Grand Canyon

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Guess what: the Grand Canyon is a grand canyon, located in the southwestern United States. It was carved into the landscape by the Colorado River, and is mostly located within the state of Arizona.

Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) oversees most of this natural feature, and maintains an extensive web site on the park (see links). The park itself is over 1.2 million acres / 490,000 hectares / 1,900 square miles, while the river itself winds a path of 277 miles / 446 km through the park.

All of the topography's numbers are impressive: the vertical drop from rim to river is more than a mile at the South Rim. In places, the canyon is 18 miles / 29 km wide.

The dramatic and often dangerous landscape make the park a destination of choice for many different "trip of a lifetime" experiences. Many outfitters operate, under strict guidelines and quotas from GCNP, provide hiking and camping tours, as well as river rafting and paddling excursions. In many places, you'd be ill advised to tackle the Grand Canyon without expert help.

Because of the breadth of the park, and the many dramatic changes in elevation, there are many microclimates in the Grand Canyon and weather is variable. Research your particular route carefully.

Even a simple drive through the canyon is a memorable experience that will use up several gigs of digital photography memory.

Permits are not required for day hikes, but they are for overnight camping.

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Outfitters

citation needed at Grand Canyon outfitters

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Driving / Getting There

To the south rim:
* drive 60 miles from Williams, Arizona; State Route 64 from Interstate 40
* drive 80 miles from Flagstaff, Arizona; US Highway 180
* a Trans Canyon Van Shuttle runs from North Rim to South Rim

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Park Fees

• $25 per private vehicle
  
• $12 pedestrian or cyclist
  
• $40 for an Annual Grand Canyon passport
  
• free for National Parks Pass holders
  

Admission is for 7 days and includes both rims