The canyon measures over 270 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep, making it one of the biggest canyons in the world. This natural landmark formed about five to six million years as erosion from the Colorado River cut a deep channel through layers of rock. Is the Grand Canyon very […]

It is unlikely that the Ancient Chinese had any meaningful contact with North America in the periods in question. It almost certainly did not happen in the distant period in which the ‘visit’ to the Grand Canyon was said to have taken place, some 4250 years ago. Did China really buy the Grand Canyon? It […]

There at the base of the canyon sits Phantom Ranch.Located on mostly flat land, enclosed by the walls of the canyon, the Bright Angel Creek runs along Phantom Ranch and the creeks delta in the Colorado River. What is located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? Phantom RanchPhantom Ranch is a historic oasis nestled […]

Taking a driving trip around the Grand Canyon allows you to fully experience the majesty of the Grand Canyon. Driving also lets you explore the small towns, Native American lands, and Western scenery along the way. Budget a week or more for a driving trip around the Grand Canyon, though it can be done more […]

The canyon is much younger than the rocks through which it winds. Even the youngest rock layer, the Kaibab Formation, is 270 million years old, many years older than the canyon itself. How old are the layers of the Grand Canyon? 1.8 billion yearsHow old are the rocks that make up the Grand Canyon? One […]

Well, yes, you can walk to the bottom of the Canyon but it’s misleading to call it a “walk”. It’s a strenuous hike and, with very few exceptions, one that requires a backcountry overnight. It’s not a “dayhike”. How long does it take to walk to the bottom of the Grand Canyon? Distance-wise, it’s about […]

Encompassing an estimated 1,218.37 acres (1,904 square miles), the Canyon is capable of holding 1 – 2 quadrillion gallons of water. Really. If you poured all the river water on Earth into the Grand Canyon, it would still only be about half full. Does Grand Canyon have water? Grand Canyon’s water supply comes from Roaring […]

The insect species commonly found in the river corridor and tributaries are midges, caddis flies, mayflies, stoneflies, black flies, mites, beetles, butterflies, moths, and fire ants. Does Grand Canyon have bugs? There is basically no water at the top of the canyon in the park. I haven’t seen a mosquito in the entire time I’ve […]

Can you park an RV at the Grand Canyon? You can park an RV at the Grand Canyon, as long as you have a camping reservation. Trailer Village in the South Rim is the only campsite with RV hook-ups. Does the Grand Canyon have RV parking? Simply park your RV in the clean mountain air […]

the Hearst Estate. Park administrators did not even learn of their existence until 1930, but did nothing before the parcel was bought by William Randolph Hearst for back taxes in the 1950s. The land today is owned by the Hearst Estate, the only remaining piece of private land within the original boundaries of the national […]

Because it’s home to many of the most memorable viewpoints, the South Rim is the ideal destination for first-time Grand Canyon Visitors. If you have small children, you may prefer to visit the South Rim for its many amenities and activities. Which is better South or North Rim Grand Canyon? The South Rim is at […]

Grand Canyon’s water supply comes from Roaring Springs, a natural spring located approximately 3,500 feet below the North Rim. Water is delivered via an aging pipeline that suffers multiple breaks a year. When the pipeline breaks, water stops flowing to the North and South Rims and sites along the way. Can you swim in the […]

Grand Canyon is considered one of the finest examples of arid-land erosion in the world. Incised by the Colorado River, the canyon is immense, averaging 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles. It is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 18 miles at its widest. Why is the Grand Canyon so famous? […]

The great depth of the Grand Canyon and especially the height of its strata (most of which formed below sea level) can be attributed to 5–10 thousand feet (1,500 to 3,000 m) of uplift of the Colorado Plateau, starting about 65 million years ago (during the Laramide Orogeny). How old is the bottom of the […]

Eight years later Major John Wesley Powell descended the Colorado River through its gorges, renamed the Big Cañon as the Grand Canyon, and wrote a classic account of the view from the river. How did the Grand Canyon get his name? What’s in a name: A one-armed Civil War veteran, John Wesley Powell, coined and […]