About the Grand Canyon in Arizona

Located in the northwest corner of Arizona, the Grand Canyon is part of the Colorado Plateau and is surrounded by semi-arid conditions, though there are forests in the upper elevations. Grand Canyon National Park, which includes the entire canyon and surrounding areas, encompasses more than 1.2 million acres. The canyon runs for about 277 miles and is 15 miles across at its widest point and 6,000 feet deep at its lowest point.

Visitors are encouraged to make lodging and camping reservations during the busy season, which runs from about mid-May through October--the only time when the North Rim is open with visitor services. However, the South Rim is open to visitors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And for the most impressive colors to emerge from the canyon, it's best to see it in the early morning hours or close to sunset. The noontime sun tends to wash out some of the striking reds, golds and oranges from the canyon walls.

If you want to visit the Grand Canyon when there fewer tourists, plan a winter visit. But remember, even though it's Arizona, the cold winter weather is a serious consideration. Likewise, the South Rim is actually 7,000 feet above sea level, so people with heart and/or respiratory problems may have some trouble hiking around at this elevation. If you want to hike up and down the canyon, the South Kaibab Trail is your best bet. But, it's a 21-mile "rim-to-rim" hike and almost always involves an overnight campout.

Once you've seen the canyon from the rim and you want to do some more exploring, there are hiking and mule tours available, as well as camping accommodations. Most camping is done at the more-accessible South Rim, but the especially rugged and brave can find great hiking and wilder conditions at the North Rim. There are also several rafting trips you can book, but you'll likely need to make arrangements at least a year in advance because of the limited traffic through the Canyon and the popularity of the available rafting programs.

There are few places on Earth where you can see the geological history of the planet so vividly depicted. Rocks at the bottom of the canyon are a few billion years old, while rocks at the top are closer to 250 million years old. Native Americans lived in the area at least 4,000 years ago. President Theodore Roosevelt was the first to establish federal protection of the area in 1906. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson approved the establishment of Grand Canyon National Park.