Glen Canyon Dam Overlook Arizona

Glen Canyon Dam Overlook Page Arizona

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. It’s part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The hike to Glen Canyon Dam overlook is a quick and scenic 20 minutes. This short hike produces views of the Colorado River and Lake Powell. The trail down to the overlook is less than a mile. 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 Dam

Glen Canyon Dam was built to provide hydroelectricity and to regulate river flow. It was completed in 1966 after ten years of around the clock construction. The dam is one of the largest in the country with a length of 1,560 feet and a height of 587 feet.

The base of the dam is 300 feet wide. Until the adjacent Glen Canyon Bridge was completed, it took a 192 mile drive to reach the other side. The bridge spans 1,271 feet and is about 700 feet above the Colorado River. The Glen Canyon Dam separates the Colorado River from Lake Powell. The terrain on this hike is uneven and rocky. The overlook is located on Scenic View Drive off of highway 89. Glen Canyon Dam is located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The Glen Canyon Dam Overlook is located in Page, Arizona on the south side of the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. From the overlook parking lot, it's a relatively easy hike that takes about 20 minutes for the round trip hike.