Grand Canyon National PArk: A Vein of Life in the American West
Grand Canyon National Park is an intriguing composition of desert geography encompassing one of the most extraordinary natural landmarks in North America. With a length of over 277 miles and a depth of more than a mile in many areas, the Grand Canyon is an impressive sight indeed that formed as the tenacious Colorado River slowly carved away sediment from vast plateau the over many years. The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular National Park destinations in North America, receiving more than 5 million visitors annually, and many people say that it tops their list of dream style vacations with in the continental US.
The most popular destination within Grand Canyon National Park is the South Rim. This is where many of the more popular hotels and lodges are located within the park. The North Rim is more desolate and harder to access, but it is slightly cooler due to its higher elevation. Several of the guest services at the South Rim are open throughout the year. The North Rim is open mid-May through mid-October. A complete drive around the canyon will take approximately 5 hours and is a memorable experience. If you plan on hiking in and around the Grand Canyon, you will need to get a backcountry permit available from the park service. The hike traversing the canyon from south rim to north rim is approximately 21 miles long, and it is best to break the hike up into two days rather than trying to pack it all into one strenuous day hike. Not only will you not have time to enjoy the sights and attractions of the canyon if you rush through it in one day, but it can be stressful and dangerous to try and accomplish it all in one day, especially in the heat of summer.
The majority of the park is Sonoran Desert. The lower Sonoran extends from the inner Canyon at the Colorado River up 3,500 feet. This is where you’ll find hanging gardens and rare flowering plants such as redbud trees and stream orchids. Abundant varieties of wildlife live and thrive within the habitat of the Grand Canyon. Some of the area residents include rare amphibians like the red-spotted toad and the Leopard Frog, and more recognizable creatures like beavers, squirrels, coyotes and many varieties of reptiles.
The Grand Canyon also consists of a large part of the Mojave Dessert where you will find many of the features that you would expect from a desert habitat including cacti, desert lily, sage and prairie clover. However the Grand Canyon is not all dessert, further up the canyon and in the higher elevations of the Kaibab Plateau you will find a more alpine-like setting with conifer forests and pines along with larger mammals such as deer, elk and big horn sheep.
You can choose to navigate and explore the park through many different services, with or without a guide. Air tours provide incredible views of the entire canyon and its amazing geology. Or choose to take a more leisurely ride through the park with one of the jeep tour outfitters in the area. For a refreshing and exhilarating trip through the park, you might consider a wild whitewater rafting adventure on the mighty Colorado. Scenic float trips down the river are another way to see enchanting views from deep inside the Grand Canyon. There are reputable businesses around the park providing these recreation services. The National Park Service also offers ranger programs, exhibits, and other tours of the area seasonally.
To learn more about the Grand Canyon National Park, and the accommodations, activities and attractions that are available there, visit http://www.USParkLodging.com/grandcanyon and visit Dream Style Vacation Club to learn how to double your vacation time and create a better lifestyle!
