Your Grand Canyon Guide
The Tonto Plateau in the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a fascinating spectacle of nature protected by the United States as a national park. We are happy to present our Grand Canyon guide to help you plan your trip to the Grand Canyon. To get the most out of your time and enjoyment at the Grand Canyon, we recommend booking a tour with us. We provide knowledgeable guides, transportation, hotel pick up and drop offs, and everything in between. As you plan your trip, it’s always helpful to know what your plans are and how you’d like enjoy your Grand Canyon adventure.
Where is the Grand Canyon located?
Mather Point in the South Rim.
The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona. The Grand Canyon is a massive canyon that stretches all of the way from southeastern Utah and through northern Arizona. It is the only natural wonder of the world in the United States. The Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) is about four hours from Las Vegas and Phoenix. The closest city in Arizona to the Grand Canyon is Flagstaff, about an hour away. The West Rim of the Grand Canyon, famous for its Skywalk, is about one and half hours from Las Vegas, and is part of an Hualapai Indian reservation.
The Grand Canyon Railway
The Grand Canyon Railway has become a popular highlight for those looking for a bigger experience. The train has been running trips between Williams, Arizona and the Grand Canyon Village since 1901. Its trips include meals and drinks for some tickets and will take about 2-3 hours to get to Grand Canyon Village. Williams to the Grand Canyon by car is about a 45 minute drive. The train ride is scenic as it winds through the Kaibab Plateau, where you are surrounded by volcanic cinder cones and mountains on the horizon before arriving to the Canyon itself. Combo packages include overnight lodging. We at Arizona Scenic Tours can help you set up a trip with the Grand Canyon Railroad, as well as the Verde Canyon Rail Tour we provide.
Grand Canyon National Park Facts
The Grand Canyon became a U.S. National Park in 1919. But before that, it was a created as a national monument in 1908, and even different parts before it were preserved under federal protection. The idea was to protect the region from mining, especially the early dangerous days of mining uranium. Surrounding the park are national forests and monuments, including Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. These lands protect the majority of the Grand Canyon ecosystem.
The Grand Canyon runs 277 miles long. Its greatest width is 18 miles wide! It averages over 6000 feet deep, that’s over a mile.
The Colorado River has been flowing through the Grand Canyon for nearly 6 million years. The Colorado River is tiny when looked at from the rim, but quite sizable when you are at the bottom of the Canyon. The River is gigantic – it creates the border between Arizona and California. It runs all of the way to Southeastern Utah with several tributaries.
How was the Grand Canyon formed?
Grand Canyon Winter
Speaking of the Colorado River, it was instrumental in the formation of the Grand Canyon. The Canyon is made of Sandstone, a sedimentary rock that is easily erodible, especially when exposed to water and wind. There is uplift under the Grand Canyon, meaning the earth is pushing the Canyon up. As the Canyon and the terrain is pushed up, the river continues to cut its way through it, digging and even deeper Canyon. The higher the Canyon and its rim become, the more susceptible it is to wind and rain. Comparable canyons include Canyonlands in Utah, or even Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona south of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is a fantastic example of geological erosion. It is estimated the bottom of the canyon, a dense layer of granite rock, is around 2 billion years old. Once water hits such a dense rock, the rate of erosion slows. However, it’s nearly all sandstone for 5000 feet above this layer, leading to a great depth of erosion. So, to summarize how the Canyon was made, it was six million years of the Colorado River plowing through erodible sandstone to create what we have today.
Best time to visit the Grand Canyon
There really isn’t a bad time of the year to go. The holiday season is sometimes the busiest, but seeing the Canyon under snow (!!) is fantastic! Spring and Fall seasons have the best weather with really good visibility. Summers are just as good, but can be hot and crowded. My recommendation is May, June, September, and February.
Grand Canyon at 7000 feet.
How old is the Grand Canyon?
It is estimated that the Canyon is between five and six million years old. The plateau on which it sits on is around 50 millions years old. The layer of granite rock on the bottom is about 2 billion years old.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learned so much about the Grand Canyon, it’s time to take a trip! Arizona Scenic Tours has been the premiere Grand Canyon guide for two decades in Arizona. Our guides know so much more than what is presented here, but you can learn more by booking a Grand Canyon Tour with us! Call or email to learn about our tours and custom options. We look forward to taking you to the canyon!
