Perhaps no landscape on Earth is as surprising to the visitor as the enormous expanse of the Grand Canyon. It is the visual impact of the landscape that impresses most people. The world seems larger here, with sunrises, sunsets, and storms taking on an added dimension to match the landscape. It is a land to humble the soul, impressively demonstrating our importance compared to the power of nature.
The rock layers were created at the bottom of a vast sea millions of years ago when sedimentary deposits accumulated to a thickness of nearly a mile. Later, a collision of tectonic plates raised the entire region thousands of feet to form the great Colorado plateau that now lies 7000 to 9000 feet above sea level. The Colorado River slowly formed a basin to carry away water from this region and over the millennia it eroded down through the numerous sedimentary layers. Eventually the river cut this mile-deep channel that is now called the Grand Canyon. It is almost 200 miles long and about 10 to 15 miles wide. Its deepest parts along the Colorado River channel lie over one vertical mile below the plateau at its rims.
Grand Canyon is not just a simple canyon but rather a whole maze of canyons, fissures and gorges worn into the rock with unusual buttes, mesas and rock spires standing between them. The exposed multicolored sedimentary layers take on varying hues as the angle of the sun and shadow change throughout the day. It is truly one of the great natural wonders of the world.
More than 100 years ago people began to realize that if future visitors were to experience the natural wonder of this landscape, the canyon needed protection. In 1919 the U.S. Congress expressed the will of the people by setting aside Grand Canyon National Park. Sixty years later the canyon was declared World Heritage Site to be preserved and protected, with the assent and support of the entire community of nations, for future generations as one of the greatest treasures of humankind.
Points of Interest
There are more places to see but we have only been at the places mentioned below.
Don't miss the experience to fly over and through the canyon or walk down to the river by using one of the trails - well you need some time to do so. More ...
The drive passes through thick pine forest with only occasional glimpses of the canyon but probably the best viewpoint of the South Rim waits for you at the end - Desert View, being one of the few South Rim overlooks from which the Colorado itself can be seen. More ...
When entering the park from the south via 180, this is the place where you can see the canyon for the first time, either at Mather Point or Yavapai Point, both very close to the village. More ...
A scenic drive to the western part of the South Rim featuring half a dozen viewpoints linked by a rim trail making it possible to walk between selected points. More ...
Directions
South Rim
In our opinion, the best way to get to the South Rim is to exit Interstate 40 at Williams and then take 64 North until you reach Valle after about 28 miles. Continue on 180 North and you will reach the park entrance after another 24 miles.
North Rim
Start at Kanab (Utah) and take 11 South towards Fredonia, the road becomes ALT 89 in Arizona. Once you have reached Fredonia you can go east (continue on ALT 89) to visit the park itself or you can go west on 389 if you want to visit Toroweap Point.
If you want to visit the park itself, continue on ALT 89 until you reach Jacobs Lake and then turn left onto 67 (Grand Canyon Highway). Follow 67 South to get to the canyon.
If you want to go to Toroweap Point, follow 389 West until you reach Antelope Valley Road. Turn left and follow this road (it becomes 109 - Mount Trumbull Road - in Arizona). After a while, 109 will merge with 5, continue South until you reach 115 (Toroweap Road). Turn left and follow the road until you reach the canyon.
