Looking for Lake Powell information

[Eastern shore wake]

Hi, we live in Pennsylvania and do our wakeboarding/wake surfing etc on the upper Chesapeake Bay. We are planning a trip out west over the last 2 weeks in August this year. My kids have always wanted to spend a couple of days at Lake Powell houseboating and perhaps renting a wave runner (know it's not a Tige but have to watch costs!) to do some wakeboarding. We have never been to Powell and know that many of you have. We had some some questions I am hoping some of you can help us with:

> Is the last 2 weeks of August a good time to go?

> We are planning on visiting the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and other places so we may only have 2 or 3 days to spend on Powell. Is that enough time? Can you rent a houseboat there for just a couple of days? Is houseboat the best way to see it?

> Where would you recommend we go for a couple of days at Powell (know it is a huge place) and what marina would we go out of etc. Any thoughts on where and how we should spend our time there would be great.

Thank you!!
Eastern Shore Wake

[LovinPowell]

Hi, we live in Pennsylvania and do our wakeboarding/wake surfing etc on the upper Chesapeake Bay. We are planning a trip out west over the last 2 weeks in August this year. My kids have always wanted to spend a couple of days at Lake Powell houseboating and perhaps renting a wave runner (know it's not a Tige but have to watch costs!) to do some wakeboarding. We have never been to Powell and know that many of you have. We had some some questions I am hoping some of you can help us with:

> Is the last 2 weeks of August a good time to go?

> We are planning on visiting the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and other places so we may only have 2 or 3 days to spend on Powell. Is that enough time? Can you rent a houseboat there for just a couple of days? Is houseboat the best way to see it?

> Where would you recommend we go for a couple of days at Powell (know it is a huge place) and what marina would we go out of etc. Any thoughts on where and how we should spend our time there would be great.

Thank you!!
Eastern Shore Wake

I just got back from three days at Powell last week, and have been spending at least one week on the lake for the past 28 years.

If you go the last two weeks of August you can expect afternoon thunderstorms, maybe not everyday (but possible), but very often as that is the monsoon season. These afternoon storms can be fierce with strong winds and rain. Because of this I would say that houseboating is the only way to go. Tent camping is miserable in those kind of conditions, plus I've seen many tent poles break in those storms, rendering them useless. If you want to see Zion NP and the Grand Canyon, then the south part of the lake is your best bet. You can rent houseboats from either Wahweap or Antelope point. You should check on availability soon as that is a very busy time for them. Google houseboating on lake powell and they both should come up. We have rented for many years but usually go for 7 nights, I know that they rent for fewer nights, but don't know what the minimum is.

Also if you go during August, I would recommend that you take someone experienced along with you. I might be available.

A three day trip would allow you to take your houseboat up to Padre bay and that could serve as a central location to visit many of the canyons that the lake has to explore. Rainbow Bridge is a National monument that seems to attract alot of visitors. There are some canyons right off of Padre bay that are cool, Face and West canyons to name a couple. Also Cathedral Canyon which is just before the canyon where Rainbow Bridge is located is one of my favorites.

If you want information on Lake Powell, you've come to the right place as there are many of us on here that love that place.

[bagzzz]

Hi, we live in Pennsylvania and do our wakeboarding/wake surfing etc on the upper Chesapeake Bay. We are planning a trip out west over the last 2 weeks in August this year. My kids have always wanted to spend a couple of days at Lake Powell houseboating and perhaps renting a wave runner (know it's not a Tige but have to watch costs!) to do some wakeboarding. We have never been to Powell and know that many of you have. We had some some questions I am hoping some of you can help us with:

> Is the last 2 weeks of August a good time to go?

> We are planning on visiting the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and other places so we may only have 2 or 3 days to spend on Powell. Is that enough time? Can you rent a houseboat there for just a couple of days? Is houseboat the best way to see it?

> Where would you recommend we go for a couple of days at Powell (know it is a huge place) and what marina would we go out of etc. Any thoughts on where and how we should spend our time there would be great.

Thank you!!
Eastern Shore Wake

I am not as experienced (yet) as LovinPowell, but I do know one thing - Powell is one of the best lakes. i just returned from a 5 day spur-of-the-moment trip and it was great.

The last two weeks of August are pretty hot when the sun is out. I have never done a houseboat, but I envy the people that get to relax during any type of weather. I would say the only downside to a houseboat is how slow it moves (which actually could be pretty relaxing). I have always gone boat camping, but i see you dont have your boat so a houseboat could be a good bet. Houseboats have always been to expensive for my family.

You can spend a couple of days and have a great time. I spent 14 days in a row there one year and was sad to leave. I have been to powell about 7 times and I have not even begun to see the whole lake.

No matter where you spend your time (south or north lake), you will have a good time. Every part is beautiful.

[KonaKing]

Not to blow my own horn but I have not missed a summer since 1976, my first time there as a young teenager. I would agree with all that has been said by LP. Dont let the weather stop you. I have been down there in all sorts at all times of the year. Luck of the draw you might say. Someone with experience is a big help but not an absolute.

Make the trip and have a great time.

[chpthril]

Cant say anything about Powell, other then i'm dying to get there, but you're gonna love Zion. Its one of my favorite parks in the US. I think they will still be running the Summer schedule where you have to park your car and ride their buses from stop to stop. If the family likes to get away from the crowds and hike a little, I can recommend 3. One is the Narrows at the end of the park. The trail is literally through the creek. It should be ok this time of year i.e. low rain fall and less chance of flash floods, but warm enough to walk with only river shoes. The other 2 I cant remember the names of the trail, need to pull out my book and look them up. One takes you up to a killer view of the canyon and is a good trail to spot big horns. the other takes you way up to some pools and falls, but you really need to go up the last one. We did and found snow up there because the sun never reaches there. Lots of wild life to be seen in the park, day or night. If you like to view the stars, head up into the park after sunset. There are some killer look-outs on the side of the road that are great to get out and see the stars.

[Timmy!]

The upside to a houseboat is that you can drive it for 2-5 hours and find a nice central location and park it there for the entire trip and then run your boat (if you rent one) back and forth between it and your destination. The other benefit is that the houseboat is also your gas station and you don't have to worry about where you are going to fill up your boat while running around!

[ahicken]

There are also hotels in Page, AZ. You can get a good nights rest and take the boat out during the day. Depends how much of the Lake Powell experience you want to have.

Zion is great, Just got back from a three day 30 mile backpacking trip in Zion. The remote areas of Zion are spectacular.

[Paublo]

If you need to get a hotel in Page, call immediately. You may still be able to find a room, but probably not.