Introduction:
What? :
The Glen Canyon
Dam, which blocking the Colorado River formed Lake Powell behind it.
The impressive dam and the nearby arch road bridge was completed in the 1960’s.
Today the lake
is used as water source for nearby cities and provides hydroelectricity as well
as a destination for about 2 million people every year the come and enjoy the
lake.
This towering
710 foot tall, dam is a must-see engineering marvel, for anyone visiting Page
or as a short stop on your way to/from Utah/Arizona.
Visiting the
interesting large visitor center at the Glen Canyon Dam is highly recommended
as well as go to the dam and canyon lookouts on either side of the bridge.
Where? :
Located about
one mile north of the city of Page, Arizona, just on highway 89.
The visitor
center is located on the west side of the bridge, turn right after the bridge
if you are coming from Page.
Google Map Link
When? :
The visitor
center is open year-round, close on some holidays.
Check for exact
opening hours (summer 8am - 6pm; winter: 9am-4pm).
For exact open
hours information visit:
https://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
Due note 1:
The visitor
center visit is free of charge and has large parking lot.
Due note 2:
This can be no
more than 15 minutes stop on your drive or you can make it longer if you
explore the exhibits, and walk to the bridge viewpoints.
Due note 3:
The visitor
center also has restrooms, a gift shop, museum, and a theater with a film on
the construction of the dam.
Due note 4:
You can find
here water bottle-filling station.
Due note 5:
This location
has a cellphone location.
Due note 6:
Tours of Glen
Canyon Dam are closed.
Due note 7:
Admission to
Glen Canyon Recreation Area (marinas and beaches) costs $30 per vehicle, it is free
with an America the Beautiful annual park pass.
Related Blog links:
The Visit:
There is a
large Information center with Historical/Interpretive Information and Exhibits
explaining about the dam, lake and the Colorado river story.
There are Ranger/Staff
Member that can provide a lot of useful information about nearby
destination and attraction.
I do recommend stopping
here to learn about the dam, bridge and Glen Canyon/Powell Lake.
This concrete
arch dam has a top length of 1,560 feet end to end. The dam is 25 feet wide at
the crest and 300 feet wide at the river rock base.
Construction
started in 1956, and it was completed in 1964.
Do remember
that before this dam project initiation this was a completely different area, a
solitude remote canyon of the Colorado river deep in the desert with little to
no tourism.
The lake is
based 3,700 feet above sea level and now spans from Glen Canyon dam at northern
Arizona 190 miles into southeastern Utah. Lake Powell is now the second largest
artificial reservoir of the United States with the longest lake shoreline (nearly
2,000 miles of shoreline), as result of the twisted river line and many side
canyons.
The impressive Glen
Canyon steel arch bridge was completed in 1959, as preparation for the dam
construction itself. This, together with the dam build and creation of Lake
Powell initiate major tourism movement, visiting this area.
You can walk
across the bridge for perspective view of the dam itself below you. Park at the
Carl Hayden Visitor Center or on the other side of the bridge and walk the side
pedestrian path.
From the bridge
there’s an incredible view of the dam up close, and the narrow Lake Powell behind
it.
The bridge has
a barbed wire fence but look for small opening to get better clean pictures.
Additional Pictures:
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