Grand Canyon Travel Guide

Find: Grand Canyon National Park Hotels, Hiking, Camping, Adventures, Guided Tours, Rafting, Maps, Photos & Visitor Information

Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) is arguably America's greatest scenic attraction. No other natural feature in the U.S. can match its staggering dimensions: the national park covers over 1 million acres, GRAND CANYON NATURE PHOTO

most of which is true wilderness; the Colorado River which formed the canyon drains almost 25% of the total land mass of the continental United States; the canyon itself is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and more than a mile deep.

Formed by a unique combination of environmental factors -- a dry desert environment that is cut by major river, with a surrounding plateau that has been dramatically uplifted -- Grand Canyon is also one the world's greatest geological showcases. It's hard to imagine the visitor who can walk away uninspired by such a spectacle. Many who visit Grand Canyon find this is the memory of a lifetime.

Like a great book written by the hands of time, the Precambrian rocks of Grand Canyon record a truly extraordinary story of two different mountain ranges formed by pressure from below, each of which was eroded completely away. The book includes several chapters when shallow seas flooded the land, only to disappear again over millions of years. These seas left behind layers of sediment thousands of feet thick, which turned to stone under the tremendous pressure of their own weight. More uplifting of the land created the Colorado Plateau and reversed the direction of the Colorado River, which took millions of years more to carve out the spectacular gorge we see today.

Grand Canyon is a geologists' dream come true, but less academically inclined visitors will also find plenty of opportunities to enjoy themselves. Many come for the world-class hiking and whitewater rafting. Others dream of getting a bird's eye view on a scenic flight over the park, or simply contemplating the wonder of it all from one of the park's many overlooks. Even though the average stay is only a few hours, we strongly recommend allowing at least two days here. Grand Canyon is so large it takes time to sink in, and those who explore a little will find themselves richly rewarded.

Travel to Grand Canyon is supported by numerous tour operators, hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, and other visitor services. The South Rim of Grand Canyon accommodates most of the park's visitors, and offers services ranging from showers and a laundry to vehicle repair. Restaurants and lodging are available right on the rim. Only 10 miles from the South Rim "as the crow flies," the North Rim is 23 miles by foot on the Kaibab Trail, and over 200 miles away by automobile! Its out-of-the-way location makes the North Rim perfect for nature photographers seeking to escape the crowds of the South Rim.

At 9,500 feet above sea level, the North Rim is also 2000 feet higher in elevation and significantly cooler than the South Rim - providing opportunities to explore forests of aspen and spruce forest. Visit our Grand Canyon Photo Gallery for a look at the wonders that await you when you include this park in your Southwest vacation plans.

We recommend the online resources below for our visitors!

Featured Grand Canyon Tours

Angel's Gate Tours
You've invested a lot in your vacation, make sure you see canyons, not crowds! Angel’s Gate offers full day Scenic Rim Tours and Adventure Hikes from Flagstaff.

Help support this website by purchasing a Grand Canyon postcard book!

Grand Canyon National Park Postcard Book

Additional Grand Canyon Resources

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Find: Grand Canyon National Park Hotels, Hiking, Camping, Adventures, Guided Tours, Rafting, Maps, Photos & Visitor Information

Additional Grand Canyon Resources