Grand Canyon National Park - Grand Expanse
The Grand Canyon appears on many people’s bucket list and rightly so. It is one of the most awe- inspiring national parks in the nation. This year, the Grand Canyon National Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary. It received the national park status in 1919 under President Woodrow Wilson to become the 15th national park in the US. In 1979 it also became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can visit the park either at the North Rim or the South Rim. Because the Rims are separated by 8 miles of canyon but over 200 miles of road, driving between the two is not much of an option.
I’ve visited the Grand Canyon 4 times, each rim on two separate occasions. While both are beautiful, I would recommend the South Rim if you are only going to visit one area. In my opinion, the views of the canyon are much more dramatic from the South Rim. The South Rim also offers a wonderful hike to the bottom of the canyon.
If you have the time and are fit enough, I would generally recommend the Bright Angel Trail which will take you all the way to the Colorado River. It’s certainly not an easy hike, especially the climb back but the views are spectacular. We did the hike in early April. While it was cold at the start of the trail, once we got to Indian Gardens, the temperature rose to over 70° F. Undoubtedly, it’s going to be much warmer in the summer time, so prepare accordingly.
While the Bright Angel Trail is spectacular, know that the easy and level Rim Trail is also amazing. You will have gorgeous views of the canyon and you may also be able to see the Colorado River from a couple of spots. If you really want to see a longer stretch of the river, head to Grandview Point or the Desert View Watchtower. You will certainly have mesmerizing views of the canyon and the Colorado River from here.
If you are at the North Rim, you can do a nice scenic drive to several overlooks. Point Imperial is the highest point on the North Rim and offers gorgeous views of the canyon and the Painted Desert.
We camped at the park for several days each time. The facilities are good and you will see a lot of Roosevelt elk at the South Rim. If you’re planning to be there in the summer, make reservations way in advance because the campgrounds are full.
Which Rim have you visited? What were your impressions of the Grand Canyon? Were you able to hike the Bright Angel Trail?
