Lake Powell itineraries: 3, 5 & 7-day boat trips
Ready-made day-by-day plans for a Lake Powell boat trip — where to cruise, anchor and explore each day, from a southern weekend to a full week on the water.
Updated
These three Lake Powell itineraries scale from a weekend to a full week. The 3-day weekend from Wahweap covers Antelope Canyon, Padre Bay and an easy return — about 24 miles and 15 gallons of fuel. The 5-day north-lake trip from Bullfrog works The Rincon, Forgotten Canyon and Good Hope Bay across about 60 miles. The 7-day grand tour links the southern beaches, Rainbow Bridge and the mid-lake canyons. Adjust any day for wind, and reserve slips and rentals well ahead.
Facts checked July 2026.
3-Day Weekend from Wahweap
A first-timer’s taste of the southern lake — a slot canyon, a big beach bay and an easy return.
Start: Wahweap Marina · Total: about 24 miles · Fuel: about 15 gallons · Easy
| Day | Where | Distance (mi) | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antelope Canyon | 4 | Explore the narrow canyon, photography, swimming; anchor in the main channel outside the entrance. |
| 2 | Padre Bay | 8 | Beach games, water sports and cliff jumping; anchor in the protected coves on the north side. |
| 3 | Wahweap Marina | 12 | Morning swim, then cruise back to the marina. |
5-Day North Lake from Bullfrog
Canyon country from the north lake — red-rock hikes, ancestral ruins and quiet anchorages.
Start: Bullfrog Marina · Total: about 60 miles · Fuel: about 40 gallons · Moderate
| Day | Where | Distance (mi) | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Rincon | 15 | Hiking, photography and swimming; multiple protected coves to choose from. |
| 2 | Forgotten Canyon | 10 | Hike to Defiance House ruins, kayaking; anchor at the canyon mouth. |
| 3 | Moki Canyon | 8 | Narrow-canyon exploration and photography; anchoring is limited, so arrive early. |
| 4 | Good Hope Bay | 12 | Beach time, water sports and relaxing in a large bay with many options. |
| 5 | Bullfrog Marina | 15 | Resupply and head in — for 2026, fuel and slips are at the relocated Bullfrog dock near Halls Crossing, about 3 nm across the channel. |
7-Day Grand Tour from Wahweap
A full week that reaches from the southern beaches to Rainbow Bridge and the mid-lake canyons.
Start: Wahweap Marina · Advanced
| Day | Where | Distance (mi) | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone Rock Beach | — | Launch, load supplies, set up base camp and explore the nearby coves. |
| 2 | Labyrinth Canyon & Padre Bay | — | Slot-canyon hiking, lunch at Padre Bay, watersports at Warm Creek and night fishing. |
| 3 | Rainbow Bridge | — | Early start, hike to the monument, picnic in Forbidding Canyon, explore Cathedral Canyon; anchor at Oak Bay. |
| 4 | Escalante River arm | — | Kayak up Escalante Canyon, hike to hidden pools, cliff jumping and beach camping. |
| 5 | Good Hope Bay | — | Cruise the upper lake, explore Good Hope Bay and the Dirty Devil confluence; overnight at Bullfrog Bay. |
| 6 | Recreation day | — | Wakeboarding, tubing, paddleboarding and a fishing session at a sandy cove. |
| 7 | Return to marina | — | Final cruise back, refuel and clean up, then check out. |
How to adapt these itineraries
- Check the distances. Add up your legs on the distances and travel-time guide before you commit to a day’s run.
- Plan the fuel. Size your tank against the route with the fuel-planning guide — there is no fuel between the marinas.
- Watch the season. Wind, heat and crowds shift by month; the seasonal patterns guide shows what to expect.
- Build in slack. Weather can pin you down for a day — keep a spare anchorage and extra food and water in reserve.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good 3-day Lake Powell itinerary?
From Wahweap, run about 4 miles to Antelope Canyon on day one, 8 miles to Padre Bay for beaches and cliff jumping on day two, then cruise the 12 miles back on day three — roughly 24 miles and 15 gallons of fuel in all. It is an easy loop that shows off the southern lake.
How many days do you need to see Lake Powell by boat?
Three days covers the southern highlights near Page. Five days from Bullfrog gets you deep into the north-lake canyons at an unhurried pace. A full week lets you link the southern beaches, Rainbow Bridge and the mid-lake canyons into one trip.
Can you visit Rainbow Bridge on a Lake Powell itinerary?
Yes. Rainbow Bridge sits about 50 miles up-lake from Wahweap, so it works best on a longer trip — day three of the 7-day plan here. It is a long run each way, so start early and carry a fuel reserve, since there is no fuel between the marinas.
Which marina is best to start a Lake Powell itinerary from?
Start from Wahweap or Antelope Point near Page for the southern lake, Antelope Canyon and Rainbow Bridge. Start from Bullfrog or Halls Crossing for The Rincon, the mid-lake canyons and quieter water. The itineraries here are built around those two home bases.
How far should you travel each day on Lake Powell?
Aim for no more than 4–5 hours of cruising a day so there is time to hike, swim and anchor before dark. The plans here keep most legs well under that, leaving the days open for exploring rather than just running the boat.
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