I just woke up from an all night drive from Bullfrog Marina, in central lower Utah. My family and I explored the lake, traveling over 150 miles, most of which were motoring or motor sailing. If there is any interest, I'll post some pictures. Oh yeah, I am sunburned! John S Boise
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Mark
Lake powell
I would love to see your pic. of lake powell. How was the sailing on the lake? I would think with the high walls that the winds would be all over the place. I was thinking about going down over easter. Is it worth the trip? renchermh@yahoo.com Mark
I would love to see your pic. of lake powell. How was the sailing on the lake? I would think with the high walls that the winds would be all over the place. I was thinking about going down over easter. Is it worth the trip? renchermh@yahoo.com Mark
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Mel Elliott
Lake Powell
I love Lake Powell, it's one of my favorites. Did you get to see Rainbow Bridge? It's not far from Bullfrog
I love Lake Powell, it's one of my favorites. Did you get to see Rainbow Bridge? It's not far from Bullfrog
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John S
Suggestions
Now that I have toured this lake for a few days, I have a few suggestions for the future sailboater: Bring everything you need. I did buy fuel for about $2.60/gal, but that was because I carried my fuel jugs to the gas station. Fuel is available at the marinas, but I don't know how much. I do have a price standard that I use to compare prices in various areas: the portable probane bottle that goes for less than $2 at Walmart will cost you $7.95 at the marina store... We were able to get potable water for free at the marina, but I don't drink water like that. Our own water supplies were depleted by the ned of 6 days so I have plans for more onboard storage. During our stay, and our visit to the interior of LP, there were days when we saw no other person or boat! This will not be the case after the official opening date of April 15th. There will be much competition for campsites and every other resource such as docks and beaches. I don't know exact numbers but I have been told of nearly endless wakes due to large ocean-going type boats, hundreds of houseboats, thousands of ski boats and a whole bunch of PWCs. Our weather ranged from sunny days to sudden dangereous squalls, rain in short, severe wind storms and cool evenings. We tied up to a buoy one night and ran the heater to make our boat cozy with the pop top up. You can not bring too much fuel. I brought 19 gallons and bought 7 gallons and I have a fuel miserly outboard. I think that a GPS with extra map coverage was a very reassuring tool. When you are in a maze of sandstone canyons, everything may look the same. The classic error is to travel up lake intending on going to Bullfrog/Hall marinas and turning instead up the San Jaun arm (easily done). There are no facilities (read fuel) of any kind and you may travel 50 miles before you realise your mistake. I constantly keep an eye on my fish/finder depth indicator. If I see the bottom coming up I turn towards the channel, otherwise I try to straighten out the course by cutting corners. There are submerged spires of rock that come up quickly if you have no depth data. Just a few considerations and I'd gladly answer any questions. I will return when it gets warmer just to check out the madness in August if I don't go to Priest Lake in Northern Idaho instead. Only malfunction was the loss of screws on my forward hatch cover hinge. John S
Now that I have toured this lake for a few days, I have a few suggestions for the future sailboater: Bring everything you need. I did buy fuel for about $2.60/gal, but that was because I carried my fuel jugs to the gas station. Fuel is available at the marinas, but I don't know how much. I do have a price standard that I use to compare prices in various areas: the portable probane bottle that goes for less than $2 at Walmart will cost you $7.95 at the marina store... We were able to get potable water for free at the marina, but I don't drink water like that. Our own water supplies were depleted by the ned of 6 days so I have plans for more onboard storage. During our stay, and our visit to the interior of LP, there were days when we saw no other person or boat! This will not be the case after the official opening date of April 15th. There will be much competition for campsites and every other resource such as docks and beaches. I don't know exact numbers but I have been told of nearly endless wakes due to large ocean-going type boats, hundreds of houseboats, thousands of ski boats and a whole bunch of PWCs. Our weather ranged from sunny days to sudden dangereous squalls, rain in short, severe wind storms and cool evenings. We tied up to a buoy one night and ran the heater to make our boat cozy with the pop top up. You can not bring too much fuel. I brought 19 gallons and bought 7 gallons and I have a fuel miserly outboard. I think that a GPS with extra map coverage was a very reassuring tool. When you are in a maze of sandstone canyons, everything may look the same. The classic error is to travel up lake intending on going to Bullfrog/Hall marinas and turning instead up the San Jaun arm (easily done). There are no facilities (read fuel) of any kind and you may travel 50 miles before you realise your mistake. I constantly keep an eye on my fish/finder depth indicator. If I see the bottom coming up I turn towards the channel, otherwise I try to straighten out the course by cutting corners. There are submerged spires of rock that come up quickly if you have no depth data. Just a few considerations and I'd gladly answer any questions. I will return when it gets warmer just to check out the madness in August if I don't go to Priest Lake in Northern Idaho instead. Only malfunction was the loss of screws on my forward hatch cover hinge. John S
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Ryan
Go north
Try priest lake during the summer season, it can't be as much of a madhouse as LP. I was there once in late July in a 50' houseboat for a week during a business conference and even it was not fun to drive because of the wakes from the aforementioned huge sightseeing boats, etc. which rebound off the canyon walls making for very choppy water in some places. The water was 20' higher then too, so it would have been better to take than now. I will take my Mac up there some off season to enjoy that beauty again, when the traffic is less. I wlll certainly not go again in high traffic summer season.
Try priest lake during the summer season, it can't be as much of a madhouse as LP. I was there once in late July in a 50' houseboat for a week during a business conference and even it was not fun to drive because of the wakes from the aforementioned huge sightseeing boats, etc. which rebound off the canyon walls making for very choppy water in some places. The water was 20' higher then too, so it would have been better to take than now. I will take my Mac up there some off season to enjoy that beauty again, when the traffic is less. I wlll certainly not go again in high traffic summer season.
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Phil Benge
Drive to Lake Powell
John, What was your driving time to Lake Powell from Boise with the boat? It's five hours to Boise for me and I've thought of towing my boat on down to Lake Powell. For those considering Priest Lake, Upper Priest Lake is the best. Boat ramps are on Priest Lake and then you take the "highway" (the connecting waterway between the lakes) to Upper Priest. The five mph speed limit on Upper Priest limits the number of power boats. There are several great shoreline beach campsites around Upper Priest. Another good Idaho Lake is Dworshak Reservoir near Orofino. Fifty miles long with only four road access points. It has about 80 individual campsites around the lake each with table, fire ring and toilet. It's best to go by July 4th since they start drawing the lake down after the holiday. No fees for launching or boat-in camping.
John, What was your driving time to Lake Powell from Boise with the boat? It's five hours to Boise for me and I've thought of towing my boat on down to Lake Powell. For those considering Priest Lake, Upper Priest Lake is the best. Boat ramps are on Priest Lake and then you take the "highway" (the connecting waterway between the lakes) to Upper Priest. The five mph speed limit on Upper Priest limits the number of power boats. There are several great shoreline beach campsites around Upper Priest. Another good Idaho Lake is Dworshak Reservoir near Orofino. Fifty miles long with only four road access points. It has about 80 individual campsites around the lake each with table, fire ring and toilet. It's best to go by July 4th since they start drawing the lake down after the holiday. No fees for launching or boat-in camping.
J
John S
Driving Time
Phil Thanks alot for the info. We want to see Priest Lake soon. We took two days to drive to Powell on the way down. We stopped in Green River at a campground, then drove the rest of the way the next day. When we returned, we drove non-stop, (except for an hour dinner break), and it took 12 1/2 hours. That was mostly freeway, except south of Salt Lake we started to edge diagonally from Bullfrog Marina, which is closer than Page Arizona. I have heard that the road down from the north to Page is very windy, but scenic. Seems to me that we paid about $20 in fees to stay a week on Powell. If you get this far, and I can be of assistance, give me a call at 208-323-1781. I won't make it to Dworshak this year, but maybe the lake will stay higher longer due to the snowpack this year. John S
Phil Thanks alot for the info. We want to see Priest Lake soon. We took two days to drive to Powell on the way down. We stopped in Green River at a campground, then drove the rest of the way the next day. When we returned, we drove non-stop, (except for an hour dinner break), and it took 12 1/2 hours. That was mostly freeway, except south of Salt Lake we started to edge diagonally from Bullfrog Marina, which is closer than Page Arizona. I have heard that the road down from the north to Page is very windy, but scenic. Seems to me that we paid about $20 in fees to stay a week on Powell. If you get this far, and I can be of assistance, give me a call at 208-323-1781. I won't make it to Dworshak this year, but maybe the lake will stay higher longer due to the snowpack this year. John S
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