Exploring the Grand Canyon
During the park's first year in operation, it saw slightly more than 44,000 annual visitors, a number that has increased steadily. Today, nearly 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon National Park every year. By 2010, there could be up to 7.5 million annual visitors [source: National Park Service]. So what can you expect when visiting the Grand Canyon?
The weather at the Grand Canyon is unpredictable because the elevation varies from around 2,000 feet (609.6 m) to more than 8,000 feet (2,438.4 m) depending on what part of the canyon you visit and the time of year (generally, the higher the elevation the cooler the temperatures will be). During summertime, the climate is generally mild to moderate, with warm daytime temperatures, low humidity and few storms. Inner canyon temperatures, down near the river, often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.78 degrees Celsius). However, this changes at night, when temperatures take a dramatic drop. Spring and fall bring unsteady temperatures, fog and sudden storms. Wintertime brings cold, extreme wind-chills and storms. Some roads and parts of the park close during the winter months, so be sure to double-check your route and agenda before making your plans [source: National Park Service].
Visitors to the park have a variety of activities from which to choose, including hiking, backpacking and camping, mule or horseback rides, rafting trips and scenic air tours. But the most popular activity is taking in the scenery.
The Hualapai and their Skywalk The Hualapai are native people of the Southwestern U.S. -- their reservation sits on a large area of the western Grand Canyon. In 2007, the Hualapai opened the Skywalk, one of the first tourist destinations on Grand Canyon West. The Skywalk is a glass bridge suspended 4,000 feet (1,219.2 m) above the Colorado River and extends 70 feet (21.3 m) out from the rim of the canyon. The bridge is engineered to withstand the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747 airplanes, sustain winds in excess of 100 miles per hour from eight different directions and withstand an 8.0 magnitude earthquake. Since opening, visitors to The Skywalk have exceeded 2000 per day [source: Grand Canyon Skywalk]. |
There are two rims to the canyon: North Rim and South Rim. Most people see the canyon from the South Rim, which is lower in elevation than the North Rim, easier to get to and open all year. The South Rim includes some of the most popular lookout points, including Desert View, Grand Canyon Village and Hermits Rest.
Fewer people visit the North Rim, just 10 miles across the canyon from South Rim. Point Imperial, the highest accessible lookout spot, is on the North Rim, as well as other spectacular lookout spots: Cape Royal and Bright Angel Points. The 21-mile Kaibab Trail links the South and North Rims via a narrow footbridge suspended over the Colorado River and can be hiked or traversed by mule ride.
The inner canyon includes everything below the rim and can be explored by foot, mule or raft. While there are modest day trips available, exploring the inner canyon is not considered a single day expedition. Depending on the activity you choose, budget in a few days to a few weeks for your journey. A round-trip hike (or mule ride) to the bottom of the canyon is a two-day adventure. Rim-to-rim explorers should estimate three days for their one-way trip; and rafting trips generally take two or more weeks [source: National Park Service].
To find out more about the Grand Canyon plus information about other wonders of the world, visit our list of links on the following page.
