186 miles
Lake Powell's length at normal water-surface elevation
The reservoir extends from Glen Canyon Dam into southern Utah.
Project data accessed October 8, 2026
Source: Bureau of Reclamation, Glen Canyon DamLake Powell reference
Lake Powell facts, size & statistics
Key figures on the lake, Glen Canyon and the visitor economy around Page, Arizona. Every statistic below is linked to its original public source and dated so it is easy to quote accurately.
Updated October 8, 2026
A practical picture of the lake.
Lake Powell is a vast, changing reservoir within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Measurements such as shoreline, depth and capacity describe a defined full or normal elevation, while conditions on the water change with the season and reservoir level.
The numbers
Lake Powell by the numbers.
Reference figures for the reservoir, recreation area and the communities that welcome its visitors.
161,390 acres
Lake Powell's surface area at normal water-surface elevation
Surface area changes as the reservoir elevation changes.
Project data accessed October 8, 2026
Source: Bureau of Reclamation, Glen Canyon Dam25.16 million acre-feet
Total Lake Powell storage capacity
The Bureau of Reclamation lists 23.4 million acre-feet as active capacity.
Project data accessed October 8, 2026
Source: Bureau of Reclamation, Glen Canyon Dam710 feet
Height of Glen Canyon Dam above bedrock
The concrete-arch dam creates Lake Powell and is the second-highest concrete-arch dam in the United States.
Project data accessed October 8, 2026
Source: Bureau of Reclamation, Glen Canyon Unit1,560 feet
Length of Glen Canyon Dam's crest
The crest is the top span of the dam across Glen Canyon.
Project data accessed October 8, 2026
Source: Bureau of Reclamation, Glen Canyon Unit1,960 miles
Lake Powell shoreline at full pool
The shoreline figure reflects a full-pool elevation of 3,700 feet.
Page updated August 10, 2026
Source: National Park Service, Glen Canyon statistics561 feet
Maximum Lake Powell depth at Glen Canyon Dam
The National Park Service lists the maximum depth as 171 meters at the dam.
Page updated August 10, 2026
Source: National Park Service, Glen Canyon statistics90+ side canyons
Side canyons at Lake Powell at full pool
The National Park Service describes Lake Powell as having more than 90 side canyons.
Page updated August 10, 2026
Source: National Park Service, Glen Canyon statistics1.25 million acres
Size of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
The recreation area spans Arizona and Utah; Lake Powell makes up 13% of its area.
Page updated August 10, 2026
Source: National Park Service, Glen Canyon statistics4,725,610
Recreation visits to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in 2024
That total included 532,202 recreation visits in the Antelope Point District.
2024 visitation data; page updated August 10, 2026
Source: National Park Service, Glen Canyon statistics$518.2 million
Visitor spending near Glen Canyon and Rainbow Bridge in 2024
The National Park Service reported a $635.4 million cumulative local economic benefit from that spending.
Report published September 30, 2025
Source: National Park Service visitor-spending reportHow to read this page
Terms and context matter.
Capacity describes how much water the reservoir can hold at its specified elevation. It is different from a current storage reading.
Full pool and normal elevation figures describe a defined water level, so they should not be treated as the lake's current shoreline or surface area.
Visitation and spending figures apply to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, or the combined Glen Canyon and Rainbow Bridge report where stated. They are not a count of High Desert Paddle Co. guests or of Lake Powell visitors alone.
Sources and citation
Primary public sources.
- Bureau of Reclamation: Glen Canyon Dam project data
- Bureau of Reclamation: Glen Canyon Unit
- National Park Service: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area statistics
- National Park Service: 2024 visitor-spending report for Glen Canyon and Rainbow Bridge
Suggested citation: High Desert Paddle Co., "Lake Powell Facts & Statistics (2026)," updated October 8, 2026. https://highdesertpaddle.com/lake-powell-facts.