Is Lake Powell worth it?

Yes, if you get on the water. Lake Powell has 1,960 miles of shoreline and 96 major side canyons, and almost none of it is reachable by road, so the trip is only as good as your boat time. A 7-day park pass is $30 per vehicle; the real cost is the boat, from a $50 canyon tour out of Antelope Point to a houseboat week that runs into the thousands. Go in late April to early June or September to October and it pays off. Skip it if you have one afternoon and no boat, if it’s a 105°F July week, or if the launch ramp you planned on is out of the water this year. The things-to-do list covers both the boat and no-boat versions.

Facts checked October 2026.