Grand Canyon Geology
The Grand Canyon is always changing. The layers of the Grand Canyon provide a window into two billion years of the Earth's history.
The rock formed from sediments is thousands of feet in thickness. Around 1.8 billion years ago, geological forces uplifted and crumpled this rock to create a mountain range that was probably 6 miles high.
The enormous pressure and heat recrystallized the rock to schist and gneiss. Molten lava from inside the earth forced itself into the rock and hardened into veins of pink granite. Over millions of years, water and wind eroded the mountain range into a plain and a primo...
Posted : April 11, 2010 | 
Comments : 0 | 
Grand Canyon - North Rim - Cape Royal Road
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim, and you won't find the South Rim crowds here. The Cape Royal Royal Road provides you with a nice drive along the North Rim. The road is about 23 miles in length and you should plan a full day to stop and explore all the North Rim has to offer.
The historic Grand Canyon Lodge is a popular destination. The Lodge was originally built in the 1920s on the rim of the Grand Canyon. A fire during 1932 caused the lodge to be rebuilt. Be sure to visit the Sun Room to view Bright Angel Canyon which cuts...
Posted : April 11, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon - South Rim - Hermit Road
The Hermit Road is 7 miles in length and travels along the South Rim. Plan at least half a day trip. The road is closed to private vehicles from March through November. During that time you can ride the free Hermits Rest shuttle bus.
You can start at the Canyon View Information Plaza which is near Mather Point and provides you with spectacular views into the middle of the Grand Canyon. From here you can see the narrow ridges from the North Rim.
Loo...
Posted : April 10, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Mule Rides
One of the most exciting trips you can take while visiting Grand Canyon National Park is the famous mule ride.
The mule rides are very popular with park visitors and if you are wanting to have the experience, make sure you make your reservations early!
Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C. is authorized by the National Park Service to provide a variety of visitor services within Grand Canyon National Park. They offer two guided mule rides into the Grand Canyon from the South Rim.
Posted : April 10, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon - South Rim - Desert View Drive
The Desert View Drive is 23 miles in length and skirts the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The drive begins just south of Mather Point and heads east to Desert View. During the summer months, the drive can be crowded and parking at the overlooks can be difficult. The Grand Canyon shuttle buses are the only vehicles allowed on Yaki Point/South Kaibab Trailhead road.
At Yaki Point, you can get a great view of Granite Gorge. The pyramid profile of Vishnu Temple at 7,500 feet is prominent to the east. In 1882, Clarence Dutton began the naming of major park lan...
Posted : April 10, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Hiking - Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon Bright Angel TrailThe Bright Angel Trail is a popular, maintained dirt hiking trail. The trail is steep, well defined, and easy to follow. There is some shade on trail depending on the time of day, primarily from the walls of the Grand Canyon.
When hiking always remember to give uphill hikers the right of way. During winter or early sping, the upper portion of the trail can be very icy.
Directions to Trailhead: The Bright Angel Trail is located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The trail begins just west of Bright Angel Lodge. Follow t...
Posted : March 19, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Hiking - South Kaibab Trail
Grand Canyon South Kaibab Trail...
Posted : March 19, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Hiking - North Kaibab Trail
Grand Canyon North Kaibab TrailThe North Kaibab Trail is the only maintained trail from the North Rim that drops into the Grand Canyon. You can take a short hike to Coconino Overlook (1.5 miles round-trip) or even to Supai Tunnel (4 miles round-trip) and get spectacular views of the beauty of the Grand Canyon and the immense size of the canyon.
If you are in good shape, consider taking a hike to Roaring Springs. The hike back up to the rims is very strenuous and takes a full day (7-8 hours). Be sure you start your hike early in the morning, id...
Posted : March 19, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Lodging - Phantom Ranch
The Phantom Ranch is one of the most popular overnight destinations in Grand Canyon National Park.
The ranch is located along Bright Angel Creek on the north side of the Colorado River. Phantom Ranch is the only lodging available below the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Getting to the remote Phantom Ranch requires that you either hike, ride a mule, or raft the Colorado River. Hikers reach the ranch by hiking the Bright Angel or Kaibab trails....
Posted : March 19, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Hiking Smart
1. Water and electrolytes: In the desert your sweat evaporates so quickly you don't realize how much water you are losing.
Sweating will also cause you to lose electrolytes like salt, potassium, and magnesium. Electrolytes are necessary for your body to send signals through your nerves to your muscles. If your body doesn't have enough electrolytes you may experience painful leg cramps, muscles spasms, fatigue, nausea and a generally have a bad attitude. If the situation becomes more severe, you can experience changes in your heart beat and poor brain function.
Posted : March 18, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Day Hikes
Grand Canyon Day HikesDay hikes are a great way to experience the Grand Canyon. There are great day hikes that you can take from either the South Rim or the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
South Rim Day Hikes:
These day hikes are located at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. These popular hikes range from easy to difficult.
We have provided you with a brief overview of the trail and even videos that will give ...
Posted : March 18, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Maverick Helicopter Tours
There are several Grand Canyon tour companies that provide a variety of helicopter tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. A helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon is a great way to experience the grandeur and spectacular beauty of the forces of nature that created the Grand Canyon.
To give you a feeling for the Grand Canyon helicopter tours, we have provided you with a video that we thought represented the Las Vegas to Grand Canyon helicopter adventure. The helicopter tour company featured in the video is Maverick Helicopters base...
Posted : March 14, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Papillon Helicopter Tours
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours by PapillonPapillon Helicopters is undoubtedly one of the Grand Canyon's oldest and largest sightseeing companies operating since 1965.
Papillon provides about 600,000 passengers daily flights to the Grand Canyon every year.
Papillon offers over forty unique day and overnight trips that feature fantastic views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, and of course the Grand Canyon.
Papillon has a fleet of 48 helicopt...
Posted : March 14, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Tours
While planning your trip to the Grand Canyon, you might want to consider one of the many Grand Canyon Tours that are available.
Grand Canyon tour packages range in duration from half-day to two-week long tours. Some of the most popular are the combination Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas.
The variety of Grand Canyon tours provides you with a lot of different opportunities during your Grand Canyon vacation.
Posted : March 13, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Webcam
A great way to see the current weather conditions in Grand Canyon National Park is to view the Grand Canyon webcam (click image to view).
The webcam is located at Yavapai Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. In addition to the webcam, Yavapai Point is also the location of the historic Yavapai Observation Station.
A new geology exhibit at Yavapai Poi...
Posted : March 12, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Camping
Camping is a great way to experience Grand Canyon National Park. If you enjoy "roughing" it while you are in the Grand Canyon, you have several types of camping experiences to enjoy.
There are both developed and backcountry camping allowed in Grand Canyon National Park. Developed camping is where vehicles are permitted. Backcountry camping requires you hike or raft to the campsite.
For developed...
Posted : March 11, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Hiking
Hiking the Grand Canyon is a wonderful way to experience Grand Canyon National Park up-close and personal.
There are a lot of hiking trails that provide you with a nice selection of hikes depending on your experience and fitness.
Hiking in the Grand Canyon is different from many other hiking areas. The terrain is steep, you are at fairly high elevation, drinking water is scarce, and temperatures can be extreme.
Posted : March 11, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Lodging
During your Grand Canyon vacation, you will find there are a lot of great Grand Canyon hotels and lodging.
There are old historic Grand Canyon hotels, a remote ranch that is accessible by hiking or riding mules, modern hotels and motels that are in Grand Canyon National Park.
We recommend that you make your Grand Canyon lodging reservations as soon as possible. The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular National Parks to visit and the local hotels fill quickly.
Posted : March 11, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Maps
One of the most important items you will need for planning your trip to the Grand Canyon is a good map.
There are a lot of different Grand Canyon National Park maps. We have provided you with several types of Grand Canyon maps including general road maps, land ownership, a virtual tour, and links to National Park Service interactive maps that you can enlarge and even print.
If you are interested in a high quality satellite image m...
Posted : March 11, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon North Rim
Plan on visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon if you want to avoid the summer heat and summer crowds.
You will get a much different view of the Grand Canyon from the North Rim. The weather is usually cooler, there are a lot less people, and the area isn't as developed as the South Rim
The North Rim offers spectacular views and plenty of day hikes that allow you to explore a different part of the Grand Canyon.
Posted : March 11, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Skywalk
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a new but controversial addition to attractions at the Grand Canyon. To some people, the Grand Canyon Skywalk is an eyesore, to others, it provides a great visitor experience and a much needed sourcer of income for the Hualapai Tribe.
Opening in March of 2007, the Skywalk took 2.5 years of hard work and $30 million dollars to complete. The Skywalk is not a National Park Service operation, it was built by the Hualapai Tribe.
Visitors to the Grand Canyon Skywalk will have to pay two di...
Posted : March 11, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon South Rim
The South Rim recieves most of the visitors to Grand Canyon National Park. The South Rim is open everday of the year, even on holidays.
If you plan on camping or staying at a South Rim hotel, you will have to make your reservations early. The busiest times are during the summer months and you can expect crowds, problems finding parking, and
Posted : March 11, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Bus Tours
When planning your trip to the Grand Canyon, you might want to consider a Grand Canyon Bus Tour.
Grand Canyon bus tours provide you with a lot of different options, beyond the simple fact that you can let someone else do the driving.
We suggest that you spend the time to visit the different Grand Canyon bus tour companies on the Internet to see what they offer, the prices, refund policies, and reviews.
Posted : March 11, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon Weather
The Grand Canyon is an area where you definitely want to be aware of the weather conditions.
There are three different areas of Grand Canyon National Park that have different weather patterns and extremes.
These include the North Rim, the South Rim and the Inner Gorge.
The North Ri...
Posted : February 06, 2010 | Comments : 0 | Grand Canyon National Park
One of the most spectacular places to visit in the world is the Grand Canyon located in Arizona.
Grand Canyon National Park is over a million acres of rugged canyon country that was carved by the fast flowing Colorado River.
Located in extreme northern Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and in some places is over 6,000 feet deep and provides a look at two billion years of the Earth's history.
Posted : January 31, 2010 | Comments : 0 | 
Grand Canyon National Park...Grand Canyon Weather...Grand Canyon Camping...Grand Canyon Hiking...Grand Canyon Lodging...Grand Canyon Maps...Grand Canyon North Rim...Grand Canyon Skywalk...Grand Canyon Rafting...Grand Canyon South Rim...Grand Canyon Webcam...Grand Canyon Tours...Grand Canyon Day Hikes...Grand Canyon Mule Rides...Fredonia Man Rescued After Grand Canyon...
Published:Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:30:27 -0700
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) - Authorities have rescued a 64-year-old Fredonia man on a hiking trip in Grand Canyon National Park.......
Missing hiker found at Grand Canyon...
Published:Sat, 18 Jun 2011 17:25:39 -0700
The 64-year-old hiker had provided his friends with a detailed itinerary of his planned hiking route, which immediately helped authorities focus their search to the North Rim area......
An 80th birthday challenge: Hiking the ...
Published:Sat, 18 Jun 2011 17:53:04 -0700
Arlene Dubay could have celebrated her 80th birthday with a cruise, a dinner out or a big party. - 8:18 pm......
Church service, fish fry to celebrate F...
Published:Sun, 19 Jun 2011 22:52:42 -0700
Bryant and Nancy Sarcoxie just returned from an exciting, fun and adventurous family vacation where they toured the Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam and Las Vega......
National Park Service wants to further ...
Published:Mon, 20 Jun 2011 01:16:53 -0700
The National Park Service wants to cut the annual number of tourist flights over the Grand Canyon by 30 percent, one of several proposals aimed at reducing aircraft noise heard on......
Salazar may address uranium-mining issu...
Published:Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:59:16 -0700
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar visits the Grand Canyon amid concerns about uranium mining near the national park.......
