After an unusually dry winter, the National Park Service says it’s bracing for lower-than-normal water levels in one of the nation’s most popular summer hotspots.
Sunrise at Alstrom Point above Lake Powell, Utah (Photo: Sierralara/Getty Images)
Published March 2, 2026 12:34PM
Summer is fast approaching, but low water levels in one of the biggest vacation spots in the American Southwest could spell trouble for tourists.
According to National park hikerNPS is scrambling to confirm Lake Powell There is enough water for the millions of boaters, paddlers and swimmers who flock to the site each year. Decreasing water levels in recent years have already resulted in NPS Dig a deep bed At least in one part of the lake, Close to a marina on the lakeand extended boat ramps to reach the falling water line.
The 161,000-acre Lake Powell is a man-made lake on the Colorado River, which straddles the Utah-Arizona border. After Lake Mead – Where The water level is also decreasing—It is the largest reservoir in the country. Lake Powell is also a tourist hotspot and the main attraction of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is expected to see about 5 million visitors in 2024, according to NPS statistics.
Snowmelt from the Upper Colorado River Basin typically replenishes the lake each year, but the winter of 2025-26 was notably dry. States across the western United States, including Utah, saw the lowest snow levels on record. NPR Reporting snow-water equivalent, the actual water stored in the snowpack, is about half of the average in areas feeding Lake Powell.
NPS to share Its park information page states that Lake Powell’s water level is currently 3,531 feet above sea level. The lake is considered full when the water is 3,700 feet. Because of this drop, only two of Powell’s 14 boat launch ramps are currently accessible. The park’s ferry, which requires a minimum water level of 3,575 feet to operate, is also closed until further notice.
The Bureau of Reclamation, an agency that manages water resources in the western states, Prophecy That 2026 lake water input will average only 57 percent between April and July.
27 February N.P.S has been posted On Facebook, in anticipation of lower water levels, the park is building new boat ramps at three locations: Antelope Point Public, Stanton Creek in Bullfrog and Haight North. However, the agency won’t finish building the ramp until after the summer of 2026. In the meantime, the NPS is exploring other infrastructure changes, such as at least one ramp, the stateline auxiliary ramp, and a new temporary ramp, so visitors can still access the water.
Lake Powell remains open for water-based recreation this summer, but visitors should be prepared for more traffic, fewer amenities and a drier landscape than in previous years, the NPS said.
“While low lake levels are expected, the park and its partners are actively implementing strategies to maintain access and lake access is not expected to be lost this summer,” the NPS wrote on Facebook.