Grand Canyon Vacation | National Geographic Visitor Center, Grand Canyon, Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is a wonderful year-round destination and has millions of facts, stories, history, geology and areas to study. Learning about the Grand Canyon can be a lifelong venture of research and exploration. The beauty will take your breath away, the scenic views will seem unbelievable and the colors will live in your mind long after you leave this wonder of the world.

Not sure where the Canyon is, or how to get to the best views? Looking to make plans for a one or two day Grand Canyon vacation?

Looking to hike the best trails? The Visitor Centers within the park and just outside the park have a wealth of materials and guides to help guests set their course.

The National Geographic Visitor Center, located one mile south of the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim Entrance, offers travelers an unparalleled opportunity to deepen their experience of the most popular wonder in the world. With significant additions in visitor education and services, the Visitor Center provides the premier orientation and information spot for guests seeking a vivid and memorable Grand Canyon vacation.

Overview
Over 4 million people take Grand Canyon vacations each year; 90 percent first see the canyon from the South Rim, which has the most dramatic views of the deep inner gorge into the Colorado River. So many feet have stepped cautiously to the edge of major overlooks that in places the rock has been polished smooth. But most of the park’s 1,904 square miles (4,931.3 square kilometers) are maintained as wilderness.

The road to the Grand Canyon from the south crosses a gently rising plateau that gives no hint at what is about to unfold. You wonder if you have made a wrong turn. All at once an immense gorge a mile (1.6-kilometer) deep and 18 miles (29 kilometers) wide opens up. The scale is so vast that even from the best vantage point only a fraction of the Grand Canyon’s 277 miles (445.8 kilometers) can be seen.

It’s hard to look at the Canyon and not be curious about geology. Some of the oldest exposed rock in the world, dating back 1.7 billion years, lies at the bottom. Exactly how the river formed the canyon is still unclear, but geologists generally agree that most of the cutting occurred within the last five million years. When to Visit and Weather Conditions.

Whatever the season…spring, summer, fall or winter…each brings a different intimate mood to the splendor of the Canyon that will make your visit very special. South Rim is open all year; North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May due to deep snows. Hikers and mule riders prefer the spring and fall due to the summer inner canyon temperatures reaching 118°F [47.8°C]; the prime river season is April through October. During summer months South Rim temperatures range from 70 to 85 degrees (elevation 7000 ft.); North Rim temperatures range from 65 to 75 degrees (elevation 8500 ft). Be prepared for all types of weather.

Fast Facts

Grand Canyon took 3-6 million years to form; erosion continues to alter it contours
Formed by the Colorado River, which flows west through the canyon at an average speed of 4 miles per hour and averages about 300 feet in width and 100 feet in depth
190 miles long, 18 miles wide and average depth is 4000 feet
Contains some of the oldest exposed rock in the world, dating back 1.7 billion years
Became a National Monument in 1908 and was made a National Park in 1919
Located in the state of Arizona
Represents 5 of the 7 life zones: Lower Sonoran, Upper Sonoran, Transition, Canadian and Hudsonian. If you were to travel from Mexico to Canada you would see the same 5 life zones represented in the Grand Canyon.
Populated by 5 Indian Tribes: The Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai, Paiute and Hualapai
Home to approximately: 70 species of mammals; 300 species of birds including the Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and the California Condor; 25 types of reptiles; 5 species of amphibians; and over 1500 different plant types.

Getting There

By Plane
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), located on Interstate 17, 90 miles [144.8 kilometers] southeast of the park. Grand Canyon National Park Airport, located on Highway 64, 2 miles from South Rim entrance of the park

By Car
South Rim: From Flagstaff, AZ. (about 90 miles [144.8 kilometers] away), take US 180 skirting the San Francisco Peaks to South Rim entrance, or take US 89 to Cameron, then Arizona Hwy. 64 with views of the Little Colorado Gorge to Desert View entrance.
North Rim: Take Arizona 67 from Jacob Lake through the Kaibab National Forest to North Rim entrance. The two rims are 10 air miles [16.1 kilometers] apart but 215 miles [346 kilometers] by car, a 5-hour drive. Airports: Grand Canyon near South Rim; Flagstaff; Las Vegas; Phoenix.

By Train (Nearest Station)
Flagstaff Train Station, 1 East Santa Fe Avenue, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001

How to Make the Most of your Visit

There are many ways to see and enjoy the Grand Canyon. If you wish to explore it on your own and only have 1-day, visit to the South Rim and take the West Rim Drive for classic views of the main part of the Canyon. In summer the drive is closed to automobiles, but buses will take you to the overlooks. The best second-day activity is the East Rim Drive tour for great views of the Colorado River and eastern canyon.

On a longer stay take the North Rim's Cape Royal Road for broad panoramic vistas. You may also enjoy a hike on a backcountry trail; a mule ride down the Bright Angel Trail; a week-long raft trip through the Canyon on the mighty Colorado River; and a scenic flight over the Canyon for a bird's-eye view (Helicopter or Airplane flights available). The mule trips, river rafting and backcountry hikes require reservations far in advance.

Activities
Free ranger-led activities: day and evening nature walks, slide shows, talks, cultural demonstrations, and campfire programs. Also available, horse and mule trips, hiking, bicycling, fishing, river rafting, air & ground tours, and cross-country skiing. For recorded visitor activities call +1 928 638 7888. Write headquarters for list of concessioners offering wide variety of tours.

Park Information

Headquarters
P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023.Phone +1 928 638 7888. Fax +1 928 638-7797. Seasons & Accessibility South Rim open year-round. North Rim closed to vehicles October to May. For weather and road information, call +1 928 638 7888.

Visitor & Information Centers
South Rim Visitor Center in Grand Canyon Village open all year. Call +1 928 638 7888. North Rim Contact Station open mid-October through mid-May. Call +1 928 638 7864. Entrance Fee $25 per car per week.

Pets
Allowed, leashed, on rim trails, but on the South Rim not below the rim. Kennels available; phone +1 928 638 2631.

Facilities for Disabled
The Visitor center is wheelchair accessible. Free brochures available. West Rim Drive open to vehicles carrying disabled persons with permit.

Special Advisory
Be very careful near the rim; protective barriers are intermittent.

Overnight Backpacking
Permits needed. Contact Backcountry Office, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. +1 928 638 7875.

Campgrounds & RV Parks
Three campgrounds, all with 7-day limit, all in South Rim except North Rim. Mather open all year; reservations recommended March to December. Other times first come, first served. Desert View (first come, first served) and North Rim open mid-May to mid-October. Trailer Village open all year; reservations recommended. Contact Xanterra Parks & Resorts, +1 303 297 2757 or toll-free from within the U.S. +1 888 297 2757. Showers at North Rim and Grand Canyon Village. Tent and RV sites at all campgrounds; hookups only at Trailer Village. Group campsites; must reserve. Food services in park.

Lodging
Hotels, Motels and Inns

Inside the Park:
Lodges listed below inside the park are operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts +1 303 297 2757; toll-free from within the U.S. +1 888 297 2757. Reservations should be made 6 to 9 months in advance. For same-day reservations, try +1 928 638 2631.

(On South Rim): Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins 89 units, some share baths. Cabins and guest rooms. Restaurant. El Tovar Hotel 78 units. AC, restaurant. Kachina Lodge 49 units. Maswik Lodge 288 units. Cabins and guest rooms. Cafeteria. Phantom Ranch (reached by hiking, mule, or raft trips) Dormitories. Restaurant, shared showers. Mule trip packages, includes meals. Reserve early. Thunderbird Lodge 55 units. Yavapai Lodge East 198 rooms. AC. Yavapai Lodge West 160 rooms. Cafeteria. Open March to November.

(On North Rim): Grand Canyon Lodge +1 303 297 2757 or toll-free from within the U.S. +1 888 297 2757. 200 units. Restaurant. Open mid-May to mid-Oct.

Outside the park:
Located one mile from the South Rim Entrance to the Park in Grand Canyon, AZ 86023