The Grand Canyon became a National Park in 1919. The canyon touches four different states (Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado) and covers an area of 1,900 square miles. My sister and I visited the South Rim in March, which is the perfect time to visit before temperatures being to rise. We visited the South Rim, which gave us the classic national park experience. The North Rim is actually closer to Utah, and was more appealing to me, however the entrance was still closed. The North Rim is closed annually from October ish- May ish due to winter weather conditions.
The Grand Canyon is iconic to America, with thousands of tourists from across the world coming to visit each year. It is one of the most visited national parks in the United States, with close to 6 million people visiting per year. Best tips of advice: travel in spring or fall to avoid the harsh heat of the summer, arrive to the park early to avoid crowds (and get parking), and go on a hike (even if its short).
We spent the night in Page, AZ the night before so I could show my sister Lake Powell and Horseshoe Bend—a few of my favorite places. It was an easy drive from Page to the Visitors Center, and we arrived nice and early just in time for sunrise. We stopped at the Desert View Watchtower and then drove parts of the park drive, stopping at viewpoints along the way. After walking along the Rim Trail to Mather and Yavapai Points, we listened to a Ranger Talk and toured the Geology Museum. We were continuing on to another destination that afternoon so we didn’t have excess time to do a more legitimate hike, but we were still able to take in the vastness of the canyon.
Things I’d consider doing on my next visit:
- Rafting on the river
- Hiking down & back up the canyon (camping for a night at the bottom)
- Helicopter tour
- Rim to Rim to Rim (only if I was feeling bold)
Krista Was Here 