GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK IS A VAST MAGICAL WONDER AND IS TRULY ‘GRAND’ IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD

In awe of The Grand Canyon National Park, I must admit that it deserved much more time than was available. Listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and is thought to be somewhere between 6 million to 70 million years old, the 1 mile deep, Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, north of Arizona state is about 80 miles north of Flagstaff. It runs about 277 miles, from Marble Canyon in the east to Lake Mead in the west. Most visitor activities take place in Grand Canyon National Park, in the South Rim and North Rim villages on either side of the canyon. The South Rim was my destination ans so is it for most visitors, 275 miles from Las Vegas. The more remote North Rim is accessed by secondary roads. Though the two rims are only about 10 air miles apart, they are 215 miles by road.

At 8,000 feet, the North Rim offers cool summers but experiences harsh winters from November to May. Although it is far less crowded than the South Rim, it offers limited views of the Inner Canyon. The South Rim is the most accessible part of the park and it is open all through year. I have wanted to visit the Grand Canyon for as long as I can remember and finally did it this summer.

The view from the top of the rim is breathtaking. Hiking down into the canyon you witness the different layers and landscape changing colours. Changing layers of alpine forest, vermillion cliffs down through red rock, limestone and sandstone.

A variety of tours offer unique ways to experience the Grand Canyon, from helicopter rides to white water rafting. Some of these start right at the Grand Canyon, others depart from nearby cities, such as Las Vegas. There is some accommodation in the national park at the Village, which is operated by a concessioner of the park. Just outside the South Entrance is the small town of Tusayan, with a much larger variety of chain hotels, as well as restaurants and other services.

ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE SOUTH RIM

Visitor Center and Mather Point Overlook

For visitors entering the park at the South Entrance, from the direction of Williams, the best thing to do is head directly to the visitor center. A few displays show a brief overview of the park and a little about the history. The park staff are ready toprovide information on hikes and attractions. From the visitor center, a short path leads to Mather Point Overlook, where there are a couple of large viewing areas on a peninsula jutting out into the canyon, with great views out over the dramatic landscape of the Grand Canyon.

Rim Trail

The Rim Trail is a mostly paved walking path that follows the rim of the Grand Canyon for 13 miles, from South Kaibab Trailhead, east of the Visitor Center, to Hermit’s Rest, at the far west end of Hermit Road. This nearly level path, with a mix of sun and shade from scattered trees, is one of the most scenic walks in North America, with fabulous views during the entire distance of the trail. You can access it in front of the visitor center at Mather Point, in the Village, or from any of the scenic stops along Hermit Road. If you have limited time and are only interested in a short walk, a good option is the section from Mather Point, heading west to Yavapai Point and the Geology Museum.

Geological Museum

Themost informative exhibits in Grand Canyon National Park is the Geological Museum. The location for this museum was chosen by a group of high profile geologists in the 1920s because the views from here were the most representative of the geology of the canyon. The museum describes in detail the layers of rock visible as you look out the long wall of windows. Huge diagrams describe the formation of the canyon, from the uplifting of the rocks to the erosive power of the water running through the canyon far below. From the windows, you can see the hiking trails below, including a great view of the route out to Plateau Point, an offshoot of the Bright Angel Trail, and a side path leading down to the Colorado River.

Bright Angel Hiking Trail

The most popular hike in the park is the Bright Angel Hike. The complete route, round-trip to Bright Angel Campground, is 19 miles and takes two days. Many serious hikers choose to go to Indian Garden Campground, which is a nine-mile round-trip hike, and takes between six and nine hours. This hike hugs the canyon walls, with steep cliffs and sharp drops off the outer portion of the trail. It is not suited for anyone with a serious fear of heights. Some portions of the trail are in shadow and may be snow or ice-covered, even when conditions at the top are warm and dry.

Wildlife Viewing

While most people don’t come to the Grand Canyon for the wildlife viewing, it's more than likely you will see at least some animals if you are driving through the park. One of the usual suspects that can often be spotted along the Rim Trail is elk. Although you are less likely to see them, mountain lions live in the park forests, and signs along the Desert View Drive.