Hiking at Lake Powell

From the water:
Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area have numerous hiking opportunities. The ones we have listed here are a selection of hikes that can actually be accessed from the water. If this is your passion, you’ll find that the lake seems to have limitless canyons to explore and there is more than anyone could see on just one trip!

Trailhead points are based on miles by water from the Glen Canyon Dam, buoys mark each mile. The Wahweap marina is located about 1 mile from the dam. The Antelope Point Marina is located about 4 miles from the dam. The Bullfrog marina is located much farther northeast on the lake, at about mile 95 from the dam.

Hikes Closer to Wahweap or Antelope Point Marinas:

Navajo Canyon - Buoy 10 - The hike to Chaol Fall is 8 miles roundtrip. After about 2 miles the trail will fork and you’ll want to take the right fork to the falls and the petroglyphs.
West Canyon - Buoy 25 - Hikers can go back as long and as far as they wish. You will encounter several pools and falls.
Last Chance Bay - Buoy 28 - Last Chance Bay has many side canyons with good anchoring beaches. At the mouth of the bay you will find Gregory Butte; look carefully and you can see that a portion of this butte is shaped like a camel.
Rock Creek Canyon, Middle Rock Creek Canyon and Dry Rock Creek Canyon - Buoy 36 - Each offers great beaches for anchoring, fantastic fishing and a breathtaking sunset or sunrise against the colored towering buttes. In this area, you’ll find several small arches and caves. In fact, you can drive your PWC or small powerboat into one particular cave in the back of Rock Creek Canyon. This canyon area is out of the wind and can be a great waterskiing location.
Mountain Sheep Canyon (Buoy 44) and Dungeon Canyon (Buoy 38) - Each canyons offers solitude, small hikes into slot canyons, and great fishing. (Note: As you approach the back of these canyons, be careful to watch for light colored areas of the water where rocks are just beneath the surface and could damage your boat’s bottom or propeller.)
Forbidding Canyon to RainbowBridge - Buoy 49 - As you wind back into this canyon, you will pass a wakeless buoy line, take the next left turn. You’ll proceed through a very narrow passage; be careful to travel at a slow safe speed. This will take you to a courtesy dock provided by the National Park Service (NPS). You can park/secure your powerboat next to the walkway and then walk to the end of the walkway where a dirt path begins. This path takes you to Rainbow Bridge. This hike is 1.75 miles one way. Be sure to take plenty of water with you; there are no facilities on the path, only back where you moored your boat. (Note: A houseboat can travel to this area, however it is much easier to maneuver a smaller boat here.) Rainbow Bridge is a wondrous, breathtaking rock formation that is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is the world’s largest natural Bridge, and quite likely the most photographed natural wonder in the American West.
Oak Creek Canyon - Buoy 51 - Head to the back of the canyon to hike the Navajo Stairs / Moki Steps that are carved in the sandstone. The hike should only take 45 minutes each way. Climbing to the top of the sandstone mound with the aid of the carved stairs (small pucks in the sandstone) will reward you with a magnificent view of other pillaring sandstone towers.
Anasazi Canyon - Buoy 52 - This canyon offers a great beach for anchoring and an excellent hike. Depending on the time of year, there is a small waterfall for you to enjoy at the back of the canyon, which is about a 45-minute hike one way. Anasazi Canyon is a long eerie gorge which contains great splotches of colorful lichen and desert varnish.

Hikes Closer to the Bullfrog Marina:

Cha Canyon - Buoy 58, then 11 miles down the San Juan arm of Lake Powell—Once you have boated as far as you can just keep heading up the wash. After about 1 mile take the west fork to enjoy miles of canyon hiking. If you go a little over 5 miles, you will meet up with the North Rainbow Bridge Trail.
Peekaboo Arch - Buoy 58, then 16 miles down the San Juan arm of Lake Powell to Deep Canyon—the hike to the arch is about 4.2 miles roundtrip.
Clear Creek Canyon - Buoy 68, then 2 miles up the Escalante arm—you will find Clear Creek Canyon on your left. Cathedral in The Desert is a picturesque alcove and swimming hole at the back of Clear Creek Canyon. In years when the water level is higher, it may not be visible.
Davis Gulch - Buoy 68, then 5 miles up the Escalante arm—you will most likely pass LaGorce Arch on your boat, depending on water levels. Go as far as you can on your boat then get out and hike the canyon. The hike back to Bement arch is about an hour.
Stephens Canyon - Buoy 68, then 21 miles up the Escalante arm—Stephens Arch is right at the confluence of the Escalante and Coyote Gulch. This area can be hiked for miles in either direction and you will enjoy stunning views of soaring canyon walls.
Long Canyon and Bown’s Canyon - Buoy 74 - both of these canyons end at little waterfalls.
Iceberg Canyon - Buoy 78 - hiking back in the canyon you will find several ruins and a natural lake. You can also hike to Aleson Arch from a cove between Iceberg and Rincon Canyons. It is approximately a 2 mile roundtrip hike. Rock cairns mark the path over sandstone.
Slick Rock Canyon - Buoy 81 - here you can see some archaeological ruins and petroglyphs. (Please do not try to go around the fence, its there because people were damaging these ruins.) The ruins have been restored to a point but are not good enough to walk in. The hike is about 2hrs round trip. There are some beaches here but it’s more of a cove now.
Lost Eden Canyon - Buoy 93 - follow this canyon to the back were you will find that the channel gets very narrow, use caution and go slow as there are a lot of people in here. If you continue farther back it will open up to a big cave that you can drive into. (Yes with the boat) you can only see this when the water is lower. This is one of the few shaded spots on the lake. You will not be able to get a houseboat back here, only kayaks, PWC or powerboat.
Forgotten Canyon - Buoy 106 — this is the third canyon on the right north of Hall’s Crossing. It’s very popular with hikers and boaters due to the length of the canyon and access to the Defiance House ruins and pictographs. At higher water levels, the ruins are accessible by boat and a short walk. At lower levels, it’s about a 2 mile moderate hike over sand hills each way and lasts about 2 hours. There are also floating restrooms located at the mouth of the canyon.
Smith Fork Canyon - Buoy 106 - there’s a hike at the end of Smith Fork Canyon and lasts about 2-3 hours. At higher water levels the hike up can actually take you to overlook the lake. It is best to stay out of the slot canyons if there is any weather or has been any weather due to flash flooding.
Knowles Canyon - Buoy 108 - there are some beaches in here with fishing and hiking possibilities. Hiking in the back of this canyon is very serene. There is running water but it is not potable. There is possible bird watching with some shade from cottonwoods.
Ticaboo Canyon - Buoy 121 - Ticaboo Canyon has no beaches but is great for fishing. At the end of this canyon you can hike up to a small slot canyon.