Craving a little adventure on your next vacation? Lake Powell has several popular hiking destinations along its shoreline, where you can secure your boat and exercise your sea legs. Here are a few relatively short, easy, family-friendly hikes you’ll want to witness while you’re there.
Rainbow Bridge
Around 200,000-300,000 people per year travel to visit this “natural wonder,” and it’s not hard to see why. Rainbow Bridge is a gorgeous rock formation shaped like a rainbow—something you don’t experience every day. Located right off of Lake Powell’s waters, the stunning natural bridge can be reached by a two-mile hike once you arrive on shore. Note that your Forever Houseboat can travel to this area; however, it is much easier to maneuver a smaller boat close to Rainbow Bridge. Find out more by visiting nps.gov.
Navajo Canyon (Chaol Falls)
Upstream from Antelope Point Marina, Navajo Canyon is the longest side canyon of Lake Powell that isn’t considered a river arm. People are attracted to its beautiful sandstone walls that, in some parts, are covered in petroglyphs. Small boats can be maneuvered into part of the canyon, but you’ll need to hike the rest of the way. The trek begins with shallow water and a relatively flat path through dry lake bed, until you reach a fork in the road. Go right towards the falls. Here, you’ll approach a narrow canyon with the area’s signature copper rocks. It’s about four miles one-way to the falls, so make sure to pack plenty of supplies.
Labyrinth Canyon
Located on Padre Bay, Labyrinth Canyon is a beautiful but narrow and twisty hike. Bring your boat up as close as possible. You’ll still need to kayak or stand-up paddleboard once you approach the entrance. After a few minutes in the slot, you should be able to touch both sides of the canyon when you extend your arms out. The hike is only about 30 minutes one-way, so don’t worry about packing a ton of supplies. To help you better prepare for this hike, we found a great blog that describes in detail how to navigate the canyon.
Lake Powell is full of hiking trails that offer plenty of scenic recreation opportunities for the entire family. For more information about vacationing at Lake Powell, call 800-255-5561 or reserve your houseboat online today.
