Spending time on Lake Powell near Tower Butte can make anyone excited.
Photo: NPS Photo / T Sigmon
About
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.
Activities
Auto and ATVATV Off-RoadingAuto Off-RoadingScenic DrivingAstronomyStargazingBikingRoad BikingBoatingMotorized BoatingJet SkiingBoat TourCampingFishingFoodDiningGuided Tours
Directions
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.
Get directions →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!).
News
Feb 27, 2026
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Working With Partners to Sustain Lake Access Through 2026
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is preparing for projected low water levels at Lake Powell in 2026. In collaboration with concessioners and state partners, park staff are committed to sustaining visitor access and high-quality services throughout the upcoming season. While lower lake levels are expected, the park and its partners are actively implementing strategies to maintain access, and lake access is not anticipated to be lost this summer.
Sep 30, 2025
Tourism to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument contribute $635.4 million to local economy. New report shows visitor spending impacts
A new National Park Service report shows that 4.72 million visitors to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument in 2024 spent $518.2 million in communities near the park units. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $635.4 million.
Entrance Fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle$30.00
Entrance - Motorcycle$25.00