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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a park surrounding Lake Powell in the states of Utah and Arizona. It was established in 1972 after Lake Powell was created by damming the Colorado River. There are countless recreational opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, and scenic drives.
My Visit
I only spent a day at Glen Canyon and barely made a dent. Most of my time was spent in the small section of the park that’s in Arizona, on a day trip from Kanab, Utah. I visited Horseshoe Bend, took a cruise down Antelope Canyon, and toured the Glen Canyon Dam.
Entrance Fees
The entrance fee to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is US$30 per car or boat (as of September 2023), and is good for seven days. Admission is covered by all interagency passes.
Visitor Centers
Three visitor centers are available at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The main visitor center is the Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen Canyon Dam, just north of Page, Arizona. It’s open year-round and offers tours of Glen Canyon Dam.
At Bullfrog Marina in Utah, there’s the Bullfrog Visitor Center, which is open in summer only. The Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center is at historic Navajo Bridge south of Page and is open from April through November.
Marinas
The most popular activity on Lake Powell is boating. There are five marinas available within the park and numerous boat launches. The marinas in Arizona are Wahweap Marina and Antelope Point Marina. In Utah, there’s the Bullfrog Marina, Dangling Rope Marina, and Halls Crossing Marina. Dangling Rope is only accessible by water.
I visited Antelope Point Marina, where there’s a restaurant, store, and the possibility to take touristic cruises on Lake Powell.
I saw Wahweap Marina from a distance at the Wahweap Overlook.
Lodges
There are two lodges within the park at Lake Powell Resort at Wahweap and Defiance House Lodge at Bullfrog. Restaurants and activities are available at both lodges.
Campgrounds
Several campgrounds are located throughout the park. Developed campgrounds run by park concessioners are at Wahweap Marina RV Park and Campground, Bullfrog Marina RV Park and Campground, and Halls Crossing Marina RV Park and Campground. Fees vary.
There’s one developed campground run by the National Park Service. Lees Ferry Campground has 54 sites on a first-come, first-served basis at US$20 a night (as of September 2023).
Primitive campsites are located throughout the park and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Lone Rock Beach and Beehives Campgrounds costs US$14 a night while Stanton Creek is free (as of September 2023).
More Sections
More remote areas of the park I didn’t visit are at the Orange Cliffs, which is in the northern section just west of Canyonlands National Park in Utah; the Escalante canyon country and Coyote Gulch in Utah; the area along the San Juan River including Muley Point, which is northwest of Goosenecks State Park and Mexican Hat, Utah; Hite, which is at the northern end of Lake Powell in Utah; and the historic Lees Ferry area north of Navajo Bridge in Arizona. Backcountry permits may be necessary for overnight stays in some of these areas.
