Grand Canyon | aaarticle.com

The Grand Canyon is one of the great natural wonders of the world, a mile-deep gorge carved by the Colorado River across northern Arizona. Its vast, banded cliffs and endless views draw millions to its rim each year.

Overview

Cut over millions of years by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is a chasm some 450 kilometres long and over a mile deep, its walls layered in bands of red and ochre rock that record vast stretches of geological time. Most visitors come to the South Rim, open year round with viewpoints, trails and a historic village, while the higher North Rim is quieter and closed in winter. A national park and a place of overwhelming scale, it is reached by road from Las Vegas, Flagstaff or Phoenix.

Highlights

The South Rim strings viewpoints along the edge, from Mather Point to Desert View, best at sunrise and sunset when the canyon glows. Trails like the Bright Angel descend into the gorge toward the river, a hard climb back that many take only part way. Rim walks, the historic buildings of the village, and rafting trips or helicopter flights over the canyon complete a visit.