I first visited the Grand Canyon some ten years ago, but recently went back with some friends who had no idea what to expect. We drove to the first lookout and guided them, eyes closed, to the edge. The look in their eyes when they saw it spoke volumes - which was good, because they didn’t say anything for long minutes.

That’s the thing with the Grand Canyon: it is just really, really BIG. Big on a scale that we can’t imagine from natural features in the UK. I can’t describe it, and photos won’t do it justice. It is one of those few things that everyone has to see at some point in their life.

Cut by the Colorado River through the high desert of Arizona, thousands of meters deep and over two hundred miles long, the National Park covers the length of the canyon and much of the land to either side. Most of the facilities are based on the South Rim, which is more accessible. You can visit the North Rim as well, but to visit both involves a very long journey around, and it is closed due to snow in winter.

It is possible to walk to the bottom of the canyon, but this involves camping overnight and booking well in advance. Whilst a great experience, I wouldn’t recommend this on a first visit unless you are an experienced hiker. You can however make a day hike down the side of the upper canyon, at the base of which is a wide plain before you reach the much narrower lower canyon. This I would highly recommend to anyone.

This is a year-round attraction, but the best time to visit is in early spring when there is still snow on the ground. It won’t be unpleasantly hot, there will be fewer tourists, and you can feel the incredible increase in temperature as you descend a little way down.

Camp if you can: the charges for staying in hotel accomodation are horrendous. It is possible to stay outside the Park, but it is a long way to any large towns or cities, so it will seriously shorten your stay.

If you are ever within a thousand miles of the Grand Canyon. I promise you, you will have a memory to last forever.

I first visited the Grand Canyon some ten years ago, but recently went back with some friends who had no idea what to expect. We drove to the first lookout and guided them, eyes closed, to the edge. The look in their eyes when they saw it spoke volumes - which was good, because they didn’t say anything for long minutes.

That’s the thing with the Grand Canyon: it is just really, really BIG. Big on a scale that we can’t imagine from natural features in the UK. I can’t describe it, and photos won’t do it justice. It is one of those few things that everyone has to see at some point in their life.

Cut by the Colorado River through the high desert of Arizona, thousands of meters deep and over two hundred miles long, the National Park covers the length of the canyon and much of the land to either side. Most of the facilities are based on the South Rim, which is more accessible. You can visit the North Rim as well, but to visit both involves a very long journey around, and it is closed due to snow in winter.

It is possible to walk to the bottom of the canyon, but this involves camping overnight and booking well in advance. Whilst a great experience, I wouldn’t recommend this on a first visit unless you are an experienced hiker. You can however make a day hike down the side of the upper canyon, at the base of which is a wide plain before you reach the much narrower lower canyon. This I would highly recommend to anyone.

This is a year-round attraction, but the best time to visit is in early spring when there is still snow on the ground. It won’t be unpleasantly hot, there will be fewer tourists, and you can feel the incredible increase in temperature as you descend a little way down.

Camp if you can: the charges for staying in hotel accomodation are horrendous. It is possible to stay outside the Park, but it is a long way to any large towns or cities, so it will seriously shorten your stay.

If you are ever within a thousand miles of the Grand Canyon. I promise you, you will have a memory to last forever.