By TS Owen
How Do People Tour the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring destination that attracts visitors from around the world. Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, the canyon was carved 5 million to 6 million years ago by the Colorado River. It is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and one mile deep. Most of the canyon is in northwestern Arizona; its far western side is in the Hualapai Reservation. The easily accessible South Rim receives 90 percent of visitors. The more remote North Rim, which lies 10 miles across the canyon from the South Rim, is near the Utah border.
Raft the Wild Waters
River trips are regulated by the National Park Service. One-day whitewater trips from Diamond Creek are available from Hualapai River Runners (www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/runners.html). Half- and one-day smooth water rafting trips are run by Colorado River Discovery (www.raftthecanyon.com). Two- to five-day private trips launch from Diamond Creek on Hualapai tribal land. The Hualapais charge access fees. Apply one year in advance for your permit through the National Park Service (www.nps.gov/grca).
Three- to 13-day commercial whitewater and smooth water trips require reservations one to two years in advance from any of the the 16 companies authorized by the park service. Self-guided, noncommercial private trips from 12 to 25 days between Lees Ferry and Diamond Creek have a lottery every February to award launch dates; the cost is $100 per participant and trips require a qualified (noncommercial) leader.
A Hike Down
Visitors may hike down the canyon's steep and narrow trails on their own; you can take a brief hike or make the five- to six-hour trip to the 1.8 billion-year-old rocks at the bottom. A single-day return trip is challenging even for fit hikers.
There are campsites at the bottom and the Phantom Ranch offers cabins and meals. Both require reservations months or years in advance. Twenty guiding companies take groups on back-country adventure hikes and camping trips. Ranger-led hikes are free and the Grand Canyon Field Institute offers educational tours. All hikers are warned that the canyon is dry and rugged and the weather unpredictable. Drinking plenty of water and resting regularly helps prevent injuries and possibly fatal exhaustion.
Ride the Canyon Walls
If you'd rather not hike down the canyon, let mules do the walking. At the South Rim, mule rides from the Stone Corral down the Bright Angel Trail are available year-round; choose a one-day ride or stay overnight at the Phantom Ranch (www.grandcanyonlodges.com). At the North Rim, one-hour to one-day mule rides are available from mid-May to mid-October (www.canyonrides.com).
Eye in the Sky
Visible from space, the Grand Canyon offers phenomenal panoramas from the air. If you want to fly over the canyon, choices include helicopter, fixed wing and sightseeing excursions. Some flights include a stop for lunch, a visit to the glass-bottomed Skywalk, or a canyon hike. Many combination trips start from Las Vegas and allow guests to see and do as much as possible and return in time for dinner and the shows.
Alternate View
The route to the North Rim is the road much less traveled. A five-hour drive from Las Vegas or the South Rim's Grand Canyon Village, the North Rim offers the national historic landmark Grand Canyon Lodge, with cabins and a campground. There are mule rides, ranger walks and talks, and breathtaking views, but no crowds. The North Rim is open mid-May to mid-October.
Resources
About the Author:
TS Owen has a master's in English education but spent her career in journalism, winning the national Koop science writer award, appearing in "Newsweek" and the "San Francisco Chronicle" and was an editor in the San Francisco Bay Area and Banff, Alberta. She started at a weekly in Alberta in 1981.
Photo Credits:
Photos by TS Owen
