Page 156 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

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q Lake Powell and Glen Canyon To VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Canyonlands
National Recreation Area NP Practical Information
Road map C2. 2 miles (3 km) N.
The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) was of Page on Hwy 98, off Hwy 160.
established in 1972 and covers more than 1,560 sq miles n Carl Hayden Visitor Center,
(4,040 sq km) of dramatic desert and canyon country around Page (928) 608-6200. Open 8am–
5pm daily (to 6pm mid-May–mid-
the 185-mile- (298-km-) long Lake Powell. The lake was Sep; 4pm Nov–Feb). 7 visitor
created by damming the Colorado River. The recreation area Wahweap Marina center only. 8 - 0 = 
is “Y”-shaped, following the San Juan River east almost to One of the best ways of Page and Wahweap only. ∑ nps.
touring the area is by boat;
the town of Mexican Hat and heading northeast toward Wahweap Marina offers gov/glca ∑ lakepowell.com
Canyonlands National Park (see pp146–7). Today, the lake hosts tours and boat hire. Transport
watersports enthusiasts, though droughts since the early ~ to Page, Bullfrog Marina.
2000s have repeatedly lowered the water level and restricted
or closed many boating channels – call ahead for boat launch Colorado River
information. Glen Canyon is also one of the most popular Rainbow Bridge
hiking, biking, and 4WD destinations in the US. National Monument
Rising 309 ft (94 m) above Lake
Powell, Rainbow Bridge is the Hite
largest natural bridge in North
America, only accessible by Henry
boat from Wahweap or Mountains
Bullfrog marinas.

Lake
Powell
Escalante River
Red Rock
Bullfrog Plateau J Boating on Lake Powell
Lake Powell On summer weekends, the lake is a busy
Waterpocket Fold
Waterpocket Fold
The blue waters of the man-made Lake Powell are encircled place as powerboats, waterskiers, houseboat
by colorful sandstone coves – once Glen Canyon’s side parties, jetskis, and catamarans explore its
canyons – and dramatic buttes and mesas. myriad sandstone side canyons. The
Colorado river float trips, available below
Glen Canyon Dam was completed in Glen Canyon dam, are a special attraction.
1963 and rises 710 ft (216 m) above the
bedrock of the Colorado River. Fiftymile Mountains
Halls Crossing has a
marina and is the starting
San Juan River point for the regular ferry
service to Bullfrog Bay.
Dangling
Rope
J
Marina
J J Canyon Controversy
Lake Powell The completion of Glen Canyon
Wahweap dam in 1963 flooded the area
described by explorer John Wesley
0 km 20 Powell (see p29) as “a curious
ensemble of wonderful features.”
West Canyon
0 miles 20 The project was controversial right
Page
from the start; environmentalists
deplored the drowning of the
Navajo Canyon
pristine canyon, and many continue
to campaign for the restoration of
Key Glen Canyon, believing that ancient
ecosystems are being ruined.
Antelope Canyon Lees Ferry was a Mormon Highway Pro-dam advocates point out the
Bands of sandstone curve sinuously To Grand settlement in the 19th century. Unpaved road value of the dam’s ability to store
together, sometimes just a few Canyon Today, this outpost offers tourist water, generate power, and Lake Powell behind vast Glen
feet apart, in this famously deep facilities, including a ranger provide recreation. Canyon Dam
“slot” canyon. station and campground.
For hotels and restaurants see pp240–41 and pp254–6 For keys to symbols see back flap
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