Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon in America is a large gorge (canyon) in the state of Arizona. Over millions of years, the gorge was formed by the currents of the Colorado River that runs right through the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is as long as 446 kilometers at its longest point, and its width varies between 15 and 29 kilometers. The Canyon reaches a depth of over 1,800 meters and is incredibly impressive to admire from the edge (the Rim). Annually, 5 to 6 million people visit this special piece of nature in the United States.

Hoover Dam America

Hoover Dam

Visit the Impressive Hoover Dam Anyone traveling to the Grand Canyon cannot miss the Hoover Dam! Helicopter flights, bus tours, and travel by rental car all take you past America’s…

Grand Canyon South Rim

The most popular part of the Grand Canyon is the South Rim. At the South Rim, you’ll find the towns of Tusayan and Grand Canyon Village, which offer various facilities such as hotels, an airport, and a Visitor Center. In addition, the South Rim has many beautiful viewpoints and is the starting point for many hikes that descend into the Grand Canyon. About 90% of Grand Canyon visitors go to the South Rim, and 10% visit the more rugged North Rim.

Grand Canyon North Rim

The North Rim is much less touristy than the South Rim. Unlike the South Rim, the North Rim is closed during the winter months – from mid-October to mid-May – due to heavy snowfall. Check the current opening hours of the Grand Canyon North Rim on the National Park Service website. The North Rim is located at an elevation of 2,438 meters, significantly higher than the South Rim (2,100 meters high). As a result, the temperature is lower, and there is more greenery. Only 10% of tourists visit the North Rim compared to the South Rim. For nature lovers, the North Rim is definitely worth visiting!

The Grand Canyon and Tourism

Many tourists visit the Grand Canyon during a tour of Western America. The Grand Canyon is within driving distance of other beautiful national parks such as Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, and Yosemite National Park. Most tourists view one or several beautiful viewpoints and take a walk. This is a very fun and sustainable way to experience the Grand Canyon. Other tourist attractions include the IMAX Theatre, a boat trip on the Colorado River, a visit to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, or a spectacular helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon.

What Does Visiting the Grand Canyon Cost?

To visit Grand Canyon National Park, you need a Park Pass. You can purchase this at the entrance of the national park, and it is valid for both the North and South Rim of the Grand Canyon. A Park Pass for one car, valid for 7 days, costs 35 dollars. Of course, you can also visit the Grand Canyon on foot or by motorcycle; check all current rates per mode of transport on the National Park Service website. If you plan to visit multiple national parks during your tour of Western America, then buy the Annual Pass for 80 dollars. This pass is valid for the whole family, gives you access to all national parks, and is valid for 12 months.

Webcam Grand Canyon

Curious about what it looks like in the Grand Canyon right now? Then check out the webcam images via the National Park Service website. You can view webcam images from the viewpoints of Yavapai Point and Kolb Studio. Also interesting is the webcam at the South Entrance station, the place where many people enter Grand Canyon National Park.

When to Visit the Grand Canyon?

The Grand Canyon can be visited all year round. The summer months (June to August) are the busiest, with many tourists and high temperatures (around 30-40°C). If you enjoy hiking, it might be better to go in the spring (March-May) or fall (September-November) when the weather is milder. In the winter (December-February), it can be cold in the Grand Canyon. The North Rim (the less touristy part of the Grand Canyon) is closed in the winter due to snowfall. Generally, spring and fall are the best times to go due to the moderate weather. Read more about the climate in the Grand Canyon here.

How Big is the Grand Canyon?

The Grand Canyon is approximately 446 kilometers long, up to 29 kilometers wide, and up to 1.8 kilometers deep. Below is a map of Grand Canyon National Park. Clearly visible are the South Rim and North Rim, the two rims visited annually by millions of tourists with many beautiful viewpoints and wonderful walks. The Colorado River runs through the middle of the canyon, which flows all the way from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California in Mexico. The Colorado River is a total of 2,334 kilometers long and runs through 7 American states.

The formation of the Grand Canyon

The history of the Grand Canyon dates back more than 1.5 billion years ago when the region that is now Arizona was part of a vast sea. Over time, sediments and layers of rock were deposited and compressed into rock formations, such as the shales, sandstones, and limestones that we can see in the canyon today.

About 70 million years ago, the area that is now the Grand Canyon began to rise due to tectonic movements and volcanic activity. As the Colorado River started to cut through these elevated rock layers, the canyon gradually began to form. Over millions of years, the river eroded and carved out the rock, making the canyon deeper and giving it its distinctive shape.