Even Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has history behind it.
Glen Canyon is one of the more interesting of the National Parks. Similar to Lake Mead, Glen Canyon was affected tremendously by the creation of a dam. The Glen Canyon Dam, finished in 1963, created Lake Powell, a mecca for boat enthusiasts today.
However, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has an interesting history. Glen Canyon and the Grand Canyon meet at Lee’s Ferry. Surrounded on both sides by high canyon walls, Lee’s Ferry is one of the few places where crossing the Colorado River is relatively easy. There were no bridges for the early settlers to cross but there was a ferry here, hence the name.
The approximate location of Lee’s Ferry across the Colorado River.
The ferry was established by a guy named John D. Lee in 1873. He moved down from Utah with his two wives and children. Many of the early settlers around here were Mormon. The ferry continued to run for many years under different management. Only the building of a bridge nearby in 1928 stopped the ferry.
Lee’s Ferry still has a few ruins and unused buildings, some were built later and used by the U.S. Geological Survey. Today, the area is now used for the launching of river rafters through Grand Canyon National Park.
One of the cool abandoned buildings down by the current launch point.
Feral horses are common in this area, and they take advantage of the nearby water source in this parched environment.
The next stop is the reason we don’t need a ferry anymore. The Navajo Bridge was finished in 1929, being the first bridge over the Colorado River in this area. It was “replaced” by a newer matching bridge. The original bridge now is used for pedestrians.
The original Navajo Bridge is on the right, with the replacement on the left. I think they did a great job at copying the original design with newer materials.
Some pretty awesome views of the Colorado River from here.
Glen Canyon is really known for Horseshoe Bend, a top Instagram destination. It was really hot and a lot further from the parking lot than I thought but it was worth the quick pictures I took.
I don’t think it’s worth the hype that it gets but it is kind of cool.
Last stop is the Glen Canyon Dam and the lake it created, Lake Powell. The dam of course was very controversial. It dramatically altered the landscape, covering a gorgeous canyon of its own with tons of water. There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument, but its too late really to really salvage the original canyon from the damage left on the rocks by the water.
The controversial Glen Canyon Dam.
Lake Powell is named for John Wesley Powell, a Civil War veteran with one arm that launched the first exploration of the Colorado River in 1869 through the canyons and he even went back in 1870-1871. He and his crew members rafted down the river, the first to do so in the Grand Canyon. His many explorations in the west have resulted in many places named after him.
The appropriately named Lake Powell.
Check out my next update where I visit another dam, the Hoover Dam.
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Check out all my other posts on the great state of Arizona!
