USLakeFront Lake survey & intelligence
19980410 10 Lake Powell, Utah (6479835881).jpg
David Wilson · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Lakes → Utah → Lake Powell (Utah)

Lake Powell (Utah)

Utah · Reservoir impounded 1963 · near Bullfrog

161,390 acres 583 ft deep 25 ft clarity Water B
Compare
6.6SCORE
Survey summary · Utah
161,390
Surface acres
583 ft
Max depth
1,960 mi
Shoreline
25 ft
Typical clarity
3,700 ft
Elevation
19980410 10 Lake Powell, Utah (6479835881).jpg Lake Powell, Utah (15699454286).jpg

Photographs of Lake Powell (Utah) via Wikimedia Commons. Credit and licence on each image — hover to view, click through to the source.

Lake Powell (Utah) covers 161,390 acres in Utah and drops to 583 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1963 and managed by Bureau of Reclamation. Water level is the thing to understand here: the pool can move roughly 40 feet, typically drawn down in variable. That changes dock function, boat access, and what the shoreline looks like in listing photos versus in person. Water clarity averages around 25 feet, placing it among the clearer bodies of water in the country. Short-term rental posture: Kane County outside NRA. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Exceptional clarity, roughly 25 ft
  • Deep water — 583 ft max
  • Large open water, 161,390 acres
  • 1960 miles of shoreline
  • Houseboating
  • Canyoneering

Watch outs

  • Seasonal drawdown near 40 ft — verify dock reach at low pool
  • Multi-year level volatility; review historical pool elevation before buying

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 7.1
Recreation 6.3
Value 6.1
Access 7.3
Investment 6.0

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Striped bassSmallmouth bassWalleyeCatfish

On the water

HouseboatingCanyoneeringFishing
No USGS gauge on this lake. Water level and clarity figures below come from published lake management data rather than a live sensor.

What the drawdown looks like

Full pool vs variable low · Lake Powell (Utah)
40 ft FULL POOL VARIABLE LOW

The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 40 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.

Where it is

Location

No NHD boundary matched this water body, so the marker shows the mapped centre point.

Depth profile

SURFACE 583 ft max avg 187 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 583 ft, average 187 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityVolatile Typical drawdown40 ft Drawdown seasonVariable Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity25 ft Water quality gradeB Elevation3,700 ft Managing authorityBureau of Reclamation
This lake moves. A drawdown near 40 feet changes dock reach, boat access, and the look of the shoreline. Tour in the low season, or at minimum look at the gauge history above before you offer.

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityNPS Glen Canyon Wake / speed rulesOpen water
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with NPS Glen Canyon that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Kane County outside NRA

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$1,065,000
Median waterfront
$1,666
Per shoreline foot
+8.0%
Year over year
333
Est. inventory
78
Avg days on market
$844
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy57% Booked nights / yr150 Gross revenue$135,088 Net operating income$69,909 Yield on median price6.56%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Lake Powell (Utah) actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$8,670
All-in per month
$241,810
Cash to close + setup
$21,045
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$104,036 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $67,335 (66%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $11,715 (11%) Property taxes $11,182 (11%) Hazard insurance $4,473 (4%) Flood insurance $3,240 (3%) Utilities $2,700 (3%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$67,335
Property taxes$11,182
Hazard insurance$4,473
Flood insurance$3,240
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$11,715
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$104,036
Model your own numbers →
3.0 / 5 from 1 review
Depends heavily on your cove
Linda M. · Owner on the lake · Summer 2025
3/5

Main channel is fantastic. Some of the back coves get shallow and mucky by late summer. Walk the actual shoreline before you commit, not just the listing photos.

For sale

Homes on Lake Powell (Utah)

All listings →
Also in Utah

Nearby lakes

Aerial view of Bear Lake, Idaho-Utah.jpg Water A

Bear Lake

Utah · 71,000 acres
208 ft deep · 30 ft clarity
6.6
Managed 48 mi shore Natural
$1,290,000 median est. +1.4%