Most Visited NPS Units in the Southwest: 9, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Some people dislike Glen Canyon National Recreation Area because of the vast areas of red rock desert and canyons that were flooded following the construction of Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, though the lake and the preserve is very popular, with most activities centered on or beside Lake Powell, the huge reservoir that extends along 186 miles of the Colorado River. Unlike many water-based NRAs, where activities are mostly limited to the water and the surroundings are not so interesting, here the enclosing land is especially scenic, formed mostly of sandstone eroded into many forms, and all invites exploration, though the most parts of the shoreline are accessible only by boat. The one main city in the vicinity is Page, near the dam.

2014 Visitation: 2,368,452
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - full description