grand
canyon
grand canyon: arizona, usa
introduction
The Grand Canyon is a massive gorge located in the state of Arizona in the United States, and was created by the meandering Colorado River. Although not the steepest nor the longest canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon is recognized as a natural wonder because of the collective scale and size combined with the beautifully colored landscape. It is historically recognized as the largest canyon in the world. The canyon offers a variety of lookouts and experiences that provide visitors with a view that cannot be matched.
quick facts
- The canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long
- The width ranges from 4 to 18 miles (6.4 to 29 km)
- The depth is over one mile (1.83 km)
- Majority is housed within Grand Canyon National Park
description
visitor tips
Many spectacular views of the Grand Canyon can be experienced from the many vistas that are presented throughout the park, particularly along the South Rim. However, probably the most spectacular view of the canyon occurs from the Toroweap Overlook. The only challenge is that this view is only accessible by three different dirt paths:
St. George, Utah (97 miles)
Colorado City (62 miles)
Pipe Spring National Monument (64 miles)
An easier alternative to a still breath taking view can be experienced through Lipan Point on the South Rim. This view exposes visitors to a variety of rock strata and delivers an amazing view of the Unkar Creek area.
A helicopter tour is the best way to truly appreciate the vastness of the canyon. Getting up and the air and having a bird’s eye view of the canyon allows you to view the canyon in its entirety. You can fly over in a plane, however a helicopter is a slower and more intimate encounter with the canyon.
Visiting the Grand Canyon is an experience in and of itself, however there are more adventurous ways to experience the canyon and take in the grandeur of this natural wonder. The canyon can be explored on foot through traditional hikes, day hikes, or extended backpacking trips. It is important to note that all overnight camping below the rim requires a back country permit.
Another common and worthy experience is exploring the canyon on the back of a mule. This provides a unique experience of the canyon while allowing the mule to carry the load. The floor of the canyon can also be explored by taking a white water rafting trip. There are a variety of trips offered depending on the type of experience someone is seeking and their rafting skill level.
With that said, the best time to explore the Grand Canyon is during the summer months which provide visitors with greater access to a variety of opportunities that the Grand Canyon provides to explorers. If you really want to explore the Grand Canyon, don’t plan a day trip. One could easily consume a week discovering and exploring the canyon.
- South Rim Rainfall 16 inches (35 cm)
- North Rim Rainfall 27 inches (59cm)
- Snowfall 60 inches ( 132 cm) 144 inches (317 cm)
- Inner gorge temperatures during the summer months are easily in the area of 100 F (37.8 C) and falling below 0 F (-17.8 C) during the winter months.
The first, and maybe most important, tip is to make your reservations early. There are over 5 million visitors to the Grand Canyon every year and making reservations early is one of the best ways to make sure you get access to the adventure and exploration that you desire.
Exploring Grand Canyon National Park can be done in a day with great views of the wonder of the world, however, you will be missing out on quite a bit. You need to give yourself a few days to hike the canyon walls, raft down the river, explore the canyon floor, and leverage every opportunity to engage the entirety of what this wonder has to offer visitors.