Grand Canyon
An immense landscape spread below our feet, dropping cliff by cliff into a winding, ragged gorge. In the distance, imposing walls and towers of stone rose to a green line of forest. It took one of the other new arrivals at the overlook to sum it up: "Wow." We couldn't have agreed more.
More than five million visitors go to behold this sight each year, the vast majority of them visiting the more popular South Rim of the canyon. It's one of the most visited natural wonders in the world. To say that such crowds don't detract from the experience would be misleading, yet we feel that the Grand Canyon is simply one of those places everyone should see.
The best strategy is to visit the park at those times of the year when it won't be packed with sightseers. Summer is the canyon's peak season. Spring and fall see lighter crowds, especially early in March and late in October. Even a winter visit is possible on the South Rim, though you may encounter snow and cold temperatures. A visit to the more remote North Rim (usually open mid May through October, depending on the snowfall) will also help you to avoid crowds. If you have to visit during the summer, reserve accommodations and specialty tours at
least a year in advance. If you're just visiting for the day, arrive early, as parking is limited.
Another way to find some solitude is to arrange a trip into the canyon, which is the best way to appreciate its size and topography. Options include hiking or riding a mule down from the top or passing through the canyon on a river excursion. We highly recommend a visit below the rim for those who are up to it, but it's not a journey to undertake lightly. Should you decide to stick to the topside, as most visitors do, you'll hardly be disappointed. The vistas from the rim are incomparable.
GEOGRAPHY
Located in northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon is most often seen from near Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim, 80 mi/125 km northwest of Flagstaff. The North Rim is only 10 mi/16 km away from Grand Canyon Village as the crow flies but 215 mi/345 km (about a five-hour drive) by car.
The canyon is the product of the Colorado River cutting into the rising Kaibab Plateau. It measures 277 mi/446 km in length and averages 1 mi/1.6 km in depth. Its width varies from a few hundred feet to almost 20 mi/33 km. If you travel from the rim to the inner canyon, the steep gorge at the bottom of the canyon that contains the Colorado, you'll traverse several life zones, moving from a landscape of ponderosa pines at the top to a harsh, cactus-laden desert at the bottom.
Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians inhabit the canyon's habitats. Mule deer, rock squirrels and ravens are the most common animals seen, but you may also encounter desert bighorn sheep, bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions (mainly confined to the North Rim), scorpions, rattlesnakes, frogs and even millipedes that can glow in the dark. The park is also home to a number of endangered species, including the peregrine falcon, the bald eagle and the immense California condor.