sign in sign up
<<
Home , Coyote Gulch, Glen, Glen Canyon, Glen Canyon Dam, Grand Staircase, Lake Powell

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview Glen Rainbow Bridge National Monument and

Contact Information For more information about the National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument Foundation Document, contact: [email protected] or 928-608-6205 or write to: Superintendent, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040-1507 Purpose Significance

Significance statements express why Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument resources and values are important enough to merit national park unit designation. Statements of significance describe why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. These statements are linked to the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the park and inform management decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the most important resources and values of the park unit.

• The and its many , including the Dirty Devil, Paria, Escalante, and San Juan , carve Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, through the to form a landscape of located at the center of the Colorado dynamic and complex desert and water environments. Plateau, provides for public enjoyment • The vast, rugged landscapes of Glen Canyon National through diverse land- and water- Recreation Area provide an unparalleled spectrum of based recreational opportunities, and diverse land- and water-based recreational opportunities protects scenic, scientific, natural, and for visitors of wide-ranging interests and abilities. cultural resources on , the , its tributaries, and • Glen Canyon National Recreation Area preserves a record surrounding lands. of more than 10,000 years of human presence, adaptation, and exploration. This place remains significant for many descendant communities, providing opportunities for people to connect with cultural values and associations that are both ancient and contemporary.

Rainbow Bridge National Monument • The deep, 15-mile-long, narrow gorge below the protects an extraordinary natural bridge provides a glimpse of the high canyon walls, ancient that captures public and scientific interest rock art, and a vestige of the riparian and beach terrace with its rainbow form and appearance. environments that were seen by ’s Colorado River expedition in 1869, providing a stark contrast to the impounded of Lake Powell.

• Rainbow Bridge is one of the world’s largest natural bridges and is a premier example of eccentric in a remote area of the Colorado Plateau.

• For many indigenous peoples in the Four Corners region, Rainbow Bridge is a spiritually occupied landscape that is inseparable from their cultural identities and traditional beliefs. Fundamental Resources and Values

Fundamental resources and values are those features, systems, processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or other attributes determined to merit primary consideration during planning and management processes because they are essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining its significance. Below are the fundamental resources and values of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

• Heritage Resources: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is the steward of heritage resources exemplified by the archeological and historic sites, cultural landscapes, and traditional cultural properties that illustrate the connection of people with the landscape of the Glen Canyon region.

•

• • Paleontology: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area preserves one of the most complete sections of Mesozoic • strata in the world; new discoveries continuously add to • our scientific understanding of the past.

• • Water: Water quality and quantity is essential for public outdoor recreational use and enjoyment and for sustaining • terrestrial and aquatic life in the high desert.

• • Rainbow Bridge: The bridge itself is a fundamental resource. • • Traditional Cultural Property and Values: Rainbow • Bridge and the immediately surrounding landscape are • considered sacred by, and are vitally linked with the histories, cultural practices, ceremonial activities, and oral • traditions of associated American Indian tribes. Photo by Gary Ladd • Lake Powell: Lake Powell, set dramatically against a backdrop of eroded red rock canyons and mesas, is the largest man-made lake in North America and is widely recognized by boating enthusiasts as one of the premier water-based recreation destinations in the world.

• Landscape: The vast landscape of Glen Canyon contains rugged water- and wind-carved canyons, buttes, mesas, rivers, seeps, springs, and hanging gardens where diverse habitats sustain an array of endemic, rare, and relict plant and animal communities. Location of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument

To 70 To 70 To 70 N O Y N 72 A C F IE Fremont H T E S 24 R O H CANYONLANDS 24 S O R U U Hanksville P CANYONLANDS S T H Airport NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL PARK

FISHLAKE

Loa HORSESHOE

D U.S. Forest Service Lyman E NORTH CANYON UNIT E SODA H

S E PINTO HILLS T U NATIONAL FOREST R N SPRINGS A T O E S T Hanksville Y Buttes of BASIN Green F A Bureau of Land Management N F L F 24 A I the Cross River P r C L S e A m C J N

U N o E N O W A A n CAPITOL REEF r NYO 763 e A O v C Y N P t Ri T A H S N Y A Bicknell t S n O 777 A N

W o O E B m R S C E

A NATIONAL PARK e L

Fr R S U Y R E O E D E E B R G Caineville L B H

PIUTE R L G C O A S r WAYNE V R S A L Cleopatras i A N T e v A V L L I I e P A Chair L e r L L L I Y R W I L 95 M W O T R n Grand B LL Torrey H E IG HO D O A O Y

D 775 T View L Ekker N E B i O R E r Y Butte Point Visitor Center N N Teasdale E t A 774 C Hans Flat C y U.S. Forest Service R U S R H L N E B A i E v B M E S i Panorama c e Fruita O C F e N Point A r n N YON t CAN Y e X R BO SIN O n L 744 A PETES E D RA B N ISLAND k R P n e O TWIN CORRAL FLATS MESA e C P i Notom a 765 e v IN IN U r l Maze (site) i W X CA M O N C B H l T Y NORTH TRAIL

B I O N A N CANYON E THE SKY i S O E g E

BURR T R h I S r M U THE MAZE R w S M e S DESERT M E L O W t SA F a T a

D U F

A N y I 763

L E T w L A A t E

R SAMS MESA 633 C

IN e Dirty R

GORDON FLATS r

k T e Devil i E e e w v Singletree e E v r S G Bagpipe i WAYNE Lookout Peak C e R N R WAYNE r Butte ON 11124ft A GARFIELD t NY Bagpipe 3391m n P A R 787 GARFIELD C a Butte O s O THE a Lonesome PY The Pinnacle il Larb e P ra M l Bull BERT M A T ERNIES P C Beaver ESA H t NEEDLES Hollow E n O (BLM) 7187ft POISON SPRIN G li G ID F COUNTRY K C R U 2800m A N N IG S E B N Pleasant Lower Y 756 C T 11522ft o E O E R A T N H d B Creek Bowns 3512m T O I a A N r S U S R NORTH HATCH 731 Teapot o McMillan CANY l C G Big A ON E Oak Rock o A T Springs Buckacre N E Lake A C Creek Y H L (BLM) Point O T P F C 633 730 N O S OINT H I U R P C SOUTH HATCH CANYON A N T R Steep L ED C O A A Y U Creek D N H N Q A Fiddler Turkey C N O A H Butte CLEARWATER O FI WATERHOLE FLAT Y y Homestead Knob R Y DD E L N a E T N ER CANYON w T A C y OV A B U C E C THE BLOCK

RED BENCHES C nic Cedar N B ce Ragged IR S 95 A G NATIONAL FOREST 2 Mesa R Mountain T All Glen Canyon NRA lands Y 1 S P BEEF BASIN y Y The north of this line require SU a N backcountry permits which are M w Horn O E 276 THREE Y Blue h issued by Canyonlands NP. C S A Hog FORKS N A g C S A Special regulations apply. Spruce i N E T Springs C A Cyclone R T Y H N M A Rest O L Lake C S C N H o A e H U A l L Area A ls t U Y N o T T I R DARK CANYON N B N E R A m T T T A Mount Pennell N A a R M r N C A PRIMITIVE AREA a E c A o M O O C - 11371ft TAYLOR RIDGES c k T Y V (Bureau of Land U h P r E Posy b B t O N C A 3466mO y h Management) M o E u t IN A Lake n e C 633 T l U T O e R l A oa f d B L l r Bulldog U i P I BOX-DEATH R o Anasazi a N G MAIDENWATER r W o T Peak N g a SANDS K d State Park T R a Boulder T HOLLOW C N r I s A T r A D C TS h O LA H R Dirty ILLER F O G ANDY M u r I E WILDERNESS Cass wa R Y B o n e N E e te r Devil N I M d ai e B (Forest Service) a Creek Cr S N A O d k C Peak DRY X S S NA K RROW C N Mount Hillers CANYON NYO Deer A NO MAN MESA CA E M L N P I 10723ft TRA TO O E MESA SHEEP - K Creek S u Starr 632 N R Y R 3268m CANYON EA O l L H 139 A N D e S Springs Hite MILLE CRAG U BLACK POINT D A y T W a S YOUNGS C C (BLM) Wo n BEND l A INDIAN v RK DA d E e G H SPRINGS S r Sundance 12 C O C C R i BENCHES A C U n N r Trailhead NYON DARK CANYON L O e r e B H e G B e 630 i Farley LOWER HORSE WILDERNESS

r e O k c BLACK STEER C h E k X FLATS (Forest Service) H Canyon Indian Escalante L T M W h ON Wolverine Petrified s 657 G C L Head E a k r State Park o S 133 e Wood Natural Area Ant Pass A e Mount e Calf o W A White 656 W C k Knoll e p Holmes A r Wide Hollow Creek s THE Canyon H MANTI-LA SAL N u C T I R t S N T Y M E YO HORN Copper o a I AN E O A Escala E r C IN nte a YON g K ILE N Point N AN le C M O NATIONAL d R C n O NY C Riv TT a i O TW CA A er U S r R P N P U H C Y B COAL BED MESA a R TC O YON CO NO W N Escalante E CAN S E FOREST M O m ILE U O L URM BL O BLM, NPS, USFS a T FO D t o T E C i I N N LEY o L S L C h g H A I d V R S n Mount 651 O K i O Castle E C y BIG THOMPSON r 123 L H Ellsworth G C p Butte 95 E E L S Y C a R t 8235ft C A os A n a L A Y N Blue Notch C T MESA 2510m N 12 n s B A N C sh Y e a Canyon O y A W A i N C D N n c N o L e Y k L Y The Heel C e n O L n O e IF r N 276 t C F r E N R S B e WOODENSHOE E R CLAY POINT C TICABOO n P s Halls u P l o n BUTTES U l l e W T l a l MESA a i F Creek f R i a

MIDDLE POINT Ticaboo r

d r C E O l H G o C

r S k m GOOD HOPE r C H

U g E r e P e v N s n i l D 650 g L o MESA e E e i g C h S B F R C v w k G H L n r i E a K O e IN e NATURAL - ESCALANTE PURPLE HILLS r E D y C N e R h S N G k t K E O P i p BRIDGES R S S E A s P 332 N C L B A E m 117 LU NATIONAL sh c O O S L N a H Y N N m E O NATIONAL MONUMENT W a C N Y r Fry MONUMENT A O A a G Y rris l C HALL N N Ha a C A Canyon Visitor (Bureau of Land Management) Y F W RED ROCK n D DIVIDE C To O H O O 531 Road floods Center t A MANCOS Tropic and e M at lake level LL Chocolate To H L S LE A Bryce Canyon NP o D L L CE MESA T BAKER BENCH 3695 feet. D Drop Blanding Devils l ID W A 275 e D R C and R M Y 110 Garden - A M R i N H C Hovenweep A n O T N Y E A AN S K C a Y NM Y S D E N I - R O O i l A t v O P N Y MOSS A G M l O Y O h e s A N N r T T A N BACK I e S K C NOWLES P H - A E C BUTTE A N R Defiance T O o r R Y c e paved GARFIELD N k e House A Twe GLEN CANYON k airstrip F O C ntyfive Mile Wash OR GO KANE T R TTE PLATEAU W E o Visitor Center C N C L a R ANYO N Kane I L d Clinic 104 YS O TAL N Bureau of Land Management T C NATIONAL CA O Bullfrog B NY (closed in winter) S D 530 H U N ULC H A G L Stanton LC N C N B L O H IO F U Y RP A G Flash Country L O R Creek N T SC HALLS Y A 276 S F RECREATION CREEK BAY O H E I F T C m L F G e R Washes and narrow canyons r I LI o F DRY ry O U TT FO N Q are subject to sudden, unex- LE k RK O y Dump/ 96 T E F N M SC AREA N A pected flash flooding. It may A I YO pump O L L F N NY F GRAND GULCH A A station A N T C C be sunny weather where you T E 261 E Y S Halls R PRIMITIVE AREA N 92 TU C E S are, but a distant storm can V (Bureau of Land Management) A M A E P N T Crossing Cal Black

S N R D

dump rain upstream sending a Y E S S I Jacob k O Memorial E L F N

O P T L L e I F Hamblin Y S A

N ULCH Stevens LOST EDEN C Airport H I G N e

wall of water rushing down a TE L R

E O N L COY Arch A r

Arch MESA C C O G

h C OP KE M A s N T LA

Y C

normally dry wash or canyon. a Cliff W O A Y

N N 88 Coyote N A o T W Arch O YO Y O N L H C N A R Y C C u I NEVER ENTER WASHES OR N o e Natural O L n A A C j

n E a C U c Bridge E C a N i E G NARROW CANYONS WHEN IT t r E C v G N S S a A r ID E G u R F a N N i H N U O

n N Y A IS RAINING OR THREATENING U O W O N L ILE Three A S O H D YM ANNIES D C T EXPLORER B E TO RAIN. R R Roof N Y N FO CANYON A D O CANYON N M M R Y R R I C N P N D O T A O G A Y A E H H N N C N K O A k C C K K Dance R R Y K e F C L C C Y N o C S RO e O I O le r K LICK r L A r i U N A O U Hall tym ee S A C F S FOUR MILE N Y D Y k A N G R O N N E N N N Rock Broken Bow H I N T O A k LC JU CE le O S R A BENCH C GU B t Y EA E M e Arch r A 430 e k T C N E s N E San D Y r W le R a T e A i 77 G A S E W A C e LO m La C C J D y u E r IL t POLLYWOG C WHIRLWIND DRAW C R N I S S e C W if Gorce A E Clay Hills a S U l N o F BENCH 71 N K n E S Y I o Arch H O Crossing S a N M n C h L r N d r C Bement U C THE O d A u G r r Y N u b Arch S a C RINCON R N I e Permit required from A unpaved Y k V l portage may i C O M c A n NOKAI v C MIKES MESA S switchbacks N a D a Bureau of Land Management e N i be required C l A H B S r O

R d DOME L WILSON E (Monticello office) for J

O A 330 n M 431 J K I T A IBBON San Juan River trips. E R Y O C C MESA E Hole-in- R ROCKHOUSE GULCH K N k C C G L N e S A Fiftymile O a O e the-Rock T GREAT R C D M s Y r N T I t Point O O G N LLEW LCH N 450 BEND C Y ELL GU W U Muley G O A YN O To C C O O C G C S h 64 D K k N L Point A Blanding O a Y c B Y n E MONITOR h h S Y E o W and c L GRAND BENCH MONITOR MESA s s O N W L k e R i a a C e N ls BUTTE Hovenweep NM T A e O r o N BAY H M H E L C V n A C Z W C W M L r O T M C R O e k C E E

I O B e c r P s L

S A B k e A P 316 H O o Y A T

N E SIT E Spencer e m T T R R U I

r

Y Y k o k C L N

DOWN Point e t O N a A K e

l e a N N T AN F Goosenecks

W O r JU j

Y BENCH d A l O A C

279 d

M N State Park

a i N Dangling e

I R N O

S k C A Mexican h N Point S t O c e

N M o w D s u

C I i P R Rope E k Hat

e W K M P P y N E a a L 262 r CASCADE 53 NASJA B P h NO MANS MESA E a C p D Marina A C r R E i O MESA L A C Alhambra m N B E

E C L D N A

E O N 230 Y N Organ N Rock K R N C O K Y G O H BALANCED B ROCK C O N A O Rock L A A C U

Y I N

N P

C A K Y A A N

N h

r S M

DRIFTWOOD C S C A e D T 49 s O

A

A C e R a 6325 Y

C M

C k E CORNERSTONE L Z N E 163 C L N EAST CLARK r H CANYON I A W K 40 E Y Hawkeye Jacobs e C A i OAK C A

A A H t Train W O N 89 e 43 C 265 N k N N O C S Natural Monument c P

N E Rock To Y h

264 E C T D e W E C A Bridge O e

Zion NP LONEROCK C t M l W A l H N E u B B courtesy dock a

T C A O i u 231 K A s t BENCH R D H P t WIREGRASS Y U h PADRE G E e M A U

CANYON N D W L N R RAINBOW 6310 230 P R EAGLE BAY T Big Water C T G O W a sh A A a

R s MESA 28 E T E L E Padre I BRIDGE Navajo h W N O T C Gunsight T C E O t H HOLIDAY

Butte Gregory N Begay n K ROMANA Butte S OLJATO MESA M e E A o C G num C R H NATIONAL MESA B 23 Butte S I E N CLIFF C I Dump/ A MESA Crossing L E E W L P N Oljato Y E D S MONUMENT M pump of the T C C O D Lone A I A Y

N station Fathers B N 10388ft N Y Rock R A Thumb ING Y O THE SAND MM S U M O C ES 3166m C O A 18 N Castle F

W Rock A Navajo Mountain A HILLS N H S SENTINEL W C Lone E Rock A A Trading Post E SAN JUAN P B L F SAN JUAN Hat KANE AY A N UTAH MESA A SAN JUAN UTAH C Y M Rock Rd Rock Goulding B 13 E O V

Y T APACHE I C N COCONINO Trading R I COCONINO A B NAVAJO I ARIZONA B ARIZONA A N N N I Wahweap A Post T Y R E 10 H W N L ANTELOPE O Tower K T C N Visitor C N I L ISLAND U Butte e A I A J K s P E S Center N t Spearhead P NOKAI MESA O a Y T Y C H Mesa ri WATER O S a a E T Glen Antelope Point N n FLA POCKETS y PITAN B o CA Canyon N Pinnacle I n EL R 1 A N V J C i Dam Rock O re v A e PARIA CANYON J O k e Page O k Visitor Center B BIG e r MONUMENT Airport A 16 re Rooster THOUSAND N A POINT C O Park Headquarters H Rock POCKETS I t Y Navajo 6310 h NAVAJO TRIBAL PARK N g PAGE Generating C li MERIDIAN A A A NATIONAL MONUMENT 98 N n C Station Y S HUNTS BUTTE (Bureau of Land Management) O RAINBOW PLATEAU o E N o M N Boot MESA E M L L Mesa L I G ANTELOPE R NAVAJO INDIAN RESERVATION E Horseshoe CANYON H T PARIA PLATEAU LeChee av E E Bend A N aj EY IDG NAVAJO o W LL R S n A F N V F TRIBAL t ITA To I e P L ECHO CA B l Cre N E M Farmington, C o ek O Agathla L O PEAKS 20 PARK NY LITT C N. Mex. p CA Peak e G P Small Butte N E O A L NAVAJO ZILNEZ MESA C

Interpretive C H COCONINO d r C CA T Y E N D E M E S A a e H Tsai Skizzi Rock N APACHE Center e A Y NAVAJO o O k O N

PARIA CANYON – R L

98 e N 163 VERMILION CLIFFS

C O N N n A S i U Y O O N WILDERNESS F Y GRAY MESA N Y m A N Y F O A N (Bureau of Land Management) I r N E C O N A L e Y r 89 C SKELETON MESA A T C p N e C L A 160 N v p A i G E C k

O o L E e I R N O S e C P r L O O I C H L T T I E E M ALT L C B E E R B E 6321 I E 89 R K H V A Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a fee area. NAVAJO Z Kayenta North O M 59 GRAND NATIONAL W a O n Do not use this map for navi- Unpaved Overlook Ranger Station Boat Launch MONUMENT D u CANYON 16 g ALT road a To gation. Marinas and visitor L NATIONAL 89 Canyon de O T centers sell navigational maps. Most unpaved roads require a Restaurant Marina S Chelly NM T E To PARK Trail and lodge G Only Lake Powell’s main chan- 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Off-road N I o C NP O A d nel is marked with navigational travel is prohibited. Inquire lo- Campground Floating dump 6320 NY (north rim) H O 0 5 10 Kilometers a station/restroom N r aids. Map shows lake at full cally about road conditions; River mileage S o 88 564 l To pool elevation (3,700 feet). check with a ranger. from dam Primitive 221 Tsegi 0 5 10 Miles o Bitter Springs Grand Canyon NP Campground decontamination C (south rim) To and Flagstaff station Tuba City

Glen Canyon NRA Park Map Febuary 2009

r r T

Y C W

S C Rainbow Bridge to Bullfrog E

W L k M I a L c L and Halls Crossing by water O

k k

O L

s N o SPENCER I G L t G K c e 50mi 80km A R L C O Y POINT e H o m C V Y R r h SIT DOWN e r O T r a l A M R C e E N A H n C n d BENCH C O e L a ce A A Ju k N U T d an Y i S C S A T k N D K I c C N

T L M N o NAVAJO Y O A Y A R C O I B POINT D M N R N y E E

W S E r

o N N D NASJA N

a c O C 53 r T O

C k S Y m MESA Y

R N

H N C N

E Dangling Rope N N

A P r Y N O

A e O

C C R Marina Y C D e A Y r k O N L N

e R K N

C a A A

e E B A C s S P k 49 O C C C a t O E A A y Y E C C Z R K A A N A I D h 40 H H K C D a T S A Y C L C n H N E h N Y A s c E D GLEN CANYON E N B a e D

B R W P courtesy dock NAVAJO NATIONAL RECREATION AREA a A O D W y L Padre IN U Rainbow Bridge INDIAN RESERVATION

a M C r Bay T N m Y e Rainbow Bridge to 28 G O t E N RAINBOW BRIDGE ROMANA U u Wahweap by water C GUNSIGHT O i N MESA N N P r BUTTE C 50mi 80km e 23 AN W T NATIONAL MONUMENT A e YO YO E I k N N Lake Powell N W T W H A B 3700ft S Navajo Mountain N a E E h a S C R H w y 1128m T E 10388ft YO e THE SAND I EP N ap 18 L C 3166m A L Y G HILLS N C C N Lone B A C I ay N Wahweap L D UTAH T Rock A Y A I O N D B Marina 13 B I N Y B Y B R O ARIZONA A 89 R R IN N K W O

ANTELOPE T C N F 10 A H e A ISLAND V s J A C t Antelope Point J O A Marina (proposed) N C F a Y A n O C yo North C N E n A C 1 N C re Y Y ek O N Carl Hayden N Visitor Center r ve Ri PAGE NAVAJO 0 5 Kilometers do INDIAN RESERVATION Lake mileage from ra 49 lo 98 Glen Canyon Dam 0 5 Miles o 89 98 C Other Important Resources and Values

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area contains other resources and values that are not fundamental to the purpose of the park and may be unrelated to its significance, but are important to consider in planning processes. These resources and values have been selected because they are important in the operation and management of the park and warrant special consideration in park planning.

The following other important resources and values have been identified for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area:

• Wilderness: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area includes 588,855 acres of proposed wilderness and 48,955 acres of potential wilderness. Together this represents 51% of the total land area of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, containing a variety of culturally and ecologically unique landscapes where visitors can experience the character and solitude of wilderness within a recreation area. Interpretive Themes

Interpretive themes are often described as the key stories or concepts that visitors should understand after visiting a park—they define the most important ideas or concepts communicated to visitors about a park unit. Themes are derived from—and should reflect—park purpose, significance, resources, and values. The set of interpretive themes is complete when it provides the structure necessary for park staff to develop opportunities for visitors to explore and relate to all of the park significances and fundamental resources and values.

• The land and water features of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area provide a remarkable variety of opportunities to satisfy our hunger for adventure, discovery, and recreation. • Rainbow Bridge is one of the largest known natural bridges in the world, a symbol of strength, balance, and change that spans geologic time.

• For many indigenous peoples in the Four Corners region, Rainbow Bridge is a spiritually occupied landscape that is inseparable from their cultural identities and traditional beliefs.

• Even in a landscape of dramatic and distinctive features, the immense presence of Rainbow Bridge often inspires the strong desire to both see and protect it.

• Though remote and in some ways difficult to access, the uniqueness of Rainbow Bridge has inspired many people over time to make the journey and experience its grandeur. • The dramatic landscape of Glen Canyon lays bare the geological portrait of Earth, which reveals the ancient history of rock, water, and life on the Colorado Plateau with nearly limitless opportunities for research and personal revelation.

• From the first native peoples to contemporary societies, thousands of years of human history along the Colorado River illuminates the intricate web of relationships between peoples, their interaction with the landscape, and the results that shape cultural exchange, create conflict, achieve progress, command choice, and deliver consequences.

• Environments within Glen Canyon remind us that much of life is hidden to casual observation—and entice us to slow our pace and more intimately observe the subtle intricacies and adaptations of both plant and animal communities. •

• Description

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Glen Canyon) Glen Canyon adjoins approximately 9.3 million acres of and Rainbow Bridge National Monument are located in other federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land a geographic area commonly referred to as the Colorado Management, including the Grand Staircase-Escalante Plateau. This desert region is characterized by expansive National Monument, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, areas of exposed and uplifted rocks that have been carved and the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. The park by the Colorado River and several tributaries. Lake Powell, staff consults regularly with the Tribe, Kaibab Paiute formed by the impounded waters of the Colorado River Tribe, , Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Pueblo of above the Glen Canyon Dam, is the best known and most Zuni, San Juan Southern Paiute, and Ute Mountain Ute in visited feature at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The areas of mutual interest. Bureau of Reclamation manages the Glen Canyon Dam. The Rainbow Bridge National Monument was established in surrounding desert landscape and river corridors also provide 1910 to protect a large and exceptionally scenic natural a wide range of recreational opportunities and provide habitat bridge and its surrounding area. At 160 acres, the monument for a diverse assemblage of terrestrial and aquatic species. is bounded by Glen Canyon and the Navajo Nation lands. Rainbow Bridge is sacred to several American Indian tribes, Glen Canyon encompasses more than 1.25 million acres in including the Hopi Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Navajo Nation, northern Arizona and southeastern Utah. The recreation area San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, and the includes portions of Garfield, Kane, San Juan, and Wayne Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (White Mesa Band). The stone arc counties in Utah and Coconino County in Arizona. The park’s of Rainbow Bridge is composed of on southern boundary runs contiguous to lands of the Navajo a base of Kayenta sandstone. Rainbow Bridge spans 275 Nation for almost 500 miles. Other national park system units, feet, reaching a height of 290 feet above Bridge Creek and including Grand Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National ranging from 33 to 42 feet thick. Glen Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Rainbow Bridge Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument are National Monument also share a boundary with the park. managed as one unit; therefore, they are both included in this foundation document.