2021 Lake Powell

colbysmith

colbysmith

Active member
Thought I'd open up a new thread on Lake Powell for this year. I had thought about heading out there in late September or early October, but watching with interest the posts on WaynesWords blog about the low water levels. Apparently the current level is at 3563 with more water going out than coming in. I see Stateline just opened it's ramp, but supposedly it will close when the level hits 3558, so it might not be open for long. BullFrog Bay's main ramp is already closed due to low water. Will be interesting to see how low it goes, and what folks find at the launch ramps. Last year I used Halls Crossing, as I found it a lot easier to launch there than at Bullfrog. Bullfrog was too shallow then, and fewer folks used Halls. Would hope anyone that goes out to Lake Powell this summer, posts here any information about launching, navigation, etc. Colby
 
My wife and I returned from a kayaking trip on Lake Powell two weeks ago. We camped at Wahweap campground and launched our kayaks from Antelope Point boat ramp. According to the locals, this is the lowest level of Lake Powell for over 14 years. The Antelope boat ramp was high and dry, open only to paddle craft that could be hand-carried down to the the low lake level. The ramps were operational at Wahweap and Stateline, but we preferred to launch at Antelope point to avoid the long paddle to Antelope Canyon. For our next trip, I hope to launch from Hall's Crossing or Bullfrog to explore the canyons of the upper lake.
 
colbysmith":s6wm1the said:
Thought I'd open up a new thread on Lake Powell for this year. I had thought about heading out there in late September or early October, but watching with interest the posts on WaynesWords blog about the low water levels. Apparently the current level is at 3563 with more water going out than coming in. I see Stateline just opened it's ramp, but supposedly it will close when the level hits 3558, so it might not be open for long. BullFrog Bay's main ramp is already closed due to low water. Will be interesting to see how low it goes, and what folks find at the launch ramps. Last year I used Halls Crossing, as I found it a lot easier to launch there than at Bullfrog. Bullfrog was too shallow then, and fewer folks used Halls. Would hope anyone that goes out to Lake Powell this summer, posts here any information about launching, navigation, etc. Colby
Click to expand...

Making tentative plans for early October. You have almost 15 feet of water above usable at halls and then it falls off a cliff. If I remember correctly the lowest the lake has been since it was filled was 3555 and that’s when they poured the new ramp at Bullfog. I launched at 3555 at the main ramp just to the left on the dirt with a 23 foot aft cab cruiser.
 
Wow Jody. Interesting picture. I always wondered how far those ramps extend, and when did they pour them. I have to imagine that they also get filled in with sand when underwater. For anyone that has considered going to Lake Powell, The wayneswords blog is very informative on the Lake.
 
Returned home this evening from a week at Lake Powell. Launched at Halls crossing. Very cool windy week with high day temps between the 50’s & 70’s. Liked the cool temperatures, but not the almost continual wind, especially the higher gust. It did make good test conditions for the new auto pilot. It worked flawlessly & I couldn’t be more pleased with it.
Also continue to be very satisfied with the Honda 60’s. The new NMEA 2000 fuel data is showing about 5 mpg in the 20 mph range & 8 mpg + at displacement speeds. 241 miles this trip & used 33 gal fuel. That’s 7.3 mpg average.

The lower lake levels aren’t all that apparent in the main chanel, but a huge difference in the canyons. Lots of new sand bars with great camping spots. Colby if the remaining ramps stay open, you will be glad you went again.

Jay
 
At Lake Mead, there are high water and low water ramps. A lot of the high water ramps are unusable now (some have been unusable for many years). I suspect that some of the low water ramps will be unusable by the end of next summer (maybe this summer).
 
Continue reading the posts on Wayneswords blog. I suspect at the rate that Lake Powell is going down, the launch ramps will all be closed by July! Don't think I'm willing to launch the 25 from unimproved gravel. Several posts on that blog about houseboats being landlocked now at one of the docks in Wahweep. :( Colby
 
Bullfrog has a pipe grid that they can put in the water to lunch. I don’t know if they’ll use it though. You can pay offshore for a launch and retrieve.
 
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