Scenic Boat Tours of Lake Powell

Why hire a tour? Take in the high contrast of Lake Powell's placid, cool blue waters and colorful warm shores without worrying about logistics.

Written By Austen Diamond

web_2000_stock-photo-alstrom-sunset-lakepowell
Alstrom Point, Lake Powell   |  Austen Diamond

Can you say panoramic? Of course you can, and of course you live for that sort of thing — that’s why you’re visiting the lovely Lake Powell. But can you say “panoramic” in five languages?

While on one of the many Lake Powell boat tours offered from Wahweap Marina in Page, Arizona, (near Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River and Antelope Canyon) you’ll have the option to hear an audio tour, with the included audio set, in one of five languages: English, German, French, Italian, and Japanese. So you might learn a thing or two (It’s “panoramica” in Italian, by the way).

Photo: Austen Diamond

Photo: Austen Diamond

Photo: Austen Diamond

Why hire a tour? Take in the high contrast of Lake Powell's placid, cool blue waters and colorful warm shores without worrying about maps or logistics. It's for boat lovers, lake lovers, sightseers and tourists from all over the world; it's for people who want to get on the water but don’t want to take all day for a boat tour and folks who don’t want to deal with the logistics or cost of renting their own boat.

You’ll board a vessel with folks from all over the world to see the sites that the lake has to offer. The Panoramic Lake Powell Tour offered by ARAMARK at the Wahweap Marina is an excellent option, and heads across the state line to visit some of Utah’s majestic buttes only seen from the water.

A Grand and Relaxing Evening Tour

The Panoramic Lake Powell Tour takes you by a double-decker boat out to Gunsight Bay and back. This is an excellent option for those who don’t want to deal with the logistics of renting their own boat (or they can’t, for whatever reason) and would prefer to sit back and relax, and take in some views.

As you head out of the marina, you approach Castle Rock (get your cameras ready) and pass east through the Castle Rock Cut, which grants you quicker access to Utah and beyond. The audio set provides historical information about the Native Americans who once called this area home, about the first explorers of the Colorado River — like John Wesley Powell (the lake’s namesake) — and the eventual damming of the river that created this massive body of water and reservoir for the West.

Enjoy some refreshments and a nice cool breeze as you coast across the water. While this tour doesn’t stop to let you out of the boat (some of the longer Lake Powell boat tours do), you will venture far and be able get close to the awe-inspiring natural wonders of canyon country. Note the “bathtub ring” which marks the lake’s high point at one time, and take panoramic photos once you reach Gunsight Bay.

The boat then turns around, and you can take it all in again. This tour departs at 5 p.m. and returns at 7 p.m.; the two-hour duration is an ideal amount of time to get a softer sun and long, beautiful shadows from the area’s rock formations for your excellent pictures. It's also a good fit for road trips through the region with a base camp to adventure in Kanab, Utah.

On scenic boat tours of Lake Powell, enjoy the shimmering water under your boat and the glamorous red rock buttes as the wind rushes through your hair.

For longer visits to Lake Powell, see our Glen Canyon National Recreation Area page and Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

(Once you're hooked on the Lake Powell by boat experience, you may want to return to volunteer for the National Park Service's Trash Tracker Program, multi-day trips helping NPS keep the shores of the scenic reservoir clean.)

Photo: Austen Diamond

GPS Coordinates, Parking and Regulations

GPS Coordinates: (36.995547, -111.486511)

Park at the Lake Powell Resort main parking area, and meet in the lobby 30 minutes prior to departure for all tours. Boarding begins approximately 15 minutes before scheduled departure time. Check availability here.

Travelers generally take Lake Powell boat tours during the warmer months of the year, April through October. The water temperature will be most mild during the summer, but be forewarned that temperatures can peak over triple digits. Start planning your Lake Powell sightseeing tour today!

Check Dates and Book

Panoramic Lake Powell Tour 

Offered by ARAMARK at the Wahweap Marina

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