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Lake Powell At Glen Canyon NRA Is No Longer Rising

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Published Date

July 24, 2023

Lake Powell no longer is rising due to spring runoff/Kurt Repanshek file

After rising for a few months, Lake Powell at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah seems to be beginning to drop.

According to the National Park Service, spring runoff rose Lake Powell water levels approximately 65.75 vertical feet. On April 13, the lake’s lowest elevation was 3519.92 feet (Above Sea Level, ASL). Spring runoff appears to have peaked at 3,584.67 feet ASL on July 9, 2023, when Lake Powell’s elevations began to slowly decline. On July 20, the Lake Powell elevation is 3,582.8 feet ASL.   

While the rising lake levels are behind us this year, the park staff has been able to re-anchor floating docks, walkways, and restrooms to enable visitors to explore Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Visitors will have an approximately 1.2-mile hike to the national monument. Concession operated boat tours will resume to the popular destination on July 29. 

Elsewhere in the NRA, the park staff is telling boaters who want to take the Castle Rock Cut to travel at their own risk, and even discourage use of the shortcut as submerged rocks and hazards are present. Castle Rock Cut was previously dredged to elevation 3,580 feet ASL. Depending on the vessel, a water depth of at least four to six feet of water is required for safe navigation and two-way traffic. The boat owner is liable for self-rescue, salvage, and restoration of damage to the environment if problems occur. 

According to the Bureau of Reclamation, it looks like almost all Lake Powell boat ramps will be operable for some kind of vessel, either motorized or paddlecraft, throughout the 2023 and 2024 boating seasons. The one exception is Bullfrog Main, which will become inoperable at elevation 3,578 feet ASL, currently projected to be reached in August.

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