Is visting the Grand Canyon worth it?
The short answer is yes! Visiting the Grand Canyon is an incredible opportunity to connect with nature and explore the history of the US. The Grand Canyon National Park stretches over 112 miles and a mile across is massive. It offers incredible views, great hiking and exploring. The magnitude and scope are incompressible until you are standing on the cusp.
The first moment you stand at the edge, the vastness overwhelms you. For as far as you can see – history and time are displayed in the layers and crevices. It’s pure magic. Exploring the upper rim of the grand canyon, there is a lot to take in and understand. The park service provides placards and resources to educate and inform along the paved trails. Shuttle buses make it easy and convenient to explore the points. The Grand Canyon is easy to navigate making it great for families of all ages and fitness levels to enjoy.
Exploring History
Each point around the south rim offers a glimpse into history and geology. It’s worth taking the time to read and absorb the information. In the context of today’s standards of travel, communication, etc., it’s a wonder the West was explored at all. Travel times, methods, and nature make it seem impossible. Yet, brave, enterprising people made the trek and we are fortunate they did. A cool feature of the paved trails is year markers, they call it a walk-through time.
A Few Facts
- The Grand Canyon is 277 miles from Lees Ferry to Grand Wash Cliffs.
- approximately 10 miles across and 1 mile deep
- Slightly larger than the State of Delaware
- The National Park is 1904 square miles out of the total 2660 that make up the total canyon.
- Second most visited National Park
The Great Outdoors
We have a low level of hiking and camping experience. While we try to be those who hike and camp, we quickly found out we are not. We enjoy the outdoors and exploring but full-day hikes and sleeping in a tent – not so much. So can you enjoy the park without enjoying those experiences? Yes, the Grand Canyon is easy to navigate with a mix of accommodation options, making it great for families of all ages and fitness levels to enjoy. Three days in the Grand Canyon was enough for us to capture the grandeur and awe of the park.
We hiked into the canyon to the Oh La La point. The somewhat easy trail continues to further lookouts and down into the base of the canyon. This point is perfect for beginning hikers and families. Remember to bring water and take your time.
There are several hikes in and around the Grand Canyon. Ensure you are honest with yourself and your abilities. There are varying degrees of difficulty throughout the park; refer to the official grand canyon park information site that can help you decide which paths to explore, plus valuable information on hiking.
Where to stay
There are several Hotels in the park (they fill up quick and early) plus camping sites – if that’s your thing. Restaurants, supplies, and groceries are available within the grounds. The town of Williams is a short drive from the park and offers hotels, restaurants, gas, and provisions. Many of the tours also pick up in town.
