Grand Canyon Travel Guide

May 7, 2008 — -- The Grand Canyon has a mythic hold over visitors, thanks to its diverse wildlife, flora and fauna, and expansive, cavernous red terrain of terraced buttes and mesas that stretch for 277 river miles across the Arizona desert. The Colorado River bisects the canyon and divides it between the North Rim and the South Rim.

Quick facts about the Grand Canyon:

The oldest and deepest rock layer, the Vishnu Formation, was formed some 2 billion years ago.

More than1,500 and 400 plant and animal species can be found in the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon is up to 18 miles wide in some places and a mile deep.

Grand Canyon was made a national monument in 1908 and became a national park in 1919.

The Grand Canyon is populated by five American Indian tribes: Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai, Paiute and Hualapai.

Getting There

The Grand Canyon National Park

Telephone: 928-638-7888

Web site: www.nps.gov/grca

North Rim entrance is located about 30 miles south of Jacob Lake on Highway 67, close to Utah; the canyon rim is an additional 14 miles south. The South Rim is 60 miles north of Williams, Ariz., (via Route 64 from Interstate 40) and 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff (via Route 180).

If you're renting a car and driving to the South Rim, it's advisable to park in a designated spot and take one of the canyon's free shuttles. The Grand Canyon is a good distance from major airports, and many people fly into either Phoenix, which is 220 miles from the South Rim, or McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, 263 miles from the North Rim, and rent a car at either point.

For more information on how to get to the Grand Canyon by car, bus, train or shuttle, click here.

Costs: $25 per private vehicle. The cost for those who enter on foot, bicycle, motorcycle or as part of a noncommercial group is $12 per person. Admission is valid for seven days and gains you entrances to both the North and South Rims. Visiting the Skywalk (tel. 877-716-9378; www.grandcanyonskywalk.com) is an entirely separate affair, as it is owned and managed by the Hualapai tribe and not the park; admission is $29.95.

Hours and Strategy for Visiting

Grand Canyon Visitors' Center can only be reached by a free shuttle bus, a 1-mile walk or bike ride from Market Plaza on the Greenway Trail or a short walk by way of Mather Point, and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The North and South Rims are about five hours apart by car.

The South Rim is open all year round, but from March 1 through Nov. 30 don't plan on driving: You'll need to take the park's free shuttles, or walk or ride a bicycle in order to get from one lookout point to another. The North Rim is open, weather permitting, from mid-May to mid-October. After this point, the park remains open (but without most major guest services, including gas) until the first major snowstorm. The road from Jacob Lake into the park closes during the first storm and remains closed until spring.

Consider taking an historic train to the park -- one of these runs from Williams to Grand Canyon Village, and there are buses that run from Flagstaff and Williams, and a taxi service from Tusayan.

Dress in layers. Be prepared for varying temperatures, humidity and possible rainfall, especially in mid-July, which is monsoon season.

Hikers and serious nature enthusiasts might consider traveling in the winter. It is peaceful, quiet and you can receive a backcountry permit easily. The trails remain open, but they may be slippery.

Where to Stay Near the Grand Canyon

There are a variety of options both inside and outside the park, and camping remains a popular option. If you're interested in staying inside the park, the reservations are handled by Xanterra Parks and Resorts (tel. 888-29-PARKS; www.xanterra.com). If you want to camp in the park, reservations can be made for two of the campgrounds within the park through the National Recreation Service (tel. 877/444-6777; www.recreation.gov).

Expensive: El Tovar Hotel

Moderate: Grand Canyon Lodge

Budget: North Rim Campground