Grand Canyon Sightseeing Trip
Travel Arizona's Awe Inspiring Wonder of the World, the Grand Canyon - One of America's Best Sightseeing Trips
It's the crown jewel of the southwest, and perhaps of all of North America. The Grand Canyon is something that needs to be seen to be appreciated fully. A great sightseeing trip to the Arizona canyon can include a multi day road trip around the rim, hiking from the South Rim to North Rim, or even rafting the Colorado River. The red, white and orange hues at sunset and sunrise are something not to be missed for photographers and any outdoor traveler. Read on for some beautiful photos that only hint at the beauty of a Grand Canyon sightseeing trip.
Photo top left Grand canyon photo on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.
Photo by L. Brumm Photography, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.
- The Grand Canyon was formed over approximatley 6 million years by the Colroado River.
- The canyon is 277 miles long, and up to 18 miles wide at some points.
- Garcia Lopez de Cardenas was the first known European to visit the canyon in 1540.Bald eagles have been known to nest in the canyon walls during winter months. Read more about the Bald Eagles in the Grand Canyon here.
- The Grand Canyon game preserve was established on November 28, 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.
- The park was declared a National Monument on January 11, 1908, and a National Park on February 26, 1919.
- The park is home to 34 mammal species.
- Over 600 people have died in the canyon, from drowning, airplane crashes, exhaustion and stroke.
- The Grand Canyon Skywalk opened in 2007, a glass structure over the Grand Canyon which extends 66 feet beyond the edge.
The Complete Guide to the Grand Canyon - The * BEST * Guide to the Grand Canyon - Period.
One of the best reasons to get this book, not just for the content, is its size. It's the perfect size for travel, but also is the most thorough. Hiking, mule rides, canyon flyovers, and sightseeing in general are gone in-depth by the author in great detail... useful detail you can use every step of the way. As one reviewer put it, "It actually felt like the other two guides that I bought for my trip were written by people sitting behind a computer in an office who hadn't been to the Grand Canyon in years, while this guide reads like the author is sitting on a rock perched over the Colorado River sharing his insight to friends. I loved this guide and can't recommend it enough."
The Grand Canyon, as seen from above during the middle of the day.
Photo by kla4067 on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.
The Grand Canyon can provide an endless variation of photographs, as the canyon becomes cast in shadowy reds, oranges, and browns during dawn and dusk, intense oranges and deep reds in the late afternoon, and a spectrum of light browns and white tones during the midday. One of the preferred times to take photos is either at sunset or sunrise, as the colors are the most vibrant. Winter also provides excellent opportunities for unique shots of the white snow against the warm tones of the canyon. From above, the canyon is best photographed in the middle of the day to avoid cast shadows.
The Grand Canyon showing off it's range of colors in this beautiful HDR shot by
Wolfgang Staudt. Photo licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.
Desert Photography: A Favorite Activity at Grand Canyon - Take a better photo on your trip to the rim
For desert photography, it's good to have a backup battery when hiking, as well as a sky or polarizing filter to cut out some of the sun (and to protect your lens).
Leather Bound National Parks Guide
The perfect size for travel, this guide has a smooth leather cover with attached ribbon placeholder. Detailed maps of the National Parks, with a scannable synopsis of each park and historic area, along with websites and phone numbers, directions, and addresses for each park (so you can type it into your GPS!). I've personally used this guide on many trips for its convenient size and sleek look. I recommend it!
208 pages, leather-bound softcover, 3 1/4" x 4 7/8"
A Helicopter Ride Through the Grand Canyon - Get up close and personal with the Grand Canyon's scenery
There are several companies that offer helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon. This can be a great alternative to driving and hiking, but expect to pay over $200 per person. These are usually approximately 90 minutes-3 hours. Many of the major hotels in Las Vegas offer helicopter tours accessible directly via shuttle from the hotel.
Here's a few of the more well known Grand Canyon helicopter tours:
* Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours
Geology, Backroads and History of Arizona - The Grand Canyon state, in books
Arizona is more than the Grand Canyon, it's a way of life. There are other spectactular sites to see within the state of Arizona, like the Petrified Forest, the "energy vortexes" of red rock Sedona, the old ghost towns like Tombstone, the desert city of Phoenix, and the serenity of Saguaro National Park. You can find more about these exciting places in these recommended guides to the history and activities of the state of Arizona.
Grand Canyon River: Adventure at Risk IMAX - A high energy, lifelike experience of the Grand Canyon
I've seen this film several times on the Grand Canyon IMAX in theatres. This would be the perfect film to demonstrate your HD and surround sound, as the photos and video tour the amazing canyon via raft and helicopter. If you haven't been there, this is the only next best thing out there.
A Peak at the Trailer of Grand Canyon IMAX
The Grand Staircase is an area of the southwest that includes some of America's finest National Parks and well known canyons and scenic areas, like Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and Capitol Reef. Save the date with this cool calendar that features 12 incredible shots of the southwest... 12 destinations everyone should see in their lifetime. Here's a few of the scenic places photographed:
Have you been to the Grand Canyon?
Grand Canyon Hiking - A few of the trails and hikes in the canyon
Hiking trails are abound on the rim, and you'll need a lot of preparation before the trip. Are you ready for the strenuous, long hike down one rim and up the other? Take a peek at some of the extraordinary views as you read Ramkitten's journal chronicling each day of her hike from rim to rim here.
Don't Go Headed Down the Canyon Trails Without the Right Boots! - A well fitting pair of durable high quality hiking boots for your journey is a must
Hiking boots are obviously something that you need when traveling down the canyon trails, but you also need to consider how reliable they are. Gortex is an excellent, trusted line from Merrell that are virtually indestructible. Any rocks, wet surfaces, puddles, jagged edges, mud, they can handle it, through the slip resistance traction surfaces and tough soles. They also protect the feet unlike anything else, so you'll be less likely to take a digger.
Recommended Hiking Books on the Grand Canyon - Plan ahead with a well reviewed guide by people who have read it
Hiking the Grand Canyon has endless possibilities for trails and routes. You can go rim to rim, or up the same way you came. Whatever you plan on hiking, you'll need a good map and guide as things come up to refer to. All of these guides have been reviewed 4 stars or more on Amazon.
The Power of the Grand Canyon: Flash Flood - Flash floods can strike at any time
Don't underestimate the power of the Grand Canyon and flash floods. These occur rather frequently during storms, as heavy rains pour down the canyon walls and create gigantic, silty (and rock filled) waterfalls. The Colorado can also swell up and create a dangerous situation in mere minutes. Stop by the visitor's center before any trip to educate yourself preparedness, and to see the current current forecast.
The wettest months of the Grand Canyon
are July and August, when summer thunderstorms roll in and even lead to flash floods.
Where is the Grand Canyon? - Zoom in or out to see more detail on this Google Map
The south rim of Grand Canyon Apollo Throne as seen during sunset.
More Lenses in the Grand Circle:
Explore America's Southwest
The following are pages on other parks within America's southwest, which is loosely known as the "Grand Circle." Each of the destinations form a peg in the circular arc of parks found in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada. It's the trip of a lifetime, and the canyon is actually only one part of the puzzle. Learn more about the rest of the puzzle pieces here:
Bryce Canyon National ParkBryce Canyon is located in the southwestern portion of Utah, and is home to the famous red and white hoodoos spire formations, with remarkable hiking trails and scenic opportunities.
Capitol Reef National ParkA 70 mile wrinkle in the earth's crust resulted in the massive Capitol Reef area and National Park. Giant sandstone domes line the tops of this beautiful Utah plateau.
Canyonlands National ParkWind and water carved stone resulted in the area near Arches known as Canyonlands. The area boasts impressive, wide canyons, unique desert wildlife, and unmatched hiking.
Zion National ParkThe majestic Zion region has been eroded over time by the Virgin River, which slims down to the challenging hiking area of the Narrows.
Mesa Verde National ParkRemnants of a long lost culture can be found in the Colorado ruins of Mesa Verde National Park. Visit to gaze upon the incredible Puebloan Cliff Palace and ancient petroglyphs.
Monument ValleyDeep in the four corners region of the southwest is the often filmed Monument Valley reservation area. Now under the rule of the Navajo tribe, the area is open for touring, hiking and photography.
Arches National ParkSee the most natural sandstone arches anywhere in the world in Arches National Park of Moab, Utah. Erosion has left thousands of these unique stone structures standing in the park.
Black Canyon of the GunnisonDeep, black canyons leave a lasting impression in Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison, with an impressive 2700 foot drop over into the Gunnison River.
Great Basin National ParkGreat Basin National Park contains the beautiful underground Lehman's Cave, and the mammoth peak of Mount Wheeler. Hike the area from its 13,000 feet peak, to beneath the earth's surface.
The Grand CanyonThe Grand Canyon is one of the wonders of the world, with an unforgettable hiking, photography, and road trip experience.
Some of the facts in this lens were found on the Grand Canyon Wikipedia article.
Thanks for Visiting!
Guestbook
* Read more Squidoo Lenses by Kiwisoutback!
* Sign up for Squidoo and Make a Lens!
Do you have a special lookout that you'd like to share with everyone? Which trails are the best to hike? Which time of year should people go? If you have anything to say about the Grand Canyon, tell the world and share your experience!
As Part of the Southwest and Southern Route...
The Grand Canyon was featured as part of the destinations worth seeing along I-10, the southern route. You can view some of the top hotels on I-10 along with information on traveling one of America's longest roads here.
