Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon National Park is located in Arizona, USA. The canyon is divided into three parts, the South Rim, North Rim and the Inner Canyon. Most visitors see the South Rim as it is easily reached and open all year. The South Rim also contains Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest and Desert View.

The North Rim is 10 miles from the South Rim, if you could go straight across. But it is 220 miles to get from the South to the North Rim by car. On foot using the North and South Kaibab Trails, it is 21 miles. The North Rim is one thousand feet higher then South Rim and not as easy to get to. In addition, it has more snow in the winter and that often causes the roads to close. In general, the roads are closed from late October to mid-May. Because of all these reasons, the North Rim is less visited then the South Rim.

The Inner Canyon is considered everything below the rim of the canyon. Most people who see this part of Grand Canyon National Park are hikers, mule riders or river runners. The more adventurous often travel below the rim to backpack, take a mule to Phantom Ranch or take the river through the Canyon on the Colorado River.

The park as an almost unending variety of activities for the visitor. They include lodging, camping, dining, backpacking, picnicking, hiking, bicycling, river trips, mule trips, ranger-led programs, visitor centers, watching the sunrise, sunset and wildlife viewing.http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/index.htm

• Verkamp’s Visitor Center tells the story of the Grand Canyon Village. A bookstore and gift store are located here also.
• Visitor Center at South Rim contains a bookstore and outdoor exhibits.
• Yavapai Observation Station has beautiful views of the Grand Canyon. Displays, exhibits, book store and gift store are located here also.
• The Desert View Drive is also called the East Rim Drive follows the eastern canyon rime for 26 miles.
• Desert View Watchtower is a replica of a 70 foot prehistoric Indian tower. Views of the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks.
• Tusayan Ruin and Museum tells the story of the life of the Pueblo Indians of 800 years ago.
• North Rim of the Grand Canyon is open from mid-May through mid-October. The Grand Canyon Lodge, a campground, visitor center and hiking are all available on the North Rim.
• North Rim Visitor Center contains park information, interpretive programs, exhibits and a bookstore. It is open from mid-May through mid-October from 8am to 6pm every day.
• Other recommended areas are Bright Angel Point, Point Imperial, Cape Royal and Tuweep (Toroweap).http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm

Many archeological remains from a variety of native peoples have been found in the Grand Canyon National Park. Some of the culture groups found in the park are the Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Basketmaker, Ancestral Puebloan (Kayenta and Virgin branches), Cohonina, Cerbat, Pai, Zuni, Hopi, Navajo and Euro-American. More the 4,000 archeological resources have been found with a survey of almost 3% of the park.

The area was first protected by the Federal government in 1893 as a Forest Reserve. It later became a National Monument but did not become a national park until 1919. Almost 5 million people a year visit the park every year.

The Grand Canyon National Park has a number of properties listed as a National Historic Landmark District. One area is the Gran Canyon Village that has 257 properties listed including 9 individual buildings and 9 districts. Nine trails are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as 323 archaeological sites along the Colorado River. Eight hundred and seventy other structures are being reviewed.

• Amazon.com: Grand Canyon National Park Books

• Frommer's: Frommer's Grand Canyon National Park, 5th Edition

• National Geographic: National Parks Road Guides

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