A Guide to Grand Canyon National Park
The national park in the United States of America encompasses a vast land with diverse bio-diversity. It is the best and cost-effective place to be one with nature. Despite the places being the same, exploring the national park at different seasons gives a unique experience. Visitors can be amazed by the natural wonders of the Earth in the national park. The United States of America has over 60 national parks located across the nation. Each national park in the USA is unique in its beauty and attracts many visitors every year.
The top-rated and most visited national park in the United States of America is the Grand Canyon National Park. The park is situated in the northwest part of Arizona, covers over 1,217,262 acres (278 miles) of land and receives over 5 million visitors. The Grand Canyon National Park encompasses the Colorado River which passes through the famous Grand Canyon and the surrounding landscape. Besides the sightseeing places in the park, it also offers various adventure activities such as hiking, whitewater rafting, etc., for adults. Visitors with kind can make use of the outdoor programs, group field trips, virtual tours, etc., organized especially to entertain the kids.
History of the National Park
February 19, 1919 marks the establishment of the Grand Canyon National Park. The land was converted into a national park to conserve nature and biodiversity within the land and surrounding region. In 1979 the universal value of the Grand Canyon National Park was inscribed to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The artifacts such as hunting tools found in the ground of the Grand Canyon testifies the human inhabitation in the land over 12000 years. Additionally, over 4000 archaeological sites are found in the land. The remains of the stone dwelling, potsherds, rock art, etc., are the major attractions of the park.
The national park has a long history, 1882 marked the successful attempt to convert the lands surrounding the Grand Canyon into national park. Later it was designated as a forest reserve in 1893, then it was converted into a national park in 1919. Along with the bio-diversity the history of the Grand Canyon land is also preserved. The archaeological sites and artifacts date back to the prehistoric native people who inhabited the land.
The Paleo-Indians are the first inhabitants (native people) of the Grand Canyon. They used sharp hunting tools called Folsom and Clovis. Then came the Archaic people who started rock painting and stone tools. The Basketmakers were good at weaving baskets out of the yucca plant's fibre. They also started farming near the river, also known as the first farmers of the Grand Canyon. Later the land was occupied by Ancestral Puebloan families. They made storage pots for food and built stone houses. February 26, 2019 marked the 100th anniversary of Grand Canyon National Park.
How to Get to Grand Canyon National Park?
Travellers can reach the destination through flying or driving. The closest airport to the national park is the Grand Canyon Airport but it is a chartered or private flight. The Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is the best option for travellers looking for commercial flight. Travellers should drive about 1.5 hours from the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport to reach the national park. The closest destination of the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is the South Rim of the national park.
Travellers opting to drive to the Grand Canyon National Park can take Highway 67 which leads to the Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim. The highway is a 2-lane road filled with scenic places and by opting for this highway travellers can reach the North Rim from Jacob Lake. Watch out for wildlife such as deer, bison and coyotes. Before starting the drive, remember to check the weather and road conditions and the Highway is completely closed during the winter seasons.
The South Rim of the park is located close to Flagstaff city by 75-80 miles and 50-60 miles from Williams city. Reaching the South Rim takes about 1-1.5 hours of drive from both the destinations. Highway 64 leads to the South Rim entrance gate of the national park.
Attraction in Grand Canyon National Park
The land of the Grand Canyon National Park is divided into three rims, namely the West Rim, North Rim and South Rim. Each of the rim has unique tourist attractions, natural beauty, various adventure and kid’s activities. Here’s the list of attractions to see in each rim.
North Rim Attractions
The North Rim is easily accessible and it is closed from October to March (the winter season). The park remains open for visitors from May to October. Travellers should check the opening date before planning their US trip. The North Rim is located on a higher plateau (over 8,800 feet higher) which makes the temperature colder when compared with other rims of the national park. North Rim is a well-suited place for solitude as it is less crowded and has beautiful scenic places such as high cliffs and stunning viewpoints. The North Rim visitors centre near the national park parking space is the information centre. Travellers can get information about the places, maps, ranger programs and exhibits from the information centre.
A hike to the Bright Angle Point which extends up to 40-miles crossing paths along the Kabib Plateau, can be the best activity. The view of the stunning landscape from top of the cliff will be breathtaking. Additionally, the view of Bright Angel Canyon, Coconino and Walhalla Plateau are visible from the point. The next activity is the Cape Royal Trail, also known as the best scenic trail to take in the North Rim. It is a 23-mile scenic drive passing through the viewpoints of Walhalla Plateau and the trail ends at Cape Royal. Travellers can relax in the picnic area with the wilderness view of the Grand Canyon.
Walhalla Glades is an ancient site located near the Cape Royal Trail. The site encompasses the ruins of rock building outlines which were once the houses of the native people. Mule Ride in North Rim is a unique way to explore the landscape. The timing of mule rides ranges from one to three hours and pay varies accordingly. Be mindful of the limitations, the maximum weight of the adults should not be more than 220 pounds and children below the age of 7 cannot take the mule ride. Mostly the ride stops close to the Colorado River and none of them goes around the river.
Places to See Sunset and Sunrise in the North Rim are Bright Angel Point, Cape Royal, Grand Canyon Lodge, Point Imperial, etc. Point Imperial is surely worth visiting and it is the North Rim’s highest point. The surrounding landscape, layers of Precambrian rocks and the magic of sky during sunset and sunrise offers an amazing view to hold dear.
Transept Trail is an easy trail to undergo in the national park. It is a 3-mile trip that connects the North Rim Campground and the North Rim Grand Canyon Lodge. North Kaibab Trail is the challenging and only hiking path that travels into the canyon. The trail shares a path with various trails and mule rides. It starts at the Roaring Springs Canyon near the North Rim Visitor Centre. The interesting part of the trail is that it passes through the Eye of the Needle and Supai Tunnel, and ends at the Coconino Overlook. A few other trails to undertake in the North Rim are Ken Patrick Trail, Widforss Trail, Rainbow Rim Trail, Point Imperial Trail, Arizona Trail, etc.
Where to Stay in the North Rim?
Travellers are not allowed to set their camp tent as they like in the Grand Canyon. All the campgrounds are booked in advance for 6 months. Prior reservations are compulsory for travellers who are planning to stay in the North Rim. The Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge is the only staying place inside the North Rim and it requires prior booking which tentatively starts from May to October every year.
Travellers can make reservations to secure their stay in Tuweep Campground in North Rim. If the staying options inside the North Rim are full, travellers can camp at the campground available outside the North Rim. The DeMotte Campground is 7 miles away and the closest campground to the North Rim. The other campgrounds namely Jacob Lake Campground and Kaibab Camper Village are 40-45 miles away from the Grand Canyon North Rim.
South Rim Attractions
Most of the visitor’s head towards the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park and undoubtedly it is the most stunning place on Earth. South Rim is a lively and crowded place. It is a one-stop attraction for all activities such as diving, biking, hiking, etc., and it has incredible viewpoints that haunt the memory of visitors forever. A never-miss activity in South Rim is watching the sunset from the desert view. The view of the Colorado River and desert landscape can turn the sunset moment into an epic memory. Be in the best spot before 30 minutes to experience the whole show. The next spot is Mather Point which is a family friendly place and it offers the best natural scenery in the Grand Canyon South Rim.
A visit to Grand Canyon National Park South Rim is incomplete without taking a hiking trail, be it long or short. Hiking is a must-do activity in the South Rim. It offers various hiking trails, among them the famous one is the Rim Trail (Rim-Rim or Rim to River trail). It is a 12-mile long and easy trail and crosses paths with a stunning view of the canyon. Travellers looking for adventure trails can take the South Kaibab Trail. The trail is 7-miles long and connects the incredible view of South Rim such as Ooh Aah Point. The trail will be challenging because of the absence of water resources, harsh terrain and high plateau path.
The South Rim is home to the Yavapai Geology Museum which beholds the history of the Grand Canyon National Park. Travellers can learn about the geology of the park or visit the bookstore and museum shop. The museum exhibits artworks, 3D models and photographs. It also explains the deposition of rock layers and plateaus of the Grand Canyon National Park using the display models. Yavapai Observation Station, the front room in the museum provides the 3D Grand Canyon view with remarkable attention to details such as rock formations and colours.
Travellers can book an IMAX show in the Grand Canyon IMAX Theatre. The theatre is situated outside the South Rim. The movie “Over the Rim and Beyond, Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets,” is about the history and human settlement of the Grand Canyon from ancient times to the present. It is a must-watch insightful movie and an opportunity to witness the history of the land.
Helicopter and Mule rides are a few of the activities offered to explore the South Rim. Explore the Ranger Programs offered in the South Rim, it includes topics about flora, fauna, geology and cultural history of the Grand Canyon. The South Rim offers an array of hiking trails. The Hermit Trail is the most difficult one, because of its rocky terrain. The trail ends at a natural water pool in the Santa Maria Spring region. The Grandview Trail is a 6-7 miles roundtrip which includes exploring the Cave of Domes and the stunning natural scenery of the Horseshoe Mesa landscape. The must-visit historic site in South Rim is the Desert View Watchtower, which dates back to 1932. The 70 feet high watchtower provides a 360-degree view of the Grand Canyon South Rim landscape.
A few other historical sites to visit in South Rim are Hopi House, El Tovar, Kolb Studio, Hermit’s Rest, Lookout Studio and Bright Angel Lodge. Travellers can also opt for rental bike options to explore the South Rim, they cost around 12-15$ per person.
Where to Stay in the South Rim?
Camping in the desired locations is not allowed in the South Rim. To avoid any stay and camping hassle, travellers should pre-book their camping slots and lodge stays in South Rim. The reservations of lodges and campgrounds inside the Grand Canyon National Park gets booked sooner than expected. The campgrounds inside the national park are Desert View Campground, Trailer Village (RV Park Space) and Mather Campground.
The Mather Campground is highly recommended and it has over 300 sites and the chargers are around 18-20$ per night. Trailer Village Park is dedicated to RVs and it has over 120 sites and the chargers are approximately 60-65$ per night. Desert View Campground is situated 20-22 miles away from the park. It has over 15 sites and charges are 18-20$ per night. All the inside campgrounds work on a prior reservation basis. If the reservations are full, try out the outside campgrounds near the national park. The best options are Long Jim Loop, Ten-X Campground, etc.
Amenities Available Inside the Grand Canyon National Park
- Visitors Centre in each rim for information purpose
- Shuttle Bus service
- ATMs
- General Store (marketplace for groceries, hiking equipment, etc.)
- Book and Gift Shops
- Fuel or Gas Station
- Service Stations
- Laundry and Shower Access
- Dump Stations
- 24 Hours Emergency and Medical Service
Travellers can get access to all the amenities of Grand Canyon National Park. Be mindful about the fees and check them before using. The Canyon Village Market Deli in South Rim provides free WIFI for visitors from 8 AM to 6 PM.
The Grand Canyon National Park offers an iconic experience to visitors. Exploring all the attractions of Grand Canyon National Park is impossible, because of its vast landscape. So, travellers visiting the park are advised to camp inside or outside the national park for a wild experience. Before opting for biking, remember the path will be rough and lead to high plateaus and turns, it will never be riding a bicycle on a smooth and long road. Travellers should have prior practice by biking in rocky terrain.
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