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Hike to Power Dam

Moab, Utah

3.3/5
based on 11 reviews

Details

Distance

3 miles

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Tyler McFall

Great 3-mile roundtrip hike to a swimming hole known as the Power Dam. You can take a swim to cool off from the hike!

This is a great little swimming hole spot in Moab. A lot of locals will call it The Power Dam. It's just a short easy 1.5 mile hike up the canyon to a natural swimming pool where you can swim and hangout. This is a perfect little spot to check out in Moab while visiting the great national parks. There are a few different spots where people jump off into the water from. They range from 10-40 feet. If you choose to jump, please be very careful as the water is not very deep.

Moab is an extremely popular place having 2 national parks in one destination. This spot is nice because you can get the red rock experience with some friends without the big crowds at the national parks.

On the hike you will have to cross the water a couple of times. There are also slippery rocks in the pool so bring shoes you can get wet.

The parking area holds about 33 cars, so if that is full, please respect the neighborhood and residents and come back another time. Please don't park on private property.

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Features

Chillin
Hiking
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Groups
Waterfall
Cliff Jumping
Swimming Hole

Hike to Power Dam Reviews

This used to be a great spot for locals. Until sites like this just destroyed it. There’s so many people that just show up and thrash the land. I am sad to say that it’s unbearable now. To many people, some just do as they like leaving trash,vandalizing rock formations with there names. It’s just plain pathetic.

Great place to hang out and enjoy some drinks and escape the heat by playing in the water. Makes for a great low level day around Moab when you're tired from other adventures. Water is shallow and you have to be accurate when jumping into the water from the cliff in order to actually hit the deep spot. Just don't do it, a lot of people get injured and it's a quick way to ruin the rest of your Moab vacation! Just my two cents, otherwise cool place to hang out for a few hours.

Articles like this have lead thousands of tourists to this once-local swimming spot, and now the magic is lost. The only reason locals would jump into the pools without hurting themselves is because they grew up swimming here, and they knew exactly where and how to jump. When tourists visit this spot, they often jump in the wrong way and end up with broken bones. They also don't know where to go to the bathroom, so I wouldn't trust swimming in the water anymore :/. Since this place is being advertised online as a tourist destination, bus loads of kids and families stop here. Now the place is always filthy and loud. The point of visiting the desert is to enjoy the unique arid landscape, the starry night sky, and the sweet silence of the remote wilderness. If you're not being respectful and quiet then you defeat the whole purpose of visiting the desert. What a shame that we have lost this special place to the tourism industry. If you're going to visit the areas around Moab, please be respectful, thoughtful, and stay on designated trails. If you really want to cool off in a pool during the summer, Moab has a brand new recreation center, with indoor/outdoor pools. Remember, you're no more special than anyone else, so don't be disrespectful to the people who call this place home.

Definitely do not cliff jump. I jumped off the lowest point 5'2" and I shattered my heel and had 2 surgeries. Never again.

The water is about 2-3 feet deep in most places. I bruised my heels jumping in. Don't do it

Love this spot, often called "Left Hand" by locals, because it has such great vibes and fun cliffs! Be warned: the water can be quite shallow and unsafe to jump. Swim into the pool from the bottom first and check the depths so you don't end up finding the shallow spots the hard way. If you explore the "boaters left" side of the creek you can find a cool cave!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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Mountain Bike the Pipe Dream Trail in Moab

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