Due to its size and varying elevations, visiting Arizona encompasses a variety of climates and landscapes. 310 miles wide by 400 miles long, Arizona is vast with rugged, breath-taking beauty. It is the 48th state and the country’s 6th largest. Because of the great distances and the time needed to travel from one end of the state to the other, a visitor would be hard pressed to do and see everything there is to experience in the wonderful state in one week. If seven days is all the time available for vacation, it’s best to divide and conquer by focusing on one part of the state and leaving the rest for another visit.
Tucked into the northern part of the state, the Grand Canyon is a must for any visit to Arizona. If time is limited, seeing the Canyon is the priority. One of the world’s 7 natural wonders, it is an amazing sight that is hard to capture in words or pictures. It’s approximately 277 miles long, 4 to 18 miles wide and over 1 mile deep cut through by the winding wild Colorado River. Its vastness, in both breadth and depth and magnitude, is difficult to absorb.
Most travelers visit the South Rim where Grand Canyon Village is located. It is open year round and easily accessible by highway. The Village houses hotels, camp grounds, restaurants, cafes, markets, gift stores, and information centers. It makes a great start to any Grand Canyon adventure. While rafting the rapids and hiking the depths of the Canyon may make for the most exciting tales, there are plenty of activities for every skill level, inclination, and pocketbook.
Hiking the Grand Canyon
Hiking is one of the top ways to see and experience the Canyon. The trails around and down into the gorge range from moderate for families and beginners to strenuous to accommodate the most ardent hikers and backpackers. Hikers can walk down the well maintained Bright Angel or Hermits Rest trails to view the ever changing Canyon landscape up close.
Grand Canyon Safety Tips
It’s important to remember the Grand Canyon is wilderness at its best. Hiking shoes are needed to keep from slipping on the soft sandy rock and as protection from the multitude of critters that call the Canyon home. It’s imperative to drink plenty of water. Signs urging visitors to stay safe and stay hydrated are everywhere throughout the park. At 7,400 feet above sea level at its highest elevation, even the easiest trail can be physically demanding. The rule of thumb for hiking into the Grand Canyon is it takes twice as long to hike up and out as it does to walk down.
For more even terrain, the 13 mile Rim Trail is the one to try. It runs along the side of the Grand Canyon. With the right planning, the hike can wind down to Hopi Point at the end of the day where the sunset views are spectacular. For the tired, the faint of heart, the ailing, the elderly, and the foot sore travelers, free shuttle buses run from point to point along the South Rim.
Katherine Melvin - Katherine has focused on writing and the creative arts since childhood. She writes poems, essays, articles, poems for children, and short ...
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