Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
AZ,UT
Park Alerts (3)
About Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Encompassing over 1.25 million acres, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers unparalleled opportunities for water-based & backcountry recreation. The recreation area stretches for hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, encompassing scenic vistas, geologic wonders, and a vast panorama of human history.
Things To Do
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Scramble down Cathedral Wash Trail
Follow Cathedral Wash trail as it climbs down to meet the Colorado River on its sandy bank. The 3 miles (4.8 km) round-trip challenging hike descend into the rocky wash, traveling through the Kaibab Limestone and Toroweap Formations of the Grand Canyon Group. Some rock scrambling required.
From Your Boat To The Bridge
There is one designated trail within the boundaries of Rainbow Bridge National Monument. It runs the length of the monument, from the boat dock on one side, to the border with the Navajo Nation on the other. We ask that you stay on this trail when you visit Rainbow Bridge for your safety and out of respect for the local Native American tribes that hold this place special to them.
Driving the Burr Trail
Drive the scenic Burr Trail from Glen Canyon's Bullfrog district, along the bottom of Capitol Reef, through Grand Staircase, to Boulder, UT. Distance: 67 miles (108 km) one-way Mix of paved and dirt roads, impassable when wet Four-wheel drive sometimes required. No RVs.
Swimming in Lake Powell
Swimming is a popular activity at Lake Powell, especially in the summer when water temperatures can surpass 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Please be aware that there are no life guards or officially designated swim beaches at Lake Powell or on the Colorado River. Water Quality conditions can change at your favorite swim areas.
Day Trip or Backpack Hike to Coyote Gulch
Open year-round but most popular in Spring and Fall, Coyote Gulch is a tributary of the Escalante River with several entry points for day hiking or backpacking in the Escalante Canyons of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Staircase National Monument. This is a wilderness area, prepare to pack out everything you bring in.
Off Road Vehicles in Glen Canyon
Off-road vehicle use is allowed in the park only on National Park Service-designated ORV routes and areas, delineated by ORV route maps. Some Shoreline Access Areas indicated on the maps may not be available seasonally, due to changes in lake level. Note: There are 388 miles of Designated Roads of which 304 miles are unpaved.
Available Activities
Weather
The weather in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is usually typical for the high deserts. Summers are extremely hot with little, if any, shade. Winters are moderately cold with night time lows often below freezing.
Spring weather is highly variable and unpredictable with extended periods of winds. Fall weather is usually nice and mild, a great time to beat the heat (and the crowds!).
Getting There
There are multiple districts in Glen Canyon very far away from each other. Avoid a two hundred mile detour and make sure you know which district you are going to before you begin travelling here.
Plan Your Visit
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Glen Canyon Open Hours
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is open 24 hours per day, year-round. If there is not a person staffing the entrance station, you may pay your entrance fee at the automated fee machine. Launch ramps are open all day, unless closed due to low water.
Park Headquarters
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument Headquarters, located in Page, Arizona. This is an office building, closed to the public. Park Headquarters is not a visitor center. Please drive five miles north to Carl Hayden Visitor Center for information needs. Open weekdays 7am-4pm, closed weekends and Federal Holidays. Call 928-608-6200 for more information.
Entrance Fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle
Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle and all its passengers.
Entrance - Motorcycle
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
Admits one individual when entering on foot or bicycle. Individuals 15 years of age and younger are admitted free.
Commercial Entrance - Van
Fees are assessed based on the passenger capacity of the vehicle. Pass is only valid for the same group to which it was issued.
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
Fees are assessed based on the passenger capacity of the vehicle. Pass is only valid for the same group to which it was issued.
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
Fees are assessed based on the passenger capacity of the vehicle. Pass is only valid for the same group to which it was issued.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
Academic fee waivers must be submitted and returned before you visit Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
