Lake Canyon is one of the many side canyons along Powell's 150-mile length. It is not the longest, deepest, twistiest, or most creatively-named. The attribute that makes Lake Canyon the subject of this blog post is its combination of relative accessibility with a classic Glen Canyon setting. The easiest and by far the most common way to reach Lake Canyon is by motorboat. But for aspiring paddlers without the equipment, time or resources to organize a boat trip here, Lake Canyon can be reached by a moderate but adventurous hike.
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| Lake Canyon's stunning south fork |
Specifics on the route to Lake Canyon are detailed further down in the post. But generally, it is 2 miles east of Halls Crossing on Utah State Highway 276. Route 276 accesses both the Halls Crossing Marina on the southeast side of Lake Powell and Bullfrog Marina on the northwest side, but there is no fixed connection between the two. Historically the Utah DOT operated a ferry across the lake, but lower water levels have left it largely out of service in recent years. If approaching from the northwest (Hanksville) side, it is necessary to follow Utah Route 95 past the north junction with 276 and across the Hite bridge to reach the southern 276 junction. From there it is 44 miles west to Glen Canyon NRA. Gas stations in this part of Utah are few, far between, and not always in service. It's a good idea to always have a full enough tank to make it back to Blanding or Green River.
Scenery: 5
Shoreline Interest: 5
Use: Moderate
Fee: $30 or NPS pass
Access: Paved + 1.5 mi. off-trail hike
Full elev = 3700;
