Glen Canyon National Recreation Area encloses over 1.2 million acres of south Utah wonderland. While sadly much of this canyon is now underwater, scenic opportunities were opened by the accesability that this large artificial lake has provided. Lake Powell, created when Glen Canyon Dam closed a narrow canyon through which the Colorado River flowed, is the second largest artificial lake in the US. The recreation area stretches for hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah. One hundred eighty-six miles of scenic waterways separate Page, Arizona and Hite, Utah.
Construction of the Glen Canyon Dam began in 1956. Following the completion in 1963, Lake Powell was not completely full until 1980. In 1972, Lake Powell and the surrounding countryside became Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, In addition to Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area includes the Colorado River corridor through Glen Canyon, the lower Escalante canyons to the west, the lower San Juan River area to the east, the lower Dirty Devil River area and the Orange Cliffs area adjacent to Canyonlands National Park. Before the lake was formed, this part of the US had always been remote and inaccessible. Areas off the river, such as The Orange Cliffs, are still considered remote.
A highlight is Rainbow Bridge, the largest natural bridge in the world. Carved by wind and nature from red Navajo Sandstone, the bridge is 290 feet tall and 270 feet across and is considered sacred in Navajo culture. Cathedral in the Desert, considered an extremely beautiful spot, is just below the normal lake level. It was temporarily exposed in 2005 but may not be exposed again for many years. A guided tour of the 587-foot dam and power plant is offered, contact the Carl Hayden Visitors Center at 520-608-6404 for information. Leisure activities include fishing, water sports, hiking, and houseboating.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is among the small number of sites that are more easily seen by boat. Road access is limited. Toward the northern end of the lake, the Highway 95 bridge provides the only road crossing of the Colorado for 300 miles between the Glen Canyon Dam west of Page and US 191 at Moab. At this end, a boat launch on the west and the Town of Hite on the east provide access to the river (although Hite is, as of this writing, a distance off the water). There is more access at the southern end near the dam and Page, Arizona. Around Page are beaches, resorts, marinas and campsites. The only other paved approaches are to the Bullfrog and Halls Crossing marinas two thirds of the way up the lake. These are on opposite sides of the river and linked by a car ferry. The Smoky Mountain Road may be accessible to most cars and there are long undeveloped roads leading to the river.
The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area straddles the county line between San Jaun and Garfield Counties. The county line between Garfield and San Juan Counties follows the Colorado River through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. See the Garfield side.
|
