Perched in a chair firmly strapped to a small custom-made dory, John Wesley Powell pioneered the first documented river expedition of the Colorado River in 1869. After surviving the wild white water rapids of Cataract Canyon, Powell continued along the blue ribbon of water as it wound its way through a slickrock desert carved and eroded into a natural wonderland. Powell described this place as "... a curious ensemble of wonderful features -- carved walls, royal arches, glens, alcove gulches, mounds and monuments. We decide to call it Glen Canyon."
It wasn't until 1963, when the last of 8 dams along the Colorado River was completed, that Lake Powell was formed. Glen Canyon Dam fulfills its goals of water storage and power generation in addition to the creation of a recreational paradise. The Lake was named in honor of John Wesley Powell.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, established in 1972, provides a dramatic example of one of nature's most inspiring settings, combined with a most ambitious human project. Impounded behind Glen Canyon Dam, waters of the Colorado River and tributaries are backed up almost 200 miles, forming Lake Powell.
Glen Canyon is the longest of the named canyon systems along the Colorado River, and this designated recreation area contains more than 1 million acres of land. Only 13% of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is covered with water. The remaining 87% consist of desert and canyons, which provide some of the most breathtaking panoramas and geological features in the world.
Lake Powell
Almost 200 miles in length, Lake Powell contains 1,960 miles of shoreline, equal to the shorelines of California, Oregon and Washington combined. Since its creation, Lake Powell has become a popular recreation area for national and international tourists.
What separates Lake Powell from other lakes are the unique geological formations contrasting with the clear blue sky and the cool sparkling waters of the Colorado River. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is considered by many to be one of the most scenic places to visit in the United States.
Erosion, time and eons of geological activity have created the beauty revealed in the sandstone landscape of Glen Canyon. It is in the cool waters of the lake that visitors find refuge and unlimited recreational opportunities.
Things to Do on the Lake
 Fishing, swimming and boating are the dominant activities on Lake Powell. Anglers enjoy catching Largemouth and Striped Bass, Black Crappie, catfish, bluegill, trout and Walleye Pike.
If you prefer to tour the lake by boat, you can bring your own, rent one or take an organized boat tour. Once on the lake, you can explore the numerous canyons, hidden beaches and secluded coves. Houseboats are very popular on the lake, since they provide a comfortable way to spend more than one day on the water. Water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing are also popular activities that can be enjoyed on the lake.
Hiking provides access to areas not accessible by boat. On foot, you can explore the remote canyons and view the natural and cultural features preserved here for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
Points of Interest
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Glen Canyon NRA is home to the world's largest natural bridge. Spanning 257 feet, Rainbow Bridge gracefully arches over a natural waterway called Bridge Creek; the effect of this natural wonder is breathtaking. Its magnificent arch is 42 feet thick and 33 feet wide. It is colored with tones of salmon-pink and darker areas of desert varnish. When the sunlight is high overhead, the colors are even more stunning.
Rainbow Bridge has long been known to the Navajo Indians, who consider it a sacred place and believe that rainbows stand as guardians to the universe. But it wasn't until 1909, that the Douglass-Cummings government survey party sighted the bridge and officially documented its existence.
Because the country surrounding Rainbow Bridge is rough and treacherous, it took another 50 years, when Lake Powell was formed, before the remote Rainbow Bridge became accessible by boat.
Today, most people take the water route on Lake Powell to reach Rainbow Bridge. Wahweap Marina, Bullfrog Basin and Halls Crossing are approximately 50 miles from Bridge Canyon. From the landing area there is a fairly easy 1/4-mile hike to view Rainbow Bridge. If you don't have your own boat, tours operate from Wahweap and Bullfrog. The nearest marina is Dangling Rope, which is approximately 10 miles northwest from the Canyon.
Rainbow Bridge can also be reached by two hiking and riding trails. One of the trails begins at Navajo Mountain Trading Post (144 miles) which allows both hiking and horseback riding. Another hiking trail begins at abandoned Rainbow Lodge ruins (13 miles). Since both trails begin on the Navajo Reservation, a permit is required. Check with a ranger station for trail conditions since the trails are not maintained.
Canyons of the Escalante
The canyons of the Escalante River and its tributaries are popular locations for hiking and exploring. The mouth of Escalante Canyon meets Lake Powell about 70 miles uplake from the Glen Canyon Dam. The Escalante region is representative of canyon country at its wildest. A labyrinth of canyons, narrow gorges, colorful arches and natural bridges, Escalante reminds many of how Glen Canyon looked prior to the creation of the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell.
Now incorporated within the newly created Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which adjoins Glen Canyon NRA, this scenic backcountry can be reached on foot or by car. One such route is Hole-in-the-Rock Trail, an unpaved road open to hikers and off-road enthusiasts who want to retrace the trail and river crossing created by Mormon settlers. These hardy pioneers blasted, cut and fabricated a trail that descends nearly 1,000 feet, between Utah Route 12 near the town of Escalante, and Hole-in-the Wall, 75 miles southeast.
Developed Areas
Carl Hayden Visitor Center
Carl Hayden Visitor Center is located next to the Glen Canyon Dam and Bridge. The visitor center is open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days. Ranger talks, exhibits, information, audio-visual programs, relief map, free dam tours and an educational bookstore are available.
Page, Arizona
Page, Arizona is 2 miles southeast of Glen Canyon Dam and Visitor Center . Page has stores, motels, restaurants, churches, a hospital and a museum. Page can be reached by surface roads year-round and by air from Phoenix, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.
Lees Ferry
Downriver from Glen Canyon Dam, Lees Ferry lies in the break between Glen, Marble and Paria canyons. A natural corridor between Utah and Arizona, Lees Ferry was named for and settled by Mormon John D. Lees, who established the first Colorado River crossing at the site.
Today, Lees Ferry offers a ranger station, campground, launch ramp, courtesy dock, fish-cleaning station, and access to 15 miles of the Colorado River (upriver only). Most river trips through the Grand Canyon begin at Lees Ferry.
Marinas
Lake Powell offers 5 marinas, 4 of which are accessible by car: Wahweap, Halls Crossing, Bullfrog Basin and Hite. Dangling Rope is only accessible by boat.
Wahweap Marina
Wahweap Marina is 5.5 miles north from the visitor center along Lakeshore Drive. It is the largest marina and lodging facility in Glen Canyon NRA. Lodging, food services, gift shops, 2 campgrounds (1 with hookups), laundry, showers and a service station are provided at this at this location. Full marina services, including slips, buoys, boat rentals, tours, repairs, dry storage and fueling are available.
The National Park Service offers free ranger programs, a self-service ranger station, drinking water, restrooms, free boat pump-out stations, picnic area with grills and a fish-cleaning station.
Halls Crossing
Halls Crossing, reached from Blanding, Utah via state highways, offers a ranger station, free boat pump-out station and launch ramp. Lodging, 2 campgrounds (1 with hookups), laundry, showers, store and service station including full marina services are available. No boat tours are offered from this marina. The Cal Black Memorial Airport is located east of Halls Crossing.
Bullfrog Basin
Bullfrog Basin, set amidst the beautiful Waterpocket Fold country on one side and the Henry Mountains on the other, can be reached by paved state highways from Hanksville, Utah. A visitor center offers human and natural history exhibits highlighted by a slot-canyon model, dioramas of the Ice Age environment and a bookstore.
During the summer months, the National Park Service provides a medical clinic and some ranger programs. Year-round facilities include a launch ramp, free boat pump-out station, fish-cleaning station, picnic area and paved aircraft landing strip. Lodging, food services, gift ship, stores, 2 campgrounds (1 with hookups), laundry, showers and service station including full marina services.
A regularly scheduled ferry runs between Halls Crossing and Bullfrog Basin
Hite Marina
Cass Hite originally named this country Dandy Crossing because it was the best ford in the Colorado above Lees Ferry. Prehistoric peoples also used the crossing. Remains of their structures can still be seen nearby.
During the 1880s and 1890s, gold miners would rendezvous here, for Hite had the only post office in Glen Canyon. Today, Hite, the dirty Devil River and the upper stretches of Lake Powell are reached by paved Utah Hwy. 95.
Many people find the region around Hite to be the most scenic in Glen Canyon NRA. Just uplake from the present site of Hite Marina, the Dirty Devil River meets the Colorado, creating good catfish habitat, while the Colorado itself courses through scenic Narrow Canyon.
The National Park Service offers a ranger station, launch ramp, free boat pump-out station and primitive camping. Lodging, store, service station and full marina services are provided at this marina. No boat tours are offered at this location.
Dangling Rope Marina
Only accessible by boat, Dangling Rope Marina offers a ranger station, restrooms, free boat put-out station, emergency communications, boat fuel, minor boat repairs and a supply store. This floating marina, 40 miles uplake from Glen Canyon Dam, replaces the former Rainbow Marina that was in Forbidding Canyon.
Glen Canyon is a Desert Paradise
When you journey to this wonderland of slickrock sandstone, glowing skies and shimmering waters, think of paradise. For you will find no other place like Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It is a magical panorama of peace and harmony in its most refined form.
Splash Into Summer - Part 2
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Lake Powell
