Safety

The staff of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument want you to have an enjoyable and relaxing time while visiting the park. We also want you to be safe and to treat the resources here with care, so that future generations may enjoy them as well.

The dangers here are real, but most can be avoided by good planning, a watchful eye, and smart decision making.

 

Say Safe and Your Rainbow Bridge Visit Will Be Great

General Safety

Fire Safety: Fireworks and Campfires

All wood-burning and charcoal fire use and setting, building, maintaining, attending or using open fire of any kind must stay in designated firepits and grills at campgrounds and below the high water mark on the shores of Lake Powell. Devices fueled by petroleum or LPG products are allowed in all locations. Discharge or use any kind of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited at all times on all federal public lands.

Alcohol

The consumption or direct possession of an alcoholic beverage by a person operating a vehicle or vessel is prohibited. Glass bottles and Styrofoam are prohibited in the park.

Weather

Find information on the weather, forecasts and lake levels on Glen Canyon’s Weather Page.

Lightning

Desert thunderstorms carry the double threat of flash floods and lightning. They occur most often during the monsoons in summer. Be wary of nearby storms.

Flash Floods

Flash floods are the artists who carve the intricate curves of slot canyons. They are also the assassins of anyone who may be in their paths. Be flash flood aware:

• Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning, and/or increasing wind, that may be signs of an approaching thunderstorm.

• Listen for the sound of thunder. If you are in a canyon, you may hear the storm before you see it.

• If you do venture out and recognize thunderstorms nearby, head to port or safe shelter as quickly as possible. Get to higher ground if you can

• If storms or flash floods are predicted in your area, even if you do not see storm clouds or feel rain, STAY OUT OF NARROW CANYONS.

Desert Safety

The desert can be a harsh and unforgiving environment, especially if you are not accustomed to it.

Drink Plenty of Water

Drink plenty of water, even when you are not thirsty, your body can lose large amounts of water without you realizing it. Be aware of balancing fluid and electrolyte levels. Have with you at least 1 gallon (4 L) of drinking water per person, per day.

Take It Easy In The Hot Summer Days

Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, loose fitting, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight. Minimize direct exposure to the sun. Sunburn reduces your body's ability to dissipate heat. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Slow down: reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Children, seniors and anyone with health problems should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.

Watch your pets: ground temperatures in the sun are higher than air temperatures. Our buddies close to the ground need protection from the heat too.

Watch for Signs of Trouble

If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or a headache, get out of the sun immediately and drink water or sports drinks. Dampen clothing to lower body temperature. Be alert for symptoms in others.

• Heatstroke is caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures or by doing physical activity in hot weather. Symptoms include high body temperature, lack of sweating, flushed skin, rapid breathing and unconsciousness.
• Hypothermia is an emergency in which your body loses heat faster than it can replace heat and it can occur even at temperatures above freezing. Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, slow or slurred speech, memory lapses and incoherence and exhaustion. Immediate treatment includes giving victim warm, non-alcoholic drinks, seeking shelter from the weather and getting the victim into dry clothes.

Travel Prepared to Survive

Check road conditions before you leave AND at the nearest ranger station/visitor center if you take an unpaved road. Do not trust your vehicle or cell phone's GPS to take you on a road your vehicle is able to drive on. Carry extra drinking water in your car in case of emergency. If your car breaks down, stay with it until help comes.

Backcountry Travel

Avoid hiking in the heat. Hikers and backpackers need to be self-reliant and well prepared. Always plan, carry detailed maps and let someone know your plans.

Boating Safety

Stay aware of your surroundings when you are on the water. Be aware of wakes and waves that bounce back and forth between canyon walls. Slow down when passing boats. Look at the size of the wake, not the size of the boat. Depending on hull design, even relatively smaller boats can produce serious wakes. Approach large wakes at a 45-degree angle.

Before going out on the water, check weather forecasts and look for storm warning flags at marinas. If a storm breaks while you are out, seek shelter in a protected cove immediately and wait until the storm passes. Lightning is also a hazard on open water.

Water levels on Lake Powell change throughout the year. Always approach the shore with caution and watch for shallows and submerged debris.

Many persons who drown never intended to enter the water. Life jacket jackets are required for people under twelve and everyone operation a paddlecraft. We reccomend that everyone wears one. All boaters must have required safety equipment on board their boat.

Bow riding (sitting on the top front part of the boat) is illegal unless the boat is designed for people to ride in the bow section (the bow section will have seats).

All boaters must know and follow applicable state & federal boating requirements, as well as carry all required equipment on their vessels. Copies of this information are available at visitor centers. Please check our Boating page for more information or visit the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Resource Center. Additional information is available from the states of Arizona and Utah.

Quicksand Safety

How to Recognize Possible Quicksand

Wet, loose, or unusually smooth ground
Flattened, uniform, or freshly leveled surfaces may indicate soft or saturated sediment beneath a thin surface layer.

Unexpected water seepage or pooling
Slow upward seepage or water collecting in isolated spots can signal unstable, water-saturated ground.

Shifting, rippling, or vibrating soil
When stepped near (not on), the ground may move, ripple, or subtly vibrate, indicating insufficient support below the surface.

Dry-looking surfaces that feel soft or spongy
Even with a dry crust, quicksand may compress noticeably under light pressure. Always test from a secure position using a tool, never with your full weight.

Depressions or saturated low spots
Drainages, low areas, and freshly exposed shoreline zones can hold fine sediment mixed with water, making them prone to becoming unstable.

Fine sediment mixed with water
Silt, clay, and very fine sand, especially following storms or rapid water-level changes, can create conditions where ground appears normal but is structurally weak underneath.
 

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General, Evidence‑Based Steps for Safely Escaping From Quicksand

Stay calm and avoid sudden movements
Panicked motion causes the body to sink deeper and mixes more water into the sediment, reducing buoyancy.

Lean back to spread out body weight
Shifting into a reclined or sitting‑back position increases surface area, helping the body float. This reduces downward pressure and prevents further sinking.

Slowly work legs upward
Move one leg at a time, gently and gradually, to allow water to flow into the space around the limb. This loosens the suction effect.

Create space around the legs
Wiggle feet slowly or rotate legs slightly. The goal is to let water replace the vacuum around the limbs, so the sediment no longer grips them tightly.

Use slow, controlled movements to move toward firmer ground
Once the legs are free, continue leaning back and use arms or a back‑floating motion to inch toward solid ground. Avoid standing upright until fully out.

If available, use a sturdy object for leverage
A branch, trekking pole, or another person’s extended tool (not their hand) can provide stability without putting weight directly downward.

Call for assistance if escape is difficult
Quicksand is rarely life‑threatening, but escaping can be tiring. Assistance may be needed if the sediment is deep or if the person is fatigued.

Wildlife Safety

Desert creatures of all sizes can hurt you if you are not careful. Please be aware of biting and stinging animals, arachnids, and insects. A few venomous animals live in the park, including rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widow spiders. While a scorpion sting is likely to be mild (like a strong bee sting), anyone bitten by a black widow spider or rattlesnake should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

It is illegal to feed animals in the park. Providing wild animals food may have a negative impact. Wildlife need only the natural habitat elements - food, water, and shelter - provided by their environment. Animals used to humans may become aggerssive, especially if they have rabies. Seek medical attention if you are bit by a critter.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a potentially deadly disease spread by infected wild rodents, especially mice. People become infected when the virus becomes airborne—when dust is stirred up or nests are disturbed, especially in confined spaces. Recently, cases of this respiratory disease have been confirmed on the nearby Navajo Nation. Learn more about how to protect yourself from Hantavirus.

Keep Safety in the Picture

Come and capture your adventure in the park. Check out these quick tips on how to avoid photography-related hazards when visiting our national parks.

 

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  GLCA PSA - Safe Boating

  Prepare. Protect. Preserve. Boating under the influence kills.

  Duration:

  30.072 seconds

 

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  GLCA PSA - Water Safety

  Prepare. Protect. Preserve. Lake Powell is great fun, but know your limits.

  Duration:

  1 minute

 

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  GLCA PSA - Protecting Children

  Prepare. Protect. Preserve. Lifejackets only work if you wear them. All children 12 and under needs to keep the lifejacket on.

  Duration:

  30.072 seconds