The Wahweap Overlook at Lake Powell
The Wahweap Overlook (or the Lake Powell Lookout Point) is an underrated viewpoint located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is situated around Lake Powell in southern Utah. The overlook is located just a short drive from the town of Page, Arizona, and offers visitors breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, Lake Powell and the marina below.
Glen Canyon is a fascinating place. In fact, we list it as a great alternative to the much busier Zion National Park that is nearby. Now, Zion is one of my favorite parks of all time, but it does get very crowded in the summer peak months. So, the point of the article I linked to above is just to show that there are other places to visit as well!
Getting to the Wahweap Overlook
Physical Address of Wahweap Overlook: 1000 US-89, Page, AZ 86040
GPS coordinates to the parking lot are: 36.968985, -111.499093
From Page, AZ, head north along Highway 89, past the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, until you see the Scenic Overlook sign for the Wahweap View. About 100 feet past that sign, you’ll reach an unmarked road on your right with a gate (that should be open) into Glen Canyon Recreational Area. The overlook will be about a mile down this road.
The parking lot is gravel, flat and quite large, with more than enough room for the number of vehicles that will likely be there. Even on a busy weekend, you may only see a few people here.
Fee Area… Sort of
Entrance into Glen Canyon Recreational Area requires a fee. It costs about $30 per vehicle, and grants you a full 7 days worth of entry. However… the entrance road to the Wahweap Overlook does not have a toll booth. It is on the honor system. All the money collected here goes back to the National Park Service, with the majority staying right in Glen Canyon. So, the fee does go to good use.
I would suggest that if you intend to visit more of Glen Canyon or Lake Powell, then you should probably get the permit. However, if you are just driving by on your way to Bryce Canyon, then you probably can stop without paying.
The Wahweap Viewpoint is Different!
The views at the Wahweap Viewpoint are basically the same as the overlook, as the overlook sits just above the viewpoint. The Wahweap Viewpoint is located on Lakeshore Drive, only a short distance from the shore of Lake Powell. This is the road that takes you into the tiny town of Waheep, home to the Lake Powell Resort and Wahweap Campground & RV Park.
There is a toll booth at the entrance of Lakeshore Drive, so paying the fee will be a requirement. The entrance to Lakeshore Drive is about 2 miles before the entrance to the Overlook.
The Wahweap Viewpoint would be a fine place to stop and visit if you already had your Glen Canyon permit, or you were heading to the marina for something else. However, if your goal is to see the lake, canyon and surrounding area, the Overlook is a much better option.
The Wahweap Overlook
The Wahweap Overlook is located at the parking area, and is not really a hike. It is a 360° view of the desert landscape that is Glen Canyon and Lake Powell.
Only a few feet from the parking lot is a covered picnic bench and a plaque describing the canyon and the Wahweap Overlook.
From the overlook, the Wahweap Marina will be directly below you, with the Glen Canyon’s mountains as the backdrop. The Glen Canyon Dam will be in the distance to your right, and the Navajo Generating Station will be off in the distance as well.
Even though this overlook is not a hike, per se, but there are several unnamed trails that start at the Overlook and head down towards the water. The trails vary in difficulty and distance, so there is something for hikers of all skill levels.
Other Nearby Attractions
The nearby trails include the Wahweap Hoodoos Trail, which is a 10.4-mile out-and-back hike that takes hikers through a landscape of unique rock formations. The trail is a good option for those looking for a longer hike in the immediate area.
The nearby trails also include the Antelope Canyon Trail, which is a 1-mile round trip hike that takes visitors through the famous Antelope Canyon, which is owned and managed by the Navajo people. The trail is rated as easy and is a great option for those looking for a shorter hike. Other popular spots in the area include the Horseshoe Bend, Rainbow Bridge and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.
Lake Powell Weather
The typical weather in the Lake Powell area is comfortably mild in the winter and unbearably hot in the summer. The best time to visit the Wahweap Overlook is from late spring or early fall, when the temperatures are much more manageable.
Winter brings freezing temperatures at night, but highs in the 40s and 50s paired with the desert sunshine create a very comfortable environment to visit.
Summer sees temperatures regularly reach into the upper 90s, making the water wonderful for water activities, but extremely hot for hiking.
