We have finally booked all accommodations etc. for our trip to NV, UT, & AZ. We are staying a couple of nights in Page and planned on taking the boat tour to Rainbow Bridge. I just checked out a website and was somwewhat surprise dby the cost--almost $90 for adults and $60 for kids.

Can anyone tell me about their experiences with this trip? Up until this point in our vacation we will have been hiking so we are looking for something different to do. Is this trip a good choice?
thanks in advance for any insight.

There is a full day tour that includes lunch and a half day tour that does not. The half day tour goes to Rainbow Bridge. The full day tour goes to the other end of Lake Powell.

I did the half day tour and found it was sufficient. Of course, I just had to pay for myself.

I do think the tour is worth doing.

Eva,

There are 1/2 day and all day boat tours to Rainbow Bridge. The two big differences are the all day tour goes down other canyons which is really awsome and gives you a box lunch.

We have done the all day twice over the years and I would highly recommend it to anyone. It is a fun trip. You can sit inside or outside and our guides have always been really nice.

The lake is really low this year and the tour boats use to be able to dock where you could see Rainbow Bridge from the boat but they have had to move the floating docks so you don't see it from the boat and you have to hike 3/4 of a mile to get to Rainbow Bridge. It will still be worth it!

Here is a link to a few of my pictures at Rainbow Bridge.

http://pages.ivillage.com/utahtea2/id4.html

Utahtea

Thanks to both of you. I suspected that it was a not to be missed site, but wanted the feedback.

So, the lake is still low. Any chance of that changing for the better. We've had more than our share of precipitation this year--very snowy winter and now a rainy spring!! We'd be happy to share the wealth.

Utahtea, I tried to access the pictures but could not get to the site. It is probably me, I'll try again later. I love the Max Bertola site you recommended. While I count down the days, I visit that site (bookmarked).

Thanks again. Eva

Eva, we are also planning a trip this summer that includes Lake Powell. I agree that the boat tour gets expensive with a family, so we are considering renting a power boat for a day. Cost is approx $300/day.

However, the only thing I'm not sure about is how we could see Rainbow Bridge. With the low lake levels and thus the 3/4 mile hike, seems like we'd have to leave the boat unattended for too long to be feasible.

Hotdogz--
Having no boating experience in our family, we would never consider menacing (or worse yet maiming) innocent bystanders looking to enjoy the beauty of Lake Powell. It sounds like a good idea though. Maybe some one out there (cyberspace or AZ) could advise you on the semantics of your plan.

After the planning of the schedule (where to stop, for how long, and where to stay), it is fun to investigte a few excursions. The other "tour type thing" we are looking into is a guided tour of Monument Valley. It seems like the best way to get a real good look around that area. Only 56 more days to go!!!!

Eva,

I put my Lake Powell - Rainbow Bridge pictures up on my other website. I've been meaning to do this for some time.

This site has more pictures of Lake Powell. These Pictures were taken with a 35mm so the quality isn't as good as the digital.

http://www.utahtea.lithium.com/lakepowell2001.htm

Utahtea

We enjoyed the half-day (5-hr) trip very much. The rock formations and the water combine for an almost alien experience and Rainbow Bridge is impressive. We were going on to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon that afternoon, so we ordered box lunches from Whahweap Lodge the night before and ate lunch on the boat.

We are also planning a trip and were considering renting a boat for the day and had the same concern Hotdogz has. Does anyone know how the low lake levels are affecting the sightseeing for small power boaters? Are there safe, secure places to dock if we were to make that 3/4 mile hike to Rainbow Bridge? Also, is it possible to see Antelope Canyon from a rented boat?

Also, does anyone have any recommendations on which rooms to request for the best views at Wahweap Lodge?

I guess I'm in the minority, but we weren't that impressed with the boat trip....and certainly feel that's not worth the high price mentioned. Frankly, we got bored on the ride back, as it was simply the reverse of the ride out!

gtrglr,

We're going to Lake Powell in August with my BIL & SIL who are bringing their own boat. The water level of Lake Powell is a little less than 50%. That's down.

Antelope Canyon that you hike into is reached by roads and not the lake. We are planning on doing this tour this trip too.

HowardR,

We are going to Lake Powell for a week this summer and I already know I won't get tired of seeing the scenery in that short amount of time! Each to his own.

Utahtea

Utahtea, usually we agree.....In this case, however, we just felt (and still feel) that the sites/sights didn't match a lot of what we've seen in the Rockies and Southwest. Oh, the Rainbow Bridge was nice, but our feeling was, "Is that all there is?"

Howard,

"Is that all there is?"

<pulling knife from heart>

I can look at red rock for hours on end. The walls of tapestry are my favorite. I thought riding in the tour boat was just like driving along the highways of the likes of Zion and Arches. Beautiful sandstone buttes and mesas everywhere you looked and to top it off the road was this incredibly blue water.

Utahtea

We did the 1/2 day Rainbow Bridge last year. 2 seniors, myself and a 12 yr old. It was a beautiful ride out and the hike/walk up to the Rainbow Bridge wasn't that bad and was fun, but I do have to agree with HowardR. I am glad I did it and loved looking at everything, but it did get old on the way back.

The next day we went on the calm water float out of Lees Ferry. The 2 seniors chose not to go because of the long ride the day before. That was unfortunate. We truly enjoyed it. I don't remember prices but I would recommend the float.

Thanks Jackie, for perhaps better expressing my overall feeling about the experience.
Utahtea, you don't have to convince us about the beauty of the Rockies and the Southwest. Believe me, we love the area...and our numerous trips there verify that! (In fact, we return to the Grand Teton--our all-time favorite--this summer.

Howard, I was just giving you a bad time

Jackie,
We are planning on doing the Float trip this year so I'm glad to hear you liked it.

Utahtea

What is a Float Trip? May I have details please?

Hi cd,

Try this link:

http://www.lake-listiak.com/llapps/e...CI=table02&WCU

Utahtea

Thanks Utahtea
When I try pulling the link up, it says "This page has expired"

utahtea: I asked about the Antelope Canyon from a boat because the Lake Powell website lists a boat tour of it. Also, what would be your recommendation of the best time of day for the half-day Rainbow Bridge tour ...early a.m. due to July heat or later in the p.m. to take advantage of the sunset.