Photo Credit: ARAMARK Parks and Destinations

Let me just say from the outset that spending only one night at the Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas should be a criminal offense.  But alas, this was the first stop of our 7-day baby boomer road trip, and we had a very tight schedule to keep.

That said, imagine being able to enjoy a room on the very edge of Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.  Just take a gander at the view from our room as the sunset was approaching from behind.

The Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas is part of the National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and is managed by Aramark Parks and Destinations which manages over 20 unique locations in more than 10 states for the National Park Service, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Getting to Lake Powell Resort and Marina

Lake Powell Resort
100 Lake Shore Drive
Page, AZ 86040
888-896-3829

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Background

The lake is 186 miles long and has nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline. Straddling the Arizona Utah border, its sapphire blue water is rimmed by towering red sandstone cliffs, buttes, and more than 90 major canyons and beautiful sandy beaches—making it the ideal destination for houseboating, kayaking and other outdoor activities.

Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas is one of the largest concessioners on the lake, operating marinas, lodges, restaurants, tours and houseboat/watercraft rentals in Arizona and Utah. It operates primarily out of two hubs: Wahweap Marina, located in Arizona near the town of Page, and at Bullfrog Marina, located mid-lake in Utah. In addition to the robust operations at these two destinations, Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas also offers amenities at Halls Crossing, Hite Marina and Dangling Rope Marina, all in Utah.

Season

Lake Powell is open year-round however, peak visitation occurs between late May through October, with July and August being the busiest months.

History

Lake Powell is the nation’s second largest man-made reservoir. It was created by the damming of the Colorado River in Glen Canyon in order to provide drinking water and generate electricity for western cities such as Los Angeles and Phoenix, and to provide a place for recreation. The lake is named in honor of John Wesley Powell, who explored the area in 1869 as director of the U.S. Geological Survey.

The lake lies within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which was created in 1972 “to provide for public use and enjoyment and to preserve the area’s scientific, historic, and scenic features.” The recreation area received more than two million visitors in 2010, 30,000 of whom stayed on a houseboat operated by Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas.

Fees

As a part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, there is a $15 entrance fee for each private, non-commercial vehicle and its passengers that is valid for seven consecutive days.

Fun

Our “Lakeview Room” at the AAA Three-Diamond Lake Powell Resort

The opportunities at Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas are nearly limitless.

Here you will find two lodging locations, four marinas, houseboat rentals ranging in size from 46-foot RV-style boats to 75-foot luxury boats with fireplaces, hot tubs, and other pamper-you options. Further, you can rent personal watercraft, wakeboards, kneeboards, water skis, ski tubes, and Kayaks.

There are campsites, five dining options, four daily boat tours, fishing, hiking, and nearby you’ll find horseback riding, golf, the Glen Canyon Dam, the John Wesley Powell Museum, as well as free educational ranger programs.

Get the idea?  You could come to the Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas for your vacation and never have to go anywhere else.  There is a LOT to do.

During our stay, we accomplished two things:

# 1 – The Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour

We’ll have a separate post coming on this experience soon.  Stay tuned!

#2 – Hiked to the Rainbow Bridge National Monument

Click here for our  Traveler’s Guide to the Rainbow Bridge National Monument

I can’t begin to tell you what a remarkable experience this was.  In our opinion, a visit to Lake Powell should be on the bucket list of every baby boomer in America.

And, when you stay at the Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, the whole park is right out your doorstep.

Links:

• Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas
• National Park Service -Glen Canyon National Recreational Area

Disclosure: our stay and boat tour were provided by the kind folks at Aramark Parks and Destinations.  Thanks.  It was a blast!

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