Glen Canyon Regulations

A national park such as Glen Canyon NRA is a museum without walls. For your safety and enjoyment, please observe all regulations. 

Commercial Filming

All commercial photography within Glen Canyon NRA requires a permit. Write to: Super-intendent, Glen Canyon NRA, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040, or call (928) 608-6233 for more information.

On the Water

Glen Canyon NRA rangers patrol the lake by water and air, both to enforce boating and water quality regulations, and to provide assistance to those in need. 

• Personal watercraft (PWC) can be fun, but they can also be dangerous. Operators must obey all regulations for boat use on Lake Powell—wakeless speed in harbors and speed-in-proximity laws on the open water. In Arizona, children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult when operating personal watercraft. In Utah, children under 18 must have an adult on board when operating personal watercraft, or be 16 to 17 and possess a Utah PWC Education Certificate. Riders between the ages of 12 to 15 must have a certificate and operate under direct adult supervision. Note: PWCs are not allowed within Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

• Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death at Lake Powell. An average of six people drown each year in the lake. 

• Children 12 years old and under are required to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) or life jacket when on board a boat. It is recommended that all children and non-swimmers wear their PFDs whenever they are anywhere near the water.

• Portable toilets or Port-a-Potties are required. Boats are regularly checked for compliance.

• Zebra mussel are a non-native organism that wreak havoc on aquatic ecosystems! All boats that may have been in zebra mussel infested water must get a free, high-pressure boat wash! If you think your boat may have been in zebra mussel waters, please inquire at a park entrance station or visitor center.

• In Utah, all boats must be driven at wakeless speed when they are within 150 feet of another boat, a water-skier, a person in the water or in any harbor area. 

• Federal regulations prohibit riding the bow of a boat at speeds greater than wakeless except on boats with seats installed at the factory.

• Cliff diving (or jumping) is dangerous and is not recommended, even for experienced divers. It is illegal to jump or dive into the lake from a height greater than 14 feet. The NPS does not recommend jumping from any height.

• All boats towing a water-skier must have at least two people on board: a pilot and an observer (both at least eight years of age). The boat must display an orange flag to indicate when a skier is down in the water. Waterskiing is not permitted in marked channels, in narrow side can-yons or within 500 feet of harbors, mooring areas or swimming beaches.

• The combination of sun, motion, glare and wind while boating can seriously impair coordination and affect your ability to judge distances and water depth. Do not mix alcohol consumption with boat operation.

• Please be careful and watch for rock slides, rocky shorelines and unseen drop-offs. There are no lifeguards in the recreation area. Swim at your own risk. Walk and swim the area before diving or jumping from a boat or shoreline area. Even after checking, enter feet-first the first time. Note: Be careful when swim-ming or diving because the water level fluctuates and rock slides may change the shoreline and lake bottom. 

• Wakes generated by boats can be an unexpected hazard on the lake. Watch for them and minimize the danger by slowing down and crossing the wake at a 45-degree angle. Watch for wakes rebounding off the walls in narrow, steep-walled canyons. There have been serious accidents and fatalities resulting from boat wakes!

• Strong winds, sometimes associated with summer thunderstorms, can whip the surface of the lake into high waves. Small craft are particularly vulnerable. If you are on the water and observe a storm approaching, seek the shelter of a leeward cove. These storms usually pass within an hour or two.

•   Buoys defining a safe passage uplake from Glen Canyon Dam are provided only in the main channel of the lake. Hazards in other areas of Lake Powell are not marked. As you pass a buoy, note its color and number to identify your location. It is recommended that you learn the meaning of the shapes and colors of buoys and mar-kers before you set out on your boat. Always carry a map indicating the locations and numbers of buoys. Maps are avail-able through the reserva--tions office and at all marina stores, boat rental offices and park visitor centers.

• Many tributary canyons are susceptible to dangerous and unpredictable flash floods. The thin, sandy, desert soil reaches its satu-ra-tion point quickly during a thunder-storm. Runoff builds up in small, dry washes that suddenly converge in larger arroyos or in washes, or rush into narrow, steep canyons. In August 1997, 11 hikers died during a flash flood in Antelope slot canyon which empties into Glen Canyon. Avoid camping in canyons or under dry waterfalls.

• Boat engines, generators and gas appliances produce deadly carbon monoxide gases. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea, blurred vision, memory loss and lethargy. Do not swim, sit or work near exhaust fumes. If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, remove yourself to fresh air and seek medical assistance immediately.

• Giardia lamblia is a tiny protozoan that is often present in streams and lake water in this area. The germ causes diarrhea, cramps and bloating, and may require treatment by a doctor. Carry adequate water for short trips to avoid this infection. Boil all your water on longer hikes. For clean water tips, please see "Clean Water for Healthy Fun" on page 19. 

Fishing Licenses

Glen Canyon NRA lies within two states — Utah and Arizona. The laws of each state apply within its own boundaries. If you plan to fish in both states, you will need a fishing license from each, or a stamp to extend the license from one state into the next. Licenses are available at marinas and in nearby communities. Fishing below Glen Canyon Dam requires a trout stamp and license. Four en-dan--gered species in Lake Powell are protected. Ask a ranger about regulations before you fish. See pages 46—47 for more information about fishing.

On Land

Motor vehicles must stay on the park roads. Some roads require four-wheel-drive vehicles. Check the road status at a ranger station as some roads are not regularly maintained and may not be open to vehicles.

Garbage must not be dumped in lake waters, buried or left in remote locations. Keep your gar-bage until you get to one of the marinas or any other area that provides garbage containers.

All plants, animals and rocks must be left undisturbed.

Pets are allowed on Lake Powell and its beaches; they must be on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets are also allowed in ARAMARK lodges and RV parks so long as they are on a leash. Pets are prohibited at Rainbow Bridge National Monument. You must pack out all pet waste from campsites (just as you do with human waste) as it can degrade water quality!

The combination of heat, low humidity and the shortage of water sources in the desert makes dehydration a foremost concern for those who venture into the backcountry. Carry and drink a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day in the summer and at least one quart per day in the winter. Before you leave, always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back so that help can be summoned if you are overdue. Climbing and rock scrambling accidents have increased in recent years. The canyon country of the park has an abundance of slickrock. When the weather is dry, loose sand can cause you to slide. When it is wet, it lives up to its slippery name. Please be careful when hiking and never hike alone.