Revisit Glen Canyon

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


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 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 linger to this day and make Lake Powell a stunning destination for travel and leisure. Most visitors to the area, awestruck at what remains of Glen Canyon, are unaware of the magnitude of the wonders that once were...

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 with massive sandstone walls guarding tranquil glens, the likes of which are seen nowhere else on Earth as they once were before 1963, have been replaced by extravagant houseboats, bass fishermen, and jet skis.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 linger to this day and still make Lake Powell a stunning destination for travel and leisure. Most visitors, awestruck by what remains of Glen Canyon, are unaware of the magnitude of the wonders that once were....

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 with massive sandstone walls guarding the tranquil glens, the likes of which are seen nowhere else on Earth as they once were before 1963, have been replaced by extravagant houseboats, bass 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

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.