Loyal Pups Vacation at Lake Powell, Utah
- Luie Boone
- Aug 24
- 7 min read
This vacation destination is a part of our third series of blog posts titled Rover Ready.
Lake Powell, Utah? Luie Boone reckons its more like Lick Powell, with how much he can already taste of all the exciting adventures there. On the Utah side, Lake Powell is one of the most unique places in the Southwest United States to explore with your dog. With its vivid, red rock cliffs and deep, blue waters, the northern shoreline of the lake—near the towns of Bullfrog and Halls Crossing—is less crowded than the southern end.
Many people bring their pups along for houseboating, kayaking, and paddleboarding adventures. Dogs are allowed on most boat rentals. The shallow coves, sandy beaches, and calm inlets are ideal for swimming and playing. Please be sure to keep your dog under control and be respectful to others, so everyone can enjoy the waters together.
Leashes are required in developed areas, such as the marinas and campgrounds. You and your buddy can visit the open spaces of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which provides plenty of opportunities for peaceful walks off the beaten path. If you head out to the water here (or anywhere), make sure your pooch has a life jacket. And, don't forget to stay hydrated. The desert heat can sneak up on you very fast!
You'll want to check out the small town of Kanab when visiting. This town is located just a few hours west. It's biggest draw, especially for animal lovers, is the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, which is just right outside of town in the stunning Angel Canyon. This animal sanctuary welcomes leashed dogs on trails, invites visitors to take sanctuary dogs on day outings, and even offers overnight accommodations for travelers and their pets.
Back in the town of Kanab, many restaurants have outdoor seating that welcomes dogs. There also are several hotels and vacation rentals that are pet-friendly. Kanab is a perfect home-vacation base for exploring the surrounding Red Rock Country. Trails—including those in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument—are all within easy reach. Please be sure to check dog leash rules and follow them! One favorite trail of the locals is the Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon. This is the one near Kanab; it is not to be confused with the one near Escalante. This spot offers a beautiful, dog-friendly walk through narrow sandstone walls.
Farther north of Lake Powell, you can find the town of Escalante, which sits on the edge of some of the most dramatic and remote landscapes in Utah! It’s quieter there, with fewer crowds and more solitude, so it's perfect for travelers looking to share wide-open space with their dogs. Leashed pups are welcome in many areas of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where you can hike through slot canyons, walk among towering hoodoos, or follow hidden streams through the desert. One of the best dog-friendly hikes in the area is Lower Calf Creek Falls. This trail is just over six miles round-trip, mostly flat, and follows a clear creek to a breathtaking 126-foot waterfall. Luie Boone cannot wait to howl underneath it!
For the more adventurous travelers, Hole-in-the-Rock Road opens up access to dozens of remote trails and landmarks, including Zebra Slot Canyon, Devils Garden, and the Dry Fork Narrows. Just be sure to check the weather, bring more water than you think you’ll need, and avoid hiking in extreme heat or right after rainstorms when flash flooding is a risk.
Please note that traveling with a dog in this part of Utah does require some planning, especially due to the desert climate, but the reward can be immense. Whether you're splashing in the shallows of Lake Powell, wandering through quiet sandstone canyons, or just sharing a shady picnic under a juniper tree, the region offers unforgettable experiences for both you and your four-legged companion. Many areas welcome dogs with few restrictions, and the wide-open landscape invites a sense of freedom and connection to nature that’s hard to find elsewhere.
In the end, Lake Powell is more than a destination; Lake Powell is a feeling that you won't forgot. It’s the calm of watching your dog run along a sunlit shoreline, the thrill of discovering a hidden canyon together, and the peace of sleeping under the stars with nothing but desert silence and your best friend by your side.
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay at Lake Powell, Utah. Check it out below!
Rental Name: Discovery XL
This houseboat rental has 2 staterooms with 2 beds and a lower berth with 2 beds
and 1.5 baths with back deck shower.
Photos courtesy of Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas
It features the following amenities:
Front deck
Electric deep freezer
Propane BBQ grill
12 deck chairs
Rear deck with fire extinguisher
Upper deck with dining table, 4 table chairs, and 2 lounge chairs
Mini refrigerator and wet bar
40" flat screen TV with DVD player
Swim slide
12 adult life jackets (child size available upon request)
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
A house boat on Lake Powell, Utah? Yes, please! I'm leaving behind my usual backyard patrols for an epic lake escape aboard the houseboat known as the Discovery XL. The boat sounds huge! There's room for the whole pack with a bunch of cozy spots to nap, air conditioning to stay cool, and even a kitchen where the bacon gets sizzled up. There's even a swim slide. That's not just any slide, but a slippery, splashy, water slide right into the lake! I'll go down it, only if I have one of my hoomans with me. Slippery stuff can be scary for pooches like me. And, if it is too scary? I'll just focus on perfecting my cannonball form. On the upper deck, there's a BBQ grill. I'll have to be careful not to drool too much and it make it so slippery that everything, except the tasty food, goes overboard. We'll be sure to pack our life jackets just in case. At night, we will watch movies on the big screen and snack under the stars. That sounds like the perfect vacation to me.
Paws Venture Here
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Bring your doggo to this national recreation area which encompasses over 1.2 million acres. There's no shortage of activities in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a vast area covering nearly 1.9 million acres of diverse landscapes, including cliffs, canyons, plateaus, and badlands. Established in 1996, it offers numerous outdoor activities, such as hiking with your pooch and looking as dazzling as that dalmatian.
Padre Bay
Padre Bay is the biggest bay on Lake Powell. It is seven miles across and nine miles long, so you'll have plenty of space for swimming with your pup.
Warm Creek Bay
Warm Creek Bay is a very popular site with Lake Powell visitors and their best friends. Here, you can enjoy boating, jet skiing, or just walking on the beach.
The Toadstools Hoodoos
These balanced rock formations look like mushrooms and provide awe-inspiring views that enchant! The toadstools are easily accessible by a moderate 1.5-mile round-trip hike with your pal.
Wave-Coyote Buttes
This is an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventure that you can share with pooch. You can only hike at The Wave if you have a permit, and only 20 people per day receive permits. Due to the popularity of permit requests, a lottery system as been instituted. To register for the online permit lottery, visit the website below.
Hobie Cat Beach
Hobie Cat beach is day use only. There is no overnight camping, no campfires, and no glass containers allowed. Motorized vessels are not permitted past the buoys, but kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are permitted, Unfortunately, there is not a cat named Hobie that frequents the beach. Sorry, Luie Boone.
Big Al’s Burgers at the Junction Drive-In
This is a restaurant where dogs can join you at a table in their covered seating area outside. They can order a pup patty from their partial dog menu. The hooman menu features all your classic drive-in favorites, including burgers, sandwiches, waffle fries, chili dogs, fried chicken tenders, ice cream, milkshakes, and more. Be sure to get your pooch some ice cream!
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Lake Powell, Utah
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
From what I've heard about Lake Powell, Utah, it's giant. It's like the biggest water bowl ever. And, it has sandy beaches, cliffs, an endless room for zoomies. I’m already dreaming about cruising on a houseboat, swimming, and rolling in the sand. But, then I got a top-secret message from Max. He's a golden retriever, who has visited the lake before. He said it’s all so amazing… except for the horseflies. According to Max, Lake Powell can have a lot of them in summer, especially in warm and still coves. These horseflies hover like tiny helicopters and then chomp—right on your snout or your tooshie! Some spots in Lake Powell are fine because of the wind, which knocks the horse files back. But in other areas, I might have to do snout-dive into the lake just to escape. Vacation at Lake Powell? That's still a big, fat “yes” from me, because I’ve got a plan: stay wet, stick to breezy beaches, and convince my humans to bring dog-safe bug spray.
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