The Four Corners Area - American Southwest - page 121

121

from 8am to 6pm; November to February, it's open daily 8:30am to 4:30pm; other
months, it's open daily 8am to 5pm (it's closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's
Day).
More than 500 feet deep in some places, and bounded by nearly 2,000 miles of shore-
line, Lake Powell is a maze of convoluted canyons where rock walls often rise hundreds
of feet straight out of the water. In places, the long, winding canyons are so narrow there
isn't even room to turn a motorboat around. The only way to truly appreciate this lake
is from a boat, whether a houseboat, a runabout, or a sea kayak. Water-skiing, riding
personal watercrafts, and fishing have long been the most popular on-water activities,
and consequently, you'll be hard-pressed to find a quiet corner of the lake if you happen
to be a solitude-seeking sea kayaker. However, with so many miles of shoreline, you're
bound to find someplace to get away from it all. Your best bet for solitude is to head
up-lake from Wahweap Marina. This will get you away from the crowds and into some
of the narrower reaches of the lake.
In addition to the Carl Hayden Visitor Center mentioned above, there's the Bullfrog
Visitor Center, in Bullfrog, Utah ( & 435/684-7420 ). It's open intermittently from May
to early October; call for hours.
Boat & Air Tours
There are few roads penetrating the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so the best
way to appreciate this rugged region is by boat. If you don't have your own boat, you can
at least see a small part of the lake on a boat tour. A variety of tours depart from Wah-
weap Marina ( & 888/896-3829 or 928/645-2433; www.lakepowell.com). Your best
bet is either the 1 1 / 2 -hour Antelope Canyon Cruise ($35 for adults, $23 for children) or
the 3-hour Navajo Tapestry Cruise ($66 for adults, $42 for children). To see more of
the lake, opt for the full-day tour to Rainbow Bridge (see below for details). Breakfast
and evening cruises are also offered.
The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area covers an immense area, much of it only
partially accessible by boat. If you'd like to see more of the area than is visible from car
or boat, consider taking an air tour with Westwind Scenic Air Tours ( & 800/245-8668
or 928/645-2494; www.westwindairservice.com), which offers several tours of northern
Arizona and southern Utah, including flights over Rainbow Bridge and Monument Val-
ley. Sample rates are $125 for a 30-minute flight over Rainbow Bridge and $263 for a
75-minute flight over Monument Valley. Children 12 and under get a 10% discount.

6

RAINBOW BRIDGE NATIONAL MONUMENT
Roughly 40 miles up Lake Powell from Wahweap Marina and Glen Canyon Dam, in a
narrow side canyon of the lake, rises Rainbow Bridge , the world's largest natural
bridge and one of the most spectacular sights in the Southwest. Preserved in Rainbow
Bridge National Monument, this natural arch of sandstone stands 290 feet high and
spans 275 feet. Carved by wind and water over the ages, Rainbow Bridge is an awesome
reminder of the powers of erosion that have sculpted this entire region into the spectacle
it is today.
Rainbow Bridge is accessible only by boat or on foot (a hike of 14 miles minimum),
and, of course, going by boat is by far the more popular method. Lake Powell Resorts
and Marinas ( & 888/896-3829 or 928/645-2433; www.lakepowell.com) offers full-day
tours ($144 for adults, $89 for children) that not only get you to Rainbow Bridge in
comfort, but also cruise through some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. Tours
include a box lunch and a bit more exploring after visiting Rainbow Bridge. Currently,