Lake Powell 2016

Mark, Lake Powell is definitely worth going if you've never been there. I was there once before a long long time ago, on a house boat rental. Then last year we went back by our selves with our C-Dory. Even with 100 degree temps, we had a good time, and also took in some of the other National Parks in the area. While I tend to enjoy boating by just our selves, I've also enjoyed being among other C-Brats at a few gatherings closer to home here and down at the St. Johns gathering this past March. I believe socializing with other C-Brats and camping out together on Lake Powell would be fun worth the drive also, if it worked out. My problem is I'm/we are doing a lot of traveling now, and my wife's work schedule gets back to being a little more normal after all her summer time trades, etc. (She's a nurse.) And unfortunately, travel perks for current or retired airline employees aren't what they used to be with so many flights operating at capacity any more.
Lake Powell is such that there are few marinas or docks to tie up at, so most nights are spent anchored to shore. (Either beaching the bow, or anchoring bow out, and tying the stern to shore.) The only marinas are at Bullfrog or Hite on the east end, Dangling Rope in the middle, and then several near Page on the west end. Bullfrog is a good place to start out for me, as it is the closest location to the midwest. (Hite is right across the river, so that could work also, if coming in a little different direction.) Those coming from the West would probably use Page facilities to launch/retrieve.
 
Mark,

I'd say it's a wonderful, worthwhile trip. One thing neat about it is it's a sort of boating you don't usually get. Like boating through someplace you would normally be making a long, dry hike (but you are on the water!) And not one you can get to with a non-trailerable boat (unless you rent a houseboat). By the time of the gathering (Oct 1) very hot temps should be a thing of the past and it should be pleasant. Even in mid-September it's nice (and the water is warmer). Coming from Seattle, Bullfrog would be the most convenient launch (you can provision at Wal-Mart in Price on the way - or in WA of course).

I've found that staying with the group (or even part of it) is more challenging than being off on your own. By that I mean no worries if you want to be alone - you have to work a bit to keep in touch with everyone, and lots of folks wander off to explore (and some stay with others). (Radio reception is poor; Verizon is good when you can see Navajo Mountain.)

Typically a number of folks arrive and cruise earlier, and some stay later. The Saturday potluck is the big meeting, and then smaller group(s) go off from there to various places.

There are marinas every 50 miles or so, and they have ice, convenience store food, ice cream, fuel, and garbage drop. Plus little courtesy docks where you can stay a while if you like. And then every 20 miles or so there are "potty islands" where you can tie up, get out, use a restroom and/or dump the porta pottie (or pump out) at a purpose-designed big stainless "sink" and rinse station. (it's not allowed to make cat holes on shore because with changing water levels... well you can imagine).

To me it seems like an almost perfect contrast to PNW boating. And the later you are there, the fewer other people.
 
A perfect time to be on the lake & we hope to be there. We had planned to be in Labrador & Newfounland still @ this time, but have decided to put that trip off until next year, so after a month at Yellowstone, we hope to head south to Lake Powell.

Jay
 
Colby,
Thought I would throw out a couple of other AA options. They fly in and out of Durango, CO only 1 or two flights a day through Dallas, TX. From the Durango airport it is about 4 1/2 hours to Halls Crossing. I have never had a problem launching at that ramp. I think AA also flys in and out of Grand Junction, CO close to Interstate 70. Grand Junction woud be a little closer to Bullfrog than Halls Crossing. I am sure it would be a lot easier getting around either of these airports with a boat trailer than Denver. Let me know if you happen to use the Durango airport.
Bill
 
October 1 is a good date for me too, and I hope to be there :thup

Colby -- it sounds like you know your way around vehicles and towing (your Highlander and boat are probably like toys in comparison to other rigs you've driven :D), but just to say I've picked up friends at airports while towing my boat something like three or four times now, and other than just the basics of large vehicle/lots of people/worrying about my boat, I haven't had any problems. I did even pick up a friend to go to Powell, but that was at the Las Vegas airport, so of course out of your way coming from WI. I hope you do end up making the trip.
 
Bill, I will have to double check the flight into Durango. As for Glenwood Springs, unless they started back in there, AA or it's regionals have not flown in there for a long time. But I'll double check there also. Thanks for the suggestions. Sunbeam, not to worried about getting into an airport with the boat in tow. ;-) (And I can always drop it somewhere safe off premisis). The bigger problem is the lack of seating for non revenue standbys, which makes our travel perks somewhat useless or very restricted.... :cry: Colby

Late note. Just checked, and I was right. AA or it's Eagle does NOT fly into Glenwood Springs. But Durango would be a possibility. If it works out, I'll have to look at the route later to see which would be more beneficial, DRO or DEN.
 
Hi all,
We are house boating on Lake Powell starting Wed. July 20th thru August 3rd. We will have an 11 foot Boston Whaler as well as the houseboat. We are starting at Wahweap and will not move the big boat too far. You can reach us at our email bobjarrard@gmail.com or by cell at 714 686-2728 for sure till we leave from Boulder City, Nevada and hopefully at times on the Lake. Come on over and visit for a spell if you can. All C-Brats are welcome to come see us here in Boulder City, we are only 10 minutes to the the Lake Mead launch ramp and a minute longer to the dam. We have lots of off street parking for your rig, the side yard is 24' by 44' in concrete, we have a pool and we can give you water, sewer dump and 20 amps of AC.
Bob and Kyung Jarrard
 
Ah well... I know I started this particular thread, hoping to get back to Lake Powell in October, but as things go, this year will have to be a pass for us. Too many other things in the fire and the timing just isn't going to work for us. Hope the gathering will continue in 2017, and perhaps we can make that one work out. Colby
 
HI all, just got back from a two week trip to Lake Powell on a small houseboat. Really had a good time. It was hot at times, we had a hard rain one night but one thing for sure, the other boat and PWS wake are a pain. I ran 100 miles up and back to Rainbow Arch in a small Boston Whaler and really got a work out. Best gas prices off Lake were in the Indian reservation on the highway between Hurricane and Wahweap - $2.22 for regular. Bought no gas from the gas dock but the gas at the station landside in Wahweap was $2.68 or so, not all that bad. I used dry ice (8 pounds or so) on top of my block ice and got 8 days out of the first loading of the chest and 6 days on the second partial reload. It really is nice to not have most of your chest be full of ice blocks. Water level is down so maps are hard to use as most show the lake at full pool, for sure it would be nice to have a flying bridge and only move into the coves with good sun at your bask or overhead. Water temp was fine and once adjusted to the daytime temps, they were OK also. Happy boating!!!
Bob Jarrard
 
Looks like I'll be going to Lake Powell. I'm driving down through Ashland, OR on Sept. 9th. My wife has to be back to work on the 26th, so that kind of dictates where we put in/take out. She will fly back, and the fastest/cheapest nonstop flights are out of Las Vegas. 2 hours and $150 to SeaTac. Vegas has cheap rooms and cheap meals so it's an okay place to spend a night.

The plan is to leave the boat and trailer at Wahweap on Saturday morning, drive through Brice Canyon to Vegas (a 2 hour detour added to a 5 hour drive, but worth it). Spend the night in Vegas. Sunday, Beth goes back to Seattle and I go back to Lake Powell. I suppose that I could pull the boat and put in somewhere else, but it looks like it would be faster by boat to the north end of the lake than to trailer to a different put-in.

To do list: (and Brats probably have some of the answers).
1. Make sure that parking at Wahweap isn't a problem.
2. Make a list of stuff to see.
3. Make a list of books to read.
4. Check my Navionics chip to see if I'm happy with the detail it provides.
5. Check those wheel bearings.

Mark
 
The plan is to leave the boat and trailer at Wahweap on Saturday morning, drive through Brice Canyon to Vegas (a 2 hour detour added to a 5 hour drive, but worth it)
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I suspect that you mean Zion Canyon; Bryce Canyon you cannot drive thru, and it is more than a 2 hour detour getting to Vegas. But if you want to take a side trip on the way down to Wahweap, Bryce is definitely worth it. (We take 89 from Seiver, Ut. to Page) However, I am not sure how you are going from Ashland Or. Most likely you will go thru Hurricane and Kanab and not near the Bryce canyon part off 89.
Bryce canyon requires both driving to a number of locations on the rim, and also hiking into the canyon. There are campgrounds there where you can stay. Sunrise and sunset are times to be at the canyon.

There are restrictions of private vehicles driving into Zion canyon itself.

From the NPS web site:
Can I drive my private vehicle into Zion Canyon?
A. From April to October access into the canyon is by free shuttle bus only. Private vehicles are allowed to access the canyon from November to mid March.
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Both ways to Vegas are scenic: We normally go back on 89 to Kanab, then down to Fredona on Alt 89, then 389/59 to Hurricane, and thus to I 15. This is a nice Scenic drive.

I can send you my Powell books and maps, for the cost of postage, and you send them back after your cruise. (My son may want them in future years for his 25). The "Boater's Guide to Lake Powell" is the Essential. So is the "Stan Jones map". There are several other "fishing maps, of North and South. I also have some topo maps which help. Each year I have read a book on the history--such as exploration of the Colorado River, The Padres, the Mormons, the outlaws, history of settlement and development of Glen Canyon. It gives a different dimension of what the canyon is like.

Navonics on I pad is as good as it gets (Garmin is also fine), as are C maps, Ray Marine. "Most of the boating is visual--the rocks show up as light color, just as sand does in the tropics.--just don't hit one...
Also if you see bushes sticking up--don't go there...Count the mile markers (in statute miles)--Binoculars are a good nav aid. There are shortcuts which C Dorys can take because of the shoal draft, but you have to have local knowledge--or follow a boat with local knowledge. Even the Rangers don't take short cuts! Make the bearings to the next marker, or spot it with the binocs.

I think that each canyon has something to see. My favorite is little Oak Canyon. Good hikes. get way back up. On the San Juan Arm, the petroglyphs at Cha Canyon are worth the trip up the trail. Upper lake, above Bull Frog, is Forbidden canyon and the cliff dwellings. Up Esclante Arm, is Cathedral in The Desert. Iceberg Canyon has several great campsites up near the head. One feature is full Sun only about 3 hours during the day (it gets hot in the Sun),

Dangling Rope has supplies (limited) fuel, water and the worlds worse ice.. :smiled

Fred's Liquor in Page web site has a lot of information on places to go and see. Also place to get lures and fishing license. This is in Page--good place to stock up at the Walmart.

If possible take the Castle Rock cut off--Antelope Canyon is longer, and can get pretty choppy with houseboat wakes. Also the main lake can get really rough during a storm. Get into a protected canyon, with good holding ground--but not in a slot canyon, or under any rocks which may fall during a thunderstorm.

Parking, overnight should not be a problem. Longer terms, I would check with the rangers--often they are not at Wahweap--but you have to try and contact someone in the district office in Page.

Have a great time--don't try and do too much--take your time--it is not a place you can see all at once! I believe we have been there about 14 times--and still there are areas we have not really explored--we have friends who have been there twice as many times, and they feel the same.
 
I'm going to spend a couple of days in Ashland, then south on I-5, cut over to Susanville, Reno, and probably US-50 to St George.

Sounds like there is plenty to do in the south end of the lake. Maybe get as far as Dangling Rope for fuel and leave the upper part for another time. I'd like to avoid party barges and PWC (Personal Wanker Craft), but that's probably difficult based on the YouTube stuff that I've seen. Are the crowds thinner around Dangling Rope or is the lake uniformly saturated?

Yes, Zion is the one I was thinking of. I'm planning on leaving the trailer behind at Wahweap when I drive my wife to Reno for her Seattle flight. We would be going through Zion with just the Santa Fe. I haven't decided what to do when I get back to Wahweap.

Bob - Thanks for the offer on the materials. I'll look them up online and decide if I need/want my own personal copies. I bought my first book already. Ghosts of Glen Canyon. It's all about what's now underwater at Lake Powell. Kind of bittersweet reading. Now I need to read something uplifting about what's left.

Mark
 
Marco Flamingo":tvj29nun said:
II'd like to avoid party barges and PWC (Personal Wanker Craft), but that's probably difficult based on the YouTube stuff that I've seen. Are the crowds thinner around Dangling Rope or is the lake uniformly saturated?
Mark
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Not only the PWC, but some of that crowd has moved up to Wake board boats--some of which are operated in the same style!

The advantage of any C Dory is that they can get back further, use shoaler water and use less space on a beach...But in early Sept the lake will still be fairly crowded. The closer to civilization, the more crowded--but sometimes you can find a great place in Gunsite--one of the first canyons. Last year, we saw only 4 other boats (and a flotilla of PWC) when on the San Juan--but I believe that was because of the "potential contamination". There were plenty of isolated place up there...but it may be a bit further than you want to go.

I would go up as far as Oak Canyon--although there is plenty to see on the Way to Dangling Rope. See if you an find a beach on the North East arm. Both that area, and Rainbow bridge are above Dangling Rope, by a few miles. We have used Dangling Rope as a place to go back to for fuel, ice, water and dump trash...Porti Potty dumps are on floating barges through out the lake. (Including Oak Canyon)

I would agree with the wisdom of launching at Bull Frog area for the upper lake.

Since you will doing the "Hurricane to Kanab" drive, then going up thru Zion is worth doing. There can be delays at the tunnel--Any vehicle > 11'4" or wider than 7' 10" has to go thru the center of the tunnels because of clearance issues. Thus the road is shut down for one way traffic every once in a while. Large RV, and Tour buses are the cause of this, as well as the occasional supply truck. We have had delays up to 30 minutes because of this...so plan your time to allow.

Have Fun--the "Ghosts" is a great place to begin the history! The more one reads the better appreciation for those who have gone before us!
 
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