Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park

5 million visitors per year – 1,904 square miles – the 277-mile canyon is nearly a mile deep in places. Grand Canyon, aZ 86023.

A Grand Canyon sunset is glorious, but even during the day, the canyon walls' many layers of stone refract hues of red, yellow, and green light. On a good day, you can see 200 miles across vast mesas, forests, and the Colorado River.

The park consists of three different areas: the North Rim, the South Rim, and the Inner Canyon, which is accessible only by foot, boat, or mule. The North Rim and the South Rim are only 9 miles apart as the eagle files, but 214 miles by road.

The different rims are located in entirely different temperate climate zones. The North Rim on average is 1,000 feet higher and is heavily forested with blue spruce and alpine vegetation. It is open only from May to late October. The more popular South Rim is closer to population centers and has the juniper bushes and Gambel oak typical of the arid Southwest. The Inner Canyon is desertlike; temperatures there often exceed 110 degrees in the summer.

Follow the trails! One-and two-day mule rides are a somewhat bumpy alternative to hiking the Grand Canyon. Avoid rides in the summer, when temperatures can reach 118 degrees. Two-days trips start at the South Rim. Photo by Elena.

Peak season tips: The South Rim is crowded all year. To escape the masses, take one of the many trails off East Rim Drive to a private spot overlooking the canyon, or try the North Rim. Which receives only ten percent of the park's visitors.

Camping: Lodging reservations South Rim, including Phantom Ranch, North Rim Lodging reservations. Recorded general park info is available.

Best one-day trip: The West Rim Drive offers wonderful views of the main canyon. In the summer, it is open only to buses, which can be taken from the visitor center. A paved trail runs along the South Rim offering an easy bike. All hikes into the canyon are strenuous. Of them, only the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab trails are regularly maintained.

Best experience: A raft ride down the Colorado River is a great way to enjoy the splendor of the canyon. Motorboat trips take 7 to 10 days, raft trips take 10 to 12 days, and trips on wooden dories usually last 18 days, though 3- to 8-days partial trips can be arranged. Write the park superintendent for a complete list of outfitters licensed by the National Park Service.