Bullfrog Marina: the complete boater’s guide
Lake Powell’s northern hub in Utah — and for 2026, a marina on the move: the floating docks, rentals and fuel have shifted to deeper water near Halls Crossing while Bullfrog’s lodge, restaurant and campground stay open on shore.
Updated
Bullfrog Marina is the traditional hub of Lake Powell’s north end in Utah (37.5150, -110.7460), about 95 miles up-lake from Wahweap — but for 2026 its floating operations have moved. Low lake levels forced the National Park Service and concessionaire Aramark to relocate the marina’s docks, slips, houseboats, boat rentals and fuel dock to deeper water near Halls Crossing, about 3 miles across the lake. Bullfrog’s land-based services remain open: the 48-room Defiance House Lodge, the Anasazi Restaurant, the RV park and campground, and the store. Smaller boats can still launch at the Bullfrog North ramp at your own risk, and the Charles Hall ferry is suspended for 2026. Reach the marina at (435) 684-2233 or on VHF channel 16.
Facts checked July 2026.
Did Bullfrog Marina move to Halls Crossing?
Yes — temporarily. On March 18, 2026 the National Park Service announced that Aramark would move Bullfrog Marina and the Bullfrog boat rentals and fuel dock into deeper water near Halls Crossing, because low lake levels were making Bullfrog Bay too shallow to sustain the marina. The rentals and fuel dock moved first, in late March and early April; tugboats then pushed the marina itself — docks, slips and houseboats — about 3 miles across the lake through May and into June.
The move is meant to be temporary. The Park Service is planning a new low-water launch ramp at Stanton Creek, a couple of miles from Bullfrog, designed to keep working at much lower lake elevations; once it is built — likely a few years out — Bullfrog Marina is planned to move there permanently, back on the Bullfrog side of the lake. Until then, boat rentals depart from the Halls Crossing side and the relocated Bullfrog fuel dock is the only fuel on the north lake. Check ramp status on the NPS changing-lake-levels page before you tow.
Where is Bullfrog Marina and how do I reach it?
Bullfrog sits on the northern lake in Utah, the mid-lake gateway to Lake Powell’s most remote canyons. It’s about a 5-hour drive from Salt Lake City — the closest marina for northern-Utah boaters — and roughly 95 miles by water from Wahweap. You can see Bullfrog on the interactive Lake Powell map to plan your run up or down the lake.
| GPS coordinates | 37.5150, -110.7460 |
| Phone | (435) 684-2233 |
| VHF channel | 16 |
| 2026 status | Floating marina temporarily relocated to deeper water near Halls Crossing |
| Launch ramp | Main ramp closed; Bullfrog North ramp for smaller boats — launch at your own risk |
| Region | Northern lake, Utah |
| From Wahweap | About 95 miles north by water (~5 hours) |
| Season | Land services year-round |
What services does Bullfrog Marina have in 2026?
Bullfrog is running as a split operation this season — the land side stays put while the floating services work from deeper water near Halls Crossing.
Still at Bullfrog (land-based)
- Defiance House Lodge — 48 rooms
- Anasazi Restaurant at the lodge
- RV park and campground — 24 sites with hookups
- Store, gift shop and vehicle gas station
- Laundry, showers and a USPS post office
- Bullfrog North launch ramp (NPS) — smaller boats, launch at your own risk
Relocated near Halls Crossing for 2026
- Boat slips and floating docks (daily and monthly)
- Houseboat rentals
- Powerboat rentals — ski boats and jet skis
- Gas and diesel fuel dock with pump-out — attached to the rentals dock, the only fuel on the north lake
- Boat repair with certified mechanics
Is the Bullfrog to Halls Crossing ferry running?
No — the Charles Hall ferry, the only vehicle crossing on Lake Powell, is suspended for 2026. UDOT does not expect it to run this year because the lake sits well below the elevation the ferry needs; it last operated in 2024 after two strong snowpack winters.
| Status (2026) | Suspended — UDOT does not expect the ferry to run in 2026 due to low lake levels |
| Route | Bullfrog ↔ Halls Crossing (the only vehicle ferry on Lake Powell) |
| Driving instead | About 149 miles between the two sides via SR-276 and SR-95 — roughly 3 hours |
| Normal crossing | 25–30 minutes, 8–10 vehicles, roughly every 2 hours in season |
| Minimum lake level | The ferry needs a lake elevation of about 3,565 feet to operate |
| Status line | Call (435) 684-3000 or check UDOT’s Lake Powell ferry page |
When the ferry does run, it’s first-come first-served with no reservations, and a Glen Canyon entrance fee applies unless you’re entering only to ride the ferry. Confirm status on UDOT’s Lake Powell ferry page or at nps.gov/glca.
How do I approach Bullfrog Marina by boat?
- The floating marina is no longer in Bullfrog Bay — for 2026 the slips, rentals and fuel dock sit in deeper water near Halls Crossing, about 3 nautical miles across the channel.
- Bullfrog Bay is shallower than the main channel and hazards shift as the lake drops — watch your depth and give marked rocks a wide margin.
- Fuel up at the relocated Bullfrog fuel dock near Halls Crossing — it is the only fuel dock on the north lake.
- Expect little to no cell service, so download your maps and note the marina VHF (channel 16) before you arrive.
Bullfrog’s ramp, fuel dock and ferry can change with current lake conditions — for the latest lake data, see lakepowellwaterlevel.com.
What is fishing like at Bullfrog Marina?
Bullfrog’s mid-lake position reaches some of Lake Powell’s best fishing with less pressure than the south — striped bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. A Utah or Arizona license is valid lake-wide and sold at the marina store.
| Good Hope Bay | Protected water and a top producer for walleye; houseboats welcome. |
| Moki Canyon | Narrow canyon with great structure — smallmouth and largemouth bass. |
| Forgotten Canyon | Remote and lightly fished, about a 90-minute run — less pressure, bigger fish. |
What’s near Bullfrog Marina?
| The Rincon | About 15–20 miles up-lake — a giant abandoned river bend many boaters call the most beautiful spot on Lake Powell. |
| Forgotten Canyon | Roughly 10 miles out — Anasazi ruins (Defiance House) and slot-canyon hiking. |
| San Juan arm | Around 25 miles to Cathedral in the Desert, one of the lake’s signature grottos. |
| Burr Trail | A scenic backway from Bullfrog with 800-foot switchbacks, reaching Capitol Reef (about 60 miles via Burr Trail and Notom Road) and Grand Staircase–Escalante. |
Frequently asked questions
Did Bullfrog Marina move to Halls Crossing?
Yes — temporarily. In spring 2026 the National Park Service and concessionaire Aramark relocated Bullfrog’s floating marina — docks, slips, houseboats, boat rentals and the fuel dock — about 3 miles across the lake to deeper water near Halls Crossing, because low lake levels made Bullfrog Bay too shallow. Bullfrog’s land-based services (lodge, restaurant, campground, store) remain open. The marina is planned to move permanently to a new low-water ramp at Stanton Creek, near Bullfrog, once it is built.
Where is Bullfrog Marina?
Bullfrog Marina is on the north end of Lake Powell in Utah, at about 37.5150, -110.7460. It is roughly 95 miles up-lake from Wahweap (about 5 hours by boat) and the main hub for the northern and mid-lake canyons. For 2026, its floating marina services operate temporarily from deeper water near Halls Crossing, about 3 miles across the lake.
Can I still launch a boat at Bullfrog?
The main Bullfrog launch ramp is closed at current lake levels. The smaller Bullfrog North ramp remains open to smaller motorized boats — the National Park Service advises launching at your own risk — and the Park Service has been building a primitive ramp extension so boats can keep launching through the summer. Check ramp status at nps.gov/glca before you tow.
Is the Charles Hall ferry between Bullfrog and Halls Crossing running?
No. UDOT does not expect the Charles Hall ferry to run in 2026 — the lake is well below the roughly 3,565-foot elevation the ferry needs. Without it, the trip between Bullfrog and Halls Crossing is about 149 miles by road via SR-95, roughly 3 hours. When it operates, the crossing takes 25 to 30 minutes. Call (435) 684-3000 or check UDOT’s Lake Powell ferry page for status.
Is Bullfrog good for fishing?
Yes. Bullfrog’s central location puts you near some of Lake Powell’s best fishing with less pressure than the southern marinas — striped bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. Good Hope Bay, Moki Canyon and Forgotten Canyon are all strong. A Utah or Arizona license is valid on the lake and sold at the marina store.
What lodging does Bullfrog Marina have?
Bullfrog has the Defiance House Lodge with 48 rooms and the on-site Anasazi Restaurant, plus an RV park and campground with 24 hookup sites. It also has a store, laundry, showers and a USPS post office. All of these land-based services stayed open through the 2026 marina relocation.
How far is Bullfrog Marina from Salt Lake City?
Bullfrog is the closest Lake Powell marina to Salt Lake City — about a 5-hour drive. That makes it the natural launch point for boaters coming from northern Utah.
Can you drive the Burr Trail from Bullfrog?
Yes. The Burr Trail Scenic Backway starts near Bullfrog and drops through dramatic 800-foot switchbacks, connecting to Capitol Reef (about 60 miles via Burr Trail and Notom Road) and Grand Staircase-Escalante. It pairs well with a boating trip — boat one day, drive the backway the next.
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