Things to do / Travel Guide
For a region that's landlocked and largely desert, southern Utah certainly has a wide variety of water-based entertainment options. From luxurious houseboats to fishing trips on small lakes and streams, the region has a little something for everyone. As the second-largest reservoir in North America after Lake Mead, Lake Powell packs in six marinas, offers boat rentals, and even features houseboats. Sitting on the Colorado River, Moab is quickly becoming a major boating center, and other small lakes and streams throughout the region offer boat rentals and launch points galore.
Boating on the Colorado River near Moab
If the dry, rock-hard landscape of the Moab and Arches area is making you thirsty for some water-bound fun, the Colorado River offers several different boating options. Visitors can rent rubber rafts (with or without motors) or fast jet boats, or sign up for half- or full-day guided river trips. Some companies even offer sunset or dinner cruises down the river, offering extraordinary views of red rock country with the relaxing ebb and flow of the river below. Public boat launching sites are located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 191 and State Road 128.
Boating near St. George
Quail Creek Reservoir is an extremely popular water playground near St. George. Great for power boating and personal watercraft, the water is not too crowded because of launch restrictions. In the summer months, power boaters rule the water. Fishing boats will have better luck in other seasons or on early summer mornings.
Boating on Lake Powell
Lake Powell is certainly the region's most popular boating destination. With six different marinas and enough water to cover the state of Pennsylvania a foot deep, the waters of Lake Powell offer almost limitless opportunities for exploration by boaters. Sunny skies, sandy beaches, and scenic canyons surround the sparkling water during most of the year. Launch ramps for private watercraft and boat rentals are available at the major marinas, namely Waheap (Lake Powell's largest marina located six miles west of Page, Arizona) and Bullfrog Marina, 95 miles up lake from the Glen Canyon Dam. Boat rentals, including rowboats, motor boats and sail boats, are all available at the lake's major marinas. Half- or full-day boat tours take visitors to some of the most scenic and remote parts of the lake, including the Rainbow Bridge Monument, the largest natural bridge in the world, accessible only by foot or using your own boat, a rental, or on the tour boat.
Lake Powell, the second-largest man-made reservoir in the United States, was formed in 1963 by the damming of the Colorado River where Glen Canyon and the Grand Canyon meet. The Glen Canyon Dam backs up the waters of the Colorado River and its tributaries for almost 200 miles, filling the enormous reservoir and providing spectacular boating opportunities.
One of the most luxurious ways to experience Lake Powell is from the comfort of a houseboat, complete with all the amenities of home - showers, sleeping quarters, kitchens, and bathrooms. Houseboats are easy to maneuver, don't go very fast, and don't require a boating license, making them a fun option for all vacationers. The lake's charms will literally be at your doorstep. Reservations should be made in advance, especially in the summer months.
Boating on Panguitch Lake
Panguitch Lake is known primarily as a fishing destination, but visitors can enjoy the 1,250-acre natural lake surrounded by lava flows and forest by boating on the still, cool waters. There are two public boat ramps and boat rental facilities on the lake.
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