Grand Canyon Arizona USA

Grand Canyon Vacation

The Grand Canyon is on almost every traveler's bucket list, it is the one great sight which every American should see. While it is not the deepest canyon in the world, it is unmatched throughout the world for the vistas it offers to visitors.

Most visitors (90%) see the park from free shuttle buses or from their car at overlooks along the South Rim. The South Rim includes the historic Grand Canyon Village, the El Tovar Hotel, Verkamp's Visitor Center, The Mule Ride to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon, Hermit Road, and Desert View Drive. The South Rim is open all year.

There are vacation and sightseeing options for any taste or length of stay. Bus and helicopter tours are popular, and visitors can even ride a mule to the bottom of the canyon. The Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails offer stunning views. There are scenic vistas around every bend, and adventure awaits all who make the trip.

Carved millions of years ago by the Colorado River and natural geological processes, the Grand Canyon’s stark beauty, rusty, desert colors and glorious sunsets pull tourists from across the globe. Geologically it is hugely significant because of the thick sequence of ancient rocks that are beautifully preserved and exposed in the walls of the canyon. These rock layers record much of the early geologic history of the North American continent.

There are many opportunities here for adventurous and hardy persons who want to backpack, but if hiking's not your cup of tea, rent a bicycle or take a scenic drive through the park. The Inner Canyon includes everything below the rim and is seen mainly by hikers, mule riders, or river runners. Take a river trip through the Canyon on the Colorado River which can take anywhere from several days to three weeks - there are no one-day river trips through the length of Grand Canyon.

While every visit to the Grand Canyon is special, the National Park Service has designed a Junior Ranger Program to help make the experience extra special for children ages four to 14. By completing various requirements, your child can get sworn in as a Grand Canyon National Park Junior Ranger. He or she will also receive a certificate and a badge – just like regular park rangers wear.

Vast, magnificent and beautiful, the Grand Canyon is easily Arizona’s most distinguishable landmark - and a natural wonder that you simply have to see to believe. The Grand Canyon will take your breath away. Stretching 277 miles from end to end, steep, rocky walls descend more than a mile to the canyon’s floor, where the wild Colorado River traces a swift course southwest.

Whether you stop at the canyon for an hour or stay for a week, you will have plenty of ways to enjoy some adventure, recreation or just great views. Seeing the canyon for the first time is an astounding experience - one that's hard to wrap your head around. In fact, it's more than an experience, it's an emotion, one that's only just beginning to be captured with the superlative "Grand."

The easiest way to reach The Grand Canyon National Park is from main entrances on the South Rim - including the South Rim’s eastern entrance. Due to its proximity to Flagstaff and Williams along I-40, the South Rim is the Grand Canyon’s most popular destination.

Summer is the warmest, driest and busiest time of year at the Grand Canyon, particularly the South Rim. Late spring and early fall offer the best weather; late fall is slightly less crowded. Winter brings cooler temperatures and the possibility of snow, making it the quietest time of year in the park.

The most popular entrance is on the South Rim arriving on Arizona Highway 64 from I-40 at the Williams exit. The Grand Canyon is about a one hour drive from Williams, Arizona . Tusayan is a commercial tourist center just before you get to The Grand Canyon.

Whether you stop at the canyon for an hour or stay for a week, you’ll have plenty of ways to enjoy some adventure, recreation or just great views.

The website VisitTheGrandCanyon.us has more info and photos.

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