THE GRAND CANYON WILL MAKE YOUR JAW DROP
Throughout my hikes I have encountered trails that go through beautiful canyons that have left me appreciate what mother nature can nurture. Living about a 4 hours away, in Las Vegas, I could not postpone this trip therefore I hopped in my car and headed to the Grand Canyon.
A canyon is a deep valley often created by the movement of rivers, the actions of weathering and erosion, and also tectonic activity. The word canyon actually derives from the Spanish word cañon, which can be interpreted as a tube or pipe.
GETTING THERE
The Grand Canyon is split into three parts. First, there is the Grand Canyon National Park. It has two areas: the South Rim and the North Rim. Both are not close to each other and are separated by a 4 hour drive.
Then there is Grand Canyon West, which is located about a 7 hour drive from from the Northern Rim and easy four hours from the Southern Rim. The Grand Canyon West is actually within the Hualapai Native American Reservation.
The three major cities you will want to fly in are Las Vegas, Phoenix, or Salt Lake City (Northern Rim). No matter where you arrive you’ll need to rent a car or fly in with a helicopter.
Living in Las Vegas I decided to drive there and explore the South Rim since it is the most accessible section with numerous places you can pull over to admire the views. It took me 4 hours to arrive by car and I have to say most of the drive is empty desert. I did make a pit stop at this town named Seligman where the historical Route 66 goes through. This town felt like I was visiting Radiator Springs from the movie Cars.
THE SOUTH RIM
Once I arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park I walked towards the rim of the Grand Canyon and was amazed by what I was looking at. With a length of 446 km (277 miles), width up to 29 km (18 miles), and depth of 1,857 meters (6,093 ft; that is over a mile!); no wonder it is visible from outer space by astronauts.
The Rim Trail
I ended up taking the Rim Trail to admire the Grand Canyon’s impressive size. The trail is paved and mostly flat making it easy to walk. You will see some areas with fenced guard rails for safety, but be aware that it is not everywhere. Be careful with kids. I suggest you keep a close eye on them.
And be careful taking selfies. Multiple people have died here trying to capture that good photo by getting too close to the edge.
Trail Of Time
The trail of time is found in the South Rim and is considered the world’s largest geological exhibition. The trail has amazing views and rocks of the canyon to help understand how the Grand Canyon gives us a glimpse of encoded history.
As you walk through this open-air exhibit you will go through 2 billion years of geological history. The exhibit is designed as a geological timeline that is marked with bronze markers.
Viewpoints
There are a lot of viewpoints to visit at the South Rim. Each one of the viewpoints has breathtaking scenery and offers a different perspective of the canyon. Try to find your favorite viewpoints and if you have time; see them during sunrise and sunsets. Here are mine.
Moran Point
Lipan Point
Navajo Point
STAY FOR THE NIGHT
When I did this trip I went there on a whim. I did not plan for lodging and expected to sleep in my car. I think it paid off. I slept at one of the points parking lot and witness the milky way like i have never done before.
There is little to no light pollution at the Grand Canyon and take advantage of some star gazing. I saw some shooting stars. As the moon came up I also managed to capture some photos with the moonlight.
Unfortunately by this time, my camera had died, but I managed to capture these with my iPhone. Not bad at all!
CONCLUSION
If you want to be amazed and see what the earth looks like from the inside. This is a place to go. Pictures do not fully capture the depth of the Grand Canyon. You must go and see it yourself. You will see how a river can slice into a plateau and reveal the earth’s geological history.
Do you think you will be amazed by visiting the Grand Canyon? Leave comments below and I will respond to them.
Ame
Wow the views are incredible, the sunset is always my favorite because it precedes the starry night, but I have fallen in love with that beautiful Ford truck. Amazing post as always.