About Lake Powell:

Lake Powell really is a place like no other.  Where else can you paddle the beautiful blue-green waters of an inland ocean, smack dab in the middle of a massive desert full of stunningly colored cliffs, artwork of strangely eroded rock, and geologically rare slot canyons?  Only here.

But the big lake is not without critics.  The rising waters submerged the wonders of Glen Canyon, a place different but on par with the Grand Canyon in terms of natural wealth.  The ecology of the region has suffered.  Careful reservoir management plans are no match for the environmental benefits of a free flowing river.  On the positive side, the lake has allowed for many more people to access the wonders of the Colorado Plateau.  

Many people have called for the removal of the dam, a nationwide trend.  Most analysts say the dam is here to stay - that the benefits of water storage and electricity are great and the inertia of the status quo too powerful.  We agree, but only based on our society's absurdly short timelines in comparison to the natural world.  Lake Powell is nothing new.  Lava flowing down the walls of the Grand Canyon created even bigger lakes on the Colorado River many times in the geologic past.  Those lakes have come and gone, and so will Lake Powell.  Will the lake silt up in 700 years?  Maybe yes, maybe a bit longer or maybe a bit shorter.  Doesn't matter really - it's all just a blink of an eye in comparison to natural cycles.

Come enjoy the beauty of Lake Powell.  Even critics agree that its sights are wonderous.  We encourage you to see more than the beauty, however.  The history of the region is fascinating.  Moving to present day, the often polarizing issues of the lake accurately reflect many of the the more important questions our society is wrestling with.  How are common resources like water best managed?  Who owns it and how are prices determined?  What will be the impacts of climate change and how are we preparing for it?  How do we strike the right balance between using a resource and protecting it?  How will Native rights be ensured?  What is the value of wilderness areas beyond recreation?  

We recommend the following resources for a better appreciation and understanding of this amazing region.  If you have your own recommendations, please let us know.  We'd be excited to partner with any educational groups making a trip to the area.

Books

• Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West, by Wallace Stegner - The classic.  Superb writing.  Timeless.
• Glen Canyon Dammed: Inventing Lake Powell and the Canyon Country, by Jared Farmer - A well balanced, pragmatic look at Glen Canyon on a wide range of topics.
• A Story That Stands Like a Dam: Glen Canyon and the struggle for the soul of the West, by Russell Martin - Another well balanced book about a wide range of topics.  This book does a great job covering the dam's actual construction.
• Dead Pool: Lake Powell, Global Warming, and the Future of Water in the West, by James Lawrence Powell.  An easy read with some powerful thoughts.  Unfortunately, you'll probably come out feeling it'll be more right than wrong.
• Ghosts of Glen Canyon: History beneath Lake Powell, by Gregory Crampton - A nice look at what was there before the lake filled up.
• The Place No One Knew: Glen Canyon on the Colorado, by Eliot Porter - A historically significant book in the modern environmental movement.
• Encounters with the Archdruid, by John McPhee - Mortal enemies heading out on a rafting trip together?  Wow!
• Dine: A History of the Navajos, by Peter Iverson - I'm still looking for something that is as interesting to read as the Navajo history itself, but until something else comes along, this one is the best.
• The Boaters Guide to Lake Powell, by Michael Kelsey - Not professionally organized or written, but the best information source about hiking side canyons.  The guy is a stud, so take his time estimates with a grain of salt.
• Pages of Stone: Grand Canyon and the Plateau Country, by Halka Chronic - A non-technical geology guide to the Grand Canyon and general region.
• Everett Ruess: A Vagabond for Beauty, by WL Rusho - Excerpts from the young artist's journal.  Definitely worth a look if you are heading up to the Escalante.
• John Doyle Lee: Zealot, Pioneer Builder, Scapegoat, by Juanuta Brooks - The interesting story of the man behind Lees Ferry.
• The Monkey Wrench Gang, by Edward Abbey - A crazy read.  The novel that inspired the extreme environmental movement.
• Riders of the Purple Sage, by Zane Grey.  Classic western novel from 1912.  The author spent a great deal of time in the region.

Films

• The Greatest Story Ever Told, 1965 - Christ Epic.  The first act has wonderful pre-lake scenery of Glen Canyon.
• Planet of the Apes, 1968 - Good scenery, entertaining movie too.  Look for the big electrical tower covered in branches.

Information: Call 928-660-0778 or Email