Join GCI for a 2-day hike and paddle trip with Pronghorn Expeditions! Together we will explore on-the-ground impacts of Glen Canyon Dam and restoration trends due to Lake Powell reservoir’s dropping water levels.
Our hope is that you leave this trip:
- With a greater understanding of the upstream and downstream impacts of Glen Canyon Dam;
- Feeling inspired by the Glen’s existing restoration and potential for continued recovery;
- More informed about the state of Colorado River management, Glen Canyon Institute, and science-based advocacy efforts to restore Glen Canyon.
Day 1 – Explore Wahweap Creek
Hike with us through areas that were never under Lake Powell and stretches that have been recovering as reservoir levels drop.
As water first began backing up behind Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, the lower reaches of Wahweap Creek and its confluence with the Colorado River were flooded, transforming the canyon into the present-day Wahweap Bay and Wahweap Marina. The upper section of the creek, however, was never submerged. Together, we will explore parts of Wahweap Creek that were never under water before visiting a zone that was previously inundated to understand the reservoir’s impact on the ecology and geomorphology of side canyon tributaries.
What does restoration look like in Wahweap Creek? What impacts did Lake Powell have on the creek that are still visible today? How does recovery here compare to the trajectory of other side canyons?
What role does geology play into recovery? We will answer these questions and more as we hike through different sections of Wahweap Creek and spend the night camping in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
 
 
Day 2 – Paddle Glen Canyon
On this flat water section below Glen Canyon Dam, we will see petroglyphs, cottonwoods, willows, and towering canyon walls.
On paddle boards and inflatable kayaks, we will paddle 10 miles of Glen Canyon below Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry. Lees Ferry marks the downstream end of Glen Canyon as the Colorado River transitions to Marble Canyon. From a management perspective, Lees Ferry is just upstream of the boundary between Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park. Politically, as defined by the 1922 Colorado River Compact, it also divides the Upper Basin and Lower Basin, a decision point that has defined the past and present trajectory for Glen Canyon.
This stretch of the Colorado River and the Glen Canyon upstream are singularly distinguished by the presence of Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell reservoir. Petroglyph panels here are a reminder of the thousands of archaeological and cultural sites flooded by Lake Powell. With at least 11,000 years of human history documented in the area, there are seven contemporary Tribes that consider Glen Canyon region their ancestral homeland and a sacred landscape including: Hopi Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Pueblo of Zuni, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute, and Ute Mountain Ute.
This stretch of the river will also give us the opportunity to view and talk about downstream consequences of Glen Canyon Dam. These include colder water temperatures, overly consistent flows, and sediment starvation, which all have impacts on native fish populations and riparian vegetation through the Grand Canyon.
 
 
General Itinerary
We will meet in Page, AZ at 10 am on Saturday, October 17th. (Exact location TBD.) Lunch and dinner on Saturday will be provided. We will spend the night camping in GCNRA—please bring a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and tent. If you are interested in renting any of this gear for the night, please send an email to Pronghorn Expedition’s Beth Henshaw (pronghornexpeditions@gmail.com) and GCI’s Zanna Stutz (zanna@glencanyon.org).
On Sunday, October 18th, we will eat breakfast, pack up camp, stop at a view point of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam, and drive to Lee’s Ferry. From there, we will take a 30 minute motorboat ride to shuttle us upriver before floating back downstream in paddle boards and inflatable kayaks. Lunch will be included. You can expect the day to wrap up around 4:30/5 pm.
Additional details to come.
Please reach out to Pronghorn Expedition’s Beth Henshaw (pronghornexpeditions@gmail.com) and GCI’s Zanna Stutz (zanna@glencanyon.org) with any questions. We are so excited for you to join us in Glen Canyon!
About Pronghorn Expeditions
Pronghorn Expeditions is a new guiding company in Page, AZ leading hiking and vehicle tours in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Their team is led by the owner/guide duo Jaden Games and Beth Henshaw who both hold over 10 years of guiding experience in the outdoor adventure industry. Living in Glen Canyon, Jaden and Beth incorporate repeat photography and education into their tours about Lake Powell and the Colorado River. Beth is also a writer and storyteller, drawing inspiration for her work from the Colorado River, Lake Powell and the red rock desert.
  