Arizona has a lot of water for a desert state: two big Colorado River reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Havasu, the river itself through the Grand Canyon, and small rivers and creeks such as the Verde and Oak Creek. In late 2026 the conditions vary a lot. Lake Powell is low and most of its ramps are closed to motorboats. Oak Creek flooded on November 1, and several riverside areas are shut.
The figures below come from the National Park Service, Arizona State Parks and Visit Sedona, checked in the first week of November 2026.
Lake Powell (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area)
Lake level. NPS gave Lake Powell's elevation as 3,537.11 feet on November 5, 2026. It says levels have fallen since 2001 because of climate change and 20 years of drought. At that level most ramps at the south end of the lake, near Page, are closed to motorboats:
| Ramp | Motorised boats | Paddlecraft | Works down to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wahweap Main | closed | at your own risk | 3,545 ft |
| Wahweap Stateline | closed | at your own risk | 3,567 ft |
| Wahweap Stateline Auxiliary | open | closed | 3,515 ft |
| Antelope Point Public | closed | at your own risk | 3,588 ft |
| Castle Rock Cut (channel) | closed | closed | 3,583 ft |
The Stateline Auxiliary Ramp near Page was the one public ramp at the south end still open to motorboats. Prepare your boat in the Stateline Main Ramp parking lot first. NPS notes that plate mats are needed to launch once the lake drops to 3,524 feet. Farther up the lake, the Bullfrog North ramp is open to all vessels at your own risk. Bullfrog Marina, its boat rentals and fuel dock have moved to deeper water near Halls Crossing, which has no public ramp. Check the NPS "Changing Lake Levels" page before towing a boat. NPS warns that hazards that used to be underwater may now be exposed.
Fees (2026). Entry is $30 per private vehicle for a week, $25 per motorcycle or $15 per person on foot or bike. A Glen Canyon annual pass costs $55. Any motorised vessel on Lake Powell or the Colorado River in Glen Canyon also needs a weekly or annual Glen Canyon Vessel Pass, priced by length. The entry annual pass does not cover it.
Swimming at Lake Powell. There are no lifeguards and no designated swim beaches on the lake or the river. You swim at your own risk. NPS rules and advice:
- Swimming is banned at all marinas and launch areas. Electrical faults can electrocute swimmers, and propellers can kill.
- Jumping or diving from any cliff, ledge or structure 15 feet or more above the water is illegal.
- Without a boat, you can reach the water by car at The Chains, Wahweap Swim Beach, Lone Rock Beach, Hobie Cat Beach and Stanton Creek.
- Stay out of water with algal scum, which may mean a harmful algal bloom.
Horseshoe Bend. The overlook is in Glen Canyon, but the parking lot belongs to the City of Page. America the Beautiful and Glen Canyon passes are not accepted for parking there.
The Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam
Lees Ferry, 42 miles from Page by US 89 and 89A, is the only place in Glen Canyon where you can drive to the river. It is also where Grand Canyon river trips launch. Upstream, the cold, clear water toward the dam is a well-known trout fishery. Kayakers paddle upriver and float back, or pay a backhaul company to carry them up. At the launch ramp, the gravel section is for trips heading downriver and the paved section is for upstream use. Don't block it.
Rafting the Grand Canyon: permits
NPS lists several kinds of trip through Grand Canyon National Park:
- 1-day commercial trips: half-day and full-day smooth-water trips.
- 3- to 18-day commercial trips: professionally guided, and often booked a year or two ahead.
- 12- to 25-day noncommercial trips: self-guided, with permits allocated through a weighted lottery.
- 2- to 5-day noncommercial trips: from Diamond Creek to Lake Mead. Permits open one year ahead, first come, first served.
The weighted lottery. The main lottery runs in February for launches the following year. Applications are taken online for the first three weeks of the month, and results come by the end of February. Follow-up lotteries reassign cancelled dates, usually opening around noon on a Tuesday and closing at noon MST on a Thursday. Trip leaders must be at least 18. Costs:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Lottery application (once per launch year) | $25 |
| Trip deposit | $200 small trip, $400 standard |
| Entrance fee per participant 16+ | $20 (waived with an annual pass) |
| River permit per participant | $90 |
| Participant added after the permit is issued | $100 extra |
All payments are non-refundable, and final costs are due 90 days before launch. Trips that take out at Diamond Creek also need a Hualapai Tribe permit for the Diamond Creek Road, booked in advance through Hualapai Game and Fish.
Flood risk. The Dragon Bravo Fire of 2025 burned watersheds that drain into the river, including Bright Angel Creek, Nankoweap, Clear and Crystal creeks. NPS warns of a higher risk of flash floods and debris flows in monsoon season (July to October) and after heavy rain. A flood can hit up to 10 miles from a storm. Before you reach Lees Ferry, register a satellite messenger with the Grand Canyon River Alert system by texting GCRIVERALERTS to 928-707-7842.
Phantom Ranch and its boat beach are closed after the 2026 floods. The boat beach is open only for emergencies and brief scouting of the new rapid at the mouth of Bright Angel Creek.
Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu State Park, near the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, has three boat ramps, 54 campsites, 13 beachside cabins, a beach and the 1.75-mile Mohave Sunset Trail. Canoes and kayaks can be rented from its concessionaires. Entry is $20 per vehicle Monday to Thursday and $25 Friday to Sunday and on holidays (2026). The visitor centre opens at 6 a.m.
North of the lake, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge lets you boat through the 20-mile Topock Gorge and fish in Topock Marsh.
The Verde River
Dead Horse Ranch State Park, in Cottonwood, sits on the Verde River. In November 2026 Arizona State Parks listed several of its trails as closed for hazardous conditions, with entry banned. They include the Verde River, River Loop, Canopy and Tavasci Marsh trails. Entry is $10 for a vehicle with one person or $20 with two to four.
Oak Creek after the November 1 flood
Heavy rain on November 1, 2026 flooded Oak Creek through Sedona. As of November 3, Visit Sedona reported:
- SR 89A was closed both ways between Sedona and Kachina Village through Oak Creek Canyon, with no reopening estimate.
- Access was restricted or unconfirmed at Crescent Moon, Grasshopper Point and Slide Rock.
- People were told to stay out of Oak Creek because of flood hazards and reported sewage contamination.
On November 6, 2026, ADOT reopened SR 89A from Sedona as far as Slide Rock State Park, but the highway north of the park to the Oak Creek Vista overlook stays closed with no reopening estimate, so there is still no through route to Flagstaff. Arizona State Parks said Slide Rock State Park would reopen on November 7, 2026. Red Rock State Park is still closed after flood damage to its drives, parking lots and trails. Check water conditions before getting in the creek. Before planning a creek day near Sedona, check Arizona State Parks and Arizona 511.
Safety on any Arizona water
- Assume there are no lifeguards. NPS says so for Lake Powell and the Colorado River.
- Children and weak swimmers should wear US Coast Guard-approved life jackets, but NPS and the Red Cross say not to rely on life jackets alone.
- Swim sober, and never with the boat engine running.
- In monsoon season, watch for flash floods in creeks and side canyons even when it isn't raining where you are.
Details checked November 6, 2026.
