Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is located in Arizona and Utah, USA. It lies between the Colorado River and the surrounding desert canyons, situated in the southwestern United States, and is famous for Lake Powell, boating, and beautiful red rock landscapes.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Location Map,Page, Arizona

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Top Attractions Inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
- Lake Powell – Expansive reservoir offering boating, fishing, and stunning red rock scenery.
- Glen Canyon Dam – Engineering landmark with tours and panoramic views of the Colorado River.
- Rainbow Bridge National Monument – Natural sandstone arch accessible by boat or hiking, sacred to Native tribes.
- Hiking & Trails – Trails through canyons, desert landscapes, and along the lake for scenic exploration.
- Water Sports & Recreation – Opportunities for kayaking, jet skiing, and paddleboarding on Lake Powell.
- Cow Canyon & Slot Canyons – Unique narrow canyons ideal for hiking and photography.
- Wildlife Viewing – Spot bighorn sheep, eagles, and other desert-adapted species in the area.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Facts
| Official Name | Glen Canyon National Recreation Area |
| Location | Page, Arizona & parts of southern Utah, USA (Colorado Plateau region) |
| Latitude & Longitude (approx.) | ≈ 36.9° N, 111.5° W (general central area near Page / Lake Powell) |
| Total Area | ≈ 1,254,117 acres (≈ 507,500 hectares / 5,075 km²) |
| Established / Designated | October 27, 1972 |
| Managed By | National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) — in cooperation with U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for dam/water resources |
| Region / Geography | Colorado Plateau — includes Lake Powell reservoir, desert canyon country, sandstone cliffs, buttes, mesas, river canyons |
| Main Water Body / Feature | Lake Powell — large reservoir formed by Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River |
| Lake Powell Details | At full pool: 186 miles (≈ 299 km) long, 1,960 miles (≈ 3,161 km) of shoreline, over 90 side canyons; second-largest human‑made lake in North America |
| Landscape & Geology | Water‑ and wind‑carved sandstone canyons, cliffs, mesas, buttes, deep river canyons, desert & semi‑arid upland terrain; sedimentary rock layers representing 300 million years of geologic history on the Colorado Plateau |
| Elevation Range | From ≈ 3,050 ft (≈ 930 m) at Glen Canyon Dam / Lake Powell to ≈ 7,606 ft (≈ 2,319 m) on plateau uplands (e.g. Kaiparowits Plateau) |
| Natural Habitat & Ecology | Desert shrub / shrub‑steppe communities, pinyon‑juniper woodlands at higher elevations; riparian vegetation (cottonwood, willow, tamarisk) along watercourses; aquatic & semi‑aquatic zones along lake, rivers & side‑canyons |
| Typical Activities / Recreation | Boating, house‑boating, fishing, kayaking/canoeing, swimming, hiking, back‑country exploration, camping, off‑road vehicle driving (on designated routes), scenic drives, river trips, canyon visits, sightseeing & photography |
| Significance / Purpose | Provides public recreation on water & land; preserves scenic, scientific, geological, ecological, historic & cultural values of Colorado Plateau canyon country and Lake Powell region |
| Neighboring Protected Areas & Geography | Borders / lies near: Grand Canyon National Park (southwest), Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, and lands of the Navajo Nation — forming part of a broad matrix of public land on the Colorado Plateau |
| Recent Visitation (Annual Visitors) | ≈ 5.2 million (2023 record) — among the most visited units of the U.S. National Park Service |
| Official Headquarters / Mailing Address | PO Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040, USA |
| Official Website | https://www.nps.gov/glca |
Distances from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to Nearby Landmarks
- Lake Powell – 0 km (0 mi)
- Glen Canyon Dam – 5 km (3.1 mi)
- Page, AZ – 13 km (8.1 mi)
- Antelope Canyon – 16 km (9.9 mi)
- Horseshoe Bend – 13 km (8.1 mi)
- Marble Canyon – 48 km (29.8 mi)
- Lees Ferry – 50 km (31 mi)
- Vermilion Cliffs National Monument – 60 km (37.3 mi)
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument – 100 km (62.1 mi)
- Kaibab National Forest – 110 km (68.4 mi)
- Rainbow Bridge National Monument – 88 km (54.7 mi)
- Grand Canyon North Rim – 185 km (115 mi)
- Canyon Point – 15 km (9.3 mi)
- House Rock Valley Road – 55 km (34.2 mi)
- Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness – 90 km (55.9 mi)
- Lake Powell Marina – 4 km (2.5 mi)
- Lees Ferry Campground – 50 km (31 mi)
- Page Municipal Airport – 14 km (8.7 mi)
- Alstrom Point – 72 km (44.7 mi)
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Headquarters – 2 km (1.2 mi)
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