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A Quick Look at Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, a designated World Heritage Site, and one of the Crown Jewels of the National Park System. Declared a national park in 1919, the mile-deep, 277-mile long gorge draws nearly five million visitors annually to the lofty rims and world-class whitewater that await the active traveler.
The 1.2 million acre park is home to numerous animals (from the endangered California condor above, to cougars, rattlesnakes and Gila monsters below), over 1,500 species of plants, archaeological sites dating back thousands of years, and one of the most complete geologic cross sections visible anywhere on the planet. Sustaining these plant and animal communities, as well as carving the Canyon ever-deeper, is the powerful Colorado River, the lifeblood of the desert Southwest.
Grand Canyon Visitor Info
Most visitors come to the Canyon during the mild spring, summer and fall; the Grand Canyon's mild weather is a refuge from the summer heat of central & southern Arizona areas like Phoenix. While fewer visitors come to see the winter snows that frequently blanket the lofty South and North Rims (7,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level respectively), most locals agree that winter is a great time to visit the Grand Canyon because parking is readily available, crowds are minimal and the views are spectacular. The South Rim is open all year, whereas the more remote North Rim visitor area is open from mid-May to mid-October. Learn more about when to visit and other Grand Canyon information and facts in our Frequenty Asked Questions (FAQs).
The average visit to Grand Canyon is a scant two hours. Most agree that it can be an overwhelming spectacle to absorb during such a short time frame. Luckily there are a number of organized activities available to park visitors. A partial list must include National Park Service ranger talks (free to the public, and advertised in The Guide newspaper available at the entrance stations), backpacking, day hiking, Grand Canyon whitewater rafting, Grand Canyon helicopter tours and fixed-wing air tours, and the historic mule rides to Phantom Ranch on the Canyon floor.
All of these activities (ranger talks aside) are offered as guided, commercial experiences. Day hiking and backpacking can be done on your own, though you need a National Park Service permit to engage in the latter.
The remote nature of the park, lack of public transportation to and from, and the fickle Grand Canyon weather and harsh terrain can make Grand Canyon a challenging place to visit. But it’s the rare visitor that wouldn’t agree with the park’s patriarch, President Theodore Roosevelt, who declared that the Grand Canyon is the one great place that every American should see.
Read more articles, stories and musings on the Grand Canyon and other Arizona destinations on our blog.
 Arizona Travel Blog
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