Lake Powell

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Lake Powell stretches through the red-rock canyon country of northern Arizona and southern Utah in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Created by Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, the reservoir is famous for its sandstone cliffs, side canyons, beaches, boating, fishing and houseboating.

Lake Powell remains open for water-based recreation, but low and changing water levels continue to affect launch ramps, marina locations and visitor services. Boaters should check current conditions before traveling because access can change as the reservoir rises or falls.

Wahweap Marina at Lake Powell

Lake Powell Current Conditions

Updated October 2026: Low water continues to reshape access to Lake Powell. The National Park Service is maintaining boating access where conditions permit and has made temporary changes at several uplake facilities. Before launching, check the current National Park Service lake-level and ramp-status information. Check current Lake Powell water levels and launch ramp status - National Park Service

LAKE POWELL WATER LEVEL MAP / CHART


Lake Powell Boat Ramp & Marina Status

Access is very different from the days when all of Lake Powell's major marina areas had usable public launch ramps. The following summarizes the major access points as of late September 2026. Conditions can change quickly, so verify ramp status before towing a boat to the lake.

AreaCurrent status
Wahweap / StatelineWahweap remains a major visitor-service and marina area. For motorized public launching, Stateline Auxiliary is the important south-lake access point under current low-water conditions. Check NPS for the latest ramp restrictions.
Antelope PointThe marina remains in operation. Public ramp access is restricted by low water; limited valet launching may be available for some vessels through Antelope Point Marina.
BullfrogLand-based visitor services remain open. Use the Bullfrog Primitive Launch Ramp while conditions permit. The floating Bullfrog Marina, boat rentals, fuel dock and pump-out station have been temporarily relocated to deeper water near Halls Crossing.
Halls CrossingMarina and land-based services remain available, including water-based fuel. The public launch ramp is closed to all vessels. The Bullfrog floating marina facilities are temporarily located nearby.
Dangling RopeClosed. Dangling Rope Marina closed in 2021 and the marina was removed. There is no fuel or other public marina service at this former mid-lake location.
HiteAll services are closed until further notice. Hite is no longer a functioning Lake Powell marina/launch destination under present conditions.
Bullfrog-Halls Crossing FerryThe ferry is closed and is not anticipated to operate until further notice. Travelers should plan their driving route accordingly.

Boat ramp and marina conditions are especially sensitive to lake elevation. Always verify conditions with the National Park Service before your trip.

Exploring Lake Powell

Before Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1963, these remote and rugged canyons were formidable barriers to early travelers and explorers. Today the reservoir winds through a landscape of red sandstone cliffs, buttes, arches, alcoves and narrow side canyons.

Boating remains one of the most popular ways to experience Lake Powell. Visitors also come for fishing, kayaking, camping, photography and exploring the shoreline. Falling water levels can expose new beaches and landscape features, but they can also reveal rocks, sandbars and other hazards that were previously submerged.

Boating safety: Rocks that were submerged on a previous visit may now be exposed or lie just below the surface. Access to side canyons can change substantially with lake elevation. Slow down in unfamiliar water and maintain a sharp lookout.

Sunrise at Lake Powell

 

Where Lake Powell's Water Comes From

Most of Lake Powell's water originates as mountain snow in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Snowmelt and runoff reach the reservoir through the Colorado, Green, San Juan, Dirty Devil and other tributaries. The amount of water stored in Lake Powell varies greatly from year to year depending on snowpack, runoff, reservoir operations and long-term Colorado River Basin conditions.

Because lake elevation directly affects ramps and marina operations, visitors planning a boating trip should pay as much attention to the current water level as to the weather forecast.


Lake Powell Marinas and Services

Wahweap Marina

Wahweap, near Page, Arizona and Glen Canyon Dam, remains the principal developed visitor area on the south end of Lake Powell. The area offers marina services along with lodging, food, camping and other visitor facilities. Launch access has changed repeatedly with lake elevation, so boaters should use the current NPS ramp-status page to determine which Wahweap/Stateline ramp is usable.

Antelope Point Marina

Antelope Point Marina is about five miles uplake from Glen Canyon Dam and is reached from Highway 98. Marina services include boat rentals, slips, repairs, pump-out facilities, food and a convenience store. Low water has restricted the public launch ramp; the marina may provide limited valet launching depending on vessel and current conditions.

Antelope Point Marina at Lake Powell

Bullfrog

Bullfrog is roughly 95 miles uplake from Glen Canyon Dam and is one of the principal access areas for northern Lake Powell. Land-based services remain at Bullfrog. During 2026, the floating Bullfrog Marina, boat rentals, fuel dock and pump-out station were temporarily moved to deeper water near Halls Crossing. Boaters launching in the Bullfrog area should use the Bullfrog Primitive Launch Ramp while lake levels and conditions permit.

Halls Crossing

Halls Crossing lies across Lake Powell from Bullfrog. Visitor and marina services remain available, including water-based fuel, but there is currently no public boat launching at Halls Crossing. The public launch ramp is closed. The Bullfrog floating marina facilities are temporarily located in deeper water near this area.

Dangling Rope - Former Marina

Dangling Rope was once an important mid-lake fuel and supply stop accessible only by water. The marina closed in 2021 and was subsequently removed. There are no public marina services or fuel at Dangling Rope. Boaters making the long trip between the south-lake marinas and the Bullfrog/Halls Crossing area must plan fuel needs accordingly.

Hite

Hite, at the upper end of the reservoir, is no longer operating as a Lake Powell marina area. National Park Service visitor services at Hite are closed until further notice. Do not rely on Hite for fuel, marina services or conventional Lake Powell boat launching.

Quagga Mussels and Boat Decontamination

Lake Powell is infested with invasive quagga mussels. Boaters must follow applicable federal, Arizona and Utah requirements intended to prevent mussels from being transported to other waters. Clean, drain and dry watercraft and equipment, and follow inspection or decontamination requirements when leaving the lake.

Lake Powell quagga mussel information - National Park Service

Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge National Monument is one of the best-known destinations reached from Lake Powell. Boat access and the distance from the water to Rainbow Bridge vary significantly with lake level, so check current conditions before planning the trip.

Houseboating and fishing at Lake Powell

Plan Before You Go

Lake Powell is still a spectacular recreation destination, but today's lower and fluctuating water levels require more advance planning than in the past. Check launch ramps, marina services, fuel availability, weather and lake elevation before leaving home, especially if you are towing a boat or traveling long distances on the water.

Current Glen Canyon National Recreation Area alerts and conditions

Overview - Map - Description - Camping/Lodging

Things to Do

Fishing | Kayaking | Hiking | Biking | Video

 

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