Ticaboo at Lake Powell: Trails, Boating and History

Ticaboo is located at the northernmost section of Lake Powell. Boating, routes through varied landscapes and local history are among the topics you can consider when planning your trip. For orientation, it is worth looking at the location by the lake as well as the specific routes and their different details about length and difficulty.

Location and Orientation

The Bullfrog Entrance is the gateway to Bullfrog Marina at the upper end of Lake Powell. The Bullfrog Entrance Station is south of Ticaboo on US Hwy 276. From Bullfrog Marina, UT-276 runs 12 miles north to Ticaboo. This describes both the location of the entrance station and the road connection between the marina and the town; road and facility conditions may change.

Boating is an activity for visitors to Ticaboo. The Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway offers another geographic point of reference: Ticaboo is on the opposite side of the Colorado River. These location references help distinguish the lake, marina, road and byway without combining them into a single route.

Routes and Distances

The 50-mile Hiller’s Loop begins at Ticaboo Lodge and leads from the desert floor into the mountain landscape of Mt. Hillers. As described, the route connects two distinct landscape areas. Route conditions and access points may change; check them before setting out.

The Narrows to Ticaboo Loop is 55 miles long and rated “easy.” It begins at one of two staging areas on Hwy 276, at MM 26 or MM 32. In direct comparison, it is five miles longer than the Hiller’s Loop; it is also the only route with a difficulty rating. The rating does not replace checking current route conditions. Access to the staging areas may also change.

The two routes therefore differ in the specific planning details provided: for the Hiller’s Loop, the starting point and the route from the desert floor into the mountain landscape of Mt. Hillers are given; for the Narrows to Ticaboo Loop, the distance, rating and two possible staging areas are given. Compare these details with your plans for the outing; the mileage alone does not indicate how long it will take.

Hiking and Canyons

A hike to an outdoor museum near Ticaboo offers information about dinosaurs that once roamed the area. Utah Master Naturalists lead the hike. Check in advance whether the tour is currently offered before adding it to your plans.

The slot canyons around Ticaboo are considered child-friendly and are described as a possible introduction for younger children to stemming and crabbing on canyon walls. Check canyon conditions and local guidance. This keeps both the stated suitability and the specific conditions at each canyon in mind when making your decision.

Ticaboo Lodge can arrange private canyoneering trips for one to six people. If you are considering this option, confirm current availability in advance. The information refers to private trips and the stated group size; it does not say anything about other amenities or lodging features.

Off-road trails are also among the described options: Ticaboo Lodge and North Lake Powell offer access to hundreds of miles of routes with changing landscape views. Check route conditions before setting out. This describes access in this context, not a single continuous trail network at the lodge.

History of the Area

The Kayenta, a branch of the Pueblo people, were the area’s first inhabitants. Cass Hite gave the area the name Ticaboo; the word comes from Paiute and means “friendly.” This naming story and the history of settlement belong to different periods in the area’s history.

The town of Ticaboo was founded in the 1970s to support the uranium mining industry in Garfield County. This is a different historical reference from the earlier settlement by the Kayenta and the origin of the name. Together, these details provide a brief overview of the place name, early inhabitants and the town’s founding, without equating the separate developments.

Discover more destinations: Escalante, Tropic, Cannonville, Hatch, Boulder, Bryce Canyon, Panguitch, Henrieville.

For the main travel overview: Garfield.