximately 25 minutes to cross the 3 miles of water. It arrives on a first-come basis so plan to arrive 30 minutes before your departure time.

Resources

• Rent a houseboat at Wahweap, Bullfrog or Antelope Point.
• Rent a houseboat at Wahweap, Bullfrog, Antelope Point or Hall's Crossing.
• Rent a houseboat at Antelope Point.