By Lauren Himiak
National & State Parks Expert, about.com
Contact Info:
Mail: P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Phone: 928-638-7888
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Overview:
About
five million people visit Grand Canyon National Park each year and it
comes as no surprise why. The main attraction, Grand Canyon, is a
mammoth gorge stretching 277 miles showcasing amazing depths of colorful
geology. It boasts some of the nation’s cleanest air and a great deal
of the park’s 1,904 square miles are maintained as wilderness. Visitors
cannot help but be blown away by stunning views from almost any vantage
point.
History:
Created by the Colorado River over a
six million year period, the canyon ranges in width from four to 18
miles and reaches depths of 6,000 feet. Its breathtaking geology reveals
nearly two billion years of the Earth's history exposing layer after
layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted.
First given
Federal protection in 1893 as a Forest Reserve, the area became a
National Monument, and in 1919, became a national park.
President Theodore Roosevelt was a key advocate in
preserving the area, and visited on many occasions to hunt and take
pleasure in the landscape.
When to Visit:
South Rim
is open year-round, while North Rim closes certain facilities from
mid-October to mid-May. Deep snow is common from mid-November to
mid-May. Summer month temperatures can reach 118°F, making spring and
fall the ideal seasons to visit.
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Getting There:
Visitors
may choose from entrances at the North or South Rim. Once in Arizona,
take Ariz. 67 from Jacob Lake to the North Rim entrance. Enjoy passing
through the Kaibab National Forest! To enter at the South Rim, head into
Flagstaff and then take US 180 to the canyon. Visitors may choose to
fly into the following airports: Grand Canyon (near South Rim), Las
Vegas, Phoenix, and Flagstaff. (Find flights to Grand Canyon, Las Vegas,
Phoenix, or Flagstaff.)
[post_ads]Fees/Permits:
For a private
vehicle, the entrance fee is $25. For those entering by foot, bike,
motorcycle, or non-commercial group, a fee of $12 per person is applied.
Standard Park Passes, such as an annual pass, may be used at the Grand Canyon as well. Note: Camping fees are in addition to entrance fees.
Backcountry
permits are required for the following overnight activities: hiking,
riding, cross-country ski trips, off-river hikes, some camping sites
other than developed campgrounds, and winter camping. There are a
variety of special permits available for the park.
Major Attractions:
The
canyon itself is the main attraction, but how you view it may differ.
If the popular viewpoints are too crowded, the cannon offers trails to
hike to the bottom, as well as mule rides,
and scenic helicopter rides. Visitors may also enjoy white water
rafting in the Colorado River, fishing, guided tours, star gazing,
bicycling, or nature walks.
Accommodations:
There are
notable lodges inside the park, including Bright Angel Lodge &
Cabins, Kachina Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Grand Canyon Lodge. (Get Rates)
Phantom Ranch is located at the bottom of the canyon and prices include
accommodations and meals.
There are two developed campgrounds
within the canyon that require reservations—Mather Campground on the
South Rim and the North Rim Campground. Backcountry camping is also
available with a permit.
Areas of Interest Outside the Park:
Wupatki National Monument, located in Flagstaff, lets visitors walk through remaining pueblos more than 100 years old.
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Just 12 miles outside of Flagstaff sits Sunset Crater National Monument,
created in a series of volcanic eruptions more than 900 years ago.
Walking though lava flows and ashes it's amazing to find trees,
wildflowers, and even signs of wildlife.
Even outside the park, visitors can enjoy the Grand Canyon.The Grand Canyon West Skywalk
was created on land owned by the Hualapai Tribe and lets tourists walk
onto a glass floor looking down some 4,000 feet to the base of the
canyon.
