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Casa Grande Ruins
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Walnut Canyon
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Ironwood Forest NM
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Sonoran Desert NM
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The South Rim of Arizona's Grand Canyon is expensive and overcrowded, and there is usually a shortage of parking and accommodation, but that of course doesn't matter as the canyon is the most famous natural attraction in the USA and possibly in the world. No-one forgets their first sight of the Grand Canyon and it will never fail to impress or offer something new, no matter how often it is visited.
Ninety percent of tourists see only the south rim of the Grand Canyon, since it is easily accessible and the main road (AZ 64) parallels the canyon edge for some distance (see map) - here there is every conceivable facility, many superb overlooks and a choice of hiking trails. The north rim, 215 miles away by road, is much more remote and high enough in elevation to be closed during the winter months by snow, but fewer people mean more peace and tranquility and the views are just as good. The only other part of the Grand Canyon that may be approached via paved roads is Havasu Canyon, contained within the Havasupai Indian Reservation to the west, although a day's hiking is necessary.
Still further west, a few reasonable quality unpaved roads run through land of the Hualapai Indian Reservation including the one down Peach Springs Canyon that leads all the way to the Colorado, giving access to many isolated side canyons as well as the river itself. On the other side of the Grand Canyon, the particularly remote Tuweep area to the northwest can be reached by several dirt tracks of over 60 miles starting from US 89 in Utah and offers some spectacular viewpoints, but most of the countless square miles of the canyon and its tributaries are completely inaccessible by road. |
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As others have said, sometimes the scale and extent of the Grand Canyon is disconcerting - the great gorge is too vast to take in at first sight, but a hike down beneath the south rim gives a more intimate and manageable perspective. The two main trails to the Colorado River are the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab; this latter connects with the North Kaibab route which follows Bright Angel Canyon to the north rim. There are also many longer (unmaintained) paths suitable for experienced hikers, leading both to the river and along the canyon, such as the difficult New Hance Trail, the mostly level Widforss Trail on the north rim and very steep Lava Falls Trail near Tuweep. For inexperienced hikers, even a short walk along the level and partly paved Rim Trail (which parallels the south edge of the canyon for 13 miles) is enough to escape the all crowds at the major viewpoints.
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Grand Canyon - Specific Places
South Rim - location of the main visitor facilities, the most popular viewpoints, and many hiking trails
North Rim - higher elevation overlooks, much less visited but just as impressive
Havasupai Indian Reservation - scenic region west of the main south rim, centered around Supai, Havasu Canyon, Mooney Falls and Havasu Falls
Hualapai Indian Reservation - large area of rugged canyons in the southwest, including Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk
Tuweep - wild, remote area in the northwest corner of the national park, reached by a long drive across uninhabited land
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Grand Canyon - General Information
Park Maps - Grand Canyon Overview Map,
North Rim & South Rim Detail Map,
Grand Canyon Village Map
Grand Canyon Weather - climate summary
Hiking Precautions - points to know before hiking in the national park
Grand Canyon slot canyons - narrow gorges, including Jackass Creek and Tanner Wash
Grand Canyon - Hotels
The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Grand Canyon is the most popular of the hotels near the South Rim, and is located just two miles from the southern entrance station on US 180.
Check rates at Holiday Inn Express Grand Canyon
More Grand Canyon Hotels (South Rim)
For the remote North Rim, the closest main towns with hotels are Kanab and Page.
Grand Canyon - Hiking Map
The best general map for hiking in the Grand Canyon is the double-sided 1:73,530 scale topographic map from National Geographic/Trails Illustrated, which covers the canyon from its northern point at Lees Ferry (Marble Canyon), as far west as Mohawk Canyon in the Hualapai Reservation.
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