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Introduction
It is impossible to remain indifferent to the grandeur and beauty of the Grand Canyon, reaching almost 1 mile deep, 10 miles wide and 277 miles long. The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most beautiful in the United States and even the world. You may wonder how to visit the Grand Canyon and enjoy at his best? What activities are available? Where are the accommodations? I recently went there for photography and decided to dedicate this article to it.
Table of Contents
Take the liberty to choose the section that interests you
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Its History
- Its Geology
- How To Get There
- Grand Canyon Village
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Where To Eat
- Activities
- How To Prepare
- The North Rim
- Conclusion
- More Informations
- About The Author
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park was established in 1919 under President Woodrow Wilson. It has a total area of ​​1,901,972 square miles and receives 4.7 million visitors per year. It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. Several entrances are available including the south entrance near Tusayan, the east entrance, the north entrance via Route 67. There is also an entrance via the Havasupai Indian Reservation as well as via Route 389 to access Tuweep on the North Rim.
Near the south entrance is the Visitor Center as well as all the important services such as hotels, grocery stores, camping. A bus system is available to travel to the different sections of the national park.
Its Geology
The formation of the Grand Canyon began 6 million years ago. Which makes it a very young canyon since the earth is 4.5 billion years old. The beauty and colors of the Grand Canyon are due to the force of the Colorado River on the rock. This has cut and formed the Grand Canyon over the last few million years. Which has exposed rocks dating back to about 2 billion years. Indeed, the oldest rocks located at the bottom of the canyon, which are called Vishnu Schist, date from the Precambrian period and are around 1.8 billion years old.
Then, the first sedimentary rocks began to form around 525 million years ago. This first layer is called Tapeats Sandstone and is followed by all these different layers of rock until this last layer of whitish rock at the top which is called Kaibab Limestone which was formed 270 million years ago. All these layers of rock contain the history of our earth’s geological past such as the ancient Appalachian Mountains when they were at their peak, ancient deserts and oceans as well as fossils that testify to the history of life on earth.
Take a trip to the Grand Canyon Geology Museum to learn about the past of the Grand Canyon, the Colorado Plateau and the Colorado River.
Its History
FIRST HUMAINS
Artifacts found in caves have shown that the first humans came to the Grand Canyon area 10 to 15 thousand years ago. However, the first civilizations to live there arrived around 1500 B.C. They are called the Ancestral Puebloans. The first group, called the Basketmaker, had adapted by practicing agriculture and making all their tools like baskets, cloth and sandals. The second group, the Pueblo, are the next generation. They were more technologically advanced. They had developed a civilization governed by laws and occupied much more land around the Grand Canyon.
FIRST EUROPEANS
The first Europeans arrived at the Grand Canyon around the year 1540 and it was not until 1826 that the first American arrived at the Grand Canyon. However, John Wesley Powell was the first to organize a real expedition on the Colorado River in 1868. In the early 1880s, the railroad arrived in northern Arizona and the first inhabitants of the southern part of the Grand Canyon began to arrive. They were mainly miners wanting to take advantage of the geological wealth of the Grand Canyon. However, they quickly realized that mining there was a very difficult task and that it was not very viable.
THE ARRIVAL OF TOURISM
Tourism therefore began to take its place at the Grand Canyon in the 1880s. They stayed in lodges previously built by the miners. However, there were very few tourists because the road was difficult and long to get there. It could take up to several days of driving. When the railroad between William and the southern part was built, tourists arrived by the thousands.
The Grand Canyon was declared a National Park by the United States Congress in 1919. In 1956, 1 million people visited the Grand Canyon and in 1969, 2 million people. Since then, hotels, roads and services have taken their place to become the Grand Canyon National Park that we know today.
How to get to Grand Canyon
There are several modes of transportation available to get to Grand Canyon National Park.
By Car
via route 64, it is possible to enter through the south entrance which leads directly to the village or through the east entrance which is next to desert view watchtower. Route 67 will take you to the north entrance.
By Plane
It is possible to transfer from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon by plane with the company Grand Canyon Scenic Airline.
By Train
The railroad connecting William to the Grand Canyon National Park is still active and is operated by Grand Canyon Railway and offers transportation for passengers wanting to go there every day.
By Bicycle
By parking your car in Tusayan. It is possible to get there by bicycle.
By Bus
Between March and September, it is possible to take the free shuttle between Tusayan and the visitor center. Groome transportation also offers service from Flagstaff and William.
Price
A week costs $35 per vehicle. $30 per motorcycle and $20 per person. The annual park pass is $70 and the America the Beautiful pass costs $80 and gives access to all American national parks.
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Grand Canyon Village
Entering from the south, the village is the first place you will visit starting with the visitor center. You will find all the necessary information to plan your stay at the Grand Canyon. Across the street is the library where you can buy books, maps, photography and souvenirs. On the left is Bright Angel Bicycles to rent bicycles or get a coffee and sandwich. Near the Yavapai lodge is the grocery store where you will find everything you need for food. Near the Yavapai point is the geology museum.
There are also 4 parking lots for vehicles as well as the bus terminal that will allow you to move around the park.
Transport
You can get around the park on foot, by car, by bicycle as well as by bus.
By Bus
From the bus terminal, there are 2 circuits available as well as a circuit starting from the village on the west side.
Red Line: From the west side, it connects the village to Hermits Rest stopping at 10 different magnificent viewpoints.
Blue Line: Starting from the bus terminal, it connects all the different sectors of the village including the hotels, the museum and the grocery store.
Yellow Line: Starting from the bus terminal, it connects the east of the village to Yaki Point as well as the start of the South Kaibab Trail.
*Note that the bus is free and, in some places, the only means of transportation available.
By Car
The best solution to explore the southern part in comfort and on your own schedule. However, please note that the Hermit road, ending at Hermits Rest is closed to vehicles from March to November. I therefore advise you to use the car to travel the 22 miles connecting the village to Desert view. Magnificent scenic drive that will make you discover several beautiful viewpoints on the Grand Canyon.
By Bicycle
13 miles of bike trails are available on the south side of the Grand Canyon. You can travel all around the village passing by the Visitor Center and up to the start of the South Kaibab Trail. The Hermit Road to the end point where vehicles are not allowed, is an option as well. You can also park your vehicle in Tusayan and ride into the park. The buses are equipped with bike racks.
For bike rentals you can contact Bright Angel Bicycle at (bikegrandcanyon.com)
On Foot
You can get around everywhere on foot. The Rim Trail, 12.8 miles long joins Hermit Rest to the South Kaibab Trail and passes all the major points located on the southern part of the Grand Canyon including the Geology Museum and the Visitor Center.
Lodging
You can stay in a hotel like the El Tovar Hotel, a luxurious hotel founded in 1905. There is the Bright Angel Lodge located on the rim of the canyon, more affordable. If you go down to the bottom of the canyon, the Phantom Ranch allows you to spend the night in the depths of the Grand Canyon.
More affordable than hotels, there are campsites available. The Mather Campground, where I stayed myself, can accommodate 6 people, 3 tents and 2 vehicles per site. The Trailer Village, located near the Mather campground, is very popular for RVs because it can accommodate vehicles up to 50 feet long. In the depths of the Grand Canyon we find near the Phantom Ranch the Bright Angel Campground. 32 sites, picnic table and fire pit available for hikers.
Where To Eat
Most restaurants are located in the village. Most hotels have restaurants or cafeterias. If a beer and wings are your thing, the Maswik pizza pub located at the Maswik lodge is perfect for you. For quicker and easier options, there are cafeterias located at the Maswik and Yavapai lodges. There is the option of the grocery store next to the Yavapai lodge in the center of the village where you can find everything you need as well.
Activities
There are several activity choices available at the Grand Canyon!
Visiting the village, the Welcome Center and all the viewpoints on the canyon is already an activity in itself. But if you are looking for something more specific, I have some suggestions for you.
Hiking
Hiking is a must in the Grand Canyon provided you are in good shape to do it. The Rim trail, Bright Angel Trail and the South Kaibab trail are hikes offering magnificent views of the canyon.
Ranger Program
The learning programs offered by the rangers offer the opportunity to learn about the Grand Canyon, geology, paleontology, hiking, and many other interesting subjects.
Bus Tour
Bus tours, with a guide are organized by the company Xanterra. Several choices available such as the desert view tour or sunrise and sunset tour.
Star Party
If you are an astronomy enthusiast, you must know that the Grand Canyon National Park has one of the most beautiful skies in the United States with the least light pollution. In June, several astronomy clubs go to the area to participate in a week of stargazing. (Dates vary depending on the new moon)
Mule Ride
Mule ride available to descend into the Grand Canyon and sleep at Phantom Ranch. (Price to be verified but to my knowledge it is between $1000 and $2000 depending on the number of days and person). A 2-hour mule ride on the Rim Trail is also available at a lower cost.
Several other small activities are available around the village and viewpoints such as art exhibitions.
How to prepare for Grand Canyon
Preparing to visit the Grand Canyon can mean simple preparation for some and more complex preparation for others. I advise you to book your accommodation as early as possible, especially if you are traveling during the holidays. Your means of transportation as well. Several car rental companies are available in Las Vegas or Phoenix. On site, it can be very hot especially in summer so having water and sunscreen is essential.
If you are hiking, especially the South Kaibab or the Bright Angel trail, you must bring enough water for your day. Plan food, a hat, and appropriate clothing for the time of year. Check the weather and hiking conditions with the qualified staff at the Visitor center. You may need warm clothing or rain gear.
It is strongly advised NOT to go down to the river and back up in 1 day. Plan your camping equipment to camp at the bottom or book at Phantom Ranch. Check to see if a permit is required before hiking any route other than the Rim Trail or staying at any campsite other than a conventional campsite.
North Rim
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is much wilder than the South Rim. It is only 10 miles from the South Rim but the circumnavigation is 280 miles and takes several hours. Despite the much lower number of visitors, there are accommodations, shops and services. The Grand Canyon Lodge is located very close to Bright Angel Point. The North Rim Campground is available for camping and outdoor enthusiasts. A few restaurants are available and services such as a gas station and grocery store.
As on the South Rim, several hiking trails for all levels are available. For advanced and fit hikers, the North Kaibab trail can be interesting because it leads to Phantom Ranch and then connects to the South Rim via the South Kaibab Trail.
Toroweap
Toroweap is located on the northwest side of the Grand Canyon and is located at a point where the width of the Grand Canyon is only less than 1 mile. Another fact is that the bottom of the canyon is 3000 feet lower which gives a spectacular view of the Colorado River. It is difficult to get there because the road is not paved and there are no services. Prepare yourself properly. Have gas for the trip. Plenty of water and food. A 4×4 vehicle is the minimum and you may not make it to the end if it is too low. A permit is required and I advise you to ask the park authorities about the conditions before you venture there.
More informations at https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/tuweep.htm
Conclusion
The Grand Canyon is a wonder of nature and everyone should have the chance in their life to visit it. Everything is at your disposal so that you can enjoy your visit. However, you must prepare in advance especially if you decide to go down to the river. Too many people do not have enough water or are not close. Please, do not become a statistic, bring water and prepare yourself.