Glen Canyon Dam


Glen Canyon Dam, constructed to assure downriver states the necessity of water, was started in 1956. Water reached "full-pool" capacity in 1980, fulfilling its goal of essential water storage and offering leisure activities to American and international visitors.

Why Build a Dam Here?

SAVE DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT! DON’T BUILD A DAM AT ECHO CANYON!

The building of Glen Canyon Dam was controversial from the beginning. A dam was originally intended to be built in Echo Canyon, within Dinosaur National Monument (NM). The Sierra Club headed a campaign to save Dinosaur NM from being flooded by the proposed dam. The Sierra Club launched an early media campaign in order to bring public awareness to the monument in hopes of building support to prevent the building of a dam.

What started as a grassroots effort soon became a political victory. Dinosaur NM was saved! The outcome was that the dam would be built at its current location 15 miles above Lees Ferry. This site was chosen because of the quality of the Navajo Sandstone, the narrowness of the canyon, and the height of the canyon walls. By the time people realized the beauty to be lost as Lake Powell filled Glen Canyon, it was too late. Glen Canyon became known as “The Place No One Knew”.


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Glen Canyon Dam image

Before you stands Glen Canyon Dam. Below the dam is the Colorado River and behind the dam is Lake Powell.

Photo Credit: Michael Connors





"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere." ~ Vincent Van Gogh
Glen Canyon Dam

Construction on Glen Canyon Dam began with a demolition blast keyed by the push of a button by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at his desk in the Oval Office on October 1, 1956. The first blast started clearing tunnels for water diversion.

Glen Canyon Dam

On February 11, 1959, water was diverted through the tunnels so dam construction could begin. Later that year, the bridge was completed, allowing trucks to deliver equipment and materials for the dam, and also for the new town of Page, AZ.

Glen Canyon Dam

Construction of the Dam cost $155 million, and 18 lives were lost in the process.

Glen Canyon Dam

On September 22, 1966, Glen Canyon Dam was dedicated by Lady Bird Johnson.

:: Colorado River's Famous Horseshoe Bend ::


Horseshoe Bend is an awe-inspiring 270° horseshoe-shaped bend carved down, through the layers of sandstone, by the Colorado River.

Visitors can walk straight up to the edge of the rim and gaze down at the crystal blue-green Colorado River below.

The view of Horseshoe Bend from the barrier-free rim of the canyon is extraordinary.

The colors of the rocks change throughout the day, the shadows move in and out of the canyons, and as the river flows, it sparkles and shines in different shades of green and blue.

More About Horseshoe Bend


"Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the true beauty of their carvings."

~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

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