One of the world’s great wonders, the Grand Canyon has been fascinating visitors and offering glimpses into the Earth’s history for hundreds of years. With some rocks as old as 2,000 million years, the Grand Canyon has helped scientists to better understand the world and the connection between its ancient and modern inhabitants. A trip to the Grand Canyon is truly unforgettable.

Grand Canyon National Park is more than just an awe inspiring abyss painted by nature on a rock canvas; it is more than a traveler’s paradise and/or a historical treasure map offering clues to Earth’s past. Rather, it is a humbling reminder of how short our existence is and a deafening encouragement to make the most of each and every day. Whether it is your first trip or another in a long list of annual pilgrimages, a visit to the Grand Canyon is life-changing each and every time.

Given its vastness, you could spend a lifetime inside the Grand Canyon and still never experience all that it has to offer. That being said, you should plan your trip carefully so that you can make the most of your time there. There are five major sections of the Grand Canyon, each unique in appearance and terrain. The areas are the South Rim, the North Rim, the Inner Canyon, the River and the Tuweep.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the most popular section. For a traditional visit to the Canyon, a South Rim tour is your best bet. There are many different ways that visitors can explore the South Rim. From hiking trips to bus tours, the options are endless. To get the most from your experience, I strongly recommend you participate in a guided tour. There are dozens of experienced guides in the Grand Canyon to answer your questions, keep you from getting lost, and help you make the most of your visit.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is some 8,000 feet about sea level. Individuals who aren’t used to the elevation may feel lightheaded. Some popular things to see while visiting the North Rim are Point Imperial and Cape Royal. Both of these scenic spots are reachable by car. If you plan on visiting both points, I recommend setting aside a full day. This way, you can take your time, hike some trails and explore the areas. I recommend that you prepare yourself, however. The views are astounding.

Visitors who want to explore Grand Canyon’s back country and/or Inner Canyon need be quite experienced and in excellent physical condition. In addition to the rough terrain and difficult hiking trails, there are vast temperature and altitude variations in the Inner Canyon. The deeper you hike the lower in altitude you go and the higher the temperatures get. Temperatures as high as 130°F in the inner canyons have caught dozens of hikers off guard and have been the result of numerous heat related deaths. Be extremely careful.

Rafting in the Grand Canyon
Trips to the Colorado River at the base of the Grand Canyon are ridiculously fun. There are three types of river trips recommended by Grand Canyon National Park: commercial river trips, private river trips, and one-day trips. As these are some of the most popular types of Grand Canyon adventures, I recommend planning your trip long in advance. River trips can last anywhere from one to 21 days in length.

Tuweep (also known as Toroweap) is a more remote section of the Grand Canyon that is located on the northwest rim of the Grand Canyon in the isolated Arizona strip. Although Tuweep is beautiful, I strongly recommend that you reserve its exploration until after you have visited the other parts of Grand Canyon. Tuweep is more of an advanced hiker/return visit type of experience. Regardless, make sure you go over your trip itinerary with an experienced area guide.

One of the world’s great wonders, the Grand Canyon has been fascinating visitors and offering glimpses into the Earth’s history for hundreds of years. With some rocks as old as 2,000 million years, the Grand Canyon has helped scientists to better understand the world and the connection between its ancient and modern inhabitants. A trip to the Grand Canyon is truly unforgettable.

Grand Canyon National Park is more than just an awe inspiring abyss painted by nature on a rock canvas; it is more than a traveler’s paradise and/or a historical treasure map offering clues to Earth’s past. Rather, it is a humbling reminder of how short our existence is and a deafening encouragement to make the most of each and every day. Whether it is your first trip or another in a long list of annual pilgrimages, a visit to the Grand Canyon is life-changing each and every time.

Given its vastness, you could spend a lifetime inside the Grand Canyon and still never experience all that it has to offer. That being said, you should plan your trip carefully so that you can make the most of your time there. There are five major sections of the Grand Canyon, each unique in appearance and terrain. The areas are the South Rim, the North Rim, the Inner Canyon, the River and the Tuweep.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the most popular section. For a traditional visit to the Canyon, a South Rim tour is your best bet. There are many different ways that visitors can explore the South Rim. From hiking trips to bus tours, the options are endless. To get the most from your experience, I strongly recommend you participate in a guided tour. There are dozens of experienced guides in the Grand Canyon to answer your questions, keep you from getting lost, and help you make the most of your visit.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is some 8,000 feet about sea level. Individuals who aren’t used to the elevation may feel lightheaded. Some popular things to see while visiting the North Rim are Point Imperial and Cape Royal. Both of these scenic spots are reachable by car. If you plan on visiting both points, I recommend setting aside a full day. This way, you can take your time, hike some trails and explore the areas. I recommend that you prepare yourself, however. The views are astounding.

Visitors who want to explore Grand Canyon’s back country and/or Inner Canyon need be quite experienced and in excellent physical condition. In addition to the rough terrain and difficult hiking trails, there are vast temperature and altitude variations in the Inner Canyon. The deeper you hike the lower in altitude you go and the higher the temperatures get. Temperatures as high as 130°F in the inner canyons have caught dozens of hikers off guard and have been the result of numerous heat related deaths. Be extremely careful.

Rafting in the Grand Canyon
Trips to the Colorado River at the base of the Grand Canyon are ridiculously fun. There are three types of river trips recommended by Grand Canyon National Park: commercial river trips, private river trips, and one-day trips. As these are some of the most popular types of Grand Canyon adventures, I recommend planning your trip long in advance. River trips can last anywhere from one to 21 days in length.

Tuweep (also known as Toroweap) is a more remote section of the Grand Canyon that is located on the northwest rim of the Grand Canyon in the isolated Arizona strip. Although Tuweep is beautiful, I strongly recommend that you reserve its exploration until after you have visited the other parts of Grand Canyon. Tuweep is more of an advanced hiker/return visit type of experience. Regardless, make sure you go over your trip itinerary with an experienced area guide.