The mighty Colorado River begins its 1,450 mile long journey to the Gulf of California as a tiny stream that forms in a wet meadow 10,184 feet high in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado. As it flows southwest, the river is joined by many tributaries, gaining strength and size before cutting through the vast Colorado Plateau, twisting its way through numerous gorges and canyons before passing through the Grand Canyon. One of these canyons is Glen Canyon.

Before the 20th century, the Colorado River would periodically flood the land along its banks from Wyoming to Mexico with a mighty rush of water from melting snow or heavy rains in the spring. In an attempt to tame the river, prevent flooding, and harness its power, many dams have been built to control its flow and divert its water for use in the irrigation of crops, to generate electricity and supply water to nearly 17 million people who populate the Colorado Basin states. The largest of these dams, the Hoover Dam located on the border of Nevada and Arizona, was completed in 1936.  Glen Canyon Dam, near the border of Arizona and Utah, was completed in 1966, and is the second largest dam on the Colorado River. Both dams serve as reservoirs, which store water in the vast artificial lakes created by the dam and serve as recreation areas for boating and fishing.

In preparation for the building of Glen Canyon Dam, a new road was built, along with a steel arch bridge, in order to cross Glen Canyon and facilitate the construction of the dam. Completed in 1957, the Glen Canyon Bridge was the highest of its kind in the United States, towering 700 feet above the Colorado River below.

After the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam, it took over 17 years to fill Glen Canyon and create Lake Powell. Lake Powell is the second largest man made lake in the United States, the first being Lake Mead, which was created by the Hoover Dam. Its shoreline encompasses 1,960 miles, a distance longer than the west coast of the United States. Lake Powell's primary purpose is to store the water needed for release to the states of Arizona, Nevada, and California, as well as to the two Mexican states that border the Colorado River Delta where it empties into the Gulf of California, although often the river is dry before it gets to it's delta. The tour guide who spoke with us at the Glen Canyon Dam likened Lake Powell to a savings account and Lake Mead to a checking account.

The beautiful deep blue water of Lake Powell originates as melted snow from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. According to the predicted snowmelt runoff, water releases from the Glen Canyon Dam are adjusted accordingly in order to maintain Lake Powell at an optimal level. Water released from the dam is 46 degrees, whereas before the dam was built, the temperature of the Colorado River ranged from just above freezing in winter to over 80 degrees in summer. This change in water temperature, along with other aspects of taming the Colorado River, has significantly affected the vegetation along its banks and the native fish that live in its harnessed waters. Despite ecological concerns, the beauty of Lake Powell is stunning.

Our group took a boat tour into Antelope Canyon​, one of the side canyons into which Lake Powell spills. The windswept canyon walls painted in shades of orange and red were decorated with dark streaks of desert varnish, a natural patina composed of minerals, manganese and iron oxides, sand particles and other trace elements, which can take thousands of years to develop on exposed rock surfaces in arid areas.

As the tour boat twisted its way through Antelope Canyon, we were able to get a close view of the canyon walls. Here and there tenacious plants grew in nooks and crannies of the massive rock walls. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow on higher west facing canyon walls, while other walls remained in the shadow.

Leaving Antelope Canyon behind, we headed back to the marina surrounded by the stunning landscape of this one small portion of Lake Powell. And I am again reminded of the One Who brings life giving water to those who thirst.

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" John 7:38

​"I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." Isaiah 41:18

As we headed to our room for the night, we lingered to watch the sunset which painted the sky with pastel pinks, blues, and purples. It was a pleasant way to end another amazing day of our tour through parts of Arizona and Utah. In the morning we would visit Zion National Park, so we took in the beauty of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon before the night hid the view from sight.

This is the fifth in a series of posts about my visit through parts of Arizona and Utah.
​(Click words that are bolded for more information.)

Twenty-five miles east of Grand Canyon Village is the Desert View Watchtower near the eastern edge of the Grand Canyon. This spot offers its own unique vantage point of the spectacular Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. The drive along Arizona Highway 64 is scenic and sometimes mule deer or elk can be seen alongside the road. 

Six buildings along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon were designed by Mary Colter, an American architect, whose distinct architectural style was greatly influenced by the native peoples of the American Southwest. From 1902 until 1948, she was the primary architect for the Fred Harvey Company, founded in 1876 to provide services for railway passengers, good food with excellent service at reasonable prices in clean, elegant dining facilities, which became known as "Harvey Houses." Colter designed twenty-one hotels, tourist shops, and rest areas throughout the southwest, including the Desert View Watchtower built in 1933.

The Watchtower stands 70 feet tall, hovering near the edge of the Grand Canyon. Inspired by ancient Puebloan towers of the Colorado Plateau, Mary Colter had a painstaking eye for detail and oversaw the setting of each uncut stone as the tower was built. Apparently some of the stones, which were brought from nearby areas, are decorated with petroglyphs. I would have liked to have seen them since I have enjoyed seeing Native America petroglyphs on other rocks in other places I have visited. (Spoiler alert - a future blog post will include pictures of petroglyphs.)

Outside the Watchtower, the view of the Grand Canyon is spectacular, of course. But the view inside the Watchtower is also wonderful. The walls are decorated with wall murals by Hopi Artist Fred Kabotie and petroglyph-style painting by Fred Geary. At the top of the four story tower is an enclosed observation area with a 360 degree view and scattered along the stair wall are small windows with their own view of the beauty outside. (For more information about this structure, click on the photos below.)

From the observation deck at the top of the Watchtower, the sweeping view of the canyon marks the highest point at the Grand Canyon South Rim. And what a view it is!

Walking along this unique watchtower, I was reminded of these verses from Psalms:

"Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I,
for You have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy."

And Who is this Rock?
"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." (Isaiah 26:4)

And who is the enemy?
"The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (I Corinthians 15:26)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Like Sedona, the Grand Canyon is part of the Colorado Plateau. The Grand Canyon encompasses an area of over 1 million acres and is 277 miles long. From the South Rim to the North Rim, the distance is about 10 miles as the bird flies, but in other places the width is up to 18 miles. The depth of the canyon is over a mile deep to the Colorado River below. The South Rim, where we were, is open year round, while the North Rim closes during the winter months due to the snow. It's elevation is over 8,000 ft, while the elevation of the South Rim is around 7,000 ft.

There are no "easy hikes" into the Grand Canyon, but with proper preparation and a realistic attitude, many people have hiked the trails into the canyon. The hike across the canyon from the South Rim to the North Rim is 21 miles. The 13 mile Canyon Rim Trail along the South Rim is paved and easily accessible. We walked a couple miles along the Rim Trail in the  historic Grand Canyon Village area, which includes the rustic El Tovar luxury hotel and Verkamp Visitor Center.

We watched the shifting shadows play across the canyon and watched as brave (or foolish) people posed for photos outside the confines of the protective guard rails. How small and insignificant they seemed in comparison to the massive canyon walls they clamored over.

As the day came to a close, shadows deepened over the canyon and the last rays of the setting sun cast a golden glow over the canyon walls. The mighty Colorado River so far below shimmered in the fading light. In the stillness of the darkness, stars began to twinkle across the vast expanse of the sky. In the morning we would stop at another vantage point before leaving the Grand Canyon. But for now, the sight was glorious, as it would be the next day, and the next.

This unassuming sign at the entrance to Lookout Studio, a historic building with observation areas designed by Mary Colter, sums up my thoughts for that day, and every day as long as I have breath:

If you ever visit the Grand Canyon, I hope that you, too, will be filled with praise for our Wondrous Creator. In the words of Isaac Watts: "While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care; And everywhere that man can be, Thou, God, art present there."  (Link to audio)

Thank you for joining me in praise to our Father Almighty, the Creator of the Grand Canyon. 

~ Debbie
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​First stop - Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden here.
Second stop - Montezuma's Castle here.
Third stop - Sedona here.