When you think about America and the country’s national parks, the first park that might come up in your head is… the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon is in fact one of the most popular and greatest tourist attractions in the country. The Grand Canyon is an immense canyon with layers of red rock that were formed from about 5-6 million years ago. When you think of Arizona, you will probably also automatically think of the Grand Canyon.
On my recent trip to Arizona, my parents’ new home (and also a place I can consider home now!), my parents and I embarked on a road trip from Central Arizona to almost 4 hours away to go see this marvelous natural phenomena that are beyond words to even describe. It was even more memorable as I got to see this beauty on my birthday.
Fun facts on the Grand Canyon
Here are some interesting facts about the Grand Canyon to share:
- It is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world and one of the largest canyons on Earth.
- It became a national park in 1919 — three years after the creation of the National Park Service.
- It is 277 miles long (or 446 kilometers).
- The Grand Canyon is around 6000 feet deep.
- The river that helped form the canyon is called the Colorado River and it runs across it, eroding the sides for millions of years now.
- The rock on the bottom of the Grand Canyon was found to be 2 billion years old.
- The canyon is good for hiking, camping, biking, mule riding, rafting, and sight seeing — all for the adventurous souls.
- The first expedition in 1869 was led by John Wesley Powell.
- The national park attracts at least 5 million visitors a year.
Don’t make the same mistake I did!
Almost two years ago, when I first came to Arizona, my family and I had arranged plans to go see the Grand Canyon before we took a trip to Las Vegas but we ended up in the PRICEY tourist attraction part of it (the west way) and in the end, we did not make it at all then. However, onto my second trip to this amazing state, I wanted to make it right! As travelers, it’s easy to get caught into the wrong destination sometimes and sometimes, better planning and researching is the only way to prevent that. I learned that just searching ‘The Grand Canyon” on the GPS and clicking on it and hitting the road after ISN’T the way to go.
So I did plenty of research as soon as I arrived in Arizona for our road trip to the canyon. The destination that would present the wide magnificent views of the Grand Canyon (every rim way is spectacular but this one was worth it) and for a cheaper way to see it is called the South Rim. Within the South Rim, we would have to go to Mather’s Point to specifically get by the viewing point of the canyon and by doing so, you would have to arrive going up a mountain then stopping by gates where park rangers will take your payment to go inside the park. Indeed, you do have to pay to go inside the Grand Canyon per vehicle. For the cheapest, from 1-7 days, you would pay $30 as we did.
Getting there
Within the drive up the mountain, you’ll pass by pine trees while you’re planning to look for parking by the Visitor’s Center. Don’t fret if you lose service, which is common as you go up higher altitudes, because there are plenty of signs to help direct you to whichever location you are looking for. At the Visitor’s Center, you can pass by inside of it to get to the actual viewpoint at Mather’s Point.
When you find parking and arrive at the Visitor’s Center, you can go inside the buildings to gain more info about the park, activities you can do, tours and trips, and viewpoints.
From going to an internet cafe on the way, not far from the South Rim, I saw this display talking more about the Grand Canyon’s mystic becoming:
The best point to start off with: Mather’s Point
As we left the Visitor’s Center, we headed right to Mather’s Point, which was a couple mins walk from behind the building.
Pro tip: If you do not have a vehicle to get to the other points/areas of the park, taking a shuttle is your best bet! They’re located right by the visitor centers. There is no ticket to take the shuttles at all. They come every 15-30 minutes.
As soon as you walk in, you can see these crazy, grand, beautiful views of the canyon.
Mather’s Point is a few miles short and you can go from different sections to view the canyon.
My National Lampoon’s Vacation dream finally came true!
A warning on the Rock Squirrel!
After I took this photo of the Rock Squirrel, it came up and approached me and threw his hands up. I immediately stepped back. Apparently, I read dozens of visitors to the Grand Canyon are bitten by these squirrels since these squirrels are fearless of humans. They may look cute but be careful around them and don’t feed them! Not to mention, some of them carry fleas, which is horrible to put yourself through.
Seeing this canyon for the first time is surreal.
The Canyon seems to glow and appear bright, no matter the time of day and how many shadows are covering over us! After we left the Grand Canyon and when we were driving out of the mountain, we saw the Grand Canyon during the sunset with purple and pink skies (unfortunately no photos were taken that time) and it was the most beautiful thing ever as it was glowing throughout! Unreal.
Here is a shot of the Colorado River from the bottom. It looked sooo tiny from up to where we were.
Here are where the railings are where full of people can hangout safely on top of the overlook rocks and a stone dedicated to Stephen Mather, the man who was named for this viewpoint. Stephen Mather was the first director of the National Park Service and was one of the main advocates for establishing the Grand Canyon as a national park.
Many tourists lined up to take a photo on this rock in the center of the overlook.
The Grand Canyon is definitely something you’ll never forget once you see it and if you’re just as curious as I was about this and love natural wonders, you will never get bored visiting this park. It’s so immense that you can see the Grand Canyon from outerspace.
At night, if you’re driving around the mountain near the Grand Canyon, you’ll be amazed just how bright the stars light up above the Grand Canyon. Everything seems to be connected to the beauty of this place and as you stand beside the canyon, it makes you feel like you’re being gravitated by the thousands of feet of rocks beneath you. There’s really a lot that you will feel as you will try to describe the feels that the Grand Canyon gives off thus it’ll leave you speechless but at the same time, it’ll make you feel so incredible to witness such beauty.
Other viewpoints to see in the South Rim
There are many different stops and viewpoints to admire the massive beauty of the Grand Canyon besides Mather’s Point (I just wanted to cover the best beginner’s view as it was the first one I went to see the Grand Canyon National Park for the first time ever). They are:
- Yavapai Point
- Pima Point
- Mohave Point
- Hopi Point
- Lookout Studio
- Desert View
- Moran Point
- Grandview Point
- Lipan Point
- Outside an airplane window 😉
OH MY, the viewpoints go on and on! There’s just so many to stop by to have the opportunity to see it. Take advantage!
Other spots you need to visit in the South Rim
- Yavapai Geology Museum – This museum is so cool for being right on the very edge of the rim. This museum will teach you about the different layers the Grand Canyon is made of as well as the stories behind the geology.
- Hopi House – The Hopi House is a historic site of a large multi-story building of stone masonry and is modeled after the same build as a 1,000 year old Hopi pueblo. Mary Colter, a chief architect and decorator for the Fred Harvey Company, was commissioned in 1904 to design it.
- Harvey House Cafe – Hungry? This cafe with exposed wood beams is located at Bright Angel Lodge and has a good variety of meals in a diner-style fare.
- Verkamp’s Visitor Center – It features exhibits that focuses on the Grand Canyon Community so you can gain an idea of what it is to work or live in the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Conservancy Museum Store is also found here.
- El Tovar Hotel – This is a historic hotel that opened in 1905, emerging in the time of the Grand Canyon being one of the most celebrated natural landmarks, and is one of the most beloved holiday retreats in Arizona. It is also the oldest hotel still operating in the national park.
Tell me what you thought below!