Wahweap Swimming Spot
Page, Utah · Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Wahweap Swimming Spot
Wahweap Swim Beach is an NPS-designated swimming area on Lake Powell within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, near Page, Arizona and the Utah state line. It is one of only five vehicle-accessible places to swim on the reservoir and the only one where motorized boats are barred beyond marked buoys, making it the park's flagship swimming hole.
The beach sits along the shore of Lake Powell at Wahweap, across from Wahweap Campground, within the red-rock desert landscape of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near the Arizona-Utah line. Visitors reach it via a gravel access road and parking lot on Lakeshore Drive, then a short sandy walk down to the water's edge, with the Wahweap Marina, Lake Powell Resort, and campground store nearby.
Swimming at Wahweap Swimming Spot
Swimming is in the open reservoir of Lake Powell: water is described first-hand as remarkably clear and turquoise, staying shallow close to shore, which makes it approachable for families and casual swimmers. Water temperatures can exceed 80°F in summer. There are no lifeguards, and swimming is confined to a marked area away from boat traffic since this is the only downlake swim spot closed to motorized vessels beyond the buoys.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Page, Arizona, take US Highway 89 to the Wahweap area (address around 100 Lakeshore Drive, Page, AZ 86040). Follow signage to the swim beach parking lot on Lakeshore Drive, located between the Picnic Area and Stateline Launch Ramp, across the road from Wahweap Campground.
Parking: Dedicated parking lot (with an extended gravel section for cars and buses/RVs) on Lakeshore Drive; fills quickly on summer weekends according to a first-hand account, so early arrival is recommended.
The hike in
Difficulty: Easy - flat, sandy, drive-up access with a short walk from the car
Not a hike: a half-mile gravel road provides vehicle access to the dedicated swim-beach parking lot on Lakeshore Drive, then a short, flat, sandy walk from the lot down to the water's edge. NPS describes this as the only Lake Powell swim area with a path usable by a wheelchair fitted with sand/beach wheels. No source found gave an exact distance or time for the walk itself from lot to shoreline.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
A first-hand visitor account describes shallow, sandy entry close to shore that's approachable for families, but there are no lifeguards anywhere on Lake Powell, the underwater terrain has unmarked drop-offs, rocky sections, and vegetation swimmers can get tangled in, and NPS requires PFDs/life jackets for swimmers age 12 and under (recommended for everyone).
Parking
Paid, No separate parking fee found, but Glen Canyon NRA charges a $30-per-vehicle 7-day entrance pass to access the recreation area (per NPS fee page).
Dedicated lot on Lakeshore Drive between the Picnic Area and Stateline Launch Ramp, reached via a half-mile gravel access road, with an extended gravel section for cars and buses/RVs. One recent visitor notes the lot fills up fast on summer weekends and recommends arriving early morning.
Restrooms
Yes
A vault/composting toilet is located at the swim-beach parking area; additional restrooms are available at the Wahweap campground store across Lakeshore Drive.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
One recent visitor describes the water as genuinely clear and turquoise, comparing it to a tropical destination rather than a desert reservoir. NPS separately warns that clarity and quality can vary due to harmful algal blooms and after storms or heavy use, so this is rated mostly_clear rather than uniformly clear. No additional spot-specific accounts of Wahweap Swim Beach's water clarity were found.
Hours
Day-use only per NPS (overnight use of the swim beach itself is not permitted); no specific posted opening/closing clock-time was found for the beach. Nearby Wahweap Marina (rentals, services) operates 8:00am-5:00pm May 1-Oct 1 and 9:00am-4:00pm Oct 1-May 1, seven days a week.
On the water
Restrictions: Motorized vessels are prohibited beyond the marked buoys fronting the swim beach itself, which has its own small kayak/canoe/paddleboard launch. Motorboats, jet skis, pontoons, and houseboats are permitted and rentable elsewhere on Lake Powell, including a short distance away at Wahweap Marina.
Life jackets/PFDs are mandatory for swimmers and boaters age 12 and under and recommended for all ages.
Rentals nearby
Sit-on-top single and double kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, plus powerboats, pontoon boats, deck boats, jet skis, wakeboards, water skis, tubes, and kneeboards
Prices: Kayaks: $60/day single, $75/day double. Paddleboards: $95/day. Powerboats: $379-$459/day (19-ft), pontoons $479-$599/day (23-ft), deck boats $529-$649/day (21-ft), depending on season. $100 damage deposit on water toys.
Wahweap Marina, on Lakeshore Drive near the swim beach · 8:00am-5:00pm daily (May 1-Oct 1); 9:00am-4:00pm daily (Oct 1-May 1)
Wahweap Bay kayak rentals (single/double) and paddleboards, with free lake delivery (excludes inflatables); also offers Antelope Canyon kayak rentals
Prices: Wahweap Bay kayaks from $55/day; paddleboards from $60/day; includes PFD
Shop at 836 Vista Ave, Page, AZ (about 15 minutes from the water); delivers gear to Wahweap Bay · Shop 7am-3pm; Wahweap rentals 8am-5pm; seasonal, closed November-February
Hobie pedal/paddle kayaks (single and double) and Ocean Kayaks (single, double, double XL)
Antelope Point Marina, 537 Marina Pkwy, Page, AZ - about 3.3 miles from Wahweap Swim Beach; park at the lot and take a golf cart down to the marina · Year-round; specific daily hours not published (operates on Mountain Standard Time)
What regulars say
One first-hand visitor account describes the water as surprisingly clear and turquoise for a desert reservoir. The same visitor warns the parking lot fills up fast on summer weekends and recommends arriving early morning for both parking and better light, and suggests late spring or early fall over the July-August peak for smaller crowds and more comfortable water temperatures.
Backstory
The name Wahweap comes from a Paiute term meaning 'bitter water,' referencing historically unsafe drinking water before Lake Powell existed. The area was used by Ancestral Puebloans until the 13th century, and later by Navajo, Ute, and Paiute peoples. Following construction of Glen Canyon Dam (1957-1964), the Greene family obtained a lease in 1957 and NPS concessions in 1959 (with help from Senator Barry Goldwater and Representative Stewart Udall), building Wahweap Lodge by 1965; the concession later became Lake Powell Resort. By 2021 the Wahweap area drew over one million visits and roughly 425,000 overnight stays annually, making it Lake Powell's most popular recreation area. The designated swim beach itself has been relocated more than once (closed near the main boat ramp in 2021 for safety, then reopened at a new site further from marina traffic on June 30, 2023) as reservoir water levels have fluctuated.
Wahweap Swimming Spot: FAQ
Is Wahweap Swimming Spot kid friendly?
A first-hand visitor account describes shallow, sandy entry close to shore that's approachable for families, but there are no lifeguards anywhere on Lake Powell, the underwater terrain has unmarked drop-offs, rocky sections, and vegetation swimmers can get tangled in, and NPS requires PFDs/life jackets for swimmers age 12 and under (recommended for everyone).
Do I need to hike to reach Wahweap Swimming Spot?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Wahweap Swimming Spot?
Dedicated lot on Lakeshore Drive between the Picnic Area and Stateline Launch Ramp, reached via a half-mile gravel access road, with an extended gravel section for cars and buses/RVs. One recent visitor notes the lot fills up fast on summer weekends and recommends arriving early morning.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Wahweap Swimming Spot?
Life jackets/PFDs are mandatory for swimmers and boaters age 12 and under and recommended for all ages.
When is the best time to visit Wahweap Swimming Spot?
Mid-summer through early fall for warmest water (surface temperatures can top 80°F); a first-hand account recommends late spring or early fall for comfortable temperatures with smaller crowds than the July-August peak.
What are the rules at Wahweap Swimming Spot?
Day-use only facility. Motorized vessels prohibited past the marked buoys, though kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are allowed. Personal flotation devices are mandatory for swimmers age 12 and under, and life jackets are recommended for all swimmers. Pets must be leashed. Glass containers are prohibited. Visitors must pack out everything they bring in. Swimming is prohibited at all marinas and boat launch areas park-wide, and cliff jumping/diving is illegal throughout the recreation area.
