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Hiking In Sedona: What You Should Know

To get you prepped for your hike in Sedona, we’ve compiled advice into a detailed guide on what to expect when going for a hike in Sedona.

Snowshoeing in Durango: Our 7 Favorite Trails

Snowshoeing in Durango, Colorado this season? Here’s a few of our favorite snowshoeing trails for your next Microadventure in Durango!

Our 10 Favorite Places to Hike in Tucson, AZ

As you’re planning you Tucson, Arizona trip, here are our 10 favorite places to hike with trails around Tucson.

Snowshoeing in Boulder: Our 7 Favorite Trails

Snowshoeing in Boulder, CO this Winter? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite snowshoeing trails to explore in and around the Boulder area.

5 Best Portable Induction Cookers For RVs and Vans

To aid you in your next Microdventure, we have compiled a list of the 5 best portable Induction Cookers for your RV or van.

Our 10 Favorite Family-Friendly Hikes in the Grand Canyon

If you’re considering hiking with your family in the Grand Canyon, here are our 10 favorite family-friendly hiking trails.

What is Car Camping?

Trying to figure out what car camping is and why so many people are doing it? Here we define car camping for you in a simple way.

Car Camping Packing List for Your Microadventure

To aid in getting you set for your next car camping trip, here’s a list of essential and luxury things to pack.

Payson, AZ Free Dispersed Camping Areas

In order to help you narrow down where to camp, here’s a list of our favorite free, dispersed camping spots and areas around Payson, Arizona.

Flagstaff Free Dispersed Camping Map

To help make a decision on where to camp around Flagstaff, AZ, here’s a map of our favorite free, dispersed camping areas and spots.

Our 10 Favorite Hiking Trails in Flagstaff

Looking to go hiking in Flagstaff? Here’s a brief list of our favorite hikes and hiking trails in Flagstaff, Arizona.

A Guide to Camping in Sedona

The famous Red Rock Country city that is Sedona, Arizona. For those who haven’t visited, Sedona is a mecca for Microadventures. With miles of hiking and biking trails, climbing, and towering red sandstone views, you could spend a lifetime exploring Sedona and not see...

Sedona Free Dispersed Camping and Campgrounds Map

Trying to figure out where to camp around Sedona, AZ? We built a map of our favorite established campgrounds and dispersed camping areas.

Our 10 Favorite Hiking Trails in Sedona

With over 200 miles of trails, there’s a lot to choose from in Sedona, Arizona! Here’s a brief list of our favorite hikes in Sedona.

Lake Powell Free Dispersed Camping Spots

Located close to nearby Page, Arizona, Lake Powell is the second-largest man-made lake within the entire country. Millions of people from all over the world flock there throughout the year to see this handmade masterpiece and to participate in the numerous activities that can be done in the area. While hiking the trails surrounding Lake Powell is a lot of fun, you may also enjoy doing a little water skiing, snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing during a boat cruise. All these activities will wear you out, but since you can camp right on the shoreline, you will never be more than a few steps away from your bed.

Here we’ve created a camping guide to free dispersed camping on Lake Powell:



Can you camp anywhere on Lake Powell?

You cannot camp just anywhere on Lake Powell and there is usually an entry fee to use the marina. However, once that fee is paid, you can easily take a boat or a kayak out to another part of the lake’s shoreline, where camping is available at no charge.

This is an extra step that you must take to get to the free camping spots, but it is well worth it for all the fun and excitement you will have throughout your camping stay. Plus, who wouldn’t want to spend a little time out on a boat, or kayak, knowing they will be spending the next day, or a week, in paradise on the shoreline of Lake Powell.

The ultimate Microadventure: boating, kayaking, or paddleboarding across Lake Powell to camp. While you will normally pay an entrance fee to a marina to physically get onto the lake, Lake Powell’s entire shoreline is available for free dispersed camping.

Here are my personal favorite free dispersed camping areas on Lake Powell:

Lone Rock Canyon

Lone-Rock-Beach-Utah-Swimming

You will find the dispersed camping spots of Lone Rock Canyon across the lake from Lone Rock Beach. Yes, you will find yourself paddling between four and eight miles to get there, but the campsites are excellent, and you can spend lots of time out on the water on your boat or kayak. The seventeen-mile round trip to the Rainbow Bridge and back is the perfect hike from this dispersed campsite. Your entire hike will be filled with walks through canyons, rocky ledges, and times wondering if you can manage to maneuver around the unmarked slick rocks. A map is a necessity when out on this trail because it is not very well marked.

Ice Cream Canyon

Lake-Powell-Kayaking-Ice-Cream-Canyon

Ice Cream Canyon is close to Lone Rock Canyon, so you might want to split your time at Lake Powell between the two. Once you arrive at this camping spot, you will want to hike to the Ice Cream canyon and explore it completely. You can then hike to Wahweap Window or wander along any of the other nearby trails.




Labyrinth Canyon

It is best to begin your boating journey from the Antelope Point Marina because it is the closest to this dispersed camping spot. I recommend using a boat to get to Labyrinth Canyon because the wake from other powerboats on the water makes it extremely difficult to paddle up the main channel. If you do get tired on the way, it is not easy to stop on the shoreline, due to the massive cliff walls that seem to continue for miles. The Labyrinth Slot Canyon Trail is near where you will be camping. The trail begins on the beach and it won’t be long before you reach the slot itself. However, you will want to go to the northern side of the canyon before you make your descent down into the slot. Once you are down there, you can easily walk towards the water, which is where the best part of the slot is located.

Navajo Canyon

You will also want to launch from the Antelope Point Marina for camping at Navajo Canyon. Many people choose this spot because it is centrally located for all the single day trips that can be made into this steep red-walled canyon. The Antelope Canyon hike varies in distance and is dependent on how far you want to go. You must have a Navajo guide with you when you hike this trail because it is on Navajo land. I recommend the Upper Antelope Canyon, but make sure you take the time to see the corkscrew section that is near Highway 98.




Castle Rock and Warm Creek Bay

Free camping on a beach on Lake Powell in Utah

Camping at Castle Rock can be a little unsettling, depending on how high the water is during your visit. While this area is six hundred feet above the lake, none of that matters when the water is high, and Castle Rock is completely surrounded. Of course, when the water is low, reaching the camping spots in this area is tricky due to the shallow water. The Wahweap Marina is only about three miles from Castle Rock, so you can easily head there for a few fabulous hikes. Those hikes include Navajo Mountain Rainbow Bridge Trail, Llewellyn Gulch, and Davis Gulch. As you already know, the first one is about fifteen miles long. The Llewellyn Gulch trail is two miles, while the Davis Gulch Trail is almost four miles, so you can easily complete them together during a marathon hiking day.

Where Wahweap Overlook meets Colorado River

There are a few camping spots where the Wahweap Overlook meets the Colorado River, but you must claim them quickly, so you don’t miss out. The best part about these dispersed camping spots is there are many different trails nearby. The Hanging Garden is one you can do quickly later in the day, or before you return home because it is an easy mile round trip. The Dam Overlook is also one that you can complete in no time at all. However, my all-time favorite is The Chains. The entrance to this trail is just past the Hanging Garden trailhead and the distance you hike will vary depending on the way you choose to go. Antelope Point is another option but is prepared for undeveloped trails with plenty of slick rock formations.



Conclusion

If you’re considering camping on or near Lake Powell outside of Page, Arizona, you’re in for a real treat. While there is a little red-tape to navigate around, once you pay the entrance fee to one of the marinas, beach camping is free! We highly recommend a few of the camping spots on our list because they offer great views of the white and red sandstone towers and buttes as well as providing swimming areas perfect for exploring and cooling off.

Happy camping!

Resources

Nick The Rambling Man

Nick is the owner and regular content writer for Southwest Microadventures. When he's not writing, you can find him rock climbing, peak bagging, mountain biking, backpacking, or drinking strong coffee.

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Southwest Microadventures
Lake Powell Free Dispersed Camping Spots
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Free camping on a beach on Lake Powell in Utah
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Santa Catalina Mountains Hiking in Tucson, AZ
Hiking-Rim-Trail-Grand-Canyon-with-Kids
Quick Guide to Trails in the Falls Creek Area in Durango, Colorado
Hiking In Sedona: What You Should Know
Snowshoeing in Durango: Our 7 Favorite Trails
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