The Grand Canyon – Arizona

 The Grand Canyon – Arizona

Greatest Natural Attraction

The Grand Canyon is truly one of the great natural wonders of the world. It is spectacular and has long been a major American tourist destination. It is known for its amazing size and scenic natural beauty. Located in Arizona (AZ), the Grand Canyon was formed by the Colorado River, and its shear size is beyond belief. At over 1 mile / 1.6 km deep and in places almost 20 miles / 32 km wide, the scale of the Grand Canyon is hard to comprehend, even when you get here. ! It is not just a simple canyon but rather a whole maze of canyons, fissures and gorges worn into the rock. The exposed multicolored sedimentary layers take on varying hues as the angle of the sun and shadow change throughout the day. Each year it attracts five million tourists to the National Park and Grand Canyon Village. Enjoy your trip to The Grand Canyon and get mesmerized by its panoramic views…



Quick facts

·         The Grand Canyon is a national landmark.

·         It is 18 miles wide and 227 miles long.

·         The deepest part of the Canyon is 600 feet.

• The Grand Canyon is found mostly in Northern Arizona but it extends through some western states.

·         The Canyon’s walls are made up of rocks, cliffs, hills, and valleys. 

·         The Climate at the Grand Canyon is semi-arid

·         Humans once lived in the Grand Canyon around 4,000 years ago.

·         Rain comes suddenly in violent storms (usually in late summer).

Location

Grand Canyon National Park is located in northern Arizona about 75 miles (125 km) north of Flagstaff Arizona. The South Rim Visitor's Center can be reached via an hour-and-half-hour drive from Flagstaff or a five-hour drive from Las Vegas. The North Rim Visitor's Center is a mere 10 miles (15 km) from the South Rim Visitor's Center "as the crow flies" but you must drive over 200 miles (320 km) to get from one to the other. It is formed from the Coloradao River. The Grand Canyon is over 1 mile deep and over 350 km long.


Best time to visit:     June to Mid September

Route Map:
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How to Reach:

By air      Several carriers fly to the Grand Canyon Airport from Las Vegas, including Air Vegas, Scenic Airlines, and Vision Air. North Las Vegas Airport in Las Vegas is the primary air hub for flights to Grand Canyon Airport.

By bus      There's no public bus transportation to the Grand Canyon. Greyhound Lines provides bus service to Williams, Flagstaff, and Kingman. Schedules change frequently; call or check the Web site for information.

By car      If you're driving to Arizona from the east, You can take U.S. 180 northwest (81 mi) to Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. Or, for a scenic route with stopping points along the canyon rim, drive north on U.S. 89 from Flagstaff, turn left at the junction of AZ 64 (52 mi north of Flagstaff), which merges with U.S. 180 at Valle, and proceed north and west for an additional 57 mi until you reach Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim.

Best of the Grand Canyon:       

The Grand Canyon can be reached from two sides, North and South Rim. The most preferred one is South Rim,  as it has more tourist facilities. North Rim is also preferred by people, who wish for a more serene and less crowded experience.

The South Rim :

The South Rim is open 24 hours, 365 days a year for tourists. It has the most breathtaking vantage points and best scenic views. And, unlike the case on the north rim, the sun is over your shoulder, which is best for both sightseeing and for taking photos. Some of the best view points are Yaki Point, which thrusts out beyond the rim and offers a very good view of rock formations and Grandview Point, offers panoramic wide angle views.

Tusayan:

When you approach the Grand Canyon from the South Rim, you will reach Tusayan first. It’s a commercial area, you can fill gas, find motels, restaurants and Airport. Another attraction of this place is IMAX Theatre, where you can experience the best films in the nature genre, that takes you on a vertiginous flight between the walls of the Grand Canyon.

Lipan Point: (On Desert View drive)

Lipan Point is the most dramatic and easily accessible place to view the canyon. It's also a superb spot to watch the sunset.

The North Rim:

This is closed from late oct to mid may. The best time to visit here is the fall season, when the Kaibab National Forest turns into a dazzling showcase of yellow leaves trembling on Aspen trees. Point Sublime is famous for its excellent camping spots and fantastic sunrises and sunsets.

Famous Grand Canyon lodge offers all facilities to the visitors. You can have terrific views from its terraces and dining rooms. A small walk from here, leads to Bright Angel Point, which is the best spot for seeing sunrise and sunsets over the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk:

It is an architectural marvel. It was completed in March, 2007 after 2 ½ yrs and 30 million dollars worth of hard work and engineering. The Skywalk comprises of  2 inch thick steel frame, which is able to withstand weight as well as the forces of nature. Tourists can walk through the glass platform and experience the beauty of Skywalk over the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon National Park:

It has a fame of one of the Seven Natural Wonders, World Heritage Site and also Crown Jewels of the National Parks. It is one mile depth and 277 mile long gorge. Nearly 5 million tourists are coming here for a year. A number of organized activities are available here like backpacking, day hiking, Grand Canyon whitewater rafting, helicopter tours, fixed wing air tours and historic mule rides to Phantom Ranch on the Canyon floor.  This park is home to many animals like rattle snakes, condors, cougars and Gila monsters. Also it has 1500 species of plants.

Phantom Ranch

This rustic complex sits at the bottom of the Canyon and features cabins and dorms of native stone and wood. The ranch is the only lodging available below the rim and requires reservations well in advance for both beds and meals. Visitors are provided access only by hiking or by mule ride.

Yavapai point:

From this observation point, visitors can take in the depths of the Canyon, including Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River. The North Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails are visible as well, and sunsets are a particular visual treat as colors shift and transform.

Havasu Creek's waterfalls.

 Surrounded by Havasu Canyon's red-rock walls, these turquoise falls seem to pour forth from the heavens into the Grand Canyon's cauldron. Travertine dams the creek in places, forming seductive swimming holes. The 10-mile hike from Hualapai Hilltop eases you into this area, home of the Havasupai people.

The Kaibab National Forest

It is part of the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the United States. Bordering both the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon, the 1.6 million acres of the Kaibab has the distinction of being divided by one of Nature's greatest attractions

Meteor Crater:

A 200 km drive from southeast of Grand Canyon Village leads to this place. It is one of the famous natural attractions, here the crater itself was created by a medium-sized meteorite which struck the ground about 50,000 years ago and there are guided tours around the rim throughout the day

Havasu Canyon:

It is a home to a wealth of attractions. It is on the Havasupai Indian Reservation and this can be hiked or visited on horseback. You can have a panoramic view from here

 El Tovar (Best historic hotel)

Made of Oregon pine, this grand 1905 hotel rises darkly above Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. Inside, dim lighting accentuates the hunting-lodge feel; guest rooms feature classic American furnishings. By far the park's most upscale hotel, El Tovar received a significant face-lift for its 100th anniversary. You don't need to be a guest to enjoy the hotel, and the elegant rim-view restaurant is one of the area's finest places to dine.

Where to Stay:

Grand Canyon hotel and lodging options are as vast as the Grand Canyon itself. Some of the best hotels are

·         The Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn

·         The Grand Hotel

·         Canyon Plaza Quality Inn

·         Holiday Inn Express

·         Williams Grand Canyon Travelodge

·         Howard Johnson Express Inn

·         Grand Canyon Railway Hotel

·         Days Inn

·         America's Best Value Inn/ Near Flagstaff

·         Buffalo Pointe Lodge B&B

Where to Eat:

Here are some of the  favorite Grand Canyon dining options in the park,

·         Pancho McGillicuddy's

• Pine Country Restaurant

·         Canyon Star

·         Rosa's Cantina

·         Steak House at the Grand Canyon

Travel Tips:

·         For most thrilling experience, take a helicopter and fly below Grand Canyon rims.

·         The Canyon floor will be hotter than in Rim. Be prepared for extreme such as 41 degree C or more in July.

·         Take care in the wild, as rarely you may cross rattle snake or a mountain lion on your way.

·         Make your summer reservations early for the in-the-park lodges and camps because they become completely booked months in advance.

·         To avoid traffic congestion, leave your car parked and take the free shuttle bus to the major lodges and tourist points

·         The best time to see or photograph the Grand Canyon is in the early morning or late afternoon on sunny days. The low angled sun rays intensify the hues of the rock layers.

Bon Voyage…!

Thank You & Visit Again