Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon, with its layered bands of red rock revealing millions of years of geological history. Viewpoints include Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station and architect Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower. Lipan Point, with wide views of the canyon and Colorado River, is a popular, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Map of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument (NM) in Arizona. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Map of the Daily Lottery Permit Application Geofence Perimeter for Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) and South in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument (NM), Arizona Strip BLM Field Office area and Kanab BLM Field Office area in Utah and Arizona. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Motor Vehicle Travel Map (MVTM) of North Kaibab Ranger District in Kaibab National Forest (NF) in Arizona. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of North Kaibab Ranger District (RD)in Kaibab National Forest (NF) in Arizona. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Brochure of World Heritage Sites in the United States. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
https://www.nps.gov/grca
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_National_Park
Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon, with its layered bands of red rock revealing millions of years of geological history. Viewpoints include Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station and architect Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower. Lipan Point, with wide views of the canyon and Colorado River, is a popular, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Entirely within the state of Arizona, the park encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homelands of 11 present day Tribal Communities, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—a mile deep canyon unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors from both north and south rims.
South Rim: Open all year, is located 60 miles north of Williams, Arizona (via route 64 from Interstate 40) and 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff (via route 180). Grand Canyon lies entirely within the state of Arizona. ---- North Rim: Open for the season between May 15 and October 15, 2025. The North Rim is located 30 miles south of Jacob Lake on Highway 67; the actual rim of the canyon is an additional 14 miles south. Jacob Lake, AZ is located in northern Arizona on Highway 89A, not far from the Utah border.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center (South Rim)
Open daily from 9 am through 4 pm. Trip planning and hiking information is available through exhibit kiosks and sidewalk signs outside of the building. Park in one of four large parking lots and get your first look at Grand Canyon by walking to nearby Mather Point. With your vehicle parked at the Visitor Center, you can also board free shuttle buses and be transported around the village and out to scenic overlooks.
Coming from the South Entrance Station, continue following the road for 5 miles, it will lead you to the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center Plaza has four parking lots surrounding the Visitor Center, the Park Bookstore, a cafe, and the short 5-minute walk to Mather Point on the edge of the Canyon. From the Visitor Center, it is also possible to Park-and-Ride. Leave your car at the Visitor Center, then board free shuttle buses and ride around the South Rim.
North Rim Visitor Center Park Store
The Visitor Center/Park Store will be open for the season between May 15, and October 15, 2024. Visitors have an opportunity to ask questions, plan trips, and learn about the day's activities and programs. The store offers a wide variety of books, maps, souvenirs, and gift items and is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily. Park rangers staff an outdoor information desk between 10 am and 4 pm daily, at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk, just north of the Visitor Center building, and along the canyon rim.
Leaving U.S. 89A at the Jacob Lake junction, travel south on State Route 67 and drive 43 miles through forests and meadows to the North Rim of Grand Canyon. The North Rim Visitor Center is at the end of State Route 67, within the Grand Canyon Lodge complex, on the left, and adjacent to the main parking area for the lodge and Bright Angel Point. The North Rim of the park, as well as State Route 67 closes to all vehicle traffic from December 1, through May 14, due to snow.
Verkamp's Visitor Center (South Rim)
In the Village Historic District, near Hopi House and El Tovar Hotel, Verkamp's Visitor Center features exhibits that focus on the Grand Canyon Community; what it was like to live and work here on the brink of one of the seven natural wonders. A staffed information desk and a Grand Canyon Conservancy Museum Store are also located here. A water bottle filling station is just outside of the building near the canyon rim, and public restrooms are available in a separate building behind the Visitor Center.
Verkamp's Visitor Center is a short walk just east of El Tovar Hotel and Hopi House. Parking in the nearby lot may be limited during busy periods, which include spring break, summer and fall months. If you are walking from the shuttle bus stop across from the Railroad Depot, climb the stairway to the top of the hill. Here you will find El Tovar Hotel, Hopi House, and Verkamp's Visitor Center. They are located on the east end of the Village Historic District.
Desert View Campground (Reservations Required)
At the East Entrance, Desert View Campground offers a peaceful setting with 49 campsites. 30 feet (9.1 m) combined total length is the maximum length for RVs or vehicles pulling travel trailers. Campsites are available by reservation only at www.recreation.gov and can be made up to 6 months in advance starting Sat. April 12, through the night of Sun. October 12, 2025. Make reservations online or call (877-444-6777). It is possible to make same day call-in and/or online reservations.
Campsite
18.00
Desert View Campground is now on a reservation basis through recreation.gov. on line, or by phone 877-444-6777. It is possible to do a same day-call and/or online reservations.
o Sites are limited to 6 people
o 2 Tents and 2 vehicles per site, or 1 vehicle with one RV/5th Wheel/Trailer
o Maximum vehicle length is 30 feet; front bumper to rear bumper.
o No hookups are available at any of the sites
o Each site has a picnic table, fire ring/cooking grill
o Restrooms with Flush toilets are available.
Campsite (Senior or Access Pass)
9.00
Desert View Campground is now on a reservation basis through recreation.gov. on line, or by phone 877-444-6777. It is possible to do a same day-call and/or online reservations.
o Sites are limited to 6 people
o 2 Tents and 2 vehicles per site, or 1 vehicle with one RV/5th Wheel/Trailer
o Maximum vehicle length is 30 feet; front bumper to rear bumper.
o No hookups are available at any of the sites
o Each site has a picnic table, fire ring/cooking grill
o Restrooms with Flush toilets are available.
RV in campsite
An RV parked on a paved surface, nestled in a desert scrub forest.
Maximum vehicle length is 30 feet.
Empty campsite
An empty campsite containing only a tent, draped picnic table, and fire ring
Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire ring with a cooking grill
Motorcycles
Two motorcycles behind a trailer in a campsite
Sites are limited to six people.
Two Tents
a paved surface
Visit Desert View Campground for a more solitary experience.
Desert View Campground Restrooms.
Single story restroom building with men's side on the left and women's on the right.
Campground Restrooms with Flush toilets are available between sites 9 & 11 next to the Camp Hosts site.
Mather Campground - South Rim
Mather Campground is located in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. There are 327 sites. Each includes a campfire ring/cooking grate, picnic table, parking space and room for up to six people, three tents, and two vehicles. There are flush toilets and drinking water throughout the campground. No hookups are available, however there is a free dump station. Most RV spaces are pull-through. Pine loop is a tent-only area where generators are not permitted.
Family Site
18.00
Family campsites range from accommodating a small tent, to 30 foot motor homes and fifth wheels. Family sites are limited to 6 people, three tents and two vehicles per site. There are no hookups available at any of the sites. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring with a cooking grill.
Family Site with Senior or Access Pass/ Golden Age/ Golden Access
9.00
Family campsites range from accommodating a small tent, to 30 foot motor homes and fifth wheels. Family sites are limited to 6 people, three tents and two vehicles per site. There are no hookups available at any of the sites. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring with a cooking grill.
Group Site
50.00
Group sites can accommodate 7-50 people and tents per site. 3 vehicles per site. RV and bus parking is prohibited.
Communal Hiker Biker Sites
6.00
Hiker/biker are for people on foot or bicycle only. These are non-reservable communal hiker/biker sites (available on a first-come, first-served basis only) and hold up to one person, one tent and no vehicles. If you have more than a one person hiking party you will need to make more than one reservation.
Communal Hiker/ Biker Sites - with Senior or Access Pass/ Golden Age/ Golden Access
3.00
Hiker/biker are for people on foot or bicycle only. These are non-reservable communal hiker/biker sites (available on a first-come, first-served basis only) and hold up to one person, one tent and no vehicles. If you have more than a one person hiking party you will need to make more than one reservation.
Horse Camp
25.00
Campers in horse camp must have horses of mules. Horse camp can accommodate up to 6 people and 6 horses and mules. 30 foot vehicle limit including trailer. 2 vehicles permitted. (a trailer is considered a second vehicle.) Up to 6 tents.
Horse Camp with Senior or Access Pass/ Golden Age/ Golden Access
12.50
Campers in horse camp must have horses of mules. Horse camp can accommodate up to 6 people and 6 horses and mules. 30 foot vehicle limit including trailer. 2 vehicles permitted. (a trailer is considered a second vehicle.) Up to 6 tents.
Mather Campground Registration Kiosk
An RV is parked while people stand in in front of a small brown building
Checking in at the Mather Campground Registration Kiosk
Mather Campground Site
A man and a woman sit at a picnic table in the sunlight a tent and chairs surround a firepit
Staying at Mather Campground
Pull through campsite at Mather Campground
<img alt="Image: a truck with an attached trailer is parked in a paved pull-through campsite. Two bi
Pull through site at Mather Campground
Group campsite at Mather Campground
several tents in a group campsite with touring bicycles.
Group campsites are available for hiking and bicycling groups
Winter Camping in Mather Campground
In a snow covered campsite, two dome tents, and some folding chairs
Winter Camping in Mather Campground
North Rim Campground
Closed for the winter, the North Rim Campground, will be open from May 15 through October 15, 2025. It is located on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona. The canyon's rustic and less populated North Rim is home to abundant wildlife, hiking trails, and unparalleled views of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The facility is at an elevation of 8,200 ft., with pleasant summer temperatures and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
Family Site
18.00
Family campsites range from accommodating a small tent, to 40 foot motor homes and fifth wheels. Family sites are limited to a maximum of 2 vehicles, 6 people, 3 tents are allowed per site. (A vehicle, which is towing a trailer, pop-up, tent trailer, fifth wheel, or a motor home pulling a vehicle, is considered two vehicles.) There are no hookups available at any of the sites. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring with a cooking grill.
Family Site with Senior or Access Pass/ Golden Age/ Golden Access
9.00
Golden Age or Access passport holders pay half price. (The passport number is needed when making reservation and passport holder must be camping at the site). Family campsites range from accommodating a small tent, to 40 foot motor homes and fifth wheels. Family sites are limited to 6 people, three tents and two vehicles per site. There are no hookups available at any of the sites. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring with a cooking grill.
Group Sites
50.00
Maximum 25 people and 3 vehicles
Hiker/Bicyclist (Communal Site)
6.00
Hiker/Bicyclist sites are for people on foot of bicycle only. These sites will not be sold to anyone with a vehicle. Each person in the hiker/bicyclist should know that this is a communal space, and they may be sharing the space. Tent pads, picnic tables, and food storage boxes may be available, depending upon capacity.
North Rim Campground - family site in tall pines
Two bicycles parked next to a large blue tent under pine trees. Picnic table in the foreground.
North Rim Campground - family site in the tall pines.
North Rim Campground - family site in aspen grove
A white and blue tent under a canopy of brilliant yellow aspen leaves.
North Rim Campground - family site in an aspen grove - fall colors
North Rim Campground - group site.
seven tents in a variety of colors pitched together under tall pine trees.
North Rim Campground group sites allow a maximum of 25 people and 3 vehicles per site.
North Rim Campground - pull-through RV sites
two campsites with pull-through driveways. Travel trailers are parked in the driveways.
North Rim Campground pull-through sites maximum vehicle length is 40 feet (12 m)
Trailer Village RV Park - South Rim
Trailer Village is the only in-park RV campground with full hookups (sewage, water, and electrical with 30 amp and 50 amp sites available) Open year-round, Trailer Village features paved pull-through sites which can accommodate vehicles up to 50 feet long. Trailer Village is operated by Delaware North. Reservations can be made up to 13 months in advance. If visiting during the busy season (May through October) making reservations 1 year in advance is recommend. Visit their website to make reservations.
Paved RV Site up to 28 feet/8.5 meters total vehicle length
71.00
Includes paved site, 30 and 50 amp hookups, water, sewer, cable TV, charcoal grill and picnic table.
Paved RV Site 29 feet/8.5 meters to 50 feet/15 meters total vehicle length
71.00
Includes paved site, 30 and 50 amp hookups, water, sewer, cable TV, charcoal grill and picnic table
Classic RV Site up to 28 feet/8.5 meters total vehicle length
61.00
Includes gravel site, 50 amp hookup, water, sewer and picnic table
Classic RV Site 29 feet/8.5 meters to 50 feet/15 meters total vehicle length
61.00
Includes gravel site, 50 amp hookup, water, sewer and picnic table
Trailer Village 003
a wide panorama showing a number of RVs in individual sites.
Full hook-ups are available at Trailer Village on the South Rim.
Trailer Village 001
Three RVs in pull-through sites with picnic tables. Trees form the background.
Pull through sites allow larger vehicles easy access and exits.
Trailer Village 004
Several RVs parked in individual sites with several inches of snow covering the ground.
Experience Grand Canyon during winter at Trailer Village RV Park.
Trailer Village 002
A road with 5 RVs and a trailer facing forward in individual pull-through sites
Trailer Village with RV hook-ups in Grand Canyon Village
Grand Canyon Mather Point Sunset on the South Rim
The canyon glows orange as people visit Mather Point, a rock outcropping that juts into Grand Canyon
People come from all over the world to view Grand Canyon's sunset
Grand Canyon National Park: View from Cape Royal on the North Rim
The Cape Royal viewpoint curves into the distance and closer rock formations jut into the canyon.
A popular outdoor site for weddings and receptions, Cape Royal Amphitheater is located 23 miles (37 km) from the North Rim developed area.
Grand Canyon National Park: Desert View Watchtower (South Rim)
The Desert View Watchtower looms 70 feet into the air over a vast and dramatic view of the canyon.
The Watchtower is located at Desert View, the eastern-most developed area on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Looking down the Colorado River from Nankoweap at river mile 53
Tall canyon walls frame the wide Colorado river weaving back and forth.
A view down the Colorado river from Nankoweap in Marble canyon.
Bison Effects: Research and Monitoring
Impacts and monitoring of bison herd on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Herd of bison stampeding through grassy meadow, kicking up dust at the edge of a forest.
Bison in Grand Canyon, the Kaibab Plateau Herd
Outline of the cooperative bison management on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
A herd of bison kicking up dirt inside of a corral with a mixed conifer forest in the background.
South Kaibab Trail Shelter Now Available
Grand Canyon National Park backcountry users can seek out shade and an opportunity to rest from the elements at the new Tipoff Shelter along South Kaibab Trail.
open-sided shade ramada 12 x 24 feet, with metal roof.
Capturing the Colors: Conservation Work at Desert View Watchtower Concludes
Over the past four years, the historic tower at Grand Canyon National Park’s Desert View area has undergone extensive conservation and graffiti remediation work on the interior to conserve the murals that were painted in 1932.
a conservator is working on a parapet wall below a ceiling of colorful painted designs.
Catching Fossil Fever: A Paleontology Project at Grand Canyon National Park
The rocks of Grand Canyon National Park preserve almost one third of Earth’s history and have inspired visitors and scientists from around the world for the past 100 years. Learn more about projects conducted this year to advance the paleontology program at Grand Canyon National Park as well as events scheduled to celebrate the 10th anniversary of National Fossil Day.
view of the grand canyon
2010 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Recipients of the 2010 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
2009 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Recipients of the 2009 Environmental Achievement Awards
2011 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Recipients of the 2011 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
2015 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Recipients of the 2015 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Grand Canyon National Park Hosts Alternative Break Citizenship School
Grand Canyon National Park's Volunteer Program wrapped up a week-long experiential training session for college students with the Alternative Break Citizenship School. Approximately 75 students from over 40 colleges participated in educational sessions and hands on service work at the park July 22 to 28, 2019.
4 college students wearing yellow safety vests are picking up litter.
Partnerships add a Charge to your Travel Plans
The National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, BMW of North America, the U.S. Department of Energy, concessioners, and gateway communities have collaborated to provide new technologies for travel options to and around national parks. As part of this public-private partnership, BMW of North America, working through the National Park Foundation, donated and arranged for the installation of 100 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports in and around national parks.
National Park Getaway: Grand Canyon National Park
A trip to Grand Canyon can be a great winter getaway. Colder temperatures, shorter days, and snow bring a slower pace to one of the nation's most visited national parks.
Grand Canyon with snow
2012 SCPN-NAU Student Projects
The 2012 SCPN-NAU School of Communication partnership took the form of a fall semester internship for NAU student, Kent Wagner.
2012 Student Projects
Verkamps Tour with Susie Verkamp - 1/5/2011
Susie Verkamp leads a tour of the Verkamps, family curio store and home for 100 year to Grand Canyon's Verkamp Family.
a complex, boxy, two-story building entirely covered with brown shingles.
Birthday Greetings
On February 26, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson signed a Presidential Proclamation to establish Grand Canyon and Lafayette (now Acadia) as national parks. We celebrate the concurrent birthdays of two places that unite America, and the vision of her leaders ninety-nine years ago.
A receding series of silhouetted cliffs and ridgelines bathed in late afternoon light.
The Civilian Conservation Corps
As part of the New Deal Program, to help lift the United States out of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. The CCC or C’s as it was sometimes known, allowed single men between the ages of 18 and 25 to enlist in work programs to improve America’s public lands, forests, and parks.
CCC men lined up in front of a building and looking at a flag pole with an american flag.
Grand Canyon Fire Managers Host Alternative Break Citizenship School
Seventy-three students from thirty-nine universities attended a week-long Alternative Break Citizenship School (ABCs) at Grand Canyon National Park during August 2016. They learned about volunteer recruitment and the park's fire management program. When they return back to campus they will share what they learned with other students who will be leading an alternative break (volunteer service) in the school-year 2016/2017.
A park firefighter shows students the contents of her fireline pack.
Grand Canyon Helitack Receives Prestigious National EMS Award
On July 25, 2016, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis presented the 2015 National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Wildfire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Award to the Grand Canyon Helitack Crew.
group photo of award presentation
Interagency Aviation Officer Receives DOI Honors
In 2010, Mike Ebersole, interagency aviation officer for Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest, was honored by the Department of the Interior with two awards—the 2010 Secretary's Award For Outstanding Contribution to Aviation Safety and the Award of Honor For Safe Flying (Twenty Years).
A man stands in front of a helicopter inside a building
Grand Canyon Helitack Assists with Injury Extraction
This video tells the story--through first-person accounts by the participants--behind the successful extraction of a firefighter injured by rockfall on the 2011 Las Conches Fire on the Santa Fe National Forest. The video teaches associated terminology and highlights the importance of continuing staff training, drilling, risk analysis, and strategic partnerships in safely dealing with a life-threatening situation.
A helicopter hovers close to the ground with several people below it
The Force that Drives the Water Through the Rock
Listen to Aaron Ximm's, "The Force that Drives the Water Through the Rock," a piece created during his residency at Grand Canyon.
vast canyon tinged pink by setting sun
California Condor
Species description of the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus).
An adult condor with the wing tag label number 80 stands over a juvenile condor.
Arizona Bark Scorpion
The most venomous scorpion in North America, the Arizona bark scorpion is a small animal that only grows to 2.5 inches (6.4cm) long.
An Arizona bark scorpion glows white under a black light.
Structural Fire Awards Presented to Parks and Firefighters for Excellence in Service
In 2013 the NPS Office of Structural Fire presented awards to those parks and individuals who have made a difference over the past year in furthering the structural fire program agencywide. Article identifies recipients of Superior Achievement Award, Compliance Achievement Award, Outstanding Fire Instructor of the Year award, and Leadership Awards.
National Park Service Visitor and Resource Protection Staff Focuses on Week of Leadership
Staff from all levels of the National Park Service in law enforcement, United States Park Police, as well as fire and aviation spent a week learning leadership lessons from one another as well as from a diverse group of leaders during the last week of September 2019.
A group of women and men on a rocky outcrop in high desert.
America's Best Idea: Featured National Historic Landmarks
Over 200 National Historic Landmarks are located in national parks units. Some historical and cultural resources within the park system were designated as NHLs before being established as park units. Yet other park units have NHLs within their boundaries that are nationally significant for reasons other than those for which the park was established. Twenty of those NHLs are located in parks featured in Ken Burn's documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea.
watchtower against blue sky
1922 - Into the Grand Canyon and Out Again by Airplane
Most aviators, I venture to say, would have been content to fly down into the canyon and make a safe landing. But not so Thomas. He was not satisfied with his performance until he had climbed back up again without landing and then dropped over the rim in a long tail-spin, which carried him nearly to the bottom, five thousand feet below...
Old fashioned biplane with pilots standing nearby.
1925 - Building the Kaibab Trail
The Chimney, Ooo-Ahh Point, Windy Ridge, the Red & Whites, the Tip-Off, the TrainWreck…For those who know and love the Kaibab Trail, the recitation of these names conjures up images that are the stuff of longing, wonder, and enchantment.
Man in wide brimmed hat overlooking grand canyon.
Recovering the Endangered Sentry Milk-Vetch, Methods & Preliminary Results
The recovery effort takes a multi-faceted approach to meeting recovery plan objectives. Priorities include identifying and protecting existing habitat and populations, researching optimal growing conditions, and establishing new populations.
Sentry Milk-Vetch
In the City that Never Sleeps
Grasshopper Mouse will howl like a wolf. She is a member of the toughest mouse family that lives. She is a carnivorous creature, fast and sure enough to kill and eat giant centipedes and scorpions, immune to their terrible venom. The few who have seen one of these battles know that it resembles a cross between a lion attacking a full-grown Wildebeest and a Jackie Chan fight scene. Only faster.
Mouse in front of Grand Canyon
300 Humpback Chub Translocated into Shinumo Creek
In June 2010, fisheries biologists released 300 young humpback chub into Shinumo Creek in Grand Canyon National Park. This second translocation augmented the number of humpback chub in Shinumo Creek following the 2009 release. Biologists hope that Shinumo Creek will provide rearing habitat for humpback chub in a natural environment outside the Little Colorado River.
A humpback chub being held out of water.
Grand Canyon National Park takes steps to recover the endangered sentry milk-vetch.
The park took significant actions in 2009 to recovery the endangered sentry milk-vetch, including constructing a passive solar greenhouse to house an ex situ population and conducting seed germination trials.
Sentry milk-vetch next to a quarter to show scale.
National Park Service Aviation Personnel Attend DOI National Pilot Ground School
During the week of December 10, 2017, twenty-eight National Park Service (NPS) airplane and helicopter pilots, pilot trainees, national and regional aviation staff attended the 2017 DOI National Pilot Ground School (NPGS). The weeklong training brought together over 100 DOI pilots from the NPS, US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and DOI’s Office of Aviation Services (OAS).
A group of 17 men stand in front of a room.
Northern Arizona Land Managers Recognized for Leadership in Fire Management
In June 2015, managers of both the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona were recognized for the leadership role they’ve played in managing wildland fire across the landscape and jurisdictional boundaries for the purpose of improving forest health conditions.
National Park Service Hosts First Class of Aviators for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
In September 2016, the Department of the Interior certified the first nine unmanned aircraft systems pilots in the National Park Service. The new pilots will use their certification in support of search and rescue, wildland fire activities, and resource monitoring.
A drone hovers near a tree on the edge of the Grand Canyon.
Morale, Welfare and Recreation in WWII National Parks
Wartime NPS Director Newton Drury wrote 'In wartime, the best function of these areas is to prove a place to which members of the armed forces and civilians may retire to restore shattered nerves and to recuperate physically and mentally for the war tasks still ahead of them.' During World War II, parks across the United States supported the morale of troops and sought to become places of healing for those returning from war.
B&W; soldiers post in front of large tree
Army Couple Visits 59 National Parks
When you’re a dual-military couple, it can be a challenge to try to find things to do together, especially when you’re at separate duty stations or on deployment. For one Army couple, what started out as a simple idea to get out of the house turned into a five-year adventure.
Couple standing in front of The Windows at Arches National Park.
Desert Bighorn Sheep in Grand Canyon
A close up of the head of a male Desert Bighorn sheep with 3/4 curl.
American Cheetah Fossil
Interactive 3D Model Pleistocene subfossil collected from a cave in the Grand Canyon during a 1936-1937 Civilian Conservation Corps expedition.
model of fossil cheetah jaw on plain color background
California Condor Fossil
Interactive 3D Model Pleistocene subfossil collected from a cave in Grand Canyon National Park.
3d model of condor skull on plain color background
PARKS...IN...SPAAAACE!!!
NASA astronauts have quite literally an out-of-this-world view of national parks and take some pretty stellar pictures to share. Travel along with the space station on its journey west to east getting the extreme bird’s eye view of national parks across the country. And one more down-to-earth.
View of Denali National Park & Preserve from space
Crystal Clear: Implementing High-Flow Protocol for Nourishment of Beaches
On November 18, 2012, the Department of the Interior began increasing the release of water in the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam for a high-flow experimental release (HFE) of approximately 42,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) for 24 hours. The goal of the high-flow experiment was to move sand a cumulated in the river channel and redeposit it to rebuild eroded sandbars and beaches in Grand Canyon National Park.
4 rafts floating down the river with grand canyon in background.
Understanding extended day use of corridor trails
A social scientist discusses the impact of use levels on visitor experience along Grand Canyon National Park’s most popular backcountry trails—those of the corridor—and summarizes visitor perceptions of various management interventions being considered to address them.
Map of the Corridor Trail System at Grand Canyon National Park; NPS map
Park Air Profiles - Grand Canyon National Park
Air quality profile for Grand Canyon National Park. Gives park-specific information about air quality and air pollution impacts for Grand Canyon NP as well as the studies and monitoring conducted for Grand Canyon NP.
Desert View Watchtower in Grand Canyon NP
Alexander Pearson: An Early Pilot of Aviation History
Lt. Alexander Pearson was a trailblazing pilot of early aviation. His groundbreaking flights, including the first aerial survey of the Grand Canyon and breaking the world speed record in 1923, made him one of the United States' most celebrated early aviators. Today, Pearson Field and Pearson Air Museum, a part of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, are named after him.
Black and white photo of man in military uniform.
Fire Communication and Education Grants Enhance Fire Interpretation and Outreach in the National Parks in 2015 and Beyond
The 2015 National Park Service Fire Communication and Education Grant Program provided funding for projects, programs, or tasks in twelve parks around the country.
A woman studies a small coniferous tree while a younger woman looks on.
Preventive success! Grand Canyon’s response to search-and-rescue overload
The rapid rise of search-and-rescue responses in Grand Canyon National Park leads to creation of the Preventive Search and Rescue team.
Helicopter medivac rangers wheel a litter up the Bright Angel Trail; NPS/C. J. Malcolm
Canyoneering at Grand Canyon National Park: Monitoring pockets of wilderness in the canyon corridor
A backcountry ranger discusses the rise in popularity of canyoneering at the park and the management challenges resulting from this recreational activity.
Phantom Creek; NPS/Matt Jenkins
Grand Canyon’s corridor trail system: Linking the past, present, and future
Grand Canyon National Park’s corridor trail system tells the story of how human use and recreation have evolved amidst the park’s vast backcountry.
A view of upper Bright Angel Trail from Hermit Road, South Rim, Grand Canyon; NPS/Michael Quinn
SW CA Condor Update - 2013-01 (January)
From January 2013: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
Grand Canyon Black Tarantula
Tarantulas are not dangerous, but their bite is painful. While these spiders are large, they can be easily harmed if dropped or stepped on. Please observe these incredible arachnids from a distance.
A Grand Canyon black tarantula climbing up a stone.
SW Condor Update - 2008-05 (May)
From May 2008: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flies wild and free.
Tarantula Hawk
Tarantula hawks are brilliantly colored, but are predators with an incredibly painful sting. NPS Photo/ Robb Hannawacker
An black insect with bright orange wings and predominant feelers on sandy ground.
Grand Canyon is the ‘Dark Sky Place' to Visit
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) presented Grand Canyon National Park the International Dark Sky Place of the Year Award in Tucson, Arizona, on Friday, November 8, 2019. “The real winners are the millions of visitors that have the opportunity to experience the park’s pristine night skies,” said Grand Canyon National Park Program Manager Vicky Stinson.
5 nicely dressed people posing for a group photo.
2019 Freeman Tilden Award Recipients
Congratulations to all the two 2019 recipients of the national Freeman Tilden Awards. Learn more about all their innovative interpretive programs.
Three rangers at Manzanar NHS
Stock’s Vampire Bat
Interactive 3D Model Stock’s vampire bat fossils are often found in association with giant ground sloths, which suggests they might have been one of this bat’s preferred sources of food.
3d model of bat skull
Harrington’s Mountain Goat
Interactive 3D Model Harrington’s Goat (<em>Oreamnos harringtoni</em>) is an extinct species of caprine that was found in the Southwestern part of North America during the last ice age. Osteologically, the Harrington was smaller (by a 1/3) than the living mountain goat, O. americanus, to which it is related, but with relatively robust feet, a proportionally long but narrow skull, and smaller horns.
3d model of goat skull on plain color background
Fossil Vertebrate Trackways
Interactive 3D Model These tracks, located in a large fallen block of the Coconino Sandstone within Grand Canyon National Park are evidence of early tetrapods inhabiting deserts during the late Paleozoic (early Permian).
model of fossil tracks on rock slab
Phyllodont Fish Tooth Plate
Interactive 3D Model This is mold of a Permian age fish plate. Fish plates are tooth-like structures found in early fish and are known from the Pennsylvanian to the Permian periods.
3d model of fossil on larger rock
Seed Fern Fossil
Interactive 3D Model Collected from the Hermit Shale in Grand Canyon National Park by Frank Richardson in 1938.
3d model of seed fern fossil on rock surface
Trilobite
Interactive 3D Model Collected from the Bright Angel Shale in Grand Canyon National Park.
3d model of trilobite fossil on rock slab
Increasing temperature seasonality may overwhelm shifts in soil moisture to favor shrub over grass dominance in Colorado Plateau drylands
Increasing variability of temperature favors a shift to shrublands over grasslands in arid southwestern landscapes. This effect is greater than the effect of increasing soil moisture, which favors a shift to grasslands over shrublands.
Grassland with scattered junipers and hills in the background.
A Chance Discovery Reveals a Rich Fossil Shark Record From the Carboniferous of the Grand Canyon
In the early spring of 2012, an old shoebox belonging to former NAU geologist professor. It contained micropaleontology slides that held conodonts and micro-vertebrate fossils that were a mystery. But not for long!
Thrinacodus gracia and teeth from the Surprise Canyon Formation; scale equals 200 µm.
Historic Visibility Studies in National Parks
Haze can negatively impact how well people can see and appreciate our national parks across the country. This article summarizes the visibility studies from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s aimed at identifying the sources of haze causing pollution at specific parks and improving visibility monitoring methods.
Big bend national park river
2018 Freeman Tilden Award Recipients
In 2018, six talented National Park Service employees were awarded the Freeman Tilden Award for their amazing and innovative interpretive programs.
Ranger in a canyon with a typewriter on a table
Survival of the Southern Paiute
The Paiutes have overcome insurmountable challenges and devastation as a people. Their long struggle to preserve the Paiute way and flourish continues. But they will not give up. Instead, they celebrate their achievements, promising that while “[t]he struggle is long and difficult… the Paiute will survive.”
Native American man in ceremonial dress with orange cliffs in the background.
1902 - Breaking A Trail Through Bright Angel Canyon
The adventure of the first party to cross from one side of the Grand Canyon to the other by pack train in 1902 have never been told. Here follows a brief statement of the circumstances. by F. E. Matthes, U.S. Geological Survey.
Black and white historic photo of a side canyon with a creek between towering cliffs.
1928 - A Bridge Worthy
Construction of the suspension bridge across the Colorado river.
Bridge attached to two rocky cliffs spanning a river, text reads
1914 Metz Car
To the bottom of the Grand Canyon by automobile was probably the most strenuous undertaking ever carried out in the annals of American motoring. To make that trip and to return to the plateau thousands of feet above, all on the car's own power, negotiating deep sand arroyos, frightfully steep grades, great boulder filled gorges and slimy mud flats, is a feat extraordinary.
Driver of a Metz peers into Grand Canyon.
1899 - An Adventure in Beaver Canyon
I have had many a perilous adventure in my ten years of exploring in the canyons of the Colorado River, but none so peculiar as one I passed through this year (1899).
Waterfall falling over dark rocks into clear blue pool.
Alternative Spring Break Brings Enthusiastic Students to Grand Canyon National Park
While many college students lounged on beaches for spring break, 82 students from eight colleges and universities spent their time supporting Grand Canyon National Park’s wildland fire crew as part of an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program.
group of spring break students pose for a group photo with fire managers
World War II Plane Crashes in National Parks
During WWII, more than 7,100 air crashes involved US Army Air Force (USAAF) aircraft occurred on American soil. Collectively these crashes resulted in the loss of more than 15,599 lives (Mireles 2006). Many of these military aircraft accidents occurred in remote, often mountainous, areas managed by the National Park Service.
plane crash at base of grassy hill
California Condor Reintroduction & Recovery
A tagged California condor flies free. NPS Photo/ Don Sutherland
A wing-tagged California condor flying in the blue sky.
Successful North Rim Prescribed Fires at Grand Canyon
In November 2012, interagency fire managers completed ignitions on two prescribed fires totaling about 4,600 acres. Initial post-treatment observations indicate that goals and objectives were met. The fires reduced buildup of dead and down vegetation, especially along the North Rim's primary exit route, created defensible space around sensitive cultural resources and along the park-forest boundary, and protected and enhanced Mexican spotted owl habitat.
A collapsed smoke plume looms over a softly lit Grand Canyon.
The Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is centered on the four corners area of the Southwest, and includes much of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Hazy Fajada Butte, Chaco Culture National Monument
Monitoring Upland Vegetation and Soils on the Southern Colorado Plateau
Vegetation and soils are the foundation upon which all terrestrial ecosystems are built. Soils provide the medium for the storage and delivery of water and nutrients to plants, which in turn provide animal populations with both habitat and food.
Sampling grassland vegetation at a long-term monitoring plot at Wupatki National Monument
Monitoring Bird Communities on the Southern Colorado Plateau
Bird communities can tell us a lot about changing environmental conditions. High on the food chain, and sensitive to climate and habitat changes, birds are monitored on the Southern Colorado Plateau as indicators of riparian and upland ecosystem health.
Male Williamson’s sapsucker.
Wildland Fire in Douglas Fir: Western United States
Douglas fir is widely distributed throughout the western United States, as well as southern British Columbia and northern Mexico. Douglas fir is able to survive without fire, its abundantly-produced seeds are lightweight and winged, allowing the wind to carry them to new locations where seedlings can be established.
Close-up of Douglas fir bark and needles.
Managing Wildfires in a Fire-Adapted Ecosystem in Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon fire managers saw success in managing lightning-caused wildfires in summer 2014 to achieve resource benefits and burn a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Firefighters stand in an open pine forest with small flames on the ground.
Nearly 1000 Acres Successfully Treated with Prescribed Fire on Grand Canyon South Rim
On June 9, 2016, National Park Service (NPS) fire managers successfully treated 994 acres with prescribed (Rx) fire on the South Rim of Grand Canyon.
firefighter listens to handheld radio during a prescribed burn
North Zone Readiness Review a Success: “We Train Together to Respond Together”
Wildland firefighters from the Kaibab National Forest, Color Country Bureau of Land Management and Grand Canyon National Park trained together May 12,2016 at the North Kaibab Ranger District for their annual readiness review training.
Incident Commander briefs firefighters during simulation exercise
2011 Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award
Many rangers tend to specialize in specific ranger skills depending on their abilities, but Hendy is one that simply excel at every aspect of rangering. On any day ranger Hendy could be anywhere: rappelling over the rim of the Grand Canyon to stabilize a patient, working with the Grand Canyon Special Response Team to do a building sweep, responding with the structural fire engine to a burning RV, or simply answering visitor questions.
Lisa Hendy
2012 Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award
Throughout his 14-year career, Ranger Torres has dedicated his life to helping others and protecting visitors in the national parks as a federal law enforcement officer, paramedic, rescuer, firefighter, coach, guide, and teacher. Torres has earned the highest respect from his coworkers, mentored other rangers, and is known for his kindness, sound judgment, and sincerity.
Brandon Torres
2014 Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award
Vandergraff is a living legend among his peers. In his 25-year career, Vandergraff has hiked 10,000 miles of the Grand Canyon backcountry, spent 3,000 days helping visitors below the canyon's rim, and assisted with more than 2,000 search and rescue operations. A rangers' ranger, Vandergraff has dedicated his life to helping others.
Bil Vandergraff
Wildfire at Grand Canyon National Park: Visiting Our Past to Build Our Future
Current and past fire managers at Grand Canyon NP toured the North Rim to develop a vision for the future of the wildland fire program there. Sixteen fire managers with a total of 152 years of GRCA fire experience attended the field trip to discuss success stories, lessons learned, future climate changes, and fire effects. The group toured past wildfire areas to assess postfire recovery and discussed future projects to ensure the perpetuation of wildland fires for the future.
Module Conducts Wildland-Urban Interface Projects Throughout the Intermountain Region
In 2013, the Saguaro Wildland Fire Module (WFM) managed multiple projects simultaneously in AZ, TX, and NM. WFMs are highly skilled and versatile fire crews that provide expertise in long-term planning, ignitions, holding, prescribed fire preparation and implementation support, hazardous fuels reduction, and fire effects monitoring. With their help, fire fulfills its natural or historic role to meet resource and management objectives and create fire-adapted communities.
Wildland Fire: Previous Fuels Treatments Change Fire Behavior
The June 2013 Halfway fire is an excellent example of how strategically planned prescribed fire treatments can be effective in limiting the spread of future wildfires. Despite a red flag warning and extreme fire danger, interagency fire personnel contained the fire at 250 acres after just one day. The quick, safe suppression was a direct result of interagency collaboration and a long history of hazardous fuel reduction through carefully planned and implemented prescribed fire
Wildland Fire in Sagebrush
Sagebrush will burn when the surrounding grasses are dry. With strong winds, fire spreads rapidly with flames sometimes reaching over 30 feet high. While fire easily kills sagebrush, the other plants resprout from protected roots producing lush forage for wildlife and livestock.
Close-up of sagebrush leaves
2002 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Recipients of the 2002 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
2007 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Recipients of the 2007 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
2004 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Recipients of the 2004 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Shasta Ground Sloth
Interactive 3D Model Pleistocene giant ground sloth recovered from Rampart Cave. Collected in the 1930's during excavation work within the cave. In addition to bones, this cave also preserved pieces of sloth fur and large amounts of sloth manure.
3d model of sloth skull on plain color background
Dragonfly Wing Fossil
Interactive 3D Model This fossil, is the type specimen for T. whitei and is from the Hermit Shale of Lower Permian time (~280 million years old). This nearly complete fore-wing is from an early and much larger insect similar to a dragonfly.
3d model of dragonfly wing fossil on rock surface
Fossil Tetrapod Foot Prints
Interactive 3D Model Several sets of various size tracks from the ichnogenus Chelichnus in the Coconino Sandstone. Tracks are found along the Hermit trail in Grand Canyon National Park.
3d model of fossil tracks on larger rock slab
Brachiopod Fossil
Interactive 3D Model Collected from the Kaibab Limestone in Grand Canyon National Park. Specimen was formerly on display at the Yavapai Geology Museum.
3d model of fossil clam on larger rock
Coiled Nautiloid
Interactive 3D Model Collected from the Kaibab Limestone in Grand Canyon National Park. Holotype specimen.
3d model of fossil nautiloid on plain color background
Crinoid Fossil
Interactive 3D Model Collected from the Kaibab Limestone in Grand Canyon National Park.
model of crinoid segments in rock slab
Restoring a dammed river with experimental flooding
One of the hot topics in environmental science is whether or not to remove dams to restore the natural flow of rivers. Over the centuries, thousands of dams have been constructed on rivers across the United States to store water or produce electricity. Some of these dams influence our national parks.
A dam with water at it's base and red cliffs to the left and the right
About The Southern Paiute
“Paa” ute means water ute, and explains the Southern Paiute preference for living near water sources. The Spanish explorer Escalante kept detailed journals of his travels in the Southwest and made notes concerning Southern Paiute horticulture, writing in 1776, that there were “well dug irrigation ditches” being used to water small fields of corn, pumpkins, squash, and sunflowers.
Southern Paiute boy by wickiup shelter.
Modeling Past and Future Soil Moisture in Southern Colorado Plateau National Parks and Monuments
In this project, USGS and NPS scientists used the range of variation in historical climate data to provide context for assessing the relative impact of projected future climate on soil water availability. This report provides the results of modeled SWP generated for 11 ecosystems in nine Southern Colorado Plateau Network parks.
Extensive grassland at Wupatki National Monument
Post-1935 Changes in Pinyon-Juniper Persistent Woodland on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park
The discovery of datasheets from vegetation study plots established in 1935 in Grand Canyon National Park provided a unique opportunity to look at 76 years of change in pinyon-juniper woodlands on the South Rim and make inferences about their relation to climate, fire regimes, and resource management.
Canyon rim covered in green trees beneath blue sky with a few clouds
Wildland Fire in Chaparral: California and Southwestern United States
Chaparral is a general term that applies to various types of brushland found in southern California and the southwestern U.S. This community contains the most flammable type of vegetation found in the United States.
Chaparral on steep rocky slopes.
Bat Projects in Parks: Grand Canyon National Park
From monitoring to education, find out what Grand Canyon National Park learned about their bats!
A view of the South Kiabab trail heading into the Grand Canyon
Monitoring Night Skies and Natural Soundscapes on the Southern Colorado Plateau
Many national parks in the Southern Colorado Plateau region contain large areas of wilderness, where dark night skies and natural soundscapes are important human values. Dark night skies, which depend upon the visibility of stars and other natural components, are diminishing resources in several park units because of anthropogenic activities. Natural soundscapes—that is, the natural sounds of wildlands—are degraded by sounds caused by humans or human technology.
Clouds and sky turning red and orange over Navajo National Monument at sunset
Recovering the Endangered Sentry Milk-Vetch, 2016 Update
Additional sentry milk-vetch populations have been discovered on the South and North Rims since 2006, when the sentry milk-vetch recovery plan was published. Currently there are five wild populations on the North Rim, four wild populations on the South Rim, and three introduced populations on the South Rim. In 2016, sentry milk-vetch monitoring, propogation, site mapping, planting, and propagation protocol refinements were among the recovery milestones.
Sentry milk-vetch plant
SW CA Condor Update - 2017-01 (January)
From January 2017: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2015-11 (November)
From November 2015: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2015-02 (February)
From February 2015: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2014-11 (November)
From November 2014: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2015-07 (July)
From July 2015: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2016-04 (April)
From April 2016: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2014-07 (July)
From July 2014 : An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2019-09 (September)
An update on the Southwest California Condor Meta-Population for September 2019 from Grand Canyon National Park.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2017-04 (April)
An update on the status of the Arizona/ Utah population of the California condor.
A condor flying.
West Rim Drive Cultural Landscape
West Rim Drive starts at the intersection of the Village Loop Road and ends at the Hermits Rest Trail Head. The current road, trail, and overlooks were constructed in 1934-1935, and continue to be popular tourist attractions that receive high use throughout the year. Features visible from the road and West Rim Trail include the Colorado River, the North Rim, Grand Canyon Village, Bright Angel Trail, Indian Garden, and others.
Fred Harvey Tour Busses at Hopi Point, circa 1935 (GRCA archives)
Grand Canyon National Park Centennial Briefings: Cultural Resources
During the summer of Grand Canyon National Park’s 2019 centennial, scientists and resource managers briefed fellow staff and the public about how they are helping to enable future generations to enjoy what is special about Grand Canyon.
A man stands talking to a group of people near a structure made out of tree limbs.
Dark Adaptation of the Human Eye and the Value of Red Flashlights
Jim O'Connor of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association describes the properties of night vision, and why it is important to use red flashlights at star parties, or other outdoor astronomy events.
At night, several people are looking through a large telescope with the Milky Way in the sky above.
SW CA Condor Update - 2012-10 (October)
From October 2010: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
New Citizens Sworn in at Grand Canyon
Thirteen new citizens took their oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony hosted by Grand Canyon National Park and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Grand Canyon’s Mather Point Amphitheater on Sept. 28, 2019.
15 people sit in a semicircle in a stone amphitheater; a colorful landscape beyond.
What's in a name?
Many names have been used to describe geologic features within Grand Canyon National Park. This article highlight some of that history and two popular geographic locations: Bright Angel Trail and Sinking Ship.
John Muir standing on the rim of Grand Canyon
Wildland Fire in Ponderosa Pine: Western United States
This forest community generally exists in areas with annual rainfall of 25 inches or less. Extensive pure stands of this forest type are found in the southwestern U.S., central Washington and Oregon, southern Idaho and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Recently burned ponderosa pine forest.
Zehra Osman
Zehra Osman has been a Landscape Architect with the National Park Service since 2001. Through her work at a variety of parks around the country, Zehra explores how cultural landscape documentation and research contributes to historic preservation and planning projects.
A smiling woman in a green NPS uniform with arms crossed
Faces of Fire: Veterans Continue Their Service in Grand Canyon National Park’s Fire and Aviation Program
Stephanie Cuz and Kacie Dodds in their military uniforms
Stephanie Cuz and Kacie Dodds in their military uniforms
World CA Condor Update - 2018
An update on the world California Condor population for 2018.
A close-up of the pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers.
World CA Condor Update - 2016 Population Status
An update on the world California Condor population for 2016.
A close up of the pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers.
World CA Condor Update - 2017
An update on the world California Condor population for 2017.
A close-up of the pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers.
SW CA Condor Update - 2014-03 (March)
From March 2014: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2013-10 (October)
From October 2013: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW Ca Condor Update - 2013-04 (April)
From April 2013: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2013-07 (July)
From July 2013: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
North Zone Fire Management Hosts Their First Women in Wildfire Boot Camp
The Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park joined together to facilitate a Women in Wildfire (WIW) boot camp. Experienced firefighters from the forest and park mentored, taught and challenged 16 women selected to participate in the training, the first one the North Zone has hosted.
Firefighters use a hose from a fire engine to attack a simulated wildfire
SW CA Condor Update - 2018-04 (April)
Update on the AZ/UT population of California condors in April of 2018.
A condor flying wild and free.
World CA Condor Update – 2019
An update on the world California Condor population for 2019.
A close-up of the pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers.
SW CA Condor Update – 2020-02
An update on the Southwest California Condor Meta-Population for 2019 from Grand Canyon National Park (updated February 2020).
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2012-06 (June)
From June 2016: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2012-04 (April)
From April 2012: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2012-07 (July)
From July 2012: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2011-03 (March)
From March 2011: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population. Read more
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2011-12 (December)
From Decmeber 2011: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2010-12 (December)
From December 2010: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2011-11 (November)
From November 2011: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2011-07 (July)
From July 2011: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population. Read more
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2011-01 (January)
From January 2011: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
Geoscientists-in-the-Parks: Paleontology Technician
Read about the work Robyn Henderek did as a Paleontology Technician in Grand Canyon National Park as a GIP in 2016.
Robyn Henderek
Grand Canyon National Park Welcomes New Branch Chief of Fire and Aviation
Grand Canyon National Park Welcomes New Branch Chief of Fire and Aviation
man with mountains in background
Population Viability Analysis
This study confirms that management of DOI bison herds in isolation promotes the loss of genetic diversity within all herds. More importantly, this study demonstrates that increased herd size and targeted removal strategies can reduce rates of diversity loss, and that adopting a Departmental metapopulation strategy through facilitated periodic movement of modest numbers of bison among DOI herds (i.e., restoring effective gene flow) can substantially reduce the...
Bison Population Viability Study
SW CA Condor Update - 2009-11 (November)
From November 2009: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2010-03 (March)
From March 2010: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2010-05 (May)
From May 2010: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2010-10 (October)
From October 2010: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW CA Condor Update - 2009-07 (July)
From July 2009: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW Condor Update - 2008-11 (November)
From November 2008: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW Condor Update - 2009-03 (March)
From March 2009: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW Condor Update - 2009-06 (June)
From June 2009: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
A condor flying wild and free.
SW Condor Update - 2008-12 (December)
From December 2008: An update from Grand Canyon National Park on the California Condor recovery program for the Arizona/ Utah population.
The Adverse Effects of Climate Change on Desert Bighorn Sheep
Climate change has and will continue to have a negative impact on the population of desert bighorn sheep. For the remaining herds to survive, management may always be necessary. Protecting wild lands is key to the survival of these amazing animals.
Desert bighorn sheep, NPS/Shawn Cigrand
Southwest River Environments
In the arid Southwest, water means life, and prehistorically, rivers were the lifelines of the people.
The Colorado River flowing through a canyon
Monitoring Water Quality on the Southern Colorado Plateau
Water quality data are used to characterize waters, detect trends over time, and identify emerging problems. In Southern Colorado Plateau Network parks, water quality is monitored as an indicator of aquatic ecosystem integrity, as a component of watershed condition, and to document water quality conditions in relation to state and federal regulations.
Collecting water quality data
Steam into Grand Canyon Village
Celebrating a Century of Rails to Parks
A black and white photo of people on the rear platform of a railroad car.
Reducing risk of train wheel sparks igniting a wildfire within Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon Railway, in consultation with the National Park Service (NPS), will apply herbicide along their railroad tracks including those within Grand Canyon National Park. The purpose of this application is to inhibit the growth of vegetation adjacent to the railroad tracks, lowering the risk of train wheel sparks igniting a fire. Once the treatment is completed, this area will also act as a fire break for any fires originating elsewhere in the park.
Applying herbicide along railroad tracks within Grand Canyon National Park
Sentry Milk-Vetch
Standing guard over the rim of the Grand Canyon, the tiny, federally endangered "sentry" milk-vetch is a perennial herb that forms a one inch tall by eight inch wide mat in shallow pockets of soil on the Kaibab limestone.
Sentry Milk-Vetch
Climate Change on the Southern Colorado Plateau
The combination of high. elevation and a semi-arid climate makes the Colorado Plateau particularly vulnerable to climate change. Climate models predict that over the next 100 years, the Southwest will become warmer and even more arid, with more extreme droughts than the region has experienced in the recent past.
One result of climate change may be more, larger floods, like this flash flood in Glen Canyon NRA
Pollinators - Bumble bee
Get the buzz on bumblebees! There are approximately 46 species of bumble bees (genus Bombus) native to North America and 250 species worldwide—all dependent on flowering plants.
A bumblebee lands on a white flower
Post-1935 Changes in Forest Vegetation of Grand Canyon National Park
The surprise discovery in Grand Canyon National Park of some early 1900s photographs awaiting disposal led to a rare opportunity to examine forest change in the park since 1935. The photographs and associated data sheets documented a park-wide vegetation study from 1935 that generated the first ever Grand Canyon vegetation map.
Section of the 1935 vegetation map of Grand Canyon National Park
Monitoring Spring Ecosystems on the Southern Colorado Plateau
Springs are important water sources in arid landscapes, supporting unique plant associations and sustaining high levels of biotic diversity. Because springs rely on groundwater, they can serve as important indicators of change in local and regional aquifers. On the Colorado Plateau, spring ecosystems also provide vital habitat for both endemic and regionally rare species, including several types of orchids and declining populations of leopard frogs.
A pool of water filled with vegetation and sheltered by large rocks
Monitoring Aquatic Macroinvertebrates on the Southern Colorado Plateau
Aquatic macroinvertebrates, such as insect larvae, snails, and worms, play a vital role in stream ecosystems, both as a food source and as consumers of algae and other organic matter. Because macroinvertebrates are sensitive to environmental change, monitoring them can help to detect chemical, physical, and biological impacts to aquatic ecosystems.
Monitoring aquatic macroinvertebrates
Prescribed burn provides educational opportunities and prepares crews for fire season
On May 19, 2016, fire crews at Grand Canyon National Park conducted a prescribed burn and provided educational opportunities for park visitors as part of an annual readiness review designed to assist crews to prepare for and operate during wildfire season.
Fire management officer briefs a group of 4th grade students
Unlikely Siblings
February 26th is a day for celebration in Acadia, marking the historic transition of Sieur de Monts National Monument into Lafayette National Park, which eventually became the Acadia we know today. While it is a special day for Acadia, it shares the festivities with a twin in the bonds of "parkhood."
Grand Canyon and Acadia national parks in fog.
Bryophyte Floristics and Ecology in Grand Canyon National Park
Bryophytes are one of the largest group of land plants and includes mosses, liverworts and hornworts. They can be found almost anywhere in the world, but in the American Southwest, bryophytes are small in stature and so low in bio¬mass that they are easily overlooked. However, they play a critical role in arid ecosystems where they contribute to soil stabilization, seedling establishment, biogeochemical cycling, symbiotic relationships and habitat creation for invertebrates.
Grimmia anodon and Grimmia alpestris (dry) on Kaibab Limestone Formation
Bright Angel Trackway
Interactive 3D Model of fossil trackways from Grand Canyon National Park.
model of fossil tracks on rock slab
National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment the National Park Service has developed a number of special programs. This includes online content, exhibits, and special events. The National Park Service’s Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) announces the release of a story map that highlights some of these programs and provides information for the public to locate and participate.
Opening slide of the 19th Amendment NPS Commemoration Story Map
Mary Colter and Her Buildings at Grand Canyon
Hopi House, Hermit's Rest, Lookout Studio and Desert View Watchtower are not only the best and least altered, but some of the only remaining works of architectural designer and interior decorator, Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter.
A middle aged woman, leaning on one arm, sits in an elaborate, woven, wicker chair.
The Story of Desert View Watchtower
The view from the Desert View Watchtower provides a unique perspective of the eastern side of Grand Canyon. From here, looking to the northeast offers a distant glimpse of the Colorado River's transition from the relatively narrow Marble Canyon to the north into the much wider, broader expanse of Grand Canyon. Directly below is the Colorado River's "Big Bend", where it dramatically shifts its previously southward course by executing a sharp 90-degree turn to the west.
On the edge of a canyon cliff, a circular stone tower four stories, 70 feet tall.
Kolb Brothers: Conflict on the Canyon's Rim
Kolb Studio proudly sits at the head of the Bright Angel Trial, just like it did in 1904. It is a monument to Emery Kolb's achievement and success over the Fred Harvey Company's never-ending effort to make him leave, and the National Park Service's yearning to obliterate the building.
multi-story wood frame building on the edge of cliff with sunset light illuminating distant peaks.
Soon Condors Will Soar Over Redwoods
California condors may soon be released in Redwood National Park.
Adult male condor incubates his egg in a redwood tree nest on the Big Sur coast.
Rockfalls and Rain, Risk and Randomness
Stand in one place and you can pick out hundreds of rocks that are ready to let go and fall into the Grand Canyon. Some are limestone, some are sandstone. Some are mere pebbles, some are the size of apartment buildings. Does one have YOUR name on it? There is a thunderstorm on the southwest horizon – does it have a lightning bolt meant for you? Will it spawn a flash flood, hidden from view, destined to carry you away in a mud-brown tsunami?
Dust plume from a rockfall on the side of a canyon cliff
Series: GIP Participants and Project Highlights [8 Articles]
Participants selected for the GIP program have a unique opportunity to contribute to the conservation of America's national parks. Participants may assist with research, mapping, GIS analysis, resource monitoring, hazard mitigation, and education. GIP positions can last from 3 months to one-year.
Robyn Henderek
Series: Grand Canyon National Park Centennial Briefings
During the summer of Grand Canyon National Park’s 2019 centennial, scientists and resource managers briefed fellow staff and the public about how they are helping to enable future generations to enjoy what is special about Grand Canyon.
Black winged California Condor with a red head sits with its wings spread out.
Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Cenozoic Era
The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths.
fossils on display at a visitor center
Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era
During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era.
fossil corals in a rock matrix
Series: Wildlife in the Badlands
Ever wonder what kind of wildlife could survive the harsh climate of the Badlands?
Two small, grey young lambs walk down brown badlands slope.
Series: Research in Badlands National Park
Scientists often look to the Badlands as a research subject. Many studies have been conducted in the park on a variety of topics, including paleontology, geology, biology, and archaeology. Learn more about these research topics in this article series.
two researchers converse over a sheet of paper while a woman to their right uses a microscope.
Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards
Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship.
A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 11, No. 2, Fall 2019
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
devils tower
Series: Grand Canyon Collections—Paleontology
The fossils found within Grand Canyon span over a billion years of Earth history, from stromatolites found in the Bass Limestone (1.2 billion years ago) to Pleistocene megafauna (15,000 years ago) exhumed from cave sediments. The park’s fossil resource have been known to scientists for over 100 years. Recently, NPS scientists used imaging techniques to create virtual 3D fossils.The examples below are just some of your park’s paleontological treasures.
3d model of cheetah jaw
Series: Defining the Southwest
The Southwest has a special place in the American imagination – one filled with canyon lands, cacti, roadrunners, perpetual desert heat, a glaring sun, and the unfolding of history in places like Tombstone and Santa Fe. In the American mind, the Southwest is a place without boundaries – a land with its own style and its own pace – a land that ultimately defies a single definition.
Maize agriculture is one component of a general cultural definition of the Southwest.
Series: Parks in Science History
Parks in Science History is a series of articles and videos made in cooperation with graduate students from various universities. They highlight the roles that national parks have played in the history of science and, therefore, the world's intellectual heritage.
A woman looking through binoculars
Series: Crystal Clear: A Call to Action
In 2016, the nation celebrates the centennial of the National Park Service (NPS) as the steward of special places that represent our natural and cultural heritage. Many national parks were founded on the beauty and value of water. Since the preservation of the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the National Park System has grown to include significant examples within majestic rivers, the Great Lakes, oceans and coasts, and other spectacular water resources.
bright blue lake green islands in between
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 11, No. 1, Spring 2019
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
Tule Springs Fossil Beds
Series: Park Air Profiles
Clean air matters for national parks around the country.
Photo of clouds above the Grand Canyon, AZ
Series: Recovering the Endangered Sentry Milk-Vetch in Grand Canyon National Park
The tiny, federally endangered sentry milk-vetch (Astragalus cremnophylax var. cremnophylax) is a perennial herb that forms a one inch tall by eight inch wide mat in shallow pockets of soil on the Kaibab limestone. It is endemic to the Grand Canyon, and only grows within 25 feet of the canyon rim. Since 2006, when the Sentry Milk-Vetch Recovery Plan was completed, Grand Canyon National Park has partnered with other groups to help reverse the decline of this species.
Small mat of flowering sentry milk-vetch
Series: SCPN-NAU School of Communication Collaboration
The Southern Colorado Plateau Network (SCPN) of the National Park Service has been partnering with the Northern Arizona University (NAU) School of Communication since 2011 to develop student multimedia projects that highlight resources and activities in network parks. This collaboration gives NAU students hands-on experience in creating multimedia projects and provides network parks with products that can help to promote their unique resources and scientific or educational project work.
SCPN-NAU student projects
Series: Grand Canyon Centennial Stories
Learn about Grand Canyon's history, including events such as the first flight over Grand Canyon and the construction of the iconic Bright Angel Trail, in preparation for the park's 100th birthday.
Yellowed photo of an old fashioned airplane flying over Grand Canyon.
Permian Period—298.9 to 251.9 MYA
The massive cliffs of El Capitan in Guadalupe Mountains National Park represent a Permian-age reef along the supercontinent Pangaea. The uppermost rocks of Grand Canyon National Park are also Permian.
flat-top mountain
Pennsylvanian Period—323.2 to 298.9 MYA
Rocks in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park represent vast Pennsylvanian-age swamps. Plant life in those swamps later became coal found in the eastern United States.
fossil tracks on sandstone slab
Mississippian Period—358.9 to 323.2 MYA
The extensive caves of Mammoth Cave and Wind Cave national parks developed in limestone deposited during the Mississippian. Warm, shallow seas covered much of North America, which was close to the equator.
fossil crinoid
Cambrian Period—541 to 485.4 MYA
The flat layers of rock exposed in Grand Canyon National Park encompass much of the Paleozoic, beginning in the Cambrian where they record an ancient shoreline.
rock with fossil burrow tracks
The Precambrian
The Precambrian was the "Age of Early Life." During the Precambrian, continents formed and our modern atmosphere developed, while early life evolved and flourished. Soft-bodied creatures like worms and jellyfish lived in the world's oceans, but the land remained barren. Common Precambrian fossils include stromatolites and similar structures, which are traces of mats of algae-like microorganisms, and microfossils of other microorganisms.
fossil stromatolites in a cliff face
Proterozoic Eon—2.5 Billion to 541 MYA
The Proterozoic Eon is the most recent division of the Precambrian. It is also the longest geologic eon, beginning 2.5 billion years ago and ending 541 million years ago
fossil stromatolites in a cliff face
Paleozoic Era
During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era.
fossil corals in a rock matrix
Quaternary Period—2.58 MYA to Today
Massive ice sheets advanced and retreated across North America during much of the Quaternary, carving landscapes in many parks. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve contains geologic evidence of lower sea level during glacial periods, facilitating the prehistoric peopling of the Americas. The youngest rocks in the NPS include the lava of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the travertine at Yellowstone National Park, which can be just a few hours old.
fossil bone bed and murals of mammoths
Cenozoic Era
The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths.
fossils on display in a visitor center
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the premiere geologic sites in the world. It contains an exceptional rock record ranging from the Precambrian (Proterozoic) through the Paleozoic and is one of the best places get a sense of geologic time. The park also has young volcanic deposits, a rich fossil record, many springs and seeps, an extensive mining history, and has played a major role in the development of the geological sciences in the United States.
visitors on overlook of grand canyon
Connie Rudd: Defining a Career Path
Connie Rudd's career with the National Park Service began as a seasonal ranger in 1979. Her continual desire to learn propelled her to various sites and positions in interpretation, planning, and management until 2014, when she retired as Park Superintendent. In this Spotlight article, Rudd reflects on her career path, changes in interpretation, and being in upper management as a woman. Part of "Women’s Voices: Women in the National Park Service Oral History Project."
Connie Rudd smiles for a portrait in an outdoor setting, wearing a NPS uniform and flathat
Grand Canyon National Park Features Trans-Canyon Waterline to Celebrate Engineers Week 2021
How does Grand Canyon National Park provide water to its millions of visitors and residents? The answer: an amazing amount of engineering. Learn more about efforts to replace the park's 1960s-era pipeline with a modern water treatment system.
An Engineer suspended above the Colorado River works on construction of the Trans-canyon Waterline
More Than “Just” A Secretary
If you’re only familiar with modern office practices, you may not recognize many of jobs necessary to run an office or national park over much of the past hundred years. Today, typewriters have given way to computers, photocopy machines have replaced typing pools, stenographers are rarely seen outside of courtrooms, and callers are largely expected to pick extensions from digital directories.
Women skiing
Two for the Price of One
Companion, assistant, confidant, ambassador, host, nurse, cook, secretary, editor, field technician, wildlife wrangler, diplomat, and social director are some of the many roles that people who marry into the NPS perform in support of their spouses and the NPS mission. Although the wives and daughters of park rangers were some of the earliest women rangers in the NPS, many more women served as “park wives” in the 1920s–1940s.
Three members of a family
Blanket Cave National Youth Park—Activity
Enjoy a fun activity and learn about caves even when you can't get out to a park. In this activity you will build your own cave and learn how to make it like a "real" natural cave. Find out about cave formations and wildlife, and how to be safe and care for caves. New "Blanket Cave National Youth Parks" are springing up all across America! Join the fun!
cartoon drawing of a childs and a park ranger exploring a cave
The Women Naturalists
Only two early women park rangers made the transition to park naturalists. Having resigned her permanent ranger position after her marriage, Marguerite Lindsley Arnold returned to Yellowstone National Park under the temporary park ranger (naturalist) title from 1929 to 1931. Yosemite rehired Ranger Enid Michael as temporary naturalist each summer from 1928 to 1942. A handful of other parks hired a few new women under the newly created ranger-naturalist designation.
Polly Mead, a woman park ranger-naturalist is giving a talk outdoors to a group of visitors. 1931
The Job is His, Not Yours
In the early 1950s, park wives continued to function as they had from the 1920s to the 1940s. The NPS still got Two For the Price of One, relying on women to keep monuments in the Southwest running, to give freely of their time and talents, to build and maintain park communities, and to boost morale among park staffs. With the creation of the Mission 66 Program to improve park facilities, the NPS found new ways to put some park wives to (unpaid) work.
Man and woman with telescope
Substitute Rangers
As the 1940s dawned, the United States was still dealing with the economic woes of the Great Depression and trying not to get drawn in WWII. Even as it continued to manage New Deal Program work in national and state parks, the NPS remained understaffed as a government bureau. The emergency relief workers and about 15 percent of NPS staff enlisted or were drafted during the first couple of years of WWII.
Winifred Tada, 1940. (Courtesy of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
World CA Condor Update – 2020
An update on the world California Condor population for 2020, compiled by our partners at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as of December 31, 2020.
A close-up of the pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers.
Pleistocene Life and Landscapes—Grand Canyon
Well known for its geologic significance, the Grand Canyon is one of the most studied geologic landscapes in the world. The park also has numerous caves and a rich and diverse fossil record. Rampart Cave fossils include not only bones, but also hair, skin, sinew, and other soft parts, mostly of sloths. Plant fossils in the sloth dung and packrat middens provide important information about the ecosystem and climate of the Rampart Cave area over thousands of years
illustration of a ground sloth
Mindfulness Practice: At Our National Parks and In Life
Incorporating a mindfulness practice, whether on a trail, a drive, or on your own personal ride through life, can help us to reconnect with greater presence and more compassion, for both our inner experience of life as well as our outer experience of the world.
A small group of hikers ascend Bright Angel trail with a vast and colorful canyon as their backdrop.
The Grand Canyon and the Antiquities Act
Arizona's Grand Canyon ranks among the most famous of America's national parks. Archeological sites here show that ancient people inhabited the Grand Canyon area some 11,000 years ago. Protection of these sites and natural resources led President Theodore Roosevelt to declare the site a national monument in 1908 by authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906 as “an object of unusual scientific interest, being the greatest eroded canyon within the United States.”
Horse figurines made from split willow twigs.
Fossil Footprints Across Our Parks / Huellas Fósiles a Través de Nuestros Parques
Join us on a virtual hike to see fossil footprints across our national parks! As we travel back in time, we’ll discover stories of fantastic pasts and learn that fossil footprints are worthy of protection for the future. <br><br> ¡Únase a nosotros en una caminata para ver huellas fósiles en nuestros parques nacionales! Mientras viajamos a través del tiempo, descubriremos historias de pasados fantásticos y aprenderemos que las huellas fósiles merecen ser conservadas para el futuro.
Two primitive tetrapods, looking something like giant lizards walking through desert sand dunes.
Volcanic Craters
Craters are present at many volcanic vents. The size and shape of volcanic craters vary a great deal from volcano to volcano, and they even change during the lifespan of an active volcano. Craters can become filled by lava domes or lava flows, and new craters may form during subsequent eruptions.
cinder cone crater
Find Your Park on Route 66
Route 66 and the National Park Service have always had an important historical connection. Route 66 was known as the great road west and after World War II families on vacation took to the road in great numbers to visit the many National Park Service sites in the Southwest and beyond. That connection remains very alive and present today. Take a trip down Route 66 and Find Your Park today!
A paved road with fields in the distance. On the road is a white Oklahoma Route 66 emblem.
Theodore Roosevelt: A Complicated Legacy — Behind the Scenery Podcast
President Theodore Roosevelt left a complex legacy. He shaped the protection of public lands and the formation of the National Park Service, while at the same time excluding the voices of native peoples. In this episode, park visitors share how they respond to a complex human and a complex legacy in order to meet a new day.
historic photo of 5 formally dressed men standing on the rim of a vast canyon.
Fuels Management Completed in Grand Canyon North Rim Developed Area
In 2021, with the assistance of rangers from Grand Canyon, North Rim Fire Department, NPS firefighters, U.S. Forest Service firefighters, Arizona Conservation Corps crew, and outside of area fire resources, Grand Canyon National Park prepared and conducted mechanical hand cutting and broadcast burning operations around the North Rim developed area.
Heavy fuels burning in the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Magmatic Eruptions
Magmatic eruptions include fresh lava or tephra from a magma source. Magmatic eruptions range from quiet effusions of lava to extremely explosive eruptions that can blow apart mountains and send ash clouds around the globe.
volcanic eruption with glowing lava seen at night
Behind the Scenery Podcast #21 - Favorite Layers of Grand Canyon
Never take this place for "granite" again! Geology impacts every part of the human experience of Grand Canyon. People as diverse as the colorful cliffs have discovered secrets in stone. Come listen to their discoveries within layers of Grand Canyon. Are you open to being rocked by the canyon?
Looking up at thousands of feet of colorful rock layers forming an imposing wall.
Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks
Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios.
Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background
Modern Women in Science at Grand Canyon
Wildlife Biologists, Miranda Terwilliger, monitors the park's threatened and endangered species. I get to learn about all of the creatures in our park and use that knowledge to help protect them and the places they need to thrive.
a woman wearing a blue jacket, a olive green NPS ballcap and glasses, is smiling.
Challenging The Ranger Image
In spite of programs to encourage hiring of individuals with disabilities, it was often others’ misconceptions or discomfort that prevented women with disabilities from getting National Park Service (NPS) jobs. Those hired in the 1970s and early 1980s brought diverse skillsets and new perspectives to the workforce. Like the earliest women rangers in the 1910s and 1920s, they often only had short-term positions. They all challenged ideas of what it takes to be a park ranger.
Ranger Vicky White in a wheelchair with a visitor and man in military dress.
Company 818 and Segregation in the Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps did important work at Grand Canyon National Park. The story of company 818 and John B. Scott demonstrates the affects that segregation orders had on Black American's in the CCC and Grand Canyon.
Three Black men stand in between tents.
Lumber, The Green Book, and Grand Canyon
From lumber workers in Northern Arizona to listings in the Green Book, Black Americans have long contributed to Grand Canyon History.
African American Group visiting the Bright Angel Lodge in the Grand Canyon in 1956.
Japanese Americans at Grand Canyon - Bellboys and WWII Heroes
From bellboys at El Tovar Hotel to highly decorated war heroes in 442nd Regimental Combat Team, stories like George Murakami's provide a window into the Japanese American experience at Grand Canyon.
Technical Sergeant George Murakami, circa 1945.
Women in Science at Grand Canyon
Women in science have made history studying and learning amongst the canyon walls. With their tenacity, they blazed a trail for other women to follow in their footsteps.
Elzada Clover in a boat on the River
Valentine's Day: A Grand Canyon Romance —BTS Podcast 9
At age 17, future park ranger Doug’s parents dropped him off at the South Rim of Grand Canyon. He got a job with Fred Harvey working as a bus boy at El Tovar Hotel. How did this experience shape his life, and what are his three distinctive canyon-influenced loves and romances?
A blond young man of 17 posing for a photo in a white, restaurant bus person uniform.
Grand Canyon National Park: Collaborating with the Community to Improve Visitor Experiences
After hosting more than six million visitors in 2017, Grand Canyon National Park staff and the community of Tusayan, Arizona, realized they needed to find a solution to the growing entrance lines that would sometimes back up for more than an hour. Working with the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, the park implemented an ambassadors program to direct guests as well as extended the time the shuttles run.
Traffic congestion at Grand Canyon National Park.
The Harvey Girls – Increasing Opportunity
Becoming a Harvey Girl allowed women upward social mobility and financial independence, often for the first time. These opportunities were not always present to all women since women of color were not often hired as front of house Harvey Girls until the start of WWII.
20 El Tovar Harvey Girls in evening uniform Circa 1926.
“Little Mexico” and Creating Community
Between 1919-1929 a community called "Little Mexico" formed on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon when contractors refused to provide housing and food for laborers. The story of "Little Mexico" demonstrates resilience and resourcefulness.
Bright Angel Lodge between 1920s and 1930s
Fighting for Voting Rights at Grand Canyon and Across Arizona
The fight for voting rights sprawls across the nation and Grand Canyon and Arizona play a part in the still evolving story.
A map of the United States shows the tour route with a picture of Alice Paul in the corner.
Revolutionizing the River - Down the Colorado River Through Grand Canyon
Travel down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon demonstrates the diversity of people's experiences and showcases the need for even more representation in the future.
Georgie’s triple rig in the Inner Gorge, April 1964
Native Art and Activism of the Grand Canyon
The area known today as the Grand Canyon has been home to people for over 13,000 years, with 11 contemporary tribes having links to the area. Many individuals in these tribes have inspired their own communities, and the country, with their traditional art. Some tribal members have bestowed historic structures around the canyon with their artwork, while others have utilized art as one of many tools towards activism and uplifting their communities.
Nampeyo working on pottery inside
Robin White
Robin White experienced profound loss and the injustices of discrimination as a child. Surrounded by women, she grew up understanding the importance of nature, family, cultural heritage, and her own worth. During more than 40 years in the National Park Service (NPS) White valued community engagement and diversity, first as an interpretative ranger and later as a superintendent.
Robin White in her NPS uniform and ranger flat hat stands in front of a brown sign.
Cinder Cones
Cinder cones are typically simple volcanoes that consist of accumulations of ash and cinders around a vent. Sunset Crater Volcano and Capulin Volcano are cinder cones.
photo of a dry grassy field with a cinder cone in the distance
Polly Mead, Grand Canyon's First Woman Ranger/Naturalist
Grand Canyon National Park hired its first woman park ranger/naturalist in 1930, Polly Mead. What has changed 90 years later? Present day interpretive ranger, Becca, compares her experiences working at Grand Canyon to the stories told by Polly Mead, in a 1995 oral history interview.
Historic photo of a woman ranger-naturalist in uniform, showing a plant to a visitor.
Series: Volcanic Features
Volcanoes vary greatly in size and shape. Volcanoes also may have a variety of other features, which in turn, have a great range in diversity of form, size, shape, and permanence. Many volcanoes have craters at their summits and/or at the location of other vents. Some craters contain water lakes. Lakes of molten or solidified lava may exist on some volcanoes. Fumaroles and other geothermal features are a product of heat from magma reservoirs and volcanic gases.
photo of a lava lake in a summit crater
Water Resources on the Colorado Plateau
Describes the origin, uses, threats to, and conservation of water on the Colorado Plateau.
Dark green body of water winding through red rock formations with brilliant sun overhead.
World CA Condor Update – 2021 Population Status
An update on the world California Condor population for 2021.
The pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers by Don Sutherland
Pauline Mead
Pauline "Polly" Mead fell in love with the Grand Canyon as a botany student. Her knowledge of the plants at the canyon, together with a connection to National Park Service (NPS) Director Stephen T. Mather, got her a job as the first woman ranger-naturalist at Grand Canyon National Park in 1930. Mead's formal NPS career was short because she married the park's assistant superintendent in 1931. As a "park wife" she continued to live and research in parks for another 25 years.
Polly Mead in her NPS uniform examining a plant.
Battle of the Bark
Trees shade us from the sun, provide homes for wildlife, stabilize Earth’s surface, and produce food for humans and animals alike. Some are massive, and others are miniscule by comparison, but what makes one better than the other—we’ll let you decide! Check out our iconic trees below and find your favorite!
Five thick barked red-brown trees are backlit by the sunlight.
Volcanic Inverted Topography
Inverted topography arises when lava flows that filled valleys at the time of their eruption later hold up mesas because their resistance to erosion is greater than most other rock types.
photo of volcanic rock with petroglyphs and a distant mesa
Series: Volcano Types
Volcanoes vary in size from small cinder cones that stand only a few hundred feet tall to the most massive mountains on earth.
photo of a volcanic mountain with snow and ice
Monogenetic Volcanic Fields
Monogenetic volcanic fields are areas covered by volcanic rocks where each of the volcanic vents typically only erupt once. Monogenetic volcanic fields typically contain cinder cones, fissure volcanoes, and/or maars and tuff rings. They also usually encompass large areas covered by basaltic lava flows.
oblique aerial photo of a lava flow that extended into a body of water
Native Conservation Corps
Learn about a program for Native American youth to engage in conservation work in national parks and extend their experiences into their communities. Native Conservation Corps members become dual ambassadors between the National Park Service and Native American tribes.
Thaddeus Bell and James Etheredge: Changing Expectations
In the 1960s, James Etheredge and Thaddeus Bell were part of a pioneering group of African American college students who helped diversity the National Park Service by serving as seasonal rangers in park in the West. Neither made a career in the NPS, but their summer jobs at Yosemite and the Grand Canyon left lasting impressions.
A young African American man in NPS uniform poses beside a building, with hat on his raised knee
Volcanic Necks and Plugs
Volcanic necks are the remnants of a volcano’s conduit and plumbing system that remain after most of the rest of the volcano has been eroded away.
photo of a riverside rocky spire with mountains in the distance
Ranger Roll Call, 1930-1939
Few women worked in uniformed positions in the 1930s but those who did weren't only ranger-checkers or ranger-naturalists. Jobs as guides, historians, archeologists, and in museums opened to more women.
Seven women in Park Service uniforms stand in line inside a cave.
Ranger Roll Call, 1940-1949
Only a small number of women held temporary ranger positions in national parks during World War II. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, national monuments in the Southwest, and historical sites in the East continued to employ more women. Although a few women veterans benefitted from post-war veteran hiring programs, most veterans were men and permanent positions became even more difficult for women to get.
Catherine Byrnes and Barbara Dickinson stand outside modeling the NPS uniform.
Ranger Roll Call, 1950-1959
In the 1950s, women in uniform continue to work as guides, historians, and archeologists. Few women had permanent positions. A handful of women began to get seasonal ranger-naturalists positions at large national parks for the first time in two decades.
Ann Livesay in her NPS uniform standing in front of a low wall at the edge of the Grand Canyon.
Pillow Basalts
Pillow basalts are named for the rounded shapes that form when lava cools rapidly underwater.
photo of golden gate bridge
Parks Look for Ways to Alleviate Glen Canyon Dam’s Downstream Impacts
Vegetation experiments are helping restore Colorado River sites in Grand Canyon and Glen Canyon.
A meandering turquoise river surrounded by vegetation, sand, and high red rock cliffs
Eileen Szychowski: Expanding Access at Grand Canyon
Eileen Szychowski understood her rights when she was prohibited from participating in a mule ride in the Grand Canyon during a 1981 visit. Although she was a skilled horseback rider, there were few accommodations or considerations for individuals with disabilities at that time. She insisted on speaking with park managers and returned as a seasonal park ranger committed to access and disability rights. She described these experiences in a 2022 oral history interview.
Eileen Szychowski in NPS uniform, with crutches, sits on a wall with the Grand Canyon beyond.
A Brief Word on Night Skies
On June 9, 2022, members of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) SpaceX Crew-2 mission visited National Park Service Headquarters in Washington D.C. for a celebration of science, astronomy, art and exploration. The following is the brief introductory speech given by Grand Canyon National Park ranger Rader Lane to SpaceX Crew-2, National Park Service leadership, and Department employees in the North Penthouse of the Department of the Interior building.
The stars rotate around a cylindrical stone building
Cruzando el Cañón (Crossing the Canyon) Podcast
How does it feel to cross the canyon? In our first episode of the Behind the Scenery Podcast in Spanish, listen to the experience of a ranger who hikes across Grand Canyon from rim to rim. When have you fulfilled your dream? ¿Qué se siente al cruzar el cañón? En nuestro primer episodio de este podcast en español, escuche la experiencia de una guardaparques que recorre el Gran Cañón del Colorado de lado a lado. ¿Cuándo has alcanzado tu sueño?
a person backpacking with trekking poles on a backcountry trail, built into the side of a cliff.
2021 Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award
Congratulations to Ranger Della Yurcik for her outstanding service to the National Park Service and Grand Canyon National Park! In the tradition of Harry Yount, the National Park Service honors rangers who have the skills to perform a wide scope of ranger duties protecting resources and serving visitors.
Ranger Delia Yurcik at the end of a canyon
Fossil Inventories Uncover Permian Sharks in Western National Parks
A recent survey of the National Park Service shows records of shark fossils from at least 46 units across the United States. Recent field work in Permian rocks at Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone National Park shows a much greater diversity of sharks than previously known, and also illustrates connections.
Photo of two people examining a rock surface on top of an exposed outcrop.
Studying the Past and Predicting the Future Using Rat Nests
In the western United States, packrat middens are one of the best tools for reconstructing recent environments and climates. These accumulations of plant fragments, small vertebrate remains, rodent droppings, and other fossils can be preserved for more than 50,000 years. Packrat middens have been found in at least 41 National Park Service units.
Photo of a wood rat.
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 14, No. 2, Fall 2022
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
Photo of a person sitting while using a laboratory microscope.
Designing a Water System for the Future
The TCWL program is the modernization of the more than 50-year-old waterline as well as the complex water delivery system to the South Rim and inner canyon. The project will provide an upgraded water delivery system and meet the water service needs at the South Rim and Cross Canyon Corridor for the next 50 plus years.
A steel suspension foot bridge across a river.
Resting Canyon Face (RCF)
Have you ever been hiking and felt irritable, tired, dehydrated? Are the trails, wildlife, and plants not as pretty as they seemed on the way down into the canyon? Do your friends want to hike 20 feet (6.1 m) in front of you and not by your side? You may be experiencing symptoms of Resting Canyon Face (RCF).
Holding hiking poles on a backcountry trail, a woman is looking at the camera and grimacing.
Series: Volcanic Eruption Types
The most fundamental way to characterize a volcanic eruption is whether it is magmatic, phreatic, or phreatomagmatic.
volcanic eruption seen at a distance
Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils
The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian.
photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface
Series: Whose Story is History? The Diverse History of Grand Canyon
Why are some legacies preserved and others ignored? How can we give due value to all the voices and perspectives at Grand Canyon?
historic photo collage of 4 historic portraits above photo of Grand Canyon
Guide to the Henry G. Peabody Photograph Collection
Finding aid for the Henry G. Peabody Collection
50 Nifty Finds #4: Getting In the Zone
For more than a century the National Park Service (NPS) has won awards and honors for its work preserving cultural and natural resources and sharing the diverse stories of American history. One of its earliest honors came from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco, California, in 1915. But wait…The NPS was created in 1916, right? How could it win an award before it existed?
Round bronze medal featuring nude man and woman
Guide to the Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection
Finding aid for the Thomas J. Allen Photographs in the NPS History Collection.
50 Nifty Finds #6: Something Fishy
How do fish get up the mountain? By horse, of course! When is a plant not a plant? When you plant a fish! What? No, those aren’t nonsensical kids’ jokes. Photographs from the NPS Historic Photograph Collection will help explain.
A string of mules being led along a trail carrying milk cans
For the Love of Monarchs: How We Joined the Push to Save a Beloved Butterfly
We spent the summer of 2022 learning to be good stewards of monarch butterflies. It was an unforgettable experience.
A woman and a man hold a monarch butterfly flag against a backdrop of grass, trees and blue sky
50 Nifty Finds #9: Green Stamps
Described by some as "the greatest propaganda campaign ever launched by the federal government to exploit the scenic wonders of the United States," the national park stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office Department in 1934 became one of the most recognized series of U.S. stamps. Despite being in the middle of the Great Depression, over one billion of the 10 national park stamps were printed in under two years.
College of ten colorful national park stamps
50 Nifty Finds #11: Carving a Place in NPS History
Few employees have left as visible a mark on National Park Service (NPS) exhibits as John A. Segeren. His work has been enjoyed by generations of park visitors who never knew his name but appreciated his intricate wood carvings and playful animal figures displayed in parks throughout the system. A master woodcarver described by former President Lyndon B. Johnson as "a legacy to this country," Segeren carved out his own place in NPS history.
Round wooden plaque with bison, globe, and waterfall
Outside Science (inside parks): Sounds of Biodiversity in Grand Canyon National Park
Did you know that biodiversity has a sound? In this episode of Outside Science (inside parks) we tune in to the natural sounds of Grand Canyon National Park to listen to the effects of prescribed fire on biodiversity.
title slide for outside science inside parks with photo of the grand canyon
Keeping Up With the Johnsons
Hitch a historical ride on a 1923 national park road trip! Travel with Pete and Flo Johnson in their 1920 Buick as they travel across the country and experience the national parks of a century ago.
A woman cooks on a stove in front of a 1920s car with a tent attached to the side
50 Nifty Finds #17: Common Threads
Each National Park Service (NPS) employee has a unique story. We can't tell them all, but sometimes there's a personal account—like that of Sallie Pierce Brewer Van Valkenburg Harris—that speaks to common experiences. Although her NPS connections ran from 1933 to 1971, many of her joys, challenges, and frustrations can still be recognized in the NPS today. Sallie's story resonates regardless of era, gender, or position. How will it speak to you?
Sallie Brewer in her NPS uniform standing at a gate
Outside Science (inside parks): Outdoor Leadership Academy
In this episode, six students spend their days learning about vegetation monitoring and managing invasive plant species.
students walk along a dirt trail
50 Nifty Finds #18: Portable Posters
Many visitors to national parks today collect passport stamps, magnets, or other items to recall their trip and to show others where they’ve been. In the 1920s and 1930s the “must have” souvenirs weren’t created to be collected. National Park Service (NPS) windshield stickers served a practical administrative purpose; they were evidence that the automobile license fee drivers paid at some parks had been paid. Even so, Americans embraced their colorful, artistic designs.
Four colorful Rocky Mountain National Park windshield stickers.
Enjoy the View Like Mark Meyer
Multiple layers of the canyon showing the variety of colors and landforms...Mark Meyer shares his favorite view at Grand Canyon National Park.
a desert canyon
Notes from the Deep - Hiker Reflections from Havasupai Gardens — BTS Podcast 28
In 2018 a journal was hiked to Havasupai Gardens. A prompt asked hikers to take a moment to reflect. People filled the journal with drawings, poems, and stories. In this episode of Behind the Scenery, listen as visitors reflect on their experiences, what brought them to the Canyon, and what they will take away. This episode was recorded before the Havasupai Gardens name change became official.
looking down from a sheer cliff onto a desert plateau bisected by a drainage filled with trees
World CA Condor Update – 2022 Population Status
An update on the world California Condor population for 2022.
A close-up of the pink bald head of a California condor with a ruffle of black feathers.
Enjoy the View Like Paul Burger
From this view you can see a wide bend of the Colorado River, etched into the limestone of the Redwall Formation... This is how Paul Burger describes one of his favorite views at Grand Canyon National Park.
rock formations with a small portion of a river visible at the bottom of the canyon
Hiking Misadventures with Nalini Ravindranath - BTS Podcast 29
"The outdoor narrative has for a long time been the idea of rugged, strong, men conquering nature, and really it doesn't have to be that way. You can define what your outdoor space is and how you're going to interact with that space." Nalini Ravindranath is an avid explorer and author of the blog hikingmisadventures.com.
backpackers descend sharp and steep switchback corners on a backcountry trail
My Park Story: Dr. Bill Pollard
Meet Dr. Bill Pollard, a member of the Volunteers-In-Parks program with the Trails & Rails program who brings his own unique perspective to volunteering with the National Park Service.
Bill Pollard on a train speaking to someone who is out of frame.
My Park Story: Memories Beyond Measure
As part of the NPS "Your Park Story / My Park Story" initiative in 2023, Director Sams shares his own park story.
a young US Navy sailor stands at the rail of a ship overlooking a row of naval aircraft
Making an Impact: Long-Term Monitoring of Natural Resources at Intermountain Region National Parks, 2021
Across the Intermountain Region, Inventory & Monitoring Division ecologists are helping to track the effects of climate change, provide baseline information for resource management, evaluate new technologies, and inspire the next generation of park stewards. This article highlights accomplishments achieved during fiscal year 2021.
A man looks through binoculars at sunrise.
50 Nifty Finds #28: Shuttering in the Cold
National Park Service (NPS) naturalist Natt N. Dodge spent most of his 30-year-career at parks and monuments in the Southwest. His books, photographs, and motion picture films forever link him to desert ecosystems. It may seem surprising, then, that some of the most interesting photos in his personal collection are of glaciers, crevasses, mountain climbers, and other winter scenes at Mount Rainier National Park.
Man crossing a crevasse on a horizontal ladder
The Plateau Postcard: Spring-Summer 2023
The Plateau Postcard is the official newsletter of the Southern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring Network. In this issue, we say hello to many new faces within the network and head to the field with some of this year's spectacular monitoring crews.
Pile of postcards with images of various southwest national parks on them.
A Changing Bimodal Climate Zone Means Changing Vegetation in Western National Parks
When the climate changes enough, the vegetation communities growing in any given place will also change. Under an expanded bimodal climate zone, some plant communities in western national parks are more likely to change than others. National Park Service ecologists and partners investigated the future conditions that may force some of this change. Having this information can help park managers decide whether to resist, direct, or accept the change.
Dark storm clouds and rainbow over mountains and saguaros.
Staff Spotlight: Elizabeth LaRochelle
Meet Elizabeth Larochelle, a Volunteer Program Coordinator with the National Parks of New York Harbor!
Woman holding up a cutout
National Parks in the History of Science: Visibility (Video)
Is there a way to measure visibility in a scientific way, with accuracy and precision? Some atmospheric physicists started figuring that out in the 1970s in the Grand Canyon. They succeeded, and today their methods allow governments worldwide to monitor visibility and enact policies to improve it by reducing air pollution.
two men study air quality in the Grand Canyon
Project Profile: Expand Southwest Seed Partnership for Intermountain Region Parks
The National Park Service and organizations of the Southwest Seed Partnership will implement the National Seed Strategy and associated revegetation and ecosystem restoration efforts. The project focuses on native plant development and involves collecting, producing, cleaning, testing, tracking, and storing seeds from native species.
grasses and shrubs on a hillside
13 year-old boy rescued after falling over the edge on the North Rim
The park's Search and Rescue Team responded to an 'over-the-edge' call on the North Rim on August 8. Upon arrival, they learned that a 14 year-old boy had fallen approximately 70-100 feet below Bright Angel Point. A helicopter short-haul rescue was not appropriate because of wind conditions and patient location, so team members implemented a technical rope rescue and were able to safely extract him. He was then flown to a pediatric trauma center for definitive care.
During sunset, about a dozen Search and Rescue personnel are preparing a technical rope rescue
Guide to the Stephen Tyng Mather Film Collection
This finding aid describes the Stephen Tyng Mather Film Collection, part of the NPS History Collection.
Lesser Long-nosed Bat Research at Organ Pipe Cactus
Lesser long-nosed bats have been in scientific focus since the late 1900's. These unique animals face different obstacles in their changing environment, but researchers are at work in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, learning more about these bats. Through research here and throughout Central America, scientists are understanding better how to protect these animals and their environment.
A small black lesser long-nosed bat with a black face hovers above a waxy white saguaro flower.
Toad Research in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Research at Organ Pipe Cactus has seen large monsoons, drought, and the Sonoran Desert’s impact on different species of toad. The aim of this research is to understand which species are present, as well as the geographical reach of the chytrid fungus.
A large dark green-gray Sonoran Desert toad sits in a pool of water.
My Park Story: Jill Riggins
Some NPS rangers don't wear a uniform or a flat hat! Find out what Jill does everyday as an Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent.
A smiling woman in a black vest stands in front of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
50 Nifty Finds #35: On the Same Track
In 1915 Stephen T. Mather was hired by Secretary of Interior Franklin K. Lane to build public and political support for a new bureau for national parks. To implement his vision, Mather called on an industry with a track record in publicizing western national parks—the nation’s railroad companies.
Brochure cover for Glacier National Park hotels and tours featuring a large inn
History & Status of Bison Health
Bison conservation and restoration efforts must consider the significance of disease in bison herds and apply a multi-jurisdictional, multi-stakeholder approach to the management of bison on large landscapes. Robust herd health surveillance programs, both in the donor and recipient herds, along with strong partnerships and communication, are needed to protect the century-long success of DOI bison conservation and stewardship. This report discusses overarching principles affec
NPS History and Status of Bison Health Natural Resource Report
National Park Service project to build up 'workhorse' native seed stocks for major restoration and revegetation efforts
The National Park Service, with funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will be able to build up stocks of the native workhorse plant species that can out compete invasive plant species so that native grasses and forbs can grow in previously disturbed areas.
a man kneels next to a bucket collecting seeds in a field
I Didn't Know That!: Biological Soil Crusts
You’ve heard people say to stay on the trail, but what does it matter in the desert? It’s just dirt... right? Wrong—it's alive! Discover what biological soil crusts are and why they're so important in dry environments.
biological soil crust
50 Nifty Finds #39: An NPS Art Factory
Between 1938 and 1941 the National Park Service (NPS) Western Museum Laboratories (WML) created many iconic posters. Often described as “the WPA park posters,” they should be called “the WML posters.” Research reveals more designs than previously thought (including several previously unknown ones), reevaluates what is known about the artists, and argues that modern reproductions have made the designs more significant to NPS graphic identity today than they were in the past.
Poster with a purple El Capitan at Yosemite
The Devoted People behind Big Data in National Parks
Citizen science volunteers collect massive amounts of crucial scientific information. They gather it from sources as varied as oceans, mountainsides, and historic archives. Smart new tools are making their contributions even more powerful.
Two smiling women stand in front of a national park sign.
Rainbow Fire proves excellent example of monitoring tactics reaching management objectives for Grand Canyon’s north rim
The Rainbow Fire started on July 24, 2023, from a lightning strike on the Rainbow Plateau, on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The North Rim has a long history of prescribed fires and wildfires helping to create a healthy ecosystem. “The Rainbow Fire is a great example of a fire occurring in an area that is both adapted to and regularly exposed to fire,” said Grand Canyon National Park Fire Management Officer, Ed Waldron.
Low flames burn in a clearing in a forest, and light smoke rises from the ground.
Unlocking Earth's Secrets, Layer by Layer
Those splendid rocks in our national parks aren’t just scenic wonders; they’re scientific and cultural treasures. A new geological inventory could help protect them.
Two women with helmets look at a multi-layered rock cliff
Data Publication Brief - Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Upland Vegetation/Soils
The data packages for all our long-term monitoring efforts across the Southern Colorado Plateau are the foundations for almost everything we do here. We recently underwent our biggest effort yet in reformatting our data to fit the new standards put out by the Inventory & Monitoring Division. We are proud to announce that two of our largest datasets have now been published and are available for everyone to utilize.
A split image, one side is a stonefly insect and the other side is a white flower.
Layered Paleozoic Rocks
The Layered Paleozoic Rocks are the nearly horizontal sedimentary units exposed in the upper portion of Grand Canyon’s rock walls. They were deposited during the Paleozoic Era between about 270 and 510 million years ago.
Photo of a redwalled canyon with layered rock.
Vishnu Basement Rocks
The Vishnu Basement Rocks include the oldest rocks at Grand Canyon. These Precambrian (Proterozoic) igneous and metamorphic rocks formed between 1375 and 1840 million years ago.
Photo of a steep walled canyon.
Numeric Ages of Grand Canyon Rocks
Numeric ages based on current geologic research are presented for each of the rock units exposed in Grand Canyon National Park.
Photo of rocky outcrop.
Geologic Timescale, Geologic Dating Techniques, and Numeric Ages
An understanding of the ways geologists tell time is important for understanding the numeric ages of Grand Canyon rocks.
Photo showing detail of a rock contact.
Missing Time at Grand Canyon National Park
Significant unconformities, or gaps in the rock record that represent periods of missing time, are present between each of Grand Canyon’s three sets of rocks.
Photo of cliffs and a flat topped butte.
Geoheritage of Grand Canyon National Park’s Rock Record
Grand Canyon is one of the most superlative geologic locales in the world with a rock record spanning approximately one third of the planet’s history and important records of the Proterozoic Eon and Paleozoic Era.
Photo of a raft floating on river in a steep narrow canyon.
Grand Canyon Supergroup
The Grand Canyon Supergroup is a thick sequence of mostly sedimentary rocks deposited during the Proterozoic (between 729 and 1255 million years ago) and exposed in places in the eastern part of Grand Canyon.
Photo of hillslope with exposed rock layers.
Grand Canyon’s Three Sets of Rocks
Grand Canyon’s three sets of rocks are informal groupings of its rock record into main packages of rocks based on their age, stratigraphic relationships, and shared geologic history.
Photo of a steep walled canyon with a muddy river.
Telling Time at Grand Canyon National Park
Geologic time is essential to understanding Grand Canyon. This exploration of geologic time at Grand Canyon consists of a series of web articles that provides numeric ages for rocks exposed at Grand Canyon and provides supporting geologic information.
Photo view into the grand canyon.
The Plateau Postcard: Winter 2024
The Plateau Postcard is the official newsletter of the Southern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring Network. In this issue, we learn about how we are trying to predict pinyon-juniper die-offs, as well as a new tool we developed to help make us all better field scientists, and we hear from Bob Parmenter about his remarkable career at Valles Caldera National Preserve.
A pile of postcards.
Theodore Roosevelt's Climate Change Legacy
In a world shaped by climate change, we face new challenges and threats daily. As the “conservation president,” Theodore Roosevelt also took on new ecological challenges in a rapidly changing world. As we reflect on both the history and the future of the climate crisis, what can we learn from Roosevelt’s story? How do these lessons help us move toward a brighter future?
Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir stand together with Yosemite Falls in the background
Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.
2023 Excellence in Volunteerism Awards
The National Park Service congratulates the regional recipients of the 2023 Excellence in Volunteerism Awards. These nominees embody the values of service, engagement, and stewardship fundamental to our national parks.
The volunteer-in-parks logo
Project Profile: Remove Invasive Species to Protect Native and At-risk Species in the Colorado River
The National Park Service will launch a landscape-scale conservation effort that seeks to re-establish control over populations of invasive species in the Colorado River and engage youth and Tribal Conservation Corps in a multi-park approach to ensure climate resilience, restoration, and response. Across parks connected to the Colorado River, the National Park Service will combat rapid changes instilled due to climate change at the following parks...
Silhouetted mountains can be seen in the background, along a star-lit river.
Lava Flow Forms
Young lava flows also have structures and textures that reveal information about their eruptions. Basaltic lava flows come in two major forms: Pāhoehoe and ‘A‘ā.
photo of ropey and blocky lava
Dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways
Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on how dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways: Janssen, S.E., C.J. Kotalik, J.J. Willacker, M.T. Tate, C. Flanagan Pritz, S.J. Nelson, D.P. Krabbenhoft, D. Walters, and C. Eagles-Smith. 2024. Geographic Drivers of Mercury Entry into Aquatic Foods Webs Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotopes in Dragonfly Larvae. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02436
close up of dragonfly larvae on white spoon
Project Profile: Assess Climate Change Effects on Colorado River National Parks to Inform River Management Planning
Climate change is rapidly impacting National Park Service (NPS) units on the Colorado River, necessitating proactive planning to safeguard vital resources. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is initiating a planning process post-2026, which will reevaluate dam operations, directly impacting the rivers and reservoirs in multiple parks. To inform these decisions, NPS will quantify the impacts on priority park resources through Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments (CCVAs).
Photograph of Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Habitat and molt strategy shape responses of breeding bird densities to climate variation across an elevational gradient in Southwestern national parks
Climate change is a major driver of bird population declines and is feared to be negatively affecting species abundances in the drought-stricken southwestern United States. We analyzed twelve years of bird monitoring data (2007-2018) from six national parks and monuments on the Colorado Plateau to obtain habitat- and park-specific, breeding-season population trends and understand how they are influenced by important climate variables.
Bird with black head and orange breast perched in a tree.
Three Parks, One Vital Ecosystem
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park, and Dinosaur National Monument are iconic American Southwest landscapes, attracting millions of visitors annually. However, these park ecosystems within the Colorado River watershed are under threat. Invasive fish species are disrupting ecological balance and invasive plants have taken hold.
Looking north up Marble Canyon at the confluence of the Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park.
2024 Naturalization Ceremony at Grand Canyon National Park: A Celebration of New American Citizens
On September 20, 2024, the stunning backdrop of the Grand Canyon provided the perfect setting for a momentous occasion: the naturalization of 30 new American citizens from 11 diverse countries. This ceremony marked the first event of its kind since the park last hosted a naturalization ceremony in 2019, making it a particularly special celebration as it reunited individuals and families in the spirit of unity and hope.
A group of 30 citizens take their oath of office at Grand Canyon National Park
Public Works Programs and Paleontology in the Early Years of the NPS
During the 1930s, public works programs helped uncover paleontological resources at numerous parks. Projects at Big Bend National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, the former Fossil Cycad National Monument, and Grand Canyon National Park are highlighted here from the many stories.
Historic black and white photo of an artist sculpting a model of an animal.
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 16, No. 2, Fall 2024
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
Photo headshot of a female park ranger in uniform.
Guide to the Natt N. Dodge Photograph Collection
This finding aid describes the Natt N. Dodge Photograph Collection, part of the NPS History Collection.
A man, woman, and tree children pose on a rock in front of a snow-capped mountain,
Phenology and Climate Change: Understanding Nature’s Language through Data and Community Science
At Grand Canyon National Park, scientists and resource managers closely monitor observed and projected impacts from climate change that could have significant effects on the park’s vegetation, wildlife, and water supply. One of the ways that the park monitors these impacts is through a phenology observational study for the plant life at the Grand Canyon. Intermountain Park Science, 2024
People look at oak leaves turning color.
Series: Intermountain Park Science: Drought in the Southwest
In this issue of Intermountain Park Science, authors examine the consequences of drought and their impacts to both natural and cultural resources in some interesting and often overlooked ways.
An arid grassland with yellow flowers.
“Cracking the code” on mercury bioaccumulation
Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on a model to predict mercury risk park waterbodies: Kotalik, C.J. et al. 2025. Ecosystem drivers of freshwater mercury bioaccumulation are context-dependent: insights from continental-scale modeling. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07280
A person stands in a field looking at a bug through a magnifying lens.
Smallmouth Bass: Not a Small Threat to the Grand Canyon
Decades of climate-driven drought, and a consistent imbalance between supply and demand for Colorado River water have led to low reservoir levels in the Colorado River Basin. Low water levels have implications to rivers located both upstream and downstream of the reservoirs, including the introduction of invasive fish. We modeled the probability that smallmouth bass would establish and what we could do to mitigate that threat. Intermountain Park Science, 2024
A boat on the Colorado River, Grand Canyon.
Dark Night, Safe Flight
At night, birds use the stars to find their way. But bright lights from buildings can confuse them. That's why national parks are so important - they're like bird hotels! They give birds safe places to rest and eat, especially after flying across the ocean.
Series: Telling Time at Grand Canyon National Park
This article series is adapted from the Natural Resources Report Telling Time at Grand Canyon: 2020 Update. Articles in the series, including numeric ages of Grand Canyon rocks, geoheritage of Grand Canyon’s rock record, and missing time at Grand Canyon as well as a full glossary and list of references.
Photo of the Grand Canyon.
Guide to the Herbert Maier Photo Albums
This finding aid describes the Herbert Maier Photograph Albums, part of the NPS History Collection.
Three men standing in front of a log building under construction
Guide to the Nature Notes Collection
This finding aid describes the "Nature Notes" Collection, part of the NPS History Collection.
Hand-colored drawing of a moose in front of a mountain
Internship Opportunities for Students in National Parks
Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units created additional internship opportunities that mutually benefit parks and students while increasing agency capacity and preparing future employees. For parks, these programs provide access to student interns who are a good fit to assist with projects in the fields of conservation, cultural resources, tourism, park management or science, communication, and more. NPS, Intermountain Park Science, 2025
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North Rim to South Rim
Vistas
Canyon Extraordinary
Grand Canyon Country
Grand Canyon has
some of the most spectacular vistas imaginable. On the South Rim
you can see the Colorado River from Hopi,
Mohave, Lipan, and
Pima Points, and at Desert View. For sunrises, or sunsets, try
Pima, Hopi, Yavapai,
Yaki, and Lipan Points.
For views toward the
Painted Desert, go to
Desert View. On the
North Rim the ideal
place for sunrises
and sunsets is Bright
Angel Point. For a vista
toward the Painted Desert, go to Vista Encantadora, Walhalla Overlook, and Cape Royal.
Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is not
only awesome in its depth and mind-boggling
in its extent, but it possesses a dazzling,
constantly changing display of colors, light,
and shadow. The canyon's statistics are truly
extraordinary. It is approximately 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) deep. From rim to rim it ranges
from 180 meters to 30 kilometers (600 feet
to 18 miles) wide. And measuring all the
twists and turns of the river, the canyon is
443 kilometers (277 miles) long. Moving at
only a moderate speed, the river can easily
carry boulders weighing more than a ton. It
is the power of moving water that has created this canyon. In concert with the water,
wind, gravity, and the energy of expansion
and contraction caused by fluctuating temperatures, earth and rock have moved downward to the river, leaving a multitude of
smaller canyons behind. The process has
taken millions of years, and it is still going on
The map at right shows
how to travel between the
two main sections of
Grand Canyon National
Park: the South Rim and
North Rim. While you're
in this area, you also
might want to visit other
National Park System
sites. South of the park,
Montezuma Castle, Tuzigoot, Walnut Canyon, and
Wupatki National Monuments preserve the ruins
of pueblos built by prehistoric peoples. Sunset
Crater National Monument protects the remains of a volcano active
about A.D. 1065. North
of the park, Pipe Spring
National Monument
honors Mormon pioneers
in northern Arizona. Lake
Mead and Glen Canyon
National Recreation
Areas provide water activities on dammed-up
portions of the Colorado
River. And Zion National
Park and Bryce Canyon
National Park in Utah
feature colorful scenery.
World Heritage Status: Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site whose
universal significance is to be protected as a
common legacy for all people.
Safety
Do not throw any object over the canyon
rim. Hikers and people
on mules below can
be struck and injured.
The canyon's two rims are
a five-hour drive apart.
Besides the road connection, they also are linked
by a trail that crosses the
Colorado River on a small
suspension bridge wide
enough to carry a person
and a mule. The North
Rim is on the average
about 300 meters (1,000
feet) higher than the
South Rim, and the weather is correspondingly
cooler and wetter. The
North Rim is largely a
spruce-fir forest while
the South Rim is drier
and its plantlife adapted
to these conditions.
These differences make
a visit to both rims well
worth your while.
Guide and Adviser
newspaper, containing up-to-date information about the park.
The Colorado River is
cold the year round and
the current can be fast,
so do not swim in it.
One additional note: The North and South
Rims are only 16 kilometers (10 miles) apart
as the crow flies. By road, however, they are
about 345 kilometers (215 miles) apart. The
South Rim has a greater range of facilities
and is open all year. Because of its higher
elevation and greater snowfall, the North
Rim is closed from late October to mid-May.
Most of the rock is
crumbly, so do not attempt to climb the canyon walls.
The maximum park
speed limit is 75 kilometers (45 miles) per
hour, 40 kph (25 mph)
in developed areas,
and 25 kph (15 mph) in
campgrounds.
Activities
Because of the park's size and the time it
takes to travel from rim to rim, plan what you
want to do carefully. The information in this
folder, used in conjuction with the four maps,
will give you an idea of the variety of activity
available and help you plan your time. On
the South Rim there are three places—the
Yavapai Museum, theTusayan Museum, and
the visitor center at headquarters—where
you can get information from the staff and
schedules of current activities. Besides
being a place to get answers to your questions, the Yavapai Museum, a short way east
of the visitor center, has exhibits that explain the geology of the canyon. The Tusayan
Museum, on the road to Desert View, tells
the story of the peoples who made the
Colorado Plateau and this canyon their
home. Pick up a copy of The Guide, a free
• Grand Canyon Village
The map below shows
where you can find a full
range of tourist accommodations and services.
The staff at the visitor
center can help provide
answers to your
questions.
One way to gain an easy introduction to the
canyon is to go along the East and W
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Trip Planner
Table of Contents
WELCOME TO GRAND CANYON ................... 2
GENERAL INFORMATION ............................... 3
GETTING TO GRAND CANYON ...................... 4
WEATHER ........................................................ 5
SOUTH RIM ..................................................... 6
SOUTH RIM SERVICES AND FACILITIES ......... 7
NORTH RIM ..................................................... 8
NORTH RIM SERVICES AND FACILITIES......... 9
TOURS AND TRIPS .......................................... 10
HIKING MAP ................................................... 12
DAY HIKING .................................................... 13
HIKING TIPS .................................................... 14
BACKPACKING ................................................ 15
GET INVOLVED................................................ 17
OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL PARK ..................... 18
PARK PARTNERS ............................................. 19
Navigating Trip Planner
This document uses links to ease
navigation. A box around a word or
website indicates a link.
Welcome to Grand Canyon
Welcome to Grand Canyon National Park!
For many, a visit to Grand Canyon is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we hope you
find the following pages useful for trip planning. Whether your first visit or your tenth, this
planner can help you design the trip of your dreams.
As we welcome over 6 million visitors a year to Grand Canyon, your safety is of the
utmost importance to us. We want you to have an enjoyable and memorable visit but most
importantly we want you to have a safe visit. Use this information to start planning how you
will explore Grand Canyon but don’t be afraid to check in with park staff when you get here.
Our knowledgeable rangers can help perfect any itinerary you put together and ensure you
leave with happy memories.
Exploring any park, Grand Canyon included, can have some dangers. Be sure you are
drinking enough water and eating salty snacks (if hiking). Look down to see where your feet
are; we know the views are breathtaking, but don’t forget to keep a safe distance from the
rim of the Canyon. Wildlife can be cute or even majestic but maintaining a safe distance and
not feeding the animals is best for you and the animal. Just by being aware of these few safety
best practices and using all of the trip planning resources available here, we know that you
will have a fantastic experience visiting us at Grand Canyon National Park!
Grand Canyon National Park Trip Planner 2
General Information
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Located entirely in northern Arizona, the park
encompasses 277 miles of the Colorado River and
adjacent uplands. One of the most spectacular
examples of erosion anywhere in the world,
Grand Canyon is unmatched in the incomparable
vistas it offers to visitors on the rim. Grand
Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site.
Grand Canyon National Park
PO Box 129
Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023 USA
Park Headquarters
928-638-7888
Website
www.nps.gov/grca/
Park Openings and Closings
Park Entrance Fees
The Village and Desert View on the South
Rim are open all year and park entrances
remain open 24 hours a day. North Rim
facilities open mid-May and close midOctober. Park entrances remain open
24 hours a day during this time. Hours
for visitor centers and businesses vary
throughout the year.
Fees collected support projects in the park.
Admission to the park is $35 per private
vehicle; $30 per motorcycle; and $20 per
person entering the park via Grand Canyon
Railway, park shuttle bus, private rafting
trip, walking, or riding a bicycle. The pass
can be used for seven days and includes
both rims. Pay fees at park entrance stations
or at some businesses outside the park.
Every year the National Park Service offers
entrance fee free days. For complete fee
information, including Annual, Active
Military, Senior, and Access passes visit
Park Information
The park produces a Pocket Map with a
North Rim and South Rim edition that
contains a map and information about
services, facilities, and park ranger
programs. It is available in French, German,
Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Korean, and
Chinese. A hiking brochure is available for
those planning to hike one of the park’s
main trails down into Grand Canyon. An
Accessibility Guide is also available. Obtain
publications at entrance stations, visitor
centers, or at
go.nps.gov/136ojl
Accessibility
For information about accessibility in Grand
Canyon National Park, see
go.nps.gov/y5uu6f
Sustainability
Grand Canyon National Park incorporates
sustainability into all aspects of its
operations. Use your refillable water bottle
to fill up on free Grand Canyon spring water
at major trailheads, visitor centers, grocery
stores, and lodges. Please recycle—recycling
receptacles are conveniently located and as
common as trash r
Yavapai Point and
Geology Museum
Park Store
(No
Rim Tr
a
Shuttle Bus Information
Visitor Center
il
km
)
0.7
i(
2.3
mi
m
(1.1
Hours of Operation
The Village, Kaibab/Rim, and Hermits
Rest Route shuttle buses run every
10–15 minutes during the day. They
run approximately every 30 minutes
beginning the hour before sunrise
and ending the hour after sunset. The
Tusayan Route shuttle bus runs every
20 minutes starting at 8 am at IMAX
and ends at 9:45 pm.
km
)
Bright Angel Trailhead
Bright Angel Lodge
Park Store
Hopi
Lookout
House Verkamp’s
Studio
Kolb Studio
Visitor Center
El Tovar
Park Store
Kachina
Hermits Rest
Route Transfer
Village Route
Transfer
To Hermits Rest
Hotel
Lodge
Mule
Barn
o
n
d.
i k La
y
Train
Depot
es
)
Garage
e
Backcountry
Lot D Information Center
r Ro
ad
Camper
Services
ad
za
De
ser
tV
Trailer Village
Mather
Campground
Road
South Rim Services Guide
R
oa
64
z
ri
on
a N
at i o
ut
So
la
t P
3. Accommodates wheelchairs 30
inches (76 cm) wide by 48 inches
(121 cm) long; larger chairs do not
fit on buses.
To Desert View
22mi (35.4km)
iew
Dri
ve
Mather Campground
Ro
Cen t e r
Pocket Map
2. No pets. ADA-approved service
animals only.
Market
A
Ma r k e
Bus route transfers
d
To Tusayan
6.7mi (10.8km)
Paved trail (no bicycles)
Unpaved trail (bicycles)
Unpaved trail (no bicycles)
ad
Yavapai
Lodge
ic
in
Cl
Bus stop
Paved Greenway Trail (bicycles)
(RV parking,
Lot 1)
Lot 4
Pipe Creek Vista
Clinic
Bus routes and drivable roads
unless otherwise indicated
Bus Rules
1. No eating or open drink containers.
Lots 1–3
Community
Market Plaza
Library
Lot B Eastbound
Post
Office
Market
Plaza
Kennel
Road
Grand Canyon
Visitor Center
Park Store
Ro
pai
Yava
Lot A
Shrine of the Ages
Eastbound
(RV parking available)
Map not to scale.
Legend
South Kaibab Trailhead
Market Plaza
Westbound
Shrine of
the Ages
Westbound
Ce
nt e
Bus
Parking
Park Headquarters
r.
ry Rd.
und
Bike Rentals
and Cafe
McKee
Amphitheater
Way
Zuni
Ma
sw
Village
East
ik
ob
(N
D
Lot C
ay
w
op
o- Lo
Center Road
Vil tw
lag
e
w
Ro
e-way
Maswik
Lodge
lR
el
W
wa
l
s)
ike
o n e-
R
i m Tr ai
Park Store
Thunderbird
one-wa
y
Mather Point
Trail of Time:
Geology exhibits on Rim Trail
between Yavapai Point and
Verkamp’s Visitor Center
South Ent
rance
Roa
d
Village
Lodge
Village
Amphitheater
Grand Canyon
bike
s)
Free Shuttle Buses
Yaki Point
1.4
Grand Canyon National Park
Hermit Road accessible
via shuttle bus only
March 1 to November 30
ob
(N
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Throwing rocks hurts hikers.
64
l
na
Sc
en
eR
anc
ntr
E
h
ai
ic Tr
l
a
Arizon
64
al
ion
Nat
il
ra
cT
ni
e
Sc
See map on reverse
for full route.
oad
4. Collapse strollers before entering the
shuttle bus. No oversized or jogging
strollers. Remove baby-back carriers
when seated.
5. Shuttle buses can accommodate two
or three bicycles but not tag alongs,
baby trailers, or children’s bicycles
with wheels less than 16 inches (41
cm). Riders must load and unload
their bicycles.
6. Shuttle buses only stop at
designated bus stops.
Hiking Information
Many believe they are strong
hikers and a hike into the canyon
is easy. Know your limits.
Services
Airport
Gas station
Public parking
ATM
Gifts
Restrooms
Bike rentals
Information
RV camping
Campground
Laundromat
Showers
Drinking water
Lodging
Store
First aid
Picnic area
Telephone
Food service
Post office
Wi-Fi
If Visitor Center parking is full, use Lots A–D
Before hiking into the canyon
please seek advice from a park
ranger. Ask for a hiking brochure
at visitor contact stations. More
in-depth information about
specific trails, conditions, and
smart hiking practices can
be found at the Backcountry
Information Center.
North
Distances
Rim Trail
Hermits Rest Route (Red) Village Route (Blue)
March 1 to November 30
Stop
Westbound
Year-round
Eastbound
Stop
Village Route
Transfer
Grand Canyon
Visitor Center
Trailview
Overlook
Market Plaza
Westbound
Powell Point
Train Depot
Hopi Point
Bright Angel
Lodge
Mohave Point
Hermits Rest
Route Transfer
The Abyss
Maswik Lodge
Monument
Creek Vista
Backcountry
Information
Center
Pima Point
Center Road
Hermits Rest
Mohave Point
Shrine of the
Ages Eastbound
Powell Point
Mather
Campground
Village Route
Transfer
Trailer Village
Market Plaza
Eastbound
Kaibab/Rim Route
(Orange) Year-round
Westbound
Grand Canyon
Visitor Center
Eastbound
Tusayan Route (Purple)
Early spring to fall
Mather Point
Stop
Yavapai
Geology
Museum
Grand Canyon
Visitor Center
Grand Canyon
Visitor Center
IMAX/R.P.’s
Stage Stop
Leashed Pets Allowed
Pipe Creek Vista to South Kaibab Trailhead
0.9mi
1.4km
Mather Point to Pipe Creek Vista
1.4mi
2.3km
Yavapai Point to Mather Point
0.7mi
1.1km
Verkamp’s to Yavapai Point (Trail of Time)
1.4mi
2.3km
Bright Angel Trailhead to Verkamp’s
0.5mi
0.8km
Trailview Overlook to Bright Angel Trailhead
0
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Hiking Into Grand Canyon
Plan Ahead
Whether a day or overnight trip, hiking into Grand Canyon on
the Bright Angel, North Kaibab, or South Kaibab trails gives an
unparalleled experience that changes your perspective.
Knowledge, preparation, and a good plan are your keys to
success. Be honest about your health and fitness, know your
limits, and avoid spontaneity—Grand Canyon is an extreme
environment and overexertion affects everybody at some point.
Stay together, follow your plan, and know where you can call 911
with emergencies. Turning around may be your best decision.
For information about Leave No Trace strategies, hiking tips,
closures, roads, trails, and permits, visit go.nps.gov/grcabackcountry.
Warning
Hiking to the river and back in one
day is not recommended due to
long distance, extreme temperature
changes, and an approximately 5,000foot (1,500 m) elevation change each
way.
While Hiking
BALANCE FOOD AND WATER
• Do not force fluids. Drink water when
you are thirsty, and stop when you are
quenched. Over-hydration may lead to a
life-threatening electrolyte disorder called
hyponatremia.
RESTORE YOUR ENERGY
If you think you have the fitness and
expertise to attempt this extremely
strenuous hike, please seek the advice
of a park ranger at the Backcountry
Information Center.
Know how to rescue yourself. YOU
are responsible for your safety and
the safety of your family and friends.
Rescue is not guaranteed, and
assistance may take hours or days due
to weather or other emergencies.
Before You Go
• Choose the appropriate trail for your
abilities or consider walking the Rim Trail
for an easier hike.
• Check the weather and adjust plans; avoid
summer heat. Remember the weather can
change suddenly.
• Leave your itinerary with someone who
will notice if you are overdue and report
it to 911.
• Hydrate, but don’t force fluids. Eat a good
meal, and get a good night’s sleep. If you
do not feel well, do not hike.
• Prepare yourself for a faster hike down
with high impact on your joints and a
slow, strenuous hike out that may take
twice as long or longer. that may take
twice as long or longer.
• Eat double your normal intake of
carbohydrates and salty foods. Calories
play an important role in regulating body
temperature, and hiking suppresses your
appetite.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY
• If you start to feel nauseated, dizzy, or
disoriented, rest, eat, and drink until
you feel better. This can take an hour or
longer.
• If you are hot, cool off by getting wet in
creeks and water stations. If you are cold,
put on layers and eat food.
• Take plenty of breaks and enjoy the view
while resting.
10 Essentials
for Your Day Pack
1. Water: bring a sufficient amount and
extra in case of emergency; always
bring a water treatment method
2. Salty snacks and high-calorie meal(s)
3. First aid kit, prescriptions, blister care,
duct tape, and pocket knife
4. Map or trail guide
5. Flashlight or headlamp with spare
batteries
6. Sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, and
sunglasses
7. Whistle, signal mirror, and cell
phone
8. Lightweight tarp or emergency
shelter
9. Broken-in hiking shoes with good
soles and hiking poles
10. Layers of clothing
What to Expect Each Season
SUMMER
WINTER
SPRING AND AUTUMN
Plan for hot, mostly dry weather in May and
September; extremely hot, dry weather in
June; and hot with monsoon thunderstorms in
July and August.
Plan for short days and long, cold nights with
potential snow and ice at the top and rain in
the canyon. The upper portion of all trails can
be icy and dangerous. The South Kaibab Trail
receives more sun than the Bright Angel Trail.
Plan for short days with highly variable
weather. While the climate is typically cool, it
can snow or be intensely hot. High winds are
common.
Average temperatures at the top: 48°F to
83°F (9°C to 28°C)
Average temperatures at the river: 74°F to
104°F (23°C to 40°C); temperatures can feel
like 140°F (60°C) in the sun and reach 115°F
(46°C) in the shade.
Average temperatures at the top: 19°F to
45°F (-7°C to 7°C)
Average temperatures at the river: 38°F to
59°F (3°C to 15°C)
Hiking Tips
Hiking Tips
Hiking Tips
• Start hiking before dawn, in the evening,
or at night to avoid dangerous heat. Do
not hike between 10 am and 4 pm.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting cotton
clothing. Soak your shirt, bandana, and
hat to stay cool.
• Beware of lightning, falling rocks, and
flash floods during storms. Stay away
from edges, promontories, and individual
trees.
• Know the signs of heat illness: headaches,
dizziness, nausea and vomiting, cramping,
and decreased urine output. Rest in the
shade, get wet, hydrate, and eat highenergy foods.
• Know the signs of hyponatremia, caused
by over-hydration: nausea and vomiting,
headache, difficulty walking, confusion,
and seizures. Balance hydration with salty
snacks, eat well-rounded meals,
and rest frequently.
Average temperature
Grand Canyon
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Access Your Park
Welcome
This brochure outlines accessible services,
facilities, and activities. Grand Canyon National
Park strives for full and equal participation of
all visitors and continually upgrades facilities to
make them more accessible. Use this publication
for information about hearing, sight, and
mobility concerns in the park.
Access Pass
• Free, lifetime, non-transferable pass for
US citizens or permanent residents with
permanent disabilities.
• Admits owner and passengers in the same
private vehicle to federal recreation sites that
charge entrance fees. Visit recreation.gov for
information about federal recreation sites.
• Provides discounts on camping, swimming,
boat launching, and guided tours.
• Requires documentation of permanent
disability and residency or citizenship. For
information about types of documentation
accepted and to download an application,
visit go.nps.gov/passes.
• Obtain in person at entrance stations and
Park Headquarters or by downloading an
application and submitting it through the
mail.
• Does not cover or reduce special recreation
permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.
Contents
Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Accessible Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
South Rim Activities: Grand Canyon Village . 4
South Rim Activities: Hermit Road . . . . . . 6
South Rim Activities: Desert View Drive . . . 7
For Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Service Animals
• Allowed in all facilities and on all shuttle
buses and rim trails
• Must always be leashed
• Can only be taken into the canyon after
checking in at the Backcountry Information
Center
• Are not emotional support animals, comfort
animals, or therapy dogs according to Title II
and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA). Unlike service animals, these
categories of animals are not allowed on
shuttle buses, in buildings, or below the rim.
Persons wishing to take a service animal
into the canyon must first check-in at the
Backcountry Information Center.
Scout, a service dog
visiting Grand Canyon.
Accessible Facilities
Getting Around
• South Rim: Chase Bank and Maswik Lodge
have ATMs equipped with Braille and
headphone jacks.
• Allows visitors with mobility issues to drive
their personal vehicles on Hermit Road and
Yaki Point Road, two scenic roads closed to
public traffic
ATMs
• North Rim: Roughrider Saloon and North Rim
Country Store have partially accessible ATMs.
Bookstores, Gift Shops
All bookstores and gift shops are wheelchair
accessible except for South Rim’s Kolb
Studio and the upper floors of Desert View
Watchtower.
Food
All food service facilities are wheelchair
accessible.
Lodging, Campgrounds
• All hotels offer wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Visit http://go.nps.gov/gc-lodging.
Scenic Drive Accessibility Permit
• Available at entrance stations and visitor
centers
• Must be displayed on vehicle dashboard
• Does not qualify vehicles to park in
designated handicap parking spaces; a
government-issued handicap parking pass is
still required
Shuttle Buses
• Free and accessible
• Provide wheelchair ramps and low entrance/
exit steps close to ground
• Offered on South Rim only; not available
• on South Rim’s Desert View Drive or on North
• Mather and North Rim campgrounds offer
Rim
wheelchair-accessible sites but do not provide
• Accommodates wheelchairs 30 inches (76 cm)
hookups. Trailer Village offers hookups but
wide by 48 inches (121 cm) long; larger chairs
no wheelchair-accessible sites. Visit http://
do not fit on buses
go.nps.gov/fcdle0.
• Cannot accommodate motorized scooters
TTY Phones
Available at Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel,
and Yavapai Lodge Services
• Check visitor centers or go.nps.gov/gc_shuttle
for bus routes and times.
Services
ASL Interpreters
• Contact the park at least three weeks ahead
of time to request an ASL interpreter for a
free park ranger program: 928-638-7888 or
grca_information@nps.gov.
• Check visitor centers or visit go.nps.gov/
gc_programs for information on park ranger
programs.
Medical Facilities
• Emergency: Dial 911 or 9-911 from park hotel
rooms.
• South Rim: Call the North Country Clinic at
928-638-2551.
• North Rim: Call 911 for emergency medical
technicians.
Shuttle bus wheel chair ramp
Wheelchairs, Bicycles
• South Rim: Wheelchairs and tandem bicycles
available for rent at Bright Angel Bicycles
next to Grand Canyon Visitor Center; 928-8148704 or bikegrandcanyon.com.
• North Rim: A limited number of free
wheelchairs are available for loan from the
North Rim Visitor Center.
North Rim Activities Open May 15 through Mid-October
To North Entrance Station
and Jacob Lake
Point Imperial
Vista Encantada
Roosevelt Point
North Rim Visitor Center
Bright Angel Point
Grand Canyon Lodge
Approximate scale
foreground area only
North
0
Walhalla Overlook
2 Kilometers
0
North Rim Vi
The Landscape
The grandeur of Grand Canyon lies not only in
its size, but also in the beauty of its landscape.
In this respect, Grand Canyon shares many
characteristics with its neighbors—Zion, Bryce,
Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef national
parks. Like Grand Canyon, these neighboring
parks lie within the geologic province known
as the Colorado Plateau, a region characterized
by mostly flat-lying sedimentary rocks that have
been raised thousands of feet above sea level,
then carved by erosion.
The River Below
The Colorado River flows 277 river miles (446 km)
from Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs, the
accepted beginning and end of Grand Canyon.
Hidden in the narrow Inner Gorge, the river is
visible from only a few spots along the rim.
Today, the Colorado is seldom its natural
muddy red-brown color. Only when tributaries
downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, such as
the Paria and Little Colorado rivers, contribute
significant amounts of sediment during flash
floods or spring snowmelt, does the river change
from clear blue-green to its natural reddish-
brown.
Landforms here are beautifully sculpted and
well exposed due, in part, to climate. The semiarid climate that predominates in the Southwest
means that instead of tree-covered slopes and
thick soils, bedrock is at the surface. Therefore,
rain does not soak into the ground; instead it
runs off in huge floods carrying away grains
of rock. Cycles of freezing and thawing in the
winter widen cracks in the rocks, eventually
producing rockfalls. Soft layers erode more
rapidly undermining the hard layers above. Bit
by bit, flash flood by flash flood, and rock fall by
rock fall, the canyon continues to grow.
The North Rim
The North Rim and the South Rim are only
separated by ten miles (16 km) as the raven flies.
Although it is not apparent, the north wall of
the canyon rises a thousand feet (305 m) higher
than the South Rim, giving the North Rim nearly
twice the annual precipitation as South Rim. This
considerable difference in elevation results from
the fact that the apparently flat-lying rocks of the
Kaibab Plateau are dipping gently to the south.
Each of the rock units in the canyon erodes
in its own manner, yielding the characteristic
stepped-pyramid look of the canyon. Shales
erode to slopes, while harder sandstones and
limestones tend to form cliffs. The extremely
hard metamorphic rocks at the bottom of the
canyon produce the steep-walled and narrow
Inner Gorge, as these rocks are more resistant to
erosion than the softer sedimentary rocks above.
Color is also an important feature of this
landscape. Many of these colors are due to the
presence of small amounts of iron oxides and
other minerals that are either in the rock itself or
stain the surface and mask the true color of the
rock.
The name Colorado is derived from Spanish for
reddish, reflecting the heavy sediment loads the
river once transported. Dams now bracket Grand
Canyon—Glen Canyon Dam (Lake Powell)
upstream and Hoover Dam (Lake Mead)
downstream. As a result of these dams, the
dynamics of the Colorado River through Grand
Canyon changed dramatically. Gone are the large
annual floods that carried hundreds of thousands
of tons of sediment through the canyon each day.
Toroweap Overlook in western Grand Canyon offers
visitors a stunning view of the Colorado River.
From the rim, the river looks puny, yet it averages
300 feet (90 m) wide and features a series of
fierce rapids. From its origins high in the
Colorado Rockies, the river drops more than
12,000 feet (3,700 m) and passes through a series
of canyons, including Grand Canyon, on its
1,450-mile (2,300 km) journey to the Gulf of
California.
Expansive views from Cape Royal on the North Rim
printed on 100% recycled paper 0915
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Canyon National Park
Journey Through Time:
Grand Canyon Geology
The Geologic Record as Told by the Rocks
Canyon Origins
Nowhere on this planet are the scope of geologic
time and the power of geologic processes as
superbly and beautifully exposed as in these
canyon walls. Rocks equivalent to many of these
strata may be found scattered throughout the
United States and flowing water has sculpted
other landscapes. Yet, at Grand Canyon, a
remarkable geologic assemblage is exposed in
sequence and intact in an amazing erosional
landscape.
Although the origin of Grand Canyon is complex
and not totally deciphered, the forces that
shaped it are well understood. Grand Canyon
is the result of erosion, specifically incision by
a river into a high, arid plateau. The Colorado
River carved the depth of the canyon as it cut its
way through the Kaibab Plateau which is more
than 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level. Side
canyons, scoured by summer thunderstorms
and winter snow melt, produce much of Grand
Canyon’s 10–16-mile (16–22 km) width.
1
2
3
4
5
The canyon walls reach about 5,000 feet
(1,500 m) below the rim to the river. The
thickness of all Grand Canyon rocks,
Plants Living on the Edge
Grand Canyon National Park
Walk the Hermit Road portion
of the Greenway Trail to learn
about the South Rim’s plant
communities and how they thrive
in this challenging environment.
This section of the Greenway Trail starts at
Monument Creek Vista and ends at Hermits
Rest, a distance of 2.8 miles/4.5 km. The
paved trail is relatively level with some slight
up and downhill sections. Walk along the
entire trail or only a portion of it, picking up
the free shuttle bus at Pima Point along the
way. Enjoy the quiet overlooks and rest on
benches along the trail. Water, snacks, and
restrooms are available only at Hermits Rest.
Carry water and snacks and wear clothing
appropriate for the weather. The exposed
rim becomes hot in the summer and quite
cold with sharp winds in the winter. Be
prepared and enjoy your learning adventure
against the backdrop of Grand Canyon.
Rim Environment
The arid environment of the South Rim
poses a number of challenges for the
plants living here. The rim averages only 16
inches/41 cm of rain a year, which varies
widely from year to year. Periods of drought
are common. Half of the precipitation
falls as winter snow, when many plants are
dormant and cannot use the moisture. The
other half arrives with summer monsoon
storms starting in July. Huge thunderclouds
build as the day heats up, often producing
violent torrents of rain. Since much of the
ground surface is rock, only a portion of
the rainwater penetrates the soil while the
rest rushes away. Fractures within the rocks
draw water deep into the ground, below the
roots of the plants.
The rim effect influences local environments.
Warm, dry, summer air rising from the
depths of the abyss spills over the rim,
stunting trees that grow tall and stately just
a few hundred feet back from the edge.
Winter storms laden with snow and ice
sweep across the canyon, blasting the plants
close to the rim and exacting a toll on foliage
and the next season’s leaf and stem buds.
Pinyon - Juniper Community
Pinyon pine (left), Utah juniper (right)
Woodlands dominated by pinyon pine and
various species of juniper grow throughout
the Southwest and dominate the vegetation
along the edge of Grand Canyon’s South
Rim.
Pinyon pine is easily recognized by its dark
bark, short, curved needles in groups of two,
and small cones. The Utah juniper has
shaggy bark, small scale-like needles, and
light blue-green cones that look like, and are
called, berries. A rich variety of shrubs,
flowers, and grasses grow beneath these
trees, comprising a complex, fascinating
community.
Pinyon cones (left) and juniper berries (right)
Microhabitats
Both pinyons
and junipers
illustrate
adaptations
to this dry
environment.
Short, stout
trees better
withstand the
strong winds
battering the
rim. Small,
wax-coated
needles use
less water.
Evergreen
trees retain
their needles
Ponderosa pines
for years and do not expend precious water
and energy replacing all their foliage each
year. These long-lived trees grow very
slowly. Even the smaller trees are decades
old and can survive more than 600 years.
Temperature increases and rainfall becomes
more scarce as you descend into the canyon.
Desert plants replace pinyons and junipers.
Biologist C. Hart Merriam documented
this pattern of changing plant and animal
communities with changes in elevation
more that 100 years ago. He introduced the
concept of life zones—broad bands of plant
and animal species that could be associated
with certain latitudes, elevations, and
exposures.
At elevations higher than those found on
most of the South Rim, ponderosa pines
replace the pinyon-juniper community. At
even higher elevations on the North Rim,
Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and aspen
replace the ponderosa pine community.
Within each landscape are microhabitats,
areas with conditions ideal for a plant or
community that otherwise would not be able
to flourish.
As you walk along the Greenway Trail
west of Monument Creek Vista and
leave the canyon’s rim, notice several
ponderosa pines towering along the trail.
Ponderosas have tall, straight trunks and
long needles. Generally found at higher
elevations than pinyons and junipers, here
they grow together. Why would that be?
First, by leaving the rim, you are leaving
the rim effect, the strong winds and hotter
air temperatures that would prevent a
ponderosa from living right along the rim.
Also, the trail traverses a drainage that holds
more moisture below the ground surface
than other areas, providing ponderosas
sufficient moisture to live. You have
encountered a microhabitat suitable for
ponderosas.
Microhabitats can be much smaller in scale,
such as a crack in the rock. While at first
glance a crack seems like an impossible
habitat, it is
actually quite
favorable.
Cracks trap
and hold soil
and moisture,
giving plants
growing
within them a
better habitat
than available
nearby.
Adaptations to the Environment
Interactions with other Plants and Animals
Like pinyons and junipers, m
The Civilian Conservation Corps
2. Bright Angel Trailhead
Ascend the stairway and walk to the right (west),
following the rim a few hundred feet to the stoneand-pipe mule corral.
A Legacy Preserved at Grand Canyon Village
1933
Severe economic depression
challenged the confidence of the
people of the United States. One in four people was
unemployed. Many were homeless. Serious drought
gripped large areas of the West and Midwest.
The nation’s leaders felt that the economic and
social problems demanded immediate action.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn into the
presidency on March 4. He called Congress
into emergency session on March 9, introduced
legislation for the Civilian Conservation Corps
(ccc) on March 27, and he signed the bill on
March 31. On April 7 the first enrollee took the
ccc oath! By the end of 1935 the ccc employed
more than 500,000 men at over 2,650 camps in
every state. The creation of the ccc was a model
of speediness. It became the most popular of
Roosevelt’s New Deal programs.
Unemployed young men (women were not
eligible) signed up for a six-month “hitch.” The
government provided enrollees with barracksstyle sleeping space, meals, basic health care,
and $30 per month, of which $25 went home to
assist their families. The ccc assigned enrollees
to companies of about 200 men, supervised
by regular and reserve military officers. The
enrollees completed conservation work on lands
across the United States.
Grand Canyon National Park’s first ccc contingent arrived on May 29, 1933. Ccc crews worked
on the South Rim, North Rim, and in the inner
canyon until 1942. Companies 818, 819, 847,
2543, 2833, 3318, and 4814 served not only at
Grand Canyon, but a few companies also undertook projects near Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona
during the winter months.
The original purpose of the ccc was to put
young men to work on worthwhile conservation
projects that would benefit the country. Early
in its existence, however, the program added
emphasis to teach “the boys” skills and trades.
At Grand Canyon some men learned typing and
bookkeeping, while others acquired carpentry,
truck driving, plumbing, masonry, drafting,
welding, and blacksmithing skills. In addition,
the ccc educational advisor taught classes
in mathematics, reading, history, grammar,
photography, and “Laying Out and Planning a
Job” after the days work. Over nine years more
than 40,000 previously illiterate men nationwide learned to read, while 400,000 completed
high school requirements and others worked
on college credits.
Area Information
Restrooms : Restrooms are surprisingly rare in
Grand Canyon Village, a reminder of the scarcity
of water and proximity of the bedrock. Public
restrooms are available at the train depot (when
the train is at the station), El Tovar Hotel, Bright
Angel Lodge, and the Backcountry Information
Center in Parking Lot E.
Accessibility: People with mobility restrictions
may find the Grand Canyon Village area difficult
to explore. The walk between Kolb Studio and
stop 2 (Bright Angel Trailhead) rises steeply and
is not wheelchair accessible. The route between
stops 5 (North Rim View) and 6 (Navajo Street)
contains multiple flights of stairs. Consider
reaching stops 1 through 5 from the accessible
parking spaces near Hopi House. Accessible
restrooms are available in Bright Angel Lodge, El
Tovar Hotel, and the Community Building (Stop
9, weekdays only). Reach the Bright Angel Lodge
restrooms from the rim side of the building and
only after obtaining a key from the front desk.
American Indians used the route followed by the
Bright Angel Trail long before the first pioneers
arrived in the 1880s. Walk 800 feet (250 m) down
the trail to just past the first tunnel and look high
up on the cliff to see pictographs dating from
centuries ago.
The CCC Walking Tour
The walking tour travels a circular route of
approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km), although you can
begin at any point and walk as much of the loop
as you wish. Directions to each stop are in italics.
Features are identified by name or description as
there are no numbers.
The full tour takes approximately one to two
hours. Carry water with you during the summer.
The National Park Service recommends sun protection, a hat and sunscreen, during the warmer
months. Do not stand on exposed areas of the
rim during thunderstorms. After winter storms,
walkways may be slippery.
The text starts at the stairway near Kolb Studio.
You can reach Kolb Studio by walking along the
rim from El Tovar Hotel or Bright Angel Lodge.
Or ride the free shuttle bus to the Bright Angel
Lodge stop and walk out to the rim. Or begin the
tour at any convenient stop.
1. Stairway
From Kolb Studio walk the short distance to the
stairs going up.
In 1891 local entrepreneur Ralph Cameron and
his partners improved the trail and charged a
toll of $1 per horse; hikers traveled for free. The
trail was transferred to the National Park Service
(nps) in 1928. The following year the nps began a
major reco
Grand Canyon Village - South Rim
Wotans Throne
Cape Royal - North Rim
Colorado River
Chuar Butte
Palisades of the Desert
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Canyon National Park
Panorama from Desert View Point
Inspired Architecture
Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter added a dramatic
thread to this tapestry when she designed and
supervised the construction of the Watchtower
and adjacent kiva (1) in 1932. She described it
as a “re-creation” of various towers in other
Southwestern locations. She added the “ruin”
beside the tower so that visitors could experience
the current state of such towers as preserved in
Hovenweep National Monument.
The Fred Harvey Company employed Colter
to build a view and rest area for the visitors
at Desert View. She, in turn, used the railway
engineers and bridge builders to erect the steel
framework upon which the masonry walls stand.
Colter envisioned the building as part of its
surroundings. “One that would create no
discordant note against the time-eroded walls
of this promontory.” The foundation ties the
building into the cliffs. “The color and texture of
this weathered surface rock naturally matched
our terrain as none other could, but we were at
the necessity of using it in just the shape it was
found, as any tool mark became a conspicuous
scar on the face of our walls. So we were obliged
to select carefully for size and shape every unit of
stone built into our masonry.”
Desert View Point
Miss Colter insisted on personal attention to
every detail. One day while she was away from
the site for a time the masons completed two
layers of stone thinking that she would be
pleased. One stone was not to her liking and she
made them disassemble and rebuild the layers.
Search for some of the
intentionally designed flaws,
cracks, and partially finished
decorative patterns that are visible
on the exterior. Inspiration for the
massive foundation stones came
from a similar wall at Wupatki
National Monument. Can you find
Balolookong, the Pueblo Indian
snake spirit, on the exterior wall?
Step inside. The entry and sales
room reflects the architecture of
kivas used as ceremonial chambers
by the ancestral Puebloan people
and many of their descendents
today. Glance up at the wood
cribbing on the ceiling. Carpenters salvaged
the wood from the old Grand View Hotel. In
the center of the room is a symbolic fire ring
and ladder to the world above indicative of kiva
architecture. Notice that along the side of some
of the large windows are reflector scopes. What
happens to your perception of the canyon when
you look into these scopes?
Paintings by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie (left)
decorate the first floor. The stories told by these
paintings reflect meaningful
aspects of his heritage. Notice
the incised petroglyphs created
by Chester Dennis, another Hopi
artist.
Climb the stairs to see the work
of Fred Geary, Fred Harvey
Company artist. He painted
the walls and ceilings on the
second and third floors, copying
designs from original sites in the
Southwest. The upper level ceiling
(right) displays an adaptation
of rock paintings found at Abo
Caves, New Mexico.
After climbing the 85 steps to the top floor, rest
and reflect on the lives of those who inhabited
the canyon long ago.
As you journey along the rim, you follow the
footsteps of many people from a variety of
cultures. People have called this area home
for at least 12,000 years. A broken spear point
tells of ancient hunters tracking giant sloths. A
4,000-year-old split-twig figurine carefully placed
in a nearly inaccessible cave hints at another
culture’s beliefs. Ancestral Puebloans and people
from other cultures built villages throughout this
region 800 – 1,000 years ago. Spanish explorers,
priests, trappers, prospectors, and tourists have
all passed this way. Imagine how each must have
perceived this natural wonder.
From ancient nomadic hunters to today’s
visitors, human experience has shaped Desert
View’s cultural landscape. Your experience today
is another thread in this rich cultural tapestry.
Desert
View
Desert View
Civilian Conservation Corps
A tapestry of people and time.
As you walk the path up the hill, reflect back to
the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (ccc)
who lived and worked at Grand Canyon from
1935 to 1942. While living in barracks, they
completed more than twenty projects at Desert
View including trails, rock walls (below), roads,
and buildings. Ccc crews built the stone-walled
building on your left (2) in 1941 as a restroom.
The crews’ attention to detail shows the pride
they had in their accomplishments.
The evolution of Desert View weaves a rich tapestry of human history. As you walk away
from the rim, many strands left by early residents and later developers give life to the
stories told. A short ¼-mile (½-km) walk leads past historic buildings. Each thread ties
you to the rich cultural heritage of the area.
The tapestry continues to evolve. We have a responsibility to ensure that genera
What’s in a name?
The Marketplace
Stories Coming to Life
Many archeologists feel that strong evidence connects the people who lived here and in other sites throughout
the Southwest with the modern Hopi and Pueblo communities of eastern Arizona and the Rio Grande Valley
in New Mexico. Years ago when researchers first explored these sites the Navajo term Anasazi was used to
describe the inhabitants. This term can be roughly translated as “ancient enemies.” Understandably, today’s
Pueblo people do not appreciate having their forefathers referred to as enemies. The Hopi use Hisatsinom
to identify the ancient ones. The National Park Service at Grand Canyon National Park has chosen to use
ancestral Puebloans to emphasize the connection between ancient and modern people and cultures.
The ancestral Puebloan people used the forest for
their supermarket. Piñon (top right) was used for
construction, heating, and cooking. Pine needles,
high in vitamin C, can be brewed as a tea. Its pitch
was used to waterproof baskets, and even as a
bandage to hold cuts together. Pine nuts are high
in fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
As you look over the pueblo before you, imagine
the families who have chosen to make this their
home. They, like you, had dreams and hopes and
worries. They bore children and raised them to
take part in community life. This was home, the
anchor of their world.
Farm Area
Farm Area
Paved Trail
Gravel Trail
The path goes down to the area thought to have
been the fields for this community. Recent stock
tanks and other disturbances have destroyed
much of the evidence. Eight hundred years ago
check dams and terraces caught and held the
scant rain. Seeds were placed deep in the soil in
small plots, much as occurs on the Hopi mesas
today.
To Farming
Area
Living
Area
Yucca (below) provided fibers that could be
twisted or braided into twine or rope or made
into sandals.
The flowers
and seeds pods
could be eaten.
Some native
people still use
yucca root
soap for
ceremonial
purposes.
Parking
Museum
Utah Juniper
Creating a Community
Dating
View of
San Francisco Peaks
They made beautiful baskets. Some so small they
may have been for decoration or toys—evidence
that life was more than mere survival. Why did
they choose this place? Why did these families
stay for only twenty years? What happened to
these people? The villagers took the answers
with them.
Utah juniper (lower right) was also used for
firewood. Its shreddy bark peeled readily and
provided insulation, padding, or the sole of a
sandal. Juniper berries could be eaten raw, but
were more often used as a flavoring for stew or
venison. Ashes of the scale-like leaves were added
to bread as a leavening agent and for flavor.
Storage
Rooms
Kiva
Piñon
Tree ring dating explained on this exhibit helps
determine the age of sites like this one.
Archeologists study pottery sherds found here
and at other sites and develop a time line based
on style, form, color, and decoration.
By law national parks protect all plant and animal
life. Plants are fragile and should be left
undisturbed. Modern digestive systems may not
be prepared for the sudden intake of berries and
wild plants. Please do not pick or eat any plants.
Building size, style, and construction reflect the
Grand Canyon and its people in several ways.
Limestone, the building blocks available here,
is fairly hard and difficult to shape. Piñon and
juniper tend to be short and twisted, but provide
excellent support beams, insulation, and caulking
materials, as well as firewood. The plaza faces
south to take advantage of the warmth of the low
winter sun.
Grand Canyon has been home to people for
thousands of years. Considered sacred by many, it
has been a nurturing place, a place of spiritual
and physical enrichment. Many visitors share this
connection today. The National Park Service
strives to protect the integrity of the experience
and the natural environment. We hope that what
you learned will generate more questions about
the lives of the ancestral Puebloan people. Our
goal is that your enhanced level of interest and
knowledge will help us to preserve and protect
this wonderful legacy.
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona
Tusayan
Ruin
Tusayan Ruin
Painting by Roy Andersen
Grand Canyon National Park
Welcome to Tusayan Pueblo Ruin. As you walk
the relatively flat 0.1 mile (200 meter) trail around
the village, keep in mind that no attempt has been
made to reconstruct the structures. During the
summer of 2001 with funding through the
Vanishing Treasures program, park archeologists
stabilized the ruin in an effort to protect it from
ongoing degradation. Room blocks have been
only partially excavated to allow you to
experience an archeological site.
Saving our National Stories
Please respect this place as you would your own
home. Do not walk or stand on the walls or enter
the rooms. Many stories of the past preserved here
have yet to unfold. T
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Canyon
Phantoms of the Past
A Historic Walking Tour
Like a long-forgotten diary in a dusty cellar,
Phantom Ranch tells stories of a time gone
by. It is a memory of a era before cell phones,
computers, and energy bars, when few
people visited Grand Canyon. Shaped by
entrepreneurs, presidents, architects, and
work crews, Phantom Ranch sits humble
and rustic. It still remains and reminds us,
like musings in an old journal, of an era
of changes, challenges, and achievements.
On this walking tour, follow along in the
diaries—and footsteps—of Phantom Ranch’s
pioneers.
Stop 1: Rust’s Camp (at Mule Corral)
“An ill omen for us, a heart breaker. We had salty coffee for
breakfast, but that isn’t the trouble. Just as we have finished
the platform. . .we load the cage. . .and start her across. All
goes lovely and jubilant until the car is nearly half way over,
then buzz! Whang! Ka-splash. She sinks out of sight…a pall
comes over me, stunning, like some friend were stricken dead.
We…go to camp sad, sad!”
~David Rust, April 1, 1907
“[N]early pulled end of finger
off the other day. . .No use
to say more - the tram runs
o.k. and looks pretty good.”
~David Rust, September 22.
National Park Service (NPS)
photo ca. 1910.
Cover Image: Sierra Club
members perform a skit at a
Phantom Ranch campfire. NPS
photo ca. 1948.
A few years after the Santa Fe Railroad started bringing
tourists to the South Rim, David Rust on the North Rim
hoped to capitalize on increased tourism as well. A tourist
here in 1907 would have seen a different landscape, with no
permanent structures and little vegetation. Rust and several
men worked hard to build a camp at the bottom of Grand
Canyon. Against many challenges, Rust persevered. He and
his crew improved trails, planted trees, built an irrigation
system, and constructed several tents and ramadas for
overnight guests. Eventually, his modest accommodations—
not so modestly known as Rust’s Camp—allowed
prospectors, hunters, and a “few sturdy and adventurous
tourists” to stay comfortably in the canyon.
Grand Canyon National Park 1
President Teddy
Roosevelt, while on a
hunting trip, enjoyed
the tram so much he
rode it multiple times
and even cranked the
winch!
At that time no reliable way existed to cross the Colorado
River. To move tourists and their mules over the river, Rust
installed a cable tramway. This system—a cage suspended
60 feet (18 m) above the river on a 450-foot (137 m) long
cable—relied on gravity to propel tourists halfway across
the river. At a winch on the other side, a tram operator
cranked the cage the rest of the way. One early tourist
described riding in the cage on a windy day as “being the
clapper in a bell.”
Rust’s Camp operated from 1907 to 1919, when Grand
Canyon officially became a national park. Though his camp
did not survive, Rust is one of the most important—and
most overlooked—figures in the development of inner
canyon tourism. Rust’s achievements were the first to
change the face of Phantom Ranch. Unfortunately, little
evidence of Rust’s Camp remains today. Portions of his
improved trail do exist in the form of the North Kaibab
Trail, enjoyed today by many “sturdy and adventurous
tourists.”
Ellsworth Kolb and a young
woman dine at Rust’s Camp.
NPS photo ca. 1907.
As you meander along the trail, think about the challenges
(imagine: salty coffee!) Rust and his crew faced while
making changes to the area. Walk north from the corral
back toward the ranger station.
2 Phantom Ranch: A Historic Walking Tour
Stop 2: Orchard
“Our first dollar...I feel something like Lincoln felt over his first
$1.00…We are puttering around on the farm. Radishes, peas,
lettuce, oats up nicely. Alfalfa put in yesterday.”
~David Rust’s diary, February 22, 1909
Phantom Ranch orchards (top,
ca. 1933) and early Ranch
guests (bottom, ca. 1925).
Try to match the photos with
what you see today. Do you
see any resemblance? NPS
photos.
Pass by the ranger station on your way to the Phantom
Ranch canteen. In the area between both mule corrals and
spanning across the canyon floor, Rust, and later the Fred
Harvey company, grew an orchard and alfalfa field for
livestock. Because of the remote location, Rust’s Camp and
Phantom Ranch had to be as self-sustaining as possible.
Guests at meals often delighted in the fresh food: peaches,
plums, apricots, and pomegranates from the orchard;
chicken and eggs from a chicken house; and rabbits from
a rabbit run. And you thought ice-cold lemonade was the
cream of the crop! With all the hard work Rust, the Fred
Harvey company, and architect Mary Colter put into this
area, it started to look less like a desert and began to evolve
into the hypnotic hideaway you find today.
How will your dinner compare to that of early guests? Will
you have steak and cake at the canteen? Or create your own
feast in the campground?
Stop 3: Mary Colter Buildings
“Phantom Ranch is one of the earth’s most restful spots. T
I
U
nkar Delta trail is a 0.8 mile loop, over alluvial
terraces and drainages. Allow approximately
forty-five minutes, round-trip. This trail
system has been developed to permit visitation
while protecting the fragile desert environment and
prehistoric remains.
The walk you are about to take will pass by the
ruins of many ancestral Puebloan dwellings.
Remember that the sites along the low terraces were
occupied earlier in the history of the delta (AD 8501050), those on the talus slopes, later (AD 11001200). It is unlikely that any dwelling was occupied
for more than thirty years, and not all were in use at
the same time. Length of life for the people living
on Unkar was not long, averaging thirty-four years.
UN-8
Three distinct architectural components found
at this site suggest that modifications were made
during the years it was occupied. The shallow, circular pit was probably a pithouse used early in the
site’s history (AD 1000). The masonry habitation
rooms, storage rooms, enclosures, and adobe-lined
basins were added sometime between AD 1070 and
1175. The site was probably occupied by a small
family, providing both living quarters and storage
space.
✹
UN-6
At some time during its history (AD 1070-1175)
this site burned and was rebuilt. Four discrete
living episodes were identified, all but the first
involving architectural modifications. It is likely
that only one habitation room was used at any one
time by a family. The adjacent walls and alignments
suggest that the site may have been used for agriculture before final abandonment.
N
G
T
O
U
R
✹
✷
U
N
K
A
R
D
E
L
T
A
UN-11
These two rooms were constructed of limestone
blocks, cobbles, and slabs wetlaid with adobe sometime between AD 1070-1170. The larger room was
probably used for living, the smaller for storage. A
single occupation of the site is suggested by the limited features and deposits. Visible walls represent
foundations, with original wall height in the larger
room being about 2H feet. The presence of adobe
mortar suggests that the interior of the rooms had
been plastered. Exterior alignments may indicate
agricultural features.
UN-9
✹
✹
UN-14
F
roof. Since only a portion of
the site was excavated, functions for the visible features are not known.
UN-42
At this more recent site (AD 1130-1200), a single
semisubterranean room with firepit was constructed
by lining at least two walls with masonry. Entrance
into this structure was probably at the ground level,
with upright slabs being placed in the southeast corner marking the entry. The presence of small beams,
poles, and sticks lying in the fill above the floor indicates that the room was probably covered by a full
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The layering of trash deposits found at this
site suggests at least three occupations between
AD 1070 and 1175. One large “living” room is present. An external firepit and two clusters of wall
alignments are also present on the site. Only a small
portion of the site was excavated, consequently,
only a partial story can be told.
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living at Unkar. Both groups used the same
elcome to Unkar Delta, home to many
type of clay to make their pottery.
prehistoric peoples of the Grand Canyon
By the year AD 1200, the ancestral Pueblo
—most notably, ancestral Pueblo people.
To some, they are known as “Anasazi,” but
people appear to have left Unkar Delta and, for
to the Hopi people, they are “Hisatsinom,”
that matter, most of Grand Canyon. Evidence
people of long ago, the ancestors of the Pueblo
suggests that areas of the South Rim were occupeople.
pied until AD 1225. Thereafter, the Canyon
Human use of Unkar Delta began around
was uninhabited for some seventy-five years. By
AD 850. While the excavators suggested four
AD 1300, ancestors to the Hualapai and
distinct phases of occupation, recent interpreHavasupai occupied western portions of the
tation suggests a gradual process of growth to a
park, and groups of Southern Paiute and
peak population around the
Navajo moved into parts of
year AD 1100. For reasons
the Canyon. No other pernot yet fully understood, the
manent residents were
Pueblo people migrated
known until the “Anglo”
away from the delta by AD
expansion of the late 1800s.
1200. To the modern Hopi,
✹
their clans that migrated
To date, more than 2700
from Unkar did so in fulfillarcheological sites have been
ment of the covenant with
found in Grand Canyon.
the spiritual guardian,
These ancient remains are
Ma’saw, so that today, the
silent testimony to the lives
Hopis see Unkar as a “footof people who made the
print” of the clans who once
Canyon home for more than
inhabited this
4000 years.
village.
If you find an archeologiFarming was the key to
cal site while at
At Bright Angel Point
Arrival at Bright Angel Point places you on the
edge of a vastness of scenery, time, and opportunity. The view confirms the tremendous uplift
that has occurred, leaving the canyon’s North Rim
1,000 feet/300 meters higher than the South Rim.
The dark depths of the inner canyon, barely visible
from this point, record events that stretch our
understanding nearly halfway back in the earth’s
4.6-billion-year history. Multicolored rock layers
record the rise and fall of oceans and continents,
and the evolution of plants and animals. They
record the appearance of trilobites (the first
creatures in the fossil record that have eyes), the
passing of giant dragonflies, and tales of the pursuits
and wanderings of reptiles on ancient sand dunes.
The walls of the canyon are much more than layers
of rock. They are pages in the earth’s journal,
written over a period of nearly two billion years.
Though invisible at Bright Angel Point, the Colorado
River is the erosive force responsible for the depth of
Grand Canyon. Over the past 5 million years or so, it
has carved a canyon one mile deep. The rate at
which the Colorado River accomplishes this varies
greatly depending upon many factors, including rock
type and the volume of water the river carries at any
given time. The flood of 1884 left debris 40 feet/12
meters above the current river level.
The Colorado River is not directly responsible for
the canyon’s width. The ten-mile gap between the
North and South Rims is the result of erosion from
other sources. Freezing and thawing, heating and
cooling, and gravity all play a role in breaking down
the rocks that the Colorado River has exposed.
Returning to the Lodge
Very little movement occurs until weather conditions conspire to produce canyon-widening flash
floods.
In 1966 an unusual storm dropped 14 inches/36 cm
of rain on the North Rim in thirty-six hours,
sending a 40-foot/12-meter debris flow rampaging
down Bright Angel Canyon. The flow in nearby
Crystal Creek exceeded the normal flow of the
Colorado River itself. This flood washed away a
1,000-year-old pueblo and created a new rapid on
the Colorado by dumping house-size boulders into
it. Floods wash debris from side canyons into the
river. The river carries it to sea.
There is no such thing as a finished landscape; it is
constantly being reshaped by cycles of slow change
punctuated by cataclysm.
Understanding geologic time brings us to the
realization that human activities are a remarkably
small part of the canyon’s story and are by no means
the end of it. What of future rock layers? They will
certainly come, but on a time scale that verifies our
tenuous place in geologic time. To humans, longterm planning means 50 to 100 years, not 50 to 100
million years. Will the trends of environmental
change unleashed by human impact have a consequence in geologic time?
Photo Right: The original North Rim lodge, circa 1928.
Gilbert Stanley Underwood designed the rustic lodge and
cabins to complement rather than conflict with their setting.
NPS photo
Published by Grand Canyon National Park in cooperation with
Grand Canyon Association. Dale Schmidt, NPS Writer;
Tom Pittenger, NPS Editor; Faith Marcovecchio, GCA Project
Editor; Ron Short, GCA Art Director. Ó Copyright 2001 Grand
Canyon Association, Post Office Box 399, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023.
Printed on recycled paper.
People have chosen to build in and use this area,
and it is ours for a time. Environmentally sensitive
planning on the North Rim resulted in buildings
that complement rather than conflict with their
setting. Gilbert Stanley Underwood designed a rustic
lodge and cabins rather than a single hotel unit. A
crew of 125 men, earning between 50 and 85 cents
per hour, worked throughout the harsh winter of
1927-28 to build the lodge. When it opened to the
public in 1928, staff would line up at the door to
sing a song of welcome. In the evening they put on
a talent show followed by a dance. Visitors would
depart to strains of a farewell song sung by the
accommodating staff.
On September 1, 1932, fire razed the four-year-old
Grand Canyon Lodge. Rebuilding began in 1936.
The design was altered somewhat: steepened roofs
replaced flat rooftop observation decks, more stone
was used, and less wood. Interior space became
more massive with high, gabled ceilings and
exposed beams; durability under snow load and
resistance to fire were improved. The tower, with its
museum and natural history exhibits painstakingly
assembled by park naturalist Eddie McKee, was
never replaced.
When the Union Pacific Railroad, builder of the
lodge, ceased passenger operations in 1971, it had
no incentive to promote accommodations like
Grand Canyon Lodge. The lodge and cabins were
donated to the National Park Service, which now
leases the buildings to a concessioner. The lodge is
on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring
that this aesthetically appealing structure will be
maintained in its present condition until, millennia
fr
7. Aspen
11. Oak and Maple
13. The Transept
The grove of aspen before you is an old one, very different in appearance from the younger groves of aspen
that are common throughout this forest. The black
blemishes on these older trees are cankers caused by
fungi. The rough bark at the base of these larger trees
is the result of old age. Younger groves of aspen
throughout the forest are commonly found in areas
that have been disturbed by fire. Eager pioneers of
these naturally cleared areas, aspen provide shade for
the seedlings of other trees, like white fir, that will
eventually displace them.
The mighty oak of the eastern United States does not
grow in this area of the American West, but its smaller
cousins do. Scrub oaks (Quercus gambelli) have adapted to the dry western climate. These trees seldom grow
to more than 15 to 20 feet/5 to 6 meters in height.
The maples of the Grand Canyon region, also a scrub
variety adapted to the more arid western climate, go
unnoticed here except during the early weeks of fall
when, like their cousins in the East, they turn bright
red, giving a vivid splash of color to the slopes below
the rim.
You are standing at the head of The Transept which
takes on truly grand proportions as it carves into the
plateau. Far below you its gravel bed reveals the main
course of erosion. More than likely you will not see
water flowing in its bed; these streams flow only during times of heavy rain or flash floods. Yet the canyons
they carve are nearly as deep as the Colorado River
itself.
8. Ponderosa Pine
9. Ancient Reptiles
Fire plays a major role both in maintaining and altering the character of this forest. Large ponderosa pines
have a thick bark that is resistant to all but the hottest
of wildfires and may survive many generations of
smaller fires. Many of the large trees seen here bear the
scars of fires that damaged their bark, but did not kill
them.
Yet another picture from the scrapbook of Grand
Canyon’s past tells of a vastly different environment.
The Coconino Sandstone (the light-colored, cliff-forming unit evident several hundred feet below the rim) is
made up of windblown sands, evidence of an arid
environment very different from those in which the
strata above or below it were deposited. The highangle cross-bedding is the clue to its windblown
origin, but a closer examination reveals the footprints
of ancient reptiles that wandered these dunes long
before the dinosaurs existed.
For many years the National Park Service (NPS)
suppressed all fires until it became apparent that they
are an important factor in the growth of these forests.
In the 1960s the NPS adopted a policy that allowed
some fires to burn, while they immediately suppressed
those that threatened human life or structures. Today
we recognize the importance of fire in maintaining the
natural environments in our national parks while at
the same time we acknowledge the threat that uncontrolled wildfires may present to life and property.
Photo Top: Ancient reptile footprints in the Coconino
Sandstone. NPS photo by Michael Quinn
More than a layer of rock, the Coconino Sandstone is
a vivid picture of ancient life in this region of the
world at the end of the Paleozoic Era, some 270 million years ago.
10. The Largest Ponderosa
This is one of the largest ponderosa pines along the
Widforss Trail—nearly 13 feet/4 meters in circumference. Trees like this are increasingly rare outside
national parks because of their commercial value (ponderosa pine is one of the major lumber trees of western
North America). A ponderosa of this size may be 300
to 500 years old. When this tree was a seedling, the
environment of North America was very different.
Humans had had little impact on the landscape.
12. Lightning
Time and the massive amount of water that comes
from infrequent but powerful floods carve these tributary canyons. In the six-million-year history of Grand
Canyon there must have been thousands of floods the
likes of which we might see only once in a thousand
years.
14. Sculptured Rocks
Landscapes change like the frames of a motion picture.
Change is a part of this landscape. Rest awhile in this
unique setting of rocks sculpted by nature.
This huge ponderosa pine was killed by lightning that
struck it in 1988. The bolt rent the tree from top to
bottom, creating the scar you see before you. An average of one out of every ten large ponderosas along the
rim shows evidence of lightning strikes. Lightning is
also a hazard to unwary (or unlucky) visitors.
The rate at which the landscapes of our earth change is
accelerating as the changes brought about by humans
become more profound. Many national parks were set
aside to provide places in which the forces of nature
remain the predominant agents of change. But even
here the environment is subject to changes that result
from increased visitation, decreasing air quality, and a
host of other, more subtle changes. Only concerned
and active citizens who care about protecting