Grand Canyon
A mile-deep, three-hundred-mile gorge carved by the Colorado River through banded rock - the most awe-inspiring canyon on earth and a UNESCO site.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
The Grand Canyon is a mile deep, up to eighteen miles wide and nearly three hundred miles long, a vast gorge the Colorado River has cut through two billion years of banded rock. Nothing prepares you for the scale of it, the layered walls glowing at dawn and dusk, and it remains one of the great natural wonders and a UNESCO site.
What you actually see
- The South Rim viewpoints - Mather Point, Yavapai and Hopi Point for the classic vistas.
- Sunrise and sunset - the light that sets the layered walls glowing.
- The Bright Angel and Kaibab trails - the routes descending toward the river.
- The North Rim - the higher, cooler, far quieter side, open in summer only.
When to go
Spring and autumn for mild rim temperatures; summer is hot and crowded, and the inner canyon dangerously so. Winter brings snow to the rim and solitude. The North Rim closes for winter.
Honest expectations
The South Rim is busy and its viewpoints can feel crowded, so walk a little along the rim for space. Hiking below the rim is far harder than it looks, and the heat kills the unprepared, so never try to reach the river and back in a day. It is remote, so plan travel and lodging ahead.
Nearby
Flagstaff and Route 66 are to the south; Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon and Zion lie across the wider Colorado Plateau.
What to pack for Grand Canyon
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
