There are just so many “must sees” around the world that we will probably not get to do them all. However one that we have been fortunate enough to visit several times and one that you should put on your bucket list if you haven’t already is The Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Totally within the state of Arizona, 277 miles long, 18 miles across at its widest point and over a mile deep (6093ft, 1857m), it exposes over 2 billion years of the Earth’s geological history. It shocks you with awe when you first view its beauty. We were quite literally stunned in to stillness and silence when we first gazed upon this deep gouge in the earth’s crust. From each and every viewpoint a new vista reveals itself to expose the canyons stunning beauty.
Most tourists only visit the South Rim of the canyon because this side is where the Grand Canyon Skywalk, Grand Canyon Village and the Desert View Service Area are located. Despite its length there is only 23 miles of road that actually runs along the South Rim and that is from The Grand Canyon Village to the Desert View Service Area. There are trails along most of the rim but not roads. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a horseshoe shaped bridge made of glass allowing visitors to walk 4000ft above the canyon floor. It is located in the Hualapai Indian Reservation in the western area of the canyon and these native Indians own and run the establishment. It is about 2 hours and fifteen minutes drive from Las Vegas or 4 and a half hours from Phoenix. It is quite surreal to walk out on this glass bridge and look down to the canyon floor 4000ft below. No cameras or mobile phones are allowed out on the bridge as the photo opportunity is a means of allowing the Indians to enhance their income. There is very little accommodation in this area so it is more of a day trip.
The main centre for tourism on the South Rim of The Grand Canyon is the Grand Canyon Village and is where most visitors head to admire the canyon. It is 4 hours and 20 minutes from Las Vegas and 3 hours 35 minutes from Phoenix. It is run by the National Parks Service and is where El Tovar, the first hotel to be built on the canyon rim in 1905 is situated and we stayed in this historic hotel on one of our visits there. Now the village consists of a multitude of different types of accommodation all of which can be booked through the National Parks Service website. The village extends over some distance now but there are frequent buses around the village and to various viewpoints around the rim. There are several restaurants and at least two supermarkets in the village. The village is also where one of the most famous trails in the park starts, the Bright Angel Trail. Naturally, as you would expect, the trail starts off very steep and follows a side canyon along a massive fault. As you descend the gradient flattens somewhat to a point known as Indian Garden, 4 and a half miles and over 2000ft below the rim. This area was used by native Indians until modern times. From here it is a relatively flat 3 mile hike to Plateau Point, 1600ft above the Colorado River. The hike is not really for the casual walker because what comes down has to go back up! It is ill advised to attempt this trail in the height of summer, as temperatures even in the shade can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Centigrade). There are water stations along the route, the last being at Indian Gardens before Plateau Point but in the summer exposure to the sun and dehydration are an acute reality.
If you cannot get accommodation in the Grand Canyon Village then there are many hotels and lodges in the small town of Tusayan, only 12 minutes drive south of Grand Canyon Village. This is also where you can get a helicopter ride from Tusayan Airport with Papillon Helicopters, an absolutely amazing experience and a wonderful way to see the canyon from a different perspective. We did the North Canyon Tour and to ensure that we had the two front seats next to the pilot we requested them on arrival and paid the $100 excess to ensure success! It may sound expensive but by goodness it is so worth it! After lifting off from the airport you fly low over the forests that surround the canyon oblivious to its existence whilst listening to Ride Of The Valkyries. Suddenly, when the music reaches its crescendo the ground falls away and you are flying over the void of the canyon, surrounded by its walls. It is one of the most awe inspiring experiences that we have ever had and worth every dollar. Our only disappointment is it doesn’t last long enough but there are several other tours also available with Papillon.
Another way of reaching Grand Canyon Village is by the Grand Canyon Railway. Built in 1901 it provided easy access from the town of Williams to the South Rim, allowing tourists to avoid the 8 hour stagecoach ride from Flagstaff. The railway was instrumental in the creation of Grand Canyon Village and the increased number of tourists provided by the railway led to the building of the El Tovar hotel in 1905.
As stated earlier there are only 23 miles of road that closely follows the rim of the canyon between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View Service Area. It does permit access to a number of beautiful viewpoints along the way, one of our favourites being Grandview Point, if you are lucky enough you may meet some of the local wildlife that inhabits the Grand Canyon National Park. On one of our trips our progress was halted by a herd of elk, a male and his harem plus young. It was a beautiful sight to just see them wandering around and feeding in their natural habitat.
The Desert View Service Area is the last point of interest before driving out of the canyon towards the south east. It is not as large as the Grand Canyon Village but does have a petrol station, visitor centre, two restaurants and deli but most importantly it is the location of the Desert View Watchtower. From here you get stunning views of the beginning of the canyon to the east and can view its progress meandering through to the west. We were very fortunate to arrive here just after a very heavy rain shower had passed through. As the clouds cleared and the sun broke through we took some stunning photos of a rainbow that appeared to loop over the Watchtower and slide down in to the canyon. This area is also superb for just sitting on a rock near the edge and watching the ravens frolicking on the up and down draughts with reckless abandon.
If you have a few days or a week to spare at the canyon there are companies that offer rafting trips through the canyon on the Colorado River. Along the way you will marvel at walls soaring 4500ft overhead, see waterfalls, Indian ruins and commune with wildlife.
Can anyone else add their “must see” to the list? 
I think we always take so many photos that usually there are a few good ones! 
. Still the canyon was breathtaking. The next time, it snowed so much (in June!) that we couldn’t leave. I wonder what it would do to us if we tried to go again?
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