In a world full of cars, traffic, people, and technology, I am grateful that some wilderness is left. I go to Glen Canyon for the quiet. It is here that I discover the true meaning of solitude, devoid of the typical sounds and company of a forested wilderness. Nothing but stone and sky out here in Glen Canyon, where the world is red and the silence is loud.
This land teaches me to look closely and walk quietly so that I do not miss what little wonders the desert keeps hidden. The hanging gardens of luscious fern and hidden waterpockets in the shade leave me wanting to know more. I walk over the slickrock into the winter sun, thinking of the geologic timeline spread out before me. Thirsty for understanding, I return to Glen Canyon again and again. Knowing fully that I may never understand this place, I leave with a sense of unquenched curiosity.
Sincerely,
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
The 1.2 million-acre park spans the scenic desert landscape from bottom of Canyonlands National Park to the tip of Grand Canyon National Park, including buttes, cliffs, canyons, and mesas. The park also contains the Glen Canyon Dam, which was completed in 1963, creating Lake Powell and changing the surrounding environment dramatically. Visitors can kayak the Colorado River which flows through the canyon, hike or mountain bike along the Orange Cliffs and Burr Trail, or take scenic drives along the back roads.
State(s): Arizona Utah,
Established: 1972
“they protect the quiet.”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}-
Greetings from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
My partner Keith and I at Hoover Dam in 2008.
-
Greetings from New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
This summer, my friends and I held our annual camping trip in New River Gorge National Park. As young adults, (some of us are still students) a lot of vacation spots are out of our price range, but public lands like national parks allow us to spend time together without…
-
Greetings from Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
The Brown v Board of Education National Historical Site has been the homecoming of the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Supreme Court case that allowed equal access to schools to end segregation.
Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now