Paddling Navaho Lake

We were thinking of our pirate friends as we set out to paddle this morning. Though not quite as pretty as Maine, the shore was covered with interesting rock shapes and the weather was like a fall day on the ocean with bright blue skies and big puffy white clouds. We sure would have liked their company or the company of any of our kayak friends. 

We launched at the boat ramp and paddled out past the long breakwater of huge tires that Ted thinks were about seven feet in diameter. They were hooked together with thick cable and had styrofoam in them to keep them afloat. A couple of tires even had trees growing out of them. The semi-circle of tires protect the marina with its several hundred luxurious houseboats. 

Breakwater of Tires

End of the Island

We paddled across to the island that is in front of the marina and paddled the far side. There were all kinds of cables and weights on this side with the cables crossing the island to the marina side. We never did find out what they were attached to. One set of weights was a cluster of rusty old engine blocks while others were concrete filled barrels or attached to rocks on the island. When we got to the end of the island, we could look to our right and see the big earthen dam that was built to form the lake.

Engine Blocks for Weights

Along the Island

Once past the island, we made the mile long crossing to the mouth of Frances Canyon. We took our time paddling along the shore looking at all the interesting shapes and colors of the tumbled and eroded sandstone. Some of the rocks were precariously balanced on the edge which made it a little unnerving to paddle under them. We paddled the shoreline going into all the coves and small arms off of the main channel. One arm had a houseboat tucked in it, a perfect place for pirates to hide. There weren't many places to get out but when we found one where we could stretch our legs, we got out to find several fire rings and lots of trash. We walked up onto some big rocks where we could see further up the canyon.

Crossing to Frances Canyon

Not Quite Like Maine But Rocky Just the Sam

Entrance to Canyon

Sandstone Boulders

Pirate Weekend Hangout

Navigating the Passages

Hoping the Rocks Don't Fall

Lunch Cove

Looking Further into the Canyon

Great Place to Stretch Our Legs

Layers of Deposition Pressed into Sandstone

Heading Back Out

Interesting Rock Shapes

We Think Wave Action Cut into the Soft Rock

The Heart

Very Little Boat Traffic Crossing to the Island

The Crevice Monster in Us

Looks Like a Planter

Cabled Together

Looking Down from the Campground

The wind was not a big factor in the canyon but it was blowing into the canyon and away from the marina so we figured it might be strong crossing back and it was. We decided not to finish the last mile of canyon and turned around. It took some effort to make the crossing against the wind which was strong enough for white caps especially since we hadn't paddled since we were in the Tetons . We arrived back at the boat launch about four o'clock tired but content after a beautiful day on the water.