Lake Powell is the epicenter of some of the greatest hiking in the American Southwest. At sunrise, the magical landscape turns from purple to pink, as you wind your way up spectacular trails and begin a hike like none you've experienced before. While many trails are accessible by land, others require shuttling across Lake Powell by boat—making the adventure even greater.
Just two pieces of advice before you hike these magnificent trails:
(1) Take plenty of water
(2) Don't forget your camera!
Aleson Arch is a 100-foot span between Iceberg and Rincon. Park your boat all the way in the back of the coven and look for a break on the right side of the rock ledge. This marks the trail leading to the top and offers an easy hike to the top of the mesa. Once above the rock ledge, cairns mark the well-used path. Follow it around to the right to climb up to the base of the arch. Early morning hikes deliver the best light for pictures, so keep your camera handy.
Smith Fork is a beautiful slot canyon above Lake Powell, up lake from Bullfrog Marina. It is enjoyable to boat through its winding, narrowing concourse. From the water's edge you can hike into the slot, going as far as you feel comfortable. Hiking is fairly easy on the lower end and becomes increasingly difficult as you proceed up canyon. Hike up the canyon until you start to get tired, or until the going becomes rougher than you want, and then return to your boat. Alternately, you can drive jeep roads to a ridge above the canyon, climb down in and then hike down-canyon to the lake. Good climber can free climb down from the rim. Others may need a rope.
Heading North East on left side of the Main Channel after you pass M121. At the upper end of the Bay you may find running water and a spring coming out of the crack on the left side. Above the spring there may be running water which once flowed past a now-submerged ‘Ticaboo Ranch' belonging to Cass Hite. Just pass the beginning of the running water or the site of where it use to come through on the right hand side or North side will be the trail head of Ticaboo Creek.
Heading South on the Left side of the Main Channel just pass M79 will be the mouth of the Iceberg Canyon. The eastern wall of the canyon has fallen and created a dam making it so that boats are not accessible. You can anchor your boat close the dam and walk across the rubble to the east side. You will then want to walk south on the east side of the upper inlet where you then may find a hiking trail left by others.
Heading North East on left side of the Main Channel between M131 and M131A (Further up the canyon there is a place called Fourmile Spring, you can enter this hike by water or hike a variation from land off of Hwy 276 Mm 20 and head East. You can go over a pass and head towards Fourmile Canyon or once over the pass head north and climb Mt. Holmes.
Heading North East on left side of Main Channel after you pass M113. At the start of the hike, you may see a small stream or where a small stream use to run. There should be a hiking trail that is noticeable from where other hikers have made a path. Across from the mouth of Sevenmile Canyon there use to be a cabin called ‘The Ryan Cabin' built in the late 1800's during the Glen Canyon Gold Rush which is now sub-merged.
Heading South on the right side of Main Channel between M84 & M83A (Closer to M83A) will be the mouth of Annies Canyon. A few miles up the canyon there's a gully on the left side with a trail that you can follow. It will bring you to a drainage that you can climb either down or up. If you climb down the drainage you will go into a slot canyon where there will be pools and slick rock. If you climb up the drainage it will bring you to a Water pocket Fold.
The Black Hole is a dark slot in White Canyon, located in the Hite Marina area above Lake Powell. The hike through White Canyon to Black Hole is a great semi-technical adventure hike. Access is easy and permits are not needed. This hike is popular with families and youth groups. However, it is a challenging route carrying an element of danger. To get through the canyon you must swim through several long, cold pools of water, in addition to wading/swimming short pools and scrambling up/down dryfalls and chokestones.
From Bullfrog Visitor Center take Highway 276 North approximately 4.4 miles (7 km) to the marked junction with Burr Trail. Turn left onto Burr Trail and go about 4.8 miles (7.7 km) to Pedestal Alley parking area. The trailhead is across the road from the parking area. More Details at NationalParkService.com
