Houseboating on Lake Powell

When residents of Arizona and Utah want to go to the beach, most head for California. However, there is another option. Lake Powell lies on the Arizona/Utah border, and features 1,900 miles of shoreline. Amidst the beautiful rocky cliffs and buttes are many small coves and sandy beaches. Lake Powell's clear blue waters have become a houseboater's paradise. This summer, treat your family to a private beach in the canyons of Lake Powell.

Lake Powell Resort offers eleven different houseboat sizes, ranging from the 44 foot Explorer to the 75 foot Odyssey. All of the houseboats will sleep at least six, with many sleeping up to twelve. For a family of five or six, the 48 foot Navigator is the ideal choice, with a three-day rental starting at $2,915. It has all the necessary creature comforts, including a bathroom with shower and an amply sized kitchen. The front of the main cabin, which is a combined dining/sitting area, is large enough to avoid feelings of claustrophobia. The Navigator and other houseboats can be rented at the Wahweap Bay Marina, near Glen Canyon Dam.

The ideal speed for a houseboat is "slow" or "stopped;" the Navigator will comfortably travel at about 5 mph. Therefore, it may take several hours to reach an area with suitable beaches. Keep this in mind when choosing the length of your rental. Gunsight Canyon has excellent beaches to "park" the houseboat at, and is about three hours away from the marina. During the peak season, you may have to go farther. Nonetheless, the slow speed is worth the eventual reward of a private beach amongst amazing rock formations and clear blue water.

Be sure to bring your favorite foods for grilling, because after a day of swimming nothing beats freshly grilled meat or veggies. Watch the sunset as you cook on the deck, accompanied by music from the boat's stereo. While technically camping, houseboating hardly counts as roughing it - you've even got a microwave.

The staterooms are small; however, most families will not want to sleep inside main cabin, except during bad weather. At night on the water, the usually hot desert air cools down significantly, making the top deck more comfortable than the inside of the boat. The top deck comes with three double bed sized cushions, ideal for sleeping under the stars. Far away from city lights in the cloudless desert sky, you'll be able to see stars you may never have seen before. You may see the Milky Way, the planets, or unfamiliar constellations, so don't forget your star chart.

There are a lot of interesting places to visit at Lake Powell. The most popular of these is Rainbow Bridge, a multicolored sandstone arch created by millions of years of erosion. Rainbow Bridge is sacred to many Native American tribes, so please be respectful. You can park your boat (including houseboats) about a mile from the bridge - remember to bring water for the short hike. There are also many sites of petroglyphs and pictographs along the canyon walls.

Due to the slow speed of houseboats, those wishing to explore the lake and canyon may want to use a faster watercraft, such as a ski boat. If you don't already have one, you can rent one at Wahweap Marina. A ski boat will also come in handy should you want to go water skiing or tubing. With miles and miles of open water, Lake Powell is a water skier's dream.

There's nothing more stunning than the sight of colorful desert sandstone against blue water. The best part of a boating trip on Lake Powell is enjoying the unusual scenery. This summer, let everyone else take their harried trips to San Diego. You're going to Lake Powell.