Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Activities & Programs
Warm water, hot days and cool nights make Lake Powell the ideal destination for water lovers from May through October. At 3,700-feet elevation and within a 78 percent sunshine belt, Lake Powell often gets comfortable daytime temperatures even during the winter months. An elevation range from 3,200 feet at Lees Ferry to 7,154 feet atop the Kaiparowits Plateau ensures four relatively mild seasons.
Summer is the busiest season, but many essential services are available year-round. Seasonal discounts are available on lodging and boat rentals. Check for special offers when making reservations.
The lake provides plenty of adventures throughout the year. Spring and fall are best for hiking into the can-yons and discovering arches or ancient American Indian rock art, or just enjoying the glens for which the park is named. Winter offers solitude and outstanding photo opportunities.
The area warrants an extended stay—to sail the waters and to hike the canyons. But if you only have a day to spend here, consult at a visitor center for suggestions on how to enjoy this truly remarkable "away-from-it-all" holiday spot.
Park Programs
Several nights a week during the months of June, July and August, NPS rangers at Wah-weap Campground present slide shows and specialized programs on such subjects as geology, wildlife, the Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) people and the historic settlement of the area. Also, during the summer, look for rangers at Rain-bow Bridge and the Petroglyph Panel below the dam to hear compelling stories about the area.
Don't miss NPS and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) audiovisual exhibits at Carl Hayden Visitor Center and Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center. NPS audiovisual exhibits are shown at Carl Hayden Visitor Center and Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center. BOR audiovisual exhibits are shown at Carl Hayden Visitor Center only. Please call (928) 608-6404 for further information.
Museum
The John Wesley Powell Museum is located in downtown Page and is open daily (closed from mid-December to mid-February). Exhibits include early artifacts, a replica of Major Powell's original boat and fine American Indian basketry. Please call (928) 645-9496 for more information.
Tours on the Water
For current schedule and departure times, please call Lake Powell Resort at (928) 645-1070. All tours require a minimum number of passengers. Low lake levels may necessitate schedule changes affecting some tours.
The Rainbow Bridge Cruise, available at Lake Powell Resort, is the best way to visit the awe-inspiring Rainbow Bridge National Monument. This scenic cruise travels over 100 miles round trip to Forbidding Canyon. When lake levels permit, both all-day and half-day trips are available.
The Wahweap Bay Canyon Princess Cruise is an enjoyable, one-hour ride around Wahweap Bay and Castle Rock on a yacht-style, 96-foot tour boat, just added to the fleet in 2007. Available April through October. There are several departure times throughout the day, as well as a nightly Sunset Dinner Cruise.
The Antelope Canyon Tour is a 1.5-hour cruise that visits the narrow, winding Antelope Canyon. It has afternoon departures twice daily from Lake Powell Resort.
WATER SPORTS
Fishing
Lake Powell's various game fish and the Glen Canyon Dam Lees Ferry Colorado River trout pop-ulation provide exciting fishing opportunities year-round. The lake is known for its largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass, crappie and walleye. Before your first cast, however, check with a marina store for the necessary licenses, fish limits and other regulations.
March to November is prime fishing season. Crappies swim into the shallows to spawn in spring, so fishing the shoreline brush is a good bet. Fish in deep waters during the cooler months to catch walleye. If you're an avid angler, inquire at a marina store about the next fishing tournament.
For current fishing conditions at Lake Powell, please visit the website at www.wayneswords.com.
Boating
Lake Powell's sheer, twisting canyons intrigue and delight boaters. Inlets are interspersed with sandy beaches which lure visitors to picnic or camp in the shadows of multicolored cliffs. Broad bays offer space for waterskiers, while houseboating seems to be made for Powell. Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas and Antelope Point Holdings, LLC, maintain a fleet of houseboats, powerboats and an assortment of personal watercraft (PWCs) for rent.
Houseboats are available for trips as short as two days from October through mid-May, or a minimum of three days the rest of the year. It takes several days to really get away and experience the solitude and chameleon moods of the lake's nooks and crannies. The most enjoyable speeds for houseboating are "slow" or "stopped." Talk with park rangers or marina staff to determine how far you can travel across the waters and back within your time limit. Getting sidetracked by yet another narrow, intriguing canyon is part of the thrill of this adventure.
Before setting out, you'll receive a thorough orientation session and instruction manual that covers such maneuvers as piloting, docking, anchoring, refueling and pumping out. Study a map and chart your course before departing. Bring your own beach towels, flashlights, batteries, map and compass. Many people also rent a "tag-along" powerboat for water-skiing or side trips, using the houseboat as a mobile base.
Rental boats are available in many types and sizes. Not all sizes of boats are available at all marinas. Small boats rented for over-night use must have a portable toilet on board. Portable toilets are available for rent at Wahweap boat rentals, and may be purchased at Bullfrog boat rentals.
Personal watercraft and other equipment are available for rent. Wakeboards and ski tubes are great for water enthusiasts of all ages. Kneeboards and waterskis are also popular. Please see page 14 for personal watercraft operating rules. Please call (801) 538-2628 to learn how to obtain a Utah PWC education certificate.
Hourly rentals can be arranged on the spot at each marina. For full-day or longer rentals, ad-vance reservations are -recom-mended. Call (800) 528-6154 or (602) 278-8888 from the greater Phoenix area or call the marina directly. Please see page 20 for marina phone numbers.
Kayaking and Canoeing
Kayaks and canoes provide a great way to explore the narrow canyons of the lake. You don't need to be an expert paddler to have fun: Lake Powell offers opportunities for one-hour or several-day excursions. Visitors with their own inflatable kayak or canoe can savor a true wilderness adventure in the canyons of the Escalante. Depending on water levels, passage into certain canyons may be limited.
Swimming
During the summer, water temperatures are ideal for swimming, reaching an average of 80°F in August. Avoid swimming in crowded boating areas and use extreme cau--tion when diving or jumping into the water. Please see "Park Regula-tions & Safety" on pages 14—19 for more information.
Waterskiing
Most of the lake's surface is ideal for waterskiing for all skill levels. However, waterskiing is pro-hib-ited in areas with heavy boat traffic and inside the narrow can-yons. Please see "Park Regula-tions & Safety" on pages 14—19 for more information.
Glen Canyon In Depth
News from the Parks
Snow greets visiting hikers at Mount Rainier
July 25, 2008 - 10:15am
PARADISE, Wash. -- Cool ocean temperatures in the southern Pacific Ocean -- a phenomenon known as La Nina -- chilled sunny expectations this summer for thousands of visitors to Mount Rainier National Park. Those who arrived here in July planning to backpack or hike its famous sub-alpine wildflower meadows found snow instead, six feet in places, though sunny daytime temperatures reach into the 70s. The popular mountain that draws 1.5 million visitors each year received 950 inches of snow last winter, 300 inches more than its 650-inch average. Park officials said a cooler than usual spring also pushed back the thaw.
July 25, 2008 - 10:15am
PARADISE, Wash. -- Cool ocean temperatures in the southern Pacific Ocean -- a phenomenon known as La Nina -- chilled sunny expectations this summer for thousands of visitors to Mount Rainier National Park. Those who arrived here in July planning to backpack or hike its famous sub-alpine wildflower meadows found snow instead, six feet in places, though sunny daytime temperatures reach into the 70s. The popular mountain that draws 1.5 million visitors each year received 950 inches of snow last winter, 300 inches more than its 650-inch average. Park officials said a cooler than usual spring also pushed back the thaw.
CAUSE OF FIRE NEAR STAIRCASE RELEASED
July 25, 2008 - 10:14am
The U.S. Forest Service says the brush fire Monday night off the road to the Staircase area of Olympic National Park was human caused. According to a news release, the fire, dubbed the East Cushman Fire, was contained before it reached one-tenth of an acre in size. An abandoned campfire ring at its origin indicated that the ignition was human caused.
July 25, 2008 - 10:14am
The U.S. Forest Service says the brush fire Monday night off the road to the Staircase area of Olympic National Park was human caused. According to a news release, the fire, dubbed the East Cushman Fire, was contained before it reached one-tenth of an acre in size. An abandoned campfire ring at its origin indicated that the ignition was human caused.
Hikers should expect plenty of snow on higher routes
July 25, 2008 - 10:13am
Hikers should expect lots of snow on mountain trails still, with rangers saying that higher-elevation routes in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park are two weeks to one month behind in terms of melting out. Higher than normal snowpack coupled with lower than normal temperatures well into spring means that, in general, those going over routes at the 5,000- to 6,000-foot level need to be comfortable traveling on snow and have poles or ice axes and route-finding skills.
July 25, 2008 - 10:13am
Hikers should expect lots of snow on mountain trails still, with rangers saying that higher-elevation routes in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park are two weeks to one month behind in terms of melting out. Higher than normal snowpack coupled with lower than normal temperatures well into spring means that, in general, those going over routes at the 5,000- to 6,000-foot level need to be comfortable traveling on snow and have poles or ice axes and route-finding skills.
Cabin lottery takes a hike
July 25, 2008 - 10:11am
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK - Officials at Haleakala National Park announced Thursday the end of the lottery system used for years to select cabin users in the crater. Starting with September, all reservations for the wilderness cabins will be taken over the phone up to three months ahead of the reservation, on a first-come, first-reserved basis. Calls for reservations will only be accepted between 1 and 3 p.m. HST daily at 572-4400. As of midday Thursday, there were no openings in August for any of the three cabins in Haleakala Crater
July 25, 2008 - 10:11am
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK - Officials at Haleakala National Park announced Thursday the end of the lottery system used for years to select cabin users in the crater. Starting with September, all reservations for the wilderness cabins will be taken over the phone up to three months ahead of the reservation, on a first-come, first-reserved basis. Calls for reservations will only be accepted between 1 and 3 p.m. HST daily at 572-4400. As of midday Thursday, there were no openings in August for any of the three cabins in Haleakala Crater
Second bear killed in Yellowstone in recent weeks
July 25, 2008 - 10:10am
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - Rangers in Yellowstone National Park have killed a black bear that became accustomed to eating human food. Park officials say the 130-pound male bear was getting food from hikers' backpacks in northern Yellowstone. Repeated attempts to trap the bear failed. On Wednesday, the bear was caught ripping into the packs of a large group of backcountry hikers. Rangers cleared the area of visitors and shot the bear.
July 25, 2008 - 10:10am
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - Rangers in Yellowstone National Park have killed a black bear that became accustomed to eating human food. Park officials say the 130-pound male bear was getting food from hikers' backpacks in northern Yellowstone. Repeated attempts to trap the bear failed. On Wednesday, the bear was caught ripping into the packs of a large group of backcountry hikers. Rangers cleared the area of visitors and shot the bear.
