Despite these strategically located private in-holdings, the vast majority of the Grand Canyon is owned by the federal government, held in trust for the American people and managed by a varied collection of federal agencies. Indian reservations, state land, and private land surround these federal lands. Does China own any part of the Grand Canyon? […]

Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument Though Native Americans lived in the area as early as the 13th century, the first European sighting of the canyon wasn’t until 1540, by members of an expedition headed by the Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. Who first discovered the Grand Canyon? Francisco Vázquez de CoronadoThe […]

The number of recreational visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) in the U.S. reached a total of 5.97 million in 2019. Characteristic Number of visitors in millions 2018 6.38 2017 6.25 2016 5.97 2015 5.52 How many visitors does the Grand Canyon get? 5.9 million peopleAn estimated 5.9 million people visit the Grand […]

Each responds to erosion in a different way: some form slopes, some form cliffs, some erode more quickly than others. The vivid colors of many of these layers are due mainly to small amounts of various minerals. Most contain iron, which imparts subtle shades of red, yellow, and green to the canyon walls. What makes […]

If you haven’t visited the village of Supai, there’s probably a good reason: The only town inside the Grand Canyon, it’s located deep inside a 3,000-foot-deep hole. The only way to get there is by hiking, riding an animal or taking a helicopter.The reservation is unique for reasons aside from its location. Does anyone live […]

Scientists estimate the canyon may have formed 5 to 6 million years ago when the Colorado River began to cut a channel through layers of rock.President Benjamin Harrison first protected the Grand Canyon in 1893 as a forest reserve, and it became an official United States National Park in 1919. How did the Colorado River […]

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are the smaller of the two native felids living in Grand Canyon National Park, the larger being the mountain lion. These cats are common, but rarely seen, members of Grand Canyon’s nocturnal community. What big cats are in the Grand Canyon? Mountain lions (Puma concolor) are the largest predators found in the […]

The entire western margin of North America was a subduction zone from approximately 250 to 45 million years ago. This subduction zone has likely contributed to the uplift of the Grand Canyon region (see pages 68-69). A transform plate boundary forms where two plates slide past one another (Fig. 1.5c). How did plate tectonics form […]

The Canyon itself was carved by the Colorado River and the wind that caused the surface of the sedimentary rocks to become exposed and erode over time. The erosion of the Grand Canyon by winds, rains and the amazing strength of the Colorado River created the marvelous views and exposed magnificent caves. Is the Grand […]

Geologist Allan Krill was hiking along the Grand Canyon National Park’s Bright Angel Trail with a group of students in 2016 when he spotted it: a fallen boulder lying just off the side of the trail, with curious markings that resembled footprints. What did they discover in the Grand Canyon? A geologist has discovered a […]

Distance-wise, it’s about 9.5 miles (15.5 km) each way but with an elevation change of over 4,300 ft (1300+ m) and it’s really that elevation change that makes it a tough hike. The hike down generally takes 3-5 hours while the hike up, after a good overnight rest, will typically take 5-9 hours. How far […]

Cliff Collapse Reveals 313-million-year-old Fossil Footprints in Grand Canyon National Park. GRAND CANYON, AZ. – Paleontological research has confirmed a series of recently discovered fossils tracks are the oldest recorded tracks of their kind to date within Grand Canyon National Park. When did the Grand Canyon collapse? This modal can be closed by pressing the […]

This incredible formation was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. The canyon itself has formed much more recently than the deposition of rock layers, only about five million years ago (as opposed to the rocks, the youngest of which are a little less than 300 million years old). Was the Grand Canyon […]

John Wesley Powell. He is famous for his 1869 geographic expedition, a three-month river trip down the Green and Colorado rivers, including the first official U.S. government-sponsored passage through the Grand Canyon. John Wesley Powell Education Illinois College Oberlin College Scientific career Fields Natural sciences What expedition explored the Grand Canyon? The Powell Geographic Expedition […]

approximately 5 ½ hours. The descent down the Bright Angel Trail is 10.5 miles and will take approximately 5 ½ hours. No worries, there are rest stops along the way. How long does it take to get down the Grand Canyon on a donkey? The ride down is about 10½ miles (5½ hours) and back […]