Navajo Lake
🛶 Navajo Lake
Nestled high on Cedar Mountain just 7 miles from Duck Creek Village, Navajo Lake is one of Southern Utah’s most unique and scenic mountain lakes.
Unlike most lakes, Navajo Lake has no visible inlets or surface outlets. Each spring, the lake fills from melting mountain snowpack before draining through a fascinating underground system of lava tubes beneath the lakebed.
The most famous outlet is Cascade Falls, where the water reemerges as the North Fork of the Virgin River. From there, the river flows south through Zion National Park, carving the world-famous The Narrows, before eventually joining the Colorado River watershed and flowing toward Lake Mead.
Surrounded by pine forests, lava flows, and colorful aspen groves, Navajo Lake is a favorite destination for outdoor recreation and relaxing mountain scenery.
🎣 Recreation at Navajo Lake
Navajo Lake offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including:
• Boating
• Fishing
• Kayaking
• Paddleboarding
• Camping
• Hiking
• Wildlife viewing & photography
Because the lake is relatively shallow, the water warms more quickly than many high mountain lakes, making it especially popular during the summer months.
🎣 Fishing at Navajo Lake
Navajo Lake is known for its excellent fishing and easy shoreline access. Its shallow depth allows anglers to have success both from shore and from boats.
The lake is regularly stocked with:
• Rainbow Trout
• Splake
• Tiger Trout
• Brook Trout
Whether fishing from a kayak, float tube, boat, or shoreline, Navajo Lake provides a fun and family-friendly fishing experience.
🏕️ Navajo Lake Resort
Located on the west end of the lake, Navajo Lake Lodge offers a variety of services and amenities for visitors, including:
• Boat rentals
• Kayak rentals
• Small convenience shop
• Rustic cabin rentals
• Boat launch access (fee required for private boats)
The resort is a popular basecamp for fishing trips, family vacations, and weekend getaways on Cedar Mountain.
⛺ Camping
There are three developed campgrounds near Navajo Lake, typically open from Memorial Day through Labor Day:
• Spruces Campground
• Navajo Lake Campground
• Te-Ah Campground (located west of the lake)
Camping around Navajo Lake is restricted to designated campsites only, and dispersed camping is not allowed immediately around the shoreline.
👉 For campground reservations and current availability, visit
Recreation.gov
🥾 Hiking
Navajo Lake features several scenic hiking opportunities, with the most popular being the Navajo Lake Loop Trail.
This moderate-rated 11-mile loop circles the entire lake and takes hikers through:
• Ancient lava flows
• Aspen groves
• Pine forests
• Scenic lakeshore sections
The trail offers beautiful mountain scenery, peaceful forest hiking, and excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography throughout the summer and fall seasons.
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