Lake Powell Getaway

C

ckcpony

Member
It was 70 degrees here yesterday and as I look out this morning it's snowing! Welcome to Southwestern Montana. I've (we've) decided to get away from this wintery scene and head south. We're going to hitch up and do some boat camping on Lake Powell arriving there about the 19th and staying until about the 27th. Was wondering if anybody could steer us in the right direction to some good camping spots. We're going to launch at Bullfrog and we're new to that end of the lake.
Clint and Amy
 
ckcpony-

We have had yearly get togethers at Lake Powell for the last 5-10 years.

There are discussions of the maps, destinations, facilities, activities, and actual outcomes about each year available in the forums, as well as photo albums.

Reading and perusing through them would give you a great resource from which to glean great insights into your trip.

I haven't been there myself, but reading through them over the years has given me a great appreciation of the beauty of this natural and man made wonder.

Have fun!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
ckcpony":1kt4t4dq said:
It was 70 degrees here yesterday and as I look out this morning it's snowing! Welcome to Southwestern Montana. I've (we've) decided to get away from this wintery scene and head south. We're going to hitch up and do some boat camping on Lake Powell arriving there about the 19th and staying until about the 27th. Was wondering if anybody could steer us in the right direction to some good camping spots. We're going to launch at Bullfrog and we're new to that end of the lake.
Clint and Amy
Click to expand...

A great stop along the way would be Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA :!: on May 18 to 20. Will get you out of the snow and put you in a straight line to folk who have spent tons of time at Lake Powell. Of course you would have to put up with about 50 C-Brats, and near 40 C-Dory's, some good food, and of course a pot luck and trivia game along the way. Could be some good prizes there though. Might make the trip pay off.

Sure hope that helps :lol:

Sorry about the weather thing. Oh by the way -- Barry of C-Cakes does a bang-up weather dance and we always get great weather too.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Clint,
I agree with Harvey. You and Amy should head to Friday Harbor for the gathering. It would be great to meet you after all the emails...We are heading that way and looking forward to a great time meeting lots of other boat owners. I agree the weather here stinks.. I've had enough snow for a while. Hoping Barry does his job with the weather dance!
Julie & Craig
 
Its a great time to visit Powell. Daytime temps are in the high 80's to low 90's and 50's to 60's at night. Can get windy though.

The best thing about Powell is you don't have to have a plan. Just explore and you'll find some great spots to see and camp. If you head north out of Bullfrog, consider going past Hite "marina" (a misnomer because there is no gas or services) and into the Colorado River. At the current water level (3636') you can venture up river about 20 miles until you reach the rapids in Cataract Canyon. The canyon is stunning. Go slow and watch your depth.

If you go south, be sure to swing into Iceberg Canyon (amongst all the other canyons to explore). Check out the natural dam at the end of the west fork of the canyon. Also, head up Forgotten Canyon and visit the Defiance House ruins. Stop at the Rincon to camp and/or do a hike. For sure head for the Escalante River and explore each of the side canyons, including Clear Creek Canyon at the end of which you will find the famous Cathedral of the Desert. Not many places to camp up the Escalante but for at the end.

Regardless of which way you go, you'll have a blast.
 
Thanks to everyone for your input. That's one of the things that I like about this site. I wish that we could combine our Powell trip with a run to the gathering on the coast but that would add over 600 miles to an already to short of a getaway. A brat gathering is on our bucket list and hopefully it will happen in the near future. After a long winter I'm ready for some waaaarm weather so Lake Powell it is. Thanks for the tips on some good spots on Powell. We' ll definitely check them out.
Montana Salty maybe we could meet up at Yellowstone Lake sometime when Montana Kev and some others are there.
Thanks again to all, Clint and Amy
 
Great time to go, not too hot yet. Pick up a Stan Jones chart and start exporing. Note your favorite spots on the map with the date and lake elevation for future trips. There are too many great spots to mention. You will find anchoring bow-to-shore with 2 anchors out at 45* usually works best.

No need for anyone's secret spots....they change with the lake elevation anyway. My first trip was out of Wahweap in a sailboat with a 1 hp British Seagull outboard....(mistake). It was the first year they opened the lake, so we created our own "local knowledge". Never made it past Rainbow Bridge. My skipper was a dyed-in-the-wool "sail all the way" kind of guy. We only burned a quart of fuel! Bless the C-Dory!

Problem is; it's all so good you may be like a donkey between 2 carrots and tend to rush. With that said, you should stop in at Dangling Rope marina for fuel and provisions and....ICE CREAM!

...
 
Yep, just found my Stan Jones Map this morning and will use it a lot. We have been to Powell , out of Wahweap two times before ( this will be our first with our own boat) and haven't even begun to see all of the beauty and wonders of the lake. It will take this trip and many more before we have our fill.
Clint and Amy
 
Okay we understand..after many discussions Craig and I made the hard desicion to leave Salty in Washington for the summer. Our summer has filled up with many different plans including a full blown horse packing trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. With haying, family, and the horses we both felt Salty would just sit. And long distance freeway hauling isn't anything we like to do. If we do get a week of nice weather we can ALWAYS drive out slip it in the water and play for a few days..
We will wait to see photos of your trip to Lake Powell..Have a great trip!
Julie & Craig
 
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