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Grand Canyon National Park
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| Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (Michael Busselle/Digital Vision/Getty) (John Clet Jones, Greater West Images) |
Grand Canyon National Park
Established: 1919
Acreage: 1,217,403
Average Yearly Visitors: 3,937,000
Location: Northern Arizona, 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff
Contact Details
Grand Canyon National Park
P.O. Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Visitor Information: 928-638-7888
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- For many, the Grand Canyon views alone are worth the price of admission. But adventurers shouldn't be satisfied with mere looking. Hiking down below the rim, float through the Colorado River's alternating series of hair-raising rapids and cathedral-still quiet water, or marvel at the touch of two-billion-year-old rock under your fingers.
- The North Rim features a 23-mile scenic drive to Cape Royal featuring one of the best views in the canyon, especially at sunset. Be sure to stop at Angel's Window, where you will have a view of the Colorado River. Near the Walhalla overlook are the ruins of an Ancestral Puebloan structure.
- Inside the park on the South Rim are two campgrounds. Mather Campground in Grand Canyon Village has more than 300 campsites. Desert View Campground is 26 miles east of Grand Canyon Village; there are 50 sites available. The North Rim Campground is located north of Grand Canyon Lodge and has 75 campsites. More camping options are located just outside the park.
- The Hualapai Tribe offers a Native American perspective to a Grand Canyon trip that you will not find on other commercial tours. The Hualapai require a permit to travel on tribal lands, but if you and your group are on a tour, there is no need for the permit. Also run by the Hualapai tribe, the West Rim now includes the Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge suspended 4,000 feet over the Colorado River and canyon.
- Near Vermillion Cliffs west from the town of Marble Canyon, you may catch a glimpse of the California condor, an endangered species that was reintroduced to the area in the winter of 1996-1997. Peregrine falcons nest in the canyons along the cliffs as well.
- Hiking conditions can come as a surprise for newcomers, even hikers who have a lot of experience in other parts of the world. The maintained corridor trails—Bright Angel, South Kaibab, and North Kaibab—are recommended for first-time hikers.
- To raft the Colorado on your own, at least one member of the group must have the experience and skills required by the Park Service. If you've got the know-how, check the park's website for details on obtaining a non-commercial permit.
- The North Kaibab Trail cannot be beat for variety, interesting side trips, and spectacular scenery. It takes you from alpine forests of the North Rim at 8,250 feet to desert riparian vegetation along the Colorado River at 2,480 feet.
- On a road bike, you can not only hear the birds and enjoy an unobstructed view, but you can explore the roads that are closed to private vehicles. Plus, you won't have to worry about finding a parking spot.
Published: 23 Oct 2008 | Last Updated: 15 Sep 2010
Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication
Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication
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