Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon sneaks up on you. 

Truly! You are driving through rather flat desert land which changes to flat land covered with widely spaced pine trees. The pine trees are a surprise (or at least were a surprise to me). Other than that, nothing in the terrain suggests anything out of the ordinary… that just a short distance away the earth drops away into a mile deep canyon.

The Grand Canyon is a very long canyon…277 river miles…so I suspect very few tourists see the entire canyon. When someone says they were at the Grand Canyon they most likely would be talking about the Grand Canyon National Park area located just north of Flagstaff, Arizona (USA).

With that in mind, welcome to the Grand Canyon.

(Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

When I was much younger I saw a lot of cowboy movies at the local movie theatre. When the wide angle shots of cowboys riding across the landscape came on the screen, there often was a blurry background with reddish mountains in the distance. As I kid I thought “Why would they paint something like that on their background curtain! Why not something green?”

Well, here I am standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon and I see that same background. Is this real? Was the movie background not a curtain, but actually shot around here? or am I looking at an enormous painting?

The scale of this place plays tricks on the mind making it difficult to put things into perspective.The canyon is a mile deep! so no wonder I find it difficult to relate. I can see the Colorado River down there but it is mile down!

Being at the Grand Canyon evokes so many thoughts …some surreal, some more  pragmatic.

How might a writer or storyteller see this scene?

Are those pillars guarding a secret hideout?  are they gates to another world? or is this a giant’s playpen?

How might an artist (or a photographer) react to scenes like this?

Answer: awestruck…and inspired to create a picture. 

Would a geologist find answers here?

Answer: Of course! Where else can you see this much geological history on such a wide scale. Perhaps a geologist would even be inspired to ask  new questions.

How long would it take a historian to research the famous people who have stayed here?

Hint: Presidents have stayed here!

Would one need to be an archaeologist or a historian to research this culture? or both?

Is there anyone who would not feel spiritual presence in this place?

On a more practical note…

This is a national park so you have to pay a fee and get a park pass to enter.

You can drive to some outlooks yourself, but some areas do not allow private vehicles. During the summer season one has to walk or take the free shuttle buses (much better idea, in my opinion!)

Spend some time here. Consider taking a mule ride along the rim. Take in some of the free talks by the Rangers. (Check out the National Park Services official website for details.)

The parking area near the visitor center is quite large (but, then, it was not that busy when we were there so parking may be an issue during high season.)  The visitor centre is attractive and helpful.

Heed their warnings about the heat...especially if you are going to do more than walking the rim.

Aside: All these photos are from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

There is a North Rim but it is difficult to get to. Even though you can see it across the canyon the only way to get there by car is to drive 137 miles (yes, you read that correctly. 137 miles!) Why? Well, only bridge over the Colorado River is far, far to the east…the Navajo Bridge. We did the drive and crossed over the Navajo Bridge. Want to join us? Click here.

So… wear a hat (literally) and put on many different hats (figuratively) and visit Grand Canyon National Park.

Visit more places in the USA, click here.

and/or

Visit places around the world, click here.

Happy travels!