Have PWC, Will Travel - Lake Powell

One of the best places to go jet skiing in the United States would have to be Lake Powell. Lake Powell is located at the Arizona-Utah border (with 90% of the lake in Utah) and was formed following the construction of Glen Canyon Dam in 1963. It is the second largest man-made lake in the United States and is 186 miles long with approximately 1,900 miles of coastline. The lake has 96 major side canyons and is surrounded by National Parks and Monuments. Most of the shoreline is virtually desolate. Lake Powell's shoreline is completely protected from development other than that authorized by the National Park Service and because of this, the nights are crystal clear.

There are a lot of things to see on Lake Powell. Some of the more picturesque sites include rainbow bridge, Navajo Canyon, and natural bridges. And, although the water is a bit chilly right now (a breathtaking 50 degrees as opposed to the warm 80-degree temperatures in the summer months), Lake Powell launches the season on the first Saturday of each December with the Festival of Lights. This tradition was started back in 1983 and is held at Wahweap where boat owners display their masterpieces of twinkling lights.

To see everything that Lake Powell has to offer you will need a lot of time and careful planning. Even though the lake is 186 miles long, there are only 5 marinas on Lake Powell. It is very important to know the locations of each marina, as they are your only link to food, phone and most importantly - fuel. The five marinas are Bullfrog Marina, Dangling Rope Marina, Hall's Crossing, Hite, and Wahweap Marina.

Lake Powell Magazine is a good source for information and maps on Lake Powell. Their on-line magazine only brushes the surface and in order to receive complete information, including 24 detailed maps, you will have to subscribe or pick up a copy of the magazine at your local magazine stand. Lake Powell Magazine seems to have the most comprehensive maps of the area featuring beaches, navigation buoys, water depth, marinas, topographic contour elevations, points of interest, location of the canyons, ancient ruins and towering rock formations. Arizona Highways also has a virtual visit with great information and spectacular photos of Lake Powell.

Renting a houseboat is very popular on Lake Powell and makes a wonderful base camp for your PWC adventure. Because there are only 5 marinas and no motels or restaurants along the shoreline, you can store your fuel and supplies on the houseboat and take your PWC in and around numerous canyons and inlets. Be forewarned - if you plan on renting a houseboat make your reservations early. Due to National Park Service regulations, you may not rent a houseboat from anyone other than the authorized concessionaire on the Lake. For more information on renting a houseboat, check out Canyon Country On-line. If you choose not to rent a houseboat, it is possible to camp from your PWC. There are numerous places to lay your head.

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