The Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA is the state’s trademark, located five hours away from Las Vegas, and around four hours away from Phoenix. The National Park holds both breathtaking erosional forms and geologic color. The combination turns the Grand Canyon into one of the most renowned sites in the world. The steep-sided canyon is at the top of every traveler’s bucket list, and visiting it will leave you with impressive memories.
What To Do
Amid the chill weather of the dark early morning, as the sun rises and the light exposes the Grand Canyon, you’ll feel like you’re looking at a 2D picture. But as the sky changes colors and it becomes a mix between red and blue, the sun slowly reveals all the details you’ve been missing. You start noticing the sharp edges of distant ridges and peaks, the asymmetrical rock formations sprinkled everywhere, the vibrant vegetation… That’s when you realize the true scale of the canyon.
The Grand Canyon’s size
The Grand Canyon National Park was carved by the Colorado River around 6 million years ago. It is about 446 kilometers (2777 miles) long, 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide and almost 1,860 meters (6102 feet) deep.
The best lookout points
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to see all of the Grand Canyon right away because of its enormous dimensions. However, one of the ways to get the best of the site, is going to the lookout points to see the ever-changing light. You’ll have no problem finding these since the roads along the rim indicate where to go.
For example, Hopi Point is one of the best lookout points in the entire area. From this place, you can look both ways along the canyon, and it’s also close to the Grand Canyon Village. You’ll enjoy the spectacular landscape and how it changes colors throughout the day. Besides, you can also see the Colorado River from here, looking apparently small and serene.
Trail-walking
One of the advantages of trail-walking is that it will give you a new idea of how big the canyon is. In other words, walking down offers you new details of the scene. Besides, it redefines distances between certain points as they become more accurate. As the day goes on, you’ll notice that landmarks that looked so close, actually take hours to reach.
How to get there
You have different options to get here. Flagstaff is the closest major airport and it’s an hour and a half away from the south rim. If you’re coming from Las Vegas, you can either take a five-hour drive or you can fly directly to the Grand Canyon airport at Tusayan.
To get around the park you can use the free bus service they provide, but if you want to have more freedom to explore, I advise you to rent a car.
When to go
The best time to visit this stunning landmark is during spring or autumn in order to avoid big crowds. Although it will be colder, the air is clearer and the striking perspective you’ll get will be worth it.
However, the weather can suddenly change and you can find yourself under blue skies one day, and in a white-out blizzard the next. This also applies to the area’s temperature. Because of the canyon’s great height, you can walk through heavy snow and hot sunshine in just one day.
How long
If you want to go into the canyon, there are different trails that allow you to do so. Depending on the one you choose, you can hike down and back up in a day, if you start early enough, or camp on the way.
However, it’s advisable to split your trip into two days, even if you take a shorter trail. Above all, you have to remember that walking back up is twice as long and hard as walking down. If you’re not used to heavy exercise, you might want to rent a mule to carry you. Keep in mind that the ride is quite uncomfortable.
Planning
If you’re looking for accommodation, the Grand Canyon Village offers a wide variety to choose from. Since everything is run by the same company, you’ll find little competition in pricing. Personally, I recommend El Tovar Lodge, it’s right on the rim and it gets booked very easily. remember to make a reservation beforehand!
Inside Information
Will you find big crowds?
Over a million people visit the Canyon each year, most of them just stay a few hours and gather on the popular south rim. However, these are not the only people the Grand Canyon welcomes. Equally important are the Native American that have inhabited the area for thousands of years. They have built settlements within the park and its caves, and consider the Grand Canyon a holy site.
Websites
If you need more information about the site, the National Parks Department’s page covers all aspects of the Grand Canyon.
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