Lake Powell with Kids

Lake Powell is a giant sandbox with warm water, soft beaches and red rock cliffs to explore, and kids love it. A little planning makes the day easy: pick a short ride, bring plenty of shade and water, and let the beach and the water toys do the rest.

Best Ages and Ways to Get on the Water

• Boat day: the easiest choice for families with young kids. A MasterCraft boat rental has room for everyone, shade and space for coolers, plus tubing and wakesurfing for older kids.
• Jet skis: great for teens and older kids riding along with a parent. Drivers of our jet skis must be 18 or older with a valid driver’s license. Passengers of any age can ride with a parent or guardian’s approval, and every rider wears a life jacket. Tell us the kids’ ages when you book so we have the right life jacket sizes ready.
• Water toys: tubes, lily pads, paddleboards and kayaks keep kids busy at the beach. See our water toys.

Life Jacket Rules

• Everyone on a jet ski must wear a life jacket, no matter their age.
• Anyone being towed, on a tube, skis or a wakeboard, must wear one too.
• Arizona and Utah both require children 12 and under to wear a life jacket whenever a boat is underway.
• Every boat needs a properly sized life jacket for each person on board.

The National Park Service also recommends that kids wear a life jacket anytime they are near the water, not just on the boat. Lake Powell’s beaches can drop off quickly, and the water is deep right off many rocky shores.

Kid-Friendly Places on the Lake

• Lone Rock Beach: a big, sandy beach a short ride from Wahweap, with lots of room to spread out.
• Antelope Canyon by water: just 2 miles from Antelope Point. The ride in is slow and calm between tall sandstone walls, and kids love it.
• Padre Bay and Warm Creek Bay: plenty of coves and sandy beaches to claim for the afternoon.
• More Lake Powell beaches: our guide to the best sandy spots.

Keep the first ride short. A beach 15 to 30 minutes from the marina gives you more time to play and an easy trip home when little ones get tired. The Lake Powell map shows ride times from each marina.

Beat the Heat

• Summer air temperatures often top 100 degrees. Go out early, take a break in the shade at midday and head back out in the late afternoon.
• Pack a beach umbrella or canopy, more water than you think you need, and salty snacks.
• Sand and dark rock get hot enough to burn bare feet. Water shoes are a must.
• Reapply sunscreen often, and put kids in sun shirts and hats.

Family Packing List

• Swimsuits, sun shirts, hats and water shoes
• Sunscreen, towels and a dry change of clothes
• A cooler with water, drinks, lunch and snacks
• Shade: an umbrella or a small pop-up canopy
• Sand toys, goggles and a small dry bag for phones
• A trash bag to pack out everything you bring

Safety Tips for Parents

• Assign one adult as the water watcher at all times, even with life jackets on.
• Stay clear of the boat or jet ski when the engine is running, and never let kids swim near the back of a boat.
• Watch the sky in summer. If storms build, head for shore, and stay out of narrow side canyons when rain threatens.
• Read our Lake Powell jet ski rules before your trip.

Best Time for a Family Trip

June through September brings the warmest water for swimming, with August the warmest of all. Early June and September are a little cooler and less crowded. See water temperature by month.