Encompassing over 1.25 million acres, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
offers unparalleled opportunities for water-based & backcountry recreation.
The recreation area stretches for hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona
to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, encompassing scenic vistas, geologic
wonders, and a vast panorama of human history.

Encompassing over 1.25 million acres, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers unparalleled opportunities for water-based & backcountry recreation. The recreation area stretches for hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, encompassing scenic vistas, geologic wonders, and a vast panorama of human history.

Drive Way

If motorized recreation isn't your thing, take a kayak and paddle through the high side canyons of Lake Powell.

So Many Ways to Find Your Park

Glen Canyon isn't just houseboats and wakeboards. Come down to Lees Ferry Historic District to relive pioneer times when crossing the river was a major undertaking.

Lonely Dell Ranch at Lees Ferry Historic District

Spending time on Lake Powell near Tower Butte can make anyone excited.

Enjoy Lake Powell

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Rainbow over a Glen Canyon rock formation

Rainbow over rock formation

Tent Pad

Glen Canyon Dam is the country's second largest gravity arch dam. Take a tour from the Carl Hayden Visitor Center.

Glen Canyon Dam

Picnic Table

The Colorado River makes a 270 degree turn at Horseshoe Bend. Watch your step at the 1000 foot drop!

Horseshoe Bend

Glen Canyon Dam, 15 miles upstream from Lees Ferry, is the key feature of the
Colorado River Storage Project. The structure is 710 feet high, has a crest
length of 1,560 feet, and contains 4,901,000 cubic yards of concrete.
Thickness of the dam at the crest is 25 feet and the maximum base thickness is
300 feet. The absence of rail facilities near the construction site of Glen
Canyon Dam necessitated construction of Glen Canyon Bridge for the
transportation of construction materials and equipment from railheads to the
site. A single-span, steel-arch structure, the bridge has an overall length of
1,271 feet. At its completion in 1959, it was the highest arch bridge in the
world and the second longest of its type in the U.S. The bridge spans the
Colorado River 865 feet downstream from the dam. The deck of the bridge is 700
feet above river level. The Carl Hayden Visitor Center is named after the late
AZ Senator, contains exhibits that focus on the history of the dam and Glen
Canyon and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day;
and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year. The visitor center is closed
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

<a href="https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/crsp/gc/index.html" rel="nofollow">Glen Canyon Dam</a>, 15 miles upstream from Lees Ferry, is the key feature of the <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/crsp/index.html" rel="nofollow">Colorado River Storage Project</a>.  The structure is 710 feet high, has a crest length of 1,560 feet, and contains 4,901,000 cubic yards of concrete.  Thickness of the dam at the crest is 25 feet and the maximum base thickness is 300 feet.  The absence of rail facilities near the construction site of Glen Canyon Dam necessitated construction of Glen Canyon Bridge for the transportation of construction materials and equipment from railheads to the site.  A single-span, steel-arch structure, the bridge has an overall length of 1,271 feet.  At its completion in 1959, it was the highest arch bridge in the world and the second longest of its type in the U.S.  The bridge spans the Colorado River 865 feet downstream from the dam.  The deck of the bridge is 700 feet above river level. 
The Carl Hayden Visitor Center is named after the late AZ Senator, contains exhibits that focus on the history of the dam and Glen Canyon and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day; and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year.  The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

Canyon Creek Meadows, Three Finger Jack, PCT, Jack Lake, Wasco Lake, Mt Jefferson Wilderness

Glen Canyon Dam, which is a feature of the Colorado River Storage Project
(CRSP), impounds Colorado River water to form Lake Powell, one of the most
popular and scenic lakes in the world. Lake Powell is part of the Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area.The Bureau of Reclamation started construction of
Glen Canyon Dam in 1956 and Lake Powell started filling on March 13, 1963. In
1980, 17 years after the diversion tunnel gates were closed, Lake Powell
filled completely. Today, over 20 million people depend on the waters of Lake
Powell to sustain life.The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was
established in 1972 and is operated by the National Park Service. Visitors to
the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area number about 2.4 million annually.
The Hole in the Rock, Crossing of the Fathers, and Rainbow Bridge National
Monument are all publicly-accessible historic sites steeped in western
frontier and environmental history. However, all are reached on the lake by
boat. The Carl Hayden Visitor Center, named after the late Arizona Senator,
contains exhibits that focus on the history of the dam and Glen Canyon. With
its hundreds of miles of shoreline, Lake Powell affords opportunities for
hiking, camping, swimming, boating, and fishing. Although all types of water
sports are popular, boating and fishing are the prime attractions. Lake
Powell, which offers some of the nation's finest fishing, contains bass,
bluegill, green sunfish, walleye, black crappie, northern pike, and catfish.
In the river below the dam, the clear, cold waters released from the depths of
Lake Powell create a perfect habitat for trout. The blue-ribbon fishery, which
was developed after the dam was built, supports trophy-sized trout in the
15-mile reach of river to Lees Ferry.  Current reservoir levels.

<a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=144" rel="nofollow">Glen Canyon Dam</a>, which is a feature of the <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=440" rel="nofollow">Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP)</a>, impounds Colorado River water to form Lake Powell, one of the most popular and scenic lakes in the world. Lake Powell is part of the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/glca" rel="nofollow">Glen Canyon National Recreation Area</a>.The Bureau of Reclamation started construction of Glen Canyon Dam in 1956 and Lake Powell started filling on March 13, 1963. In 1980, 17 years after the diversion tunnel gates were closed, Lake Powell filled completely. Today, over 20 million people depend on the waters of Lake Powell to sustain life.The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was established in 1972 and is operated by the <a href="http://www.nps.gov" rel="nofollow">National Park Service</a>. Visitors to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area number about 2.4 million annually. The Hole in the Rock, Crossing of the Fathers, and Rainbow Bridge National Monument are all publicly-accessible historic sites steeped in western frontier and environmental history.  However, all are reached on the lake by boat.  The Carl Hayden Visitor Center, named after the late Arizona Senator, contains exhibits that focus on the history of the dam and Glen Canyon. With its hundreds of miles of shoreline, Lake Powell affords opportunities for hiking, camping, swimming, boating, and fishing. Although all types of water sports are popular, boating and fishing are the prime attractions. Lake Powell, which offers some of the nation's finest fishing, contains bass, bluegill, green sunfish, walleye, black crappie, northern pike, and catfish. In the river below the dam, the clear, cold waters released from the depths of Lake Powell create a perfect habitat for trout. The blue-ribbon fishery, which was developed after the dam was built, supports trophy-sized trout in the 15-mile reach of river to Lees Ferry.  <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/basin/index.html" rel="nofollow"> Current reservoir levels.</a>

Bird's eye view of the park

Lake Powell

Rainbow Bridge is one of the world's largest known natural bridges. The span
has undoubtedly inspired people throughout time--from the neighboring Native
American tribes who consider Rainbow Bridge sacred, to the thousands of
visitors from around the world who visit it each year. Please visit Rainbow
Bridge in a spirit that honors and respects the cultures to whom it is sacred.

Rainbow Bridge is one of the world's largest known natural bridges. The span has undoubtedly inspired people throughout time--from the neighboring Native American tribes who consider Rainbow Bridge sacred, to the thousands of visitors from around the world who visit it each year.

Please visit Rainbow Bridge in a spirit that honors and respects the cultures to whom it is sacred.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

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Nearby Parks

Glen Canyon Dam

Lake Powell

Rainbow Bridge National Monument