Grand Canyon National Park is located in northwestern Arizona about 75 miles north of Flagstaff and Williams Arizona.
The park covers well over one million acres and is more than twice the size of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
The Canyon, cut by the raging Colorado River, is immense in size, averaging 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles. It is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 15 miles at its widest.
Grand Canyon is like nothing you have ever seen. This canyon is a gift that transcends what we experience. Its immensity humbles us.
Grand Canyon National Park is heavily visited for most of the year and it is imperative to plan ahead for lodging, camping, backcountry permits, or mule trips. Persons planning day visits only should arrive early in the day as parking is limited.
One warning about Grand Canyon is important. More than 250 people are rescued from the canyon every year. This is mainly due to the fact that hiking in the canyon is opposite from most anywhere else you may hike.
The first part of your hike in Grand Canyon is easy because it is downhill and steep. But don't forget you have to return. What goes down must come up! The return trip can be extremely strenuous, especially in summer. The most common persons rescued in the canyon is a male in his twenties. Don't try to be macho!
There are plenty of activities to enjoy while vacationing in Grand Canyon, such as safe activities like touring the rim of the canyon in your car, horseback riding, nature walks, and more adventurous activities like whitewater rafting, cross country skiing, camping and fishing.
Enjoy your vacation in Grand Canyon. And be safe!
