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What
to See and Do
| Hotels
| Camping
A
place
of stunning beauty and stark contrasts, Lake Powell and
the recreation area surrounding it were created in 1972
with the damming of the Colorado River at Glen Canyon
Dam. The huge reservoir stretches for 186 miles from
Canyonlands National Park to the Arizona border. The area
is a photographer's heaven with its combination of water
and rock, providing unlimited opportunities for artful
shooting, particularly if you have a boat to get out onto
the lake, where rock islands and steeply walled inlets
abound. It is also a very popular area for boating,
including the very popular houseboating, plus fishing for
bass, walleye (pickerel), catfish, and black crappie.
What
to See & Do
Getting
There
Three
highways intersect Glen Canyon. At the extreme south end
of the recreation area, U.S. Highway 89 leads east from
Kanab to Page (Arizona), site of the Glen Canyon Dam. The
northern route is the Bicentennial Highway (Utah Hwy.
95), which crosses the lake at Hite Crossing. In the
middle area, Utah Highway 276 runs to the water with the
John Atlantic Burr Ferry crossing the reservoir, cutting
130 miles off the route from Hall's Crossing to Bullfrog
Marina. The latter route is the most popular, and there
are visitor services on both sides of the ferry crossing.
The ferry is capable of holding cars with trailers and
motorhomes. It operates year-round, with enhanced service
during the prime season.
On
The Water
Boating
is the big activity at the reservoir, and there are five
large marinas located along the waterway. Bullfrog
Marina (the largest marina in Utah) is 70 miles south
of Hanksville. Wahweap Marina is 7 miles north of
Page. There are lodges with overnight accommodations at
both marinas. Other marinas are located at Hite,
and Halls Crossing (across the lake from
Bullfrog).. There is no charge for entering the
recreation area, and the prime season runs from late
March to late October. There are seven information
centers in the area. The only year-round visitor center
is at the Glen Canyon Dam near Page, but the
visitor center at the Bullfrog Marina is open most of the
year. Interpretation programs are given during the summer
months at campgrounds in the Bullfrog and Wahweap
areas.
Trails
Those
who prefer to use their legs instead of a motorboat have
three good trails to hike. Escalante Canyon offers
several trails leading from the Highway 12 turnoff.
Grand Gulch Trail begins at the Kane Gulch Ranger
Station and leads into a deep canyon that has been the
site of archeological digs. Dark Canyon is located
off Highway 95. The hiking opportunities here are many,
with 55 miles of trails leading from trailheads off dirt
roads.
Glen
Canyon Camping
There are two campgrounds in the area, both open
year-round. Bullfrog Basin Campground
(435-684-2243) has 86 sites but no dump station or
showers. It does offer swimming, boat rentals, and a boat
ramp. Halls Crossing Campground (435-684-2249) has
65 sites with hookups, dump station, and toilets, but no
showers.
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