Glen Canyon warns visitors about quicksand along Lake Powell shores

Park Service flags hidden quicksand danger

The National Park Service put out a safety alert on March 3 warning visitors about quicksand at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The park says quicksand has turned up near shorelines and in drainages across the area. The ground can look dry and solid on top but give way without warning.

Glen Canyon stretches more than 1.25 million acres from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, so the risk covers a wide area.

Decades of drought exposed hidden sediment

Glen Canyon is home to Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the country. A drought lasting more than 20 years has pulled water levels far below full capacity.

As of early March, the water sat at about 3,530 feet, roughly 170 feet below the full pool mark. That drop has uncovered huge stretches of land that spent decades underwater.

The newly exposed ground, a soggy mix of fine sand, silt, and clay, is exactly where quicksand forms.

Warning signs hikers should watch for

Quicksand does not always announce itself, but there are clues. Ground that looks unusually smooth or freshly leveled may hide soft sediment under a thin crust.

Water seeping upward or pooling in odd spots can signal trouble underneath. If the ground moves, ripples, or vibrates when you step near it, stay back.

A surface that looks dry but feels soft or spongy is another red flag. Low areas, drainages, and freshly exposed shoreline zones carry the highest risk.

Hollywood got quicksand mostly wrong

Quicksand is a mix of fine sand, clay, and water that looks solid but collapses when you step on it. Forget what you saw in the movies, though.

Quicksand does not swallow people whole. It has a density of about 2 grams per milliliter, while the human body comes in at roughly 1 gram per milliliter.

Because people are less dense than quicksand, you would typically sink to about the waist and stop. The real story is what happens next.

Getting stuck creates a real fight

You will not go under, but getting out is another story. Once the sand settles and packs around your legs, it creates strong suction.

Scientists have figured that pulling one foot free takes a force roughly equal to lifting a medium-sized car. The real dangers are exhaustion, heat or cold exposure, and in coastal areas, rising tides.

The National Park Service says quicksand is rarely life-threatening but urges people to call for help if the sediment runs deep or they get too tired to keep working free.

Park Service shares an escape plan

The park’s advice starts with staying calm. Panicked movement only pushes you deeper.

Lean back to spread your weight over a wider area, which helps you float. Move one leg at a time, slowly, to let water flow in and break the suction.

Wiggle your feet or rotate your legs to create space between your body and the packed sand. Once free, use a back-floating motion to inch toward solid ground.

A trekking pole or sturdy branch can help with leverage.

Utah parks have trapped hikers before

This is not the first time quicksand has caught someone off guard in Utah.

In February 2019, a 34-year-old Arizona man got stuck up to his knee on the Subway trail in Zion National Park. His hiking partner spent three hours hiking out just to get cell phone service and call 911.

Rangers then took several more hours to reach him and two more hours to dig him free.

He spent the night in freezing temperatures with four inches of new snow before a helicopter lifted him out the next afternoon.

In December 2025, another hiker needed rescue after sinking knee-deep in quicksand at Arches National Park.

Alaska incident shows the worst outcome

In May 2023, a 20-year-old Illinois man died after getting trapped in quicksand-like silt at Alaska’s Turnagain Arm. He sank to his waist while walking on tidal mud flats near the town of Hope with friends.

A friend called 911 right away, but rescue crews could not reach him before the fast-rising tide rolled in. He died about 45 minutes after that call.

The environment was different from desert quicksand, but the trapping worked the same way. The incoming tide, not the quicksand itself, caused his death.

Lake Powell keeps shrinking toward record lows

The drought gripping the Colorado River Basin, the driest stretch in more than 1,200 years, has reshaped Lake Powell’s shoreline. Federal projections show the reservoir could hit record low levels by early 2027.

As of late February, Lake Powell held about 24% of its capacity, less than half the historical average.

The Bureau of Reclamation has warned that water levels could drop near the minimum needed for Glen Canyon Dam to produce electricity.

The Park Service says shoreline changes are already affecting boat ramp access and park facilities.

Algal blooms add another risk at Lake Powell

Quicksand is not the only concern. The Park Service has also flagged harmful algal blooms in parts of Lake Powell in recent months.

Testing found cyanotoxins near the mouth of Antelope Canyon at the high end of safe exposure levels.

These blooms form when warm, still water mixes with nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, and they can show up as blue, green, or brown scum on the surface. The toxins can make people sick and can kill pets.

The Park Service tells visitors to avoid swimming near discolored water and to shower after any lake contact.

What to know before you visit

The Park Service recommends checking the park’s alerts page before you head out. Hike with a partner and carry a cell phone, but know that service is spotty in the backcountry.

Bring a walking stick or trekking pole to test the ground ahead of you.

Stay clear of drainages, low spots, and areas near the shoreline where sediment looks smooth or wet. Skip any water that looks discolored or scummy.

Keep pets leashed and away from both questionable ground and lake water.

Glen Canyon stays open for visitors

Glen Canyon remains fully open despite the warnings.

Visitors still come for boating on Lake Powell, hiking, and sightseeing at landmarks like Horseshoe Bend. The Park Service says the dangers are real but avoidable with good planning and awareness.

The quicksand safety information now sits permanently on the park’s safety webpage, last updated on March 3. Smart preparation and a watchful eye can keep a Glen Canyon trip safe and enjoyable.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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