Entry Points:
About Glen Canyon
Construction of Glen Canyon Dam began on October 15, 1956 and was completed in 1963. It took until 1980 to completely fill Lake Powell, the second largest man-made lake in the United States. It cuts 186 miles through the middle of the "red rock" country of southern Utah, with 1,960 miles of shoreline, as it winds through numerous cliff-walled side canyons.
Millions of people visit Lake Powell annually, attracted by opportunities for boating and other water sports. Rainbow Bridge, which is close to the shore, is another popular attraction, as well as hiking in the Escalante or Orange cliffs.
In 1968, 1,254,306 acres surrounding the lake were designated as a National Recreation Area.