Lake Powell

"If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?" I asked my first class of second graders. Four students said Disneyland, two said Hawaii, and twenty-two said Lake Powell.


I came home that day and asked my husband the same question. He said it was a tie- either Italy or Lake Powell.

"What is so great about Lake Powell?" I wondered.

I just spent four days on a houseboat there and now I understand. Let me explain why the words "Lake Powell" make almost every Utahan's mouth water.Lake Powell is huge. It is the second largest man-made reservoir and covers an area of 1,932 square miles. Now, when I think of a large lake I think of one mass of water. For Lake Powell this is not so. It is made of of numerous canyons which are perfect for allowing the three million visitors per year some privacy.

Nature lovers are in for a great time. The colorful canyons that line Lake Powell create a beautiful paradise. Some canyon walls are very steep and contain ancient artifacts such as dinosaur prints or Indian ruins. Trails are available to visit natural wonders that are not within immediate sight from the lake such as Rainbow Bridge, a stone arc which is found in the southern half of the lake.

Water sports thrive on Lake Powell. The canyons provide smooth water for waterskiing, wakeboarding, and wake skating. Water that is more choppy is great for tubing behind a boat. For those who enjoy something a little less strenuous there's fishing or just floating in the water to stay cool.

Houseboats are fun. Have you ever been on one? Having a collection of family or friends living on one is an exciting experience. Without the Internet or television people have to be more creative with how they spend their time. That's how games like "Intertube Baseball", "Frisbee/Jetski Catch off the Top of the House Boat", and "The Human Pyramid-Intertube Style" are born.

Lake Powell isn't just great during the day. At night people gather around campfires to roast marshmallows and every now and then fireworks can be seen in the night sky (illegal, of course, but still fun to see). When everyone has settled down hundreds of stars can be seen from your bed on top of the houseboat or on the shore.

Sometimes a vacation is what you make of it, but there's a reason so many people who have experienced Lake Powell choose it for the place they would like to be more than anywhere else. It's got a lot to offer. After spending four days there myself I may concur with my fellow Utahans- Lake Powell is where I would like to be over everywhere else.