Does Lake Powell have alligators?
No. No wild alligators live in Utah or Arizona, and Lake Powell is far too cold for them. The real hazards are props, carbon monoxide and algae.
Updated
No. There are no wild alligators or crocodiles in Utah or Arizona, and the Park Service list of 27 reptile species in Glen Canyon is all desert lizards and snakes. The lake rules them out on temperature alone: surface water runs roughly 47°F in January, and water released from the bottom of Glen Canyon Dam stays near 44°F year-round. The reptiles you will see are side-blotched lizards on the slickrock, chuckwallas sunning on boulders, and now and then a rattlesnake on a beach, so check where you step at camp. The hazards that put swimmers in the hospital here are boat propellers, carbon monoxide pooling behind a running houseboat, cold spring water and the mid-2026 algae advisory. The swimming guide covers all four.
Facts checked October 2026.
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