Glen Canyon Recreational Area - Lake Powell, Utah

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (shortened to Glen Canyon NRA or GCNRA) is a national recreation area and conservation unit of the United States National Park Service that encompasses the area around Lake Powell and lower Cataract Canyon in Utah and Arizona, covering 1,254,429 acres of mostly rugged high desert terrain. The recreation area is named for Glen Canyon, which was flooded by the Glen Canyon Dam, completed in 1966, and is now mostly submerged beneath the waters of Lake Powell.

Glen Canyon NRA borders Capitol Reef National Park and Canyonlands National Park on the north, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on the west, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and the northeasternmost reaches of Grand Canyon National Park on the southwest, and the Navajo Nation on the southeast. The southwestern end of Glen Canyon NRA in Arizona can be accessed via U.S. Route 89 and State Route 98. State Route 95 and State Route 276 lead to the northeastern end of the recreation area in Utah.

Glen Canyon NRA was established in 1972 "to provide for public use and enjoyment and to preserve the area's scientific, historic, and scenic features." The area has been developed for access to Lake Powell via five marinas, four public campgrounds, two small airports, and numerous houseboat rental concessions.

Wildlife or sites to expect include bob cats, bighorn sheep and coyotes also dwell in the Lake Powell area. They tend to stay away from humans, but you may spot one on your visit if you are up early.

Conversations/Things we learned:

We visited Glen Canyon during our trip to Utah where we visited several national parks. If you visit Canyonlands and Capitol Reef National Parks, you are bound to drive through Glen Canyon and cross the mighty Colorado River. We stopped at the Glen Canyon Bridge and walked down to the Colorado River. The views are spectacular and you quickly understand how the Colorado River was able to carve out wonders like the Grand Canyon.

Contact information:

PO Box 1507 Page, AZ 86040

Phone: (928) 608-6200

Website:

https://www.nps.gov/glca/index.htm

Gallery of photos