Page's Playground

Page, Arizona, is the perfect jumping-off point to the second-largest man-made lake in the United States, Lake Powell.

by Karen Langbehn

May 5, 2006

The best way to enjoy Page, Arizona, is by water. Although this may seem surprising, Page - located on the Arizona-Utah border - hosts the second largest man-made lake in the United States, Lake Powell. Utah has a majority of the lake, but Arizona takes credit for the most important part, Glen Canyon Dam - which created the lake in the first place.

Page is located on the southwestern edge of Lake Powell, providing the best access to the largest marina, Wahweap, and convenient access to Grand Canyon National Park. Its focus centers around recreation and tourism - it offers a full range of lodges, restaurants, recreation vehicle dealers, rental agencies and guide services. The city of Page owns a top-rated 18-hole championship golf course, Lake Powell National Golf Course, and a 9-hole course, Canyon. It's most acclaimed feature is Lake Powell, one of the greatest water recreation spots on earth. The best way to get the most out of your Page/Lake Powell experience is on board.

A 186-mile-long lake means endless opportunities for every type of water-related activity you could possibly dream of. If you enjoy swimming, you have 1,960 miles of shoreline to explore. If you're interested in fishing, you can fish Lake Powell's tributaries for striped bass, large and smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish and carp. If you'd like to try a scuba diving or snorkeling adventure, Lake Powell has 96 major canyons to discover. And, of course, there's always watersports.

MARINAS
Lake Powell offers three marinas with year-round lodging and boating services: Wahweap, Bullfrog and Halls Crossing. Wahweap and Bullfrog Marinas have the greatest concentration of public services, as well as nearby communities that offer additional lodging and services. Powerboats and fishing boats ranging from 14 to 19 feet are available for rent at Wahweap and Bullfrog Marinas. Kayaks, PWCs, wakeboards, kneeboards, waterskis, tubes and even water trampolines are also available to rent.

• Wahweap Marina. Wahweap is the largest marina on Lake Powell. Services include: slips, buoys, boat rentals, tours, repairs, dry storage and fueling. It's located three lake miles from Glen Canyon Dam and six land miles from Page. (928) 645-2433.
• Bullfrog Marina. This marina is approximately 95 miles up lake from Glen Canyon Dam. It offers the largest array of services up lake. On one side of Bullfrog Basin is Waterpocket Fold country, an impressive buckling of rock, and on the other, the purple domes of the Henry Mountains. Year-round facilities include a launch ramp, boat pump-out station, fish-cleaning station, picnic area and paved aircraft landing strip, lodging, food services, two campgrounds, laundry, showers, and a service station with full marina services. (435) 684-3000.
• Halls Crossing. Halls Crossing Marina is about 95 miles upstream from Glen Canyon Dam. It provides a launch ramp and free boat pump-out station. It also has a National Park ranger station. (435) 684-7000.

LODGING

• Lake Powell Houseboat Rentals. Instead of staying in a hotel, why not spend the night on a houseboat? You can rent one, or purchase a shared ownership. Most sleep 10-12 people, and the minimum rental period is three days. (800) 206-9438.
• Best Western Lake Powell. The Best Western is located in Page, only a few minutes from Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam (about six miles from Wahweap Marina). It offers rooms overlooking the lake or rooms with a view of Glen Canyon. (928) 645-5988.
• Family Units. Many visitors choose to stay in family units, which are offered at Bullfrog and Halls Crossing Marinas. They're more spacious and perfect for a longer stay. They sleep at least six people, and each has three bedrooms and a full kitchen. To book a family unit online, go to www.lakepowell.com/lodging_rates.php.

RESTAURANTS

• Rainbow Room. You can always count on two things at the Rainbow Room: an excellent meal and an unbeatable view. Its dramatic wall-to-wall windows allow patrons a view of the lake. With its surrounding red rock towers and cliffs, it's second to none. It's easy to see why the Rainbow Room is considered to be one of the most spectacular dining venues in the Western United States. It's located in the Lake Powell Resort in Page. (928) 645-2433.
• Anasazi Restaurant. This restaurant adjoins Defiance House Lodge. It offers panoramic views of Bullfrog Bay, Henry Mountains, Navajo Mountain and the Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef National Park. It's open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (435) 684-3000.

LANDMARKS

• Rainbow Bridge National Monument. It's the largest natural bridge in the world, described as "higher than the nation's capitol and nearly as long as a football field." It's also one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Before the creation of Lake Powell, it was virtually inaccessible. Today, however, boaters can easily reach this scenic national monument. It's located 50 miles northeast of Wahweap Marina, and cruises from Wahweap and Bullfrog Marinas are offered daily.
• Cathedral in the Desert. This particular landmark is described as "one of the world's great treasures, a place so beautiful and serene it has a spiritual transcendence." Because of the lake's current low level, the Cathedral is fully visible - but as spring progresses and runoff intensifies, the water level will probably rise to the base of the Cathedral's waterfall.
• Grand Canyon. There are three fantastic ways to explore the Grand Canyon: by air, land or water. Scenic flights give you the opportunity to see places you can't visit on foot. On land, numerous companies offer guided, informative tours - and you can choose to explore on foot or by jeep. Exploring by river is just as exciting. There's rafting adventures, rowing trips, river tours, water expeditions, river guides and motorized and oar-powered trips. For information on how to explore the Grand Canyon, go to www.thecanyon.com.

CULTURAL
Page began as a construction camp for workers, their families, and everyone connected with the Glen Canyon Dam project of 1956. The town was named for John C. Page, who served as commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation in the Roosevelt administration in 1937-43.

John Wesley Powell Memorial Museum. Page's only history museum features sketches, photos and other memorabilia of Powell's Colorado River voyages in 1869 and 1871. The museum's Visitor Information Center is a great place for information about Page. It can direct you to lodging, restaurants and tour operators. The museum is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. To access current information about the museum and its services, go to www.powellmuseum.org or call (928) 645-9496.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

• Twin Finn.This company has everything you'll need for a diving adventure. It's also the only company in the Lake Powell area that offers sit-on-top and sea touring kayaks. Visit them at www.twinfinn.com or call (928) 645-3114.
• Lake Powell National Golf Course. Referred to as the "Crown Jewel" of golf in Northern Arizona, this championship course is set on a mesa, overlooking the Glen Canyon Dam. Its 18 holes wind down around natural red rock, and from the Lower Mesa to the Upper Mesa there's an elevation change of 300 feet. Go to www.golflakepowell.com or call (928) 645-2023.
• Kayak Powell. Whether you're up for a half-day tour or a multi-day experience, kayaking is a great way to enjoy Lake Powell. Glen Canyon Kayak Guides can arrange a customized trip, if there's a specific canyon you're interested in exploring. Their captains are all Coast Guard licensed certified and are also national park guides. Visit www.kayakpowell.com or call (888) 854-7862.

FAST FACTS
POPULATION: Approximately 7,105 people.
WEATHER: Spring weather is highly variable, with some extended periods of high winds. Fall is usually mild, and winters are cold with nighttime lows below freezing. Summers are very hot, with little shade.
TRIVIA: It took 17 years for Lake Powell to reach "full pool," an incredible 500 feet deep in its main channel.
HISTORY: The construction of Glen Canyon Dam began in 1956, and the 587-foot dam was finally complete in 1963.
TOURIST INFO: The best visitor resource for Lake Powell and Page, Arizona, is the Utah Travel and Adventure website, www.utah.com/lakepowell/. Another great resource is the Visitor Information Center at the John Wesley Powell Museum. Information on the museum and its Visitor Information Center is listed on its website, www.powellmuseum.org, or they can be reached at (928) 645-9496. For a list of important area contacts, go to www.lakepowellvacations. com/Pages.contacts.