With the large open water habitat of Lake Powell and the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam, Glen Canyon NRA is very diverse with 315 documented bird species. This diversity can be attributed to the colonization of Lake Powell by aquatic birds, augmented by the presence of the Colorado River, which is most likely a migration corridor for aquatic and riparian birds.

In-depth information is found on the Glen Canyon Dam National Recreation Area webpage.

The Glen Canyon Dam Overlook (sometimes called “The White House”) is a simple down-and-back to a viewpoint on the rim of Glen Canyon. It generally doesn’t take more than 20 minutes to hike down, look at the river, and hike back.

At the base of the well-marked trail is a viewing area. Directly upstream from the viewing area lays Glen Canyon Dam, one of the largest dams in the United States, and the reason for Lake Powell’s existence.

Glen Canyon has been home to people for thousands of years. Archaic and prehistoric Indian cultures roamed and lived in the canyons. Later, a vast panorama of explorers, miners, ranchers, historic Indian tribes, and others left their mark here. In more recent times, a few hardy homesteaders, river runners, and uranium miners lived, worked, or played among the canyons until they were filled by the waters of Lake Powell.

Today, Glen Canyon still provides the opportunity for modern-day explorers to seek their own adventures, whether it be on the water or in the backcountry. Many of the stories of Glen Canyon are the stories of people.