A look back in time at an extraordinary place that once was...
Looking Upstream of Driftwood Canyon RM 66.1
Credit: Gaskill Family 19??/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Looking Upstream towards Oak Creek. RM 68.8
Credit: G. Scott 1958/ E. Bernhoft 2023
In 1963 construction of the Glen Canyon Dam neared completion and the waters of the Colorado River began to back up behind it. The flooding of Glen Canyon began in earnest.
Gregory Natural Bridge. Escalante River. RM. 88
Credit: J. Stockert 1963/J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Looking Downstream Above Forbidding Canyon. RM 68.6
Credit: G. Scott 1958/E. Bernhoft 2023
Crossing of the Fathers. RM 39.9
Credit: E.C. LaRue 1921/ E Bernhoft 2023
Confluence of the Colorado and San Juan Rivers. RM 78.8
Credit: Gaskill Family (Date Unknown)/E Bernhoft 2023
The water rose steadily for the next 20 years and inundated what almost certainly would have later become a US National Park and likely a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meskin Bar. RM 45.7
Credit: G. Foster 1956 & Museum of Northern Arizona/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Looking Down From Hole In The Rock. RM 84.5
Credit: G. Scott 1958/E. Bernhoft 2023
Slivers of the original beauty of a pre-reservoir Glen Canyon persist to this day and make Lake Powell a stunning destination for recreation. Many visitors remain unaware of the magnitude of the wonders that once existed here...
Looking Downstream of the San Juan River Confluence. RM 78
Credit: E.C. LaRue 1922/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Reflection Canyon. RM 77
Credit: G. Scott 1956/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Deep riparian hallways, the likes of which are seen nowhere else on Earth as they once were before 1963, were guarded by massive towering sandstone walls. These tranquil Glens, for which the area bears its name, were lost under the waters of Lake Powell to be replaced by extravagant houseboats, fishermen, and jet skis.
The Mouth of Cathedral Canyon. RM 66.1
Credit: P. Pennington 196_/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Credit: G. Rybka 19__/ E. Bernhoft 2023
After 20 years of regional drought, 2023 presented the lowest water levels anyone had seen since the reservoir initially filled in the 1960’s.
Twighlight Canyon From Oak Creek. RM 71
Credit: E.C. LaRue 1922/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Last Chance Creek From Below Gregory Butte. RM 49.6
Credit: E.C. LaRue 1922/ E. Bernhoft 2023
It showed us a sliver of what was traded for the last 50 years of Lake Powell. But what is still hiding below those dark waters?
Looking North Towards Cascade Canyon From High Above Forbidding. RM 68.6
Credit: G. Scott 1957/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Looking South Towards Face Canyon. RM 42.7
Credit: H.E. Gregory 1922/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Few people alive today have seen Glen Canyon both as a River and a Reservoir. See for yourself.
Looking Upstream of West Canyon. RM 50.9
Credit: G. Foster 1956 & Museum of Northern Arizona/ E. Bernhoft 202
Looking Upstream from Driftwood Canyon. RM 66.1
Credit: Gaskill Family ________/E. Bernhoft 2023
"Many will enjoy the reservoir, but few will realize what was lost..." -Phil Pennington
Revisit Glen Canyon
A look back at an extraordinary place...
In 1963 the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam concluded
and it began impounding water from the Colorado River.
The Mouth of Cathedral Canyon. RM 66.1
Credit: P. Pennington 196_/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Looking Downstream Above Forbidding Canyon. RM 68.6
Credit: G. Scott 1958/E. Bernhoft 2023
In 1963 the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam concluded and it began impounding water from the Colorado River.
Gregory Natural Bridge. Escalante River. RM. 88
Credit: J. Stockert 1963/J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah/ E. Bernhoft 2023
High Above Hole In The Rock. RM 84.5
Credit: G. Rybka 19__/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Lake Powell, the nation’s second largest reservoir, was born from the waters that backed up behind the new dam and would slowly but surely inundate many of the wonders of Glen Canyon.
Crossing of the Fathers. RM 39.9
Credit: E.C. LaRue 1921/ E Bernhoft 2023
Confluence of the Colorado and San Juan Rivers. RM 78.8
Credit: Gaskill Family (Date Unknown)/E Bernhoft 2023
The water rose steadily for the next 20 years and inundated what almost certainly would have later been become a US National Park and likely a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meskin Bar. RM 45.7
Credit: G. Foster 1956 & Museum of Northern Arizona/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Looking Down From Hole In The Rock. RM 84.5
Credit: G. Scott 1958/E. Bernhoft 2023
Slivers of the original beauty of a pre-reservoir Glen Canyon persist to this day and make Lake Powell a stunning destination for recreation. Many visitors remain unaware of the magnitude of the wonders that once were here....
Looking Downstream of the San Juan River Confluence. RM 78
Credit: E.C. LaRue 1922/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Reflection Canyon. RM 77
Credit: G. Scott 1956/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Deep riparian hallways, the likes of which are seen nowhere else on Earth as they once were before 1963, were guarded by towering sandstone walls. These tranquil Glens, for which the area bears its name, were lost under the waters of Lake Powell to be replaced by extravagant houseboats, fishermen, and jet skis.
Twighlight Canyon From Oak Creek. RM 71
Credit: E.C. LaRue 1922/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Last Chance Creek From Below Gregory Butte. RM 49.6
Credit: E.C. LaRue 1922/ E. Bernhoft 2023
In the early 2020’s, regional drought led to the lowest water levels anyone had seen since the reservoir initially filled in the 1960’s.
Looking Upstream of Driftwood Canyon. RM 66.1
Credit: Gaskill Family ________/E. Bernhoft 2023
It showed us a sliver of what was traded for the last 50 years of Lake Powell. But what is still hiding below those dark waters?
Looking North Towards Cascade Canyon From High Above Forbidding. RM 68.6
Credit: G. Scott 1957/ E. Bernhoft 2023
Looking South Towards Face Canyon. RM 42.7
Credit: H.E. Gregory 1922/ E. Bernhoft 2023
"Many will enjoy the reservoir, but few will realize what was lost..." - Phil Pennington
Looking Upstream of West Canyon. RM 50.9
Credit: G. Foster 1956 & Museum of Northern Arizona/ E. Bernhoft 202