Lake Powell is a large man-made reservoir that stretches across the border between Arizona and Utah, in the American Southwest. Its clear water sits among red sandstone cliffs, and the view across the lake changes as the light moves over the rock. It is a place where the scale of the landscape is the main attraction.
What a visit offers
- Boating, which is one of the main ways people explore the lake and its many side channels.
- Fishing from the water, in a setting of open lake and steep rock walls.
- Exploring the slot canyons that open off the lake, narrow passages cut into the sandstone.
Because the reservoir is so wide and its shoreline so irregular, many visitors come for a few days rather than a single afternoon. Moving between the coves and canyons by boat gives a sense of how much of the landscape is reached only from the water.
Planning your trip
Lake Powell suits travellers who enjoy the outdoors and do not mind a remote setting. Much of the appeal lies in being on the water and looking up at the cliffs, so it is a good choice for those who want an active, scenic trip. It sits in a broad region of desert canyon country, so many visitors combine a stay here with other destinations in the surrounding area.