The Grand Canyon is one of the 10 natural wonders in the world - some even consider it number one on that list. A masterpiece of Mother Nature the size of it is difficult to fathom. Stretching 446 kilometres across America's wild west country, the Grand Canyon’s gaping gorges and towering barren mountains have been sculptured by the elements for over 6 million years. It is an adventure land, a place to be explored, discovered and experienced in many different ways.
Hills, mountains, forests of pines, great accommodation, and the most spectacular views are found at the amazing Grand Canyon Arizona, USA. The Grand Canyon is one of the 10 wonders of the world that has been evolving for more than 1.5 billion years.
The geological history can be traced through the layers of sediment and rock formations. Every day the canyon’s greatest features, the wide plateaus, valleys, rivers and flora and fauna - including a variety of animals - all succumb to the natural elements and continue to build on and create the perfect ecosystem. People come from all over the globe to experience the sheer expansiveness of the canyon and lucky for them, there are myriad ways to go about that. For those who like aerial fun, there are numerous light plane and helicopter guided tours available each day, including scenic air tours where you can fly over the canyon - take your pick of available tours. But, you needn’t fear.
Gifting Owl lists many highly experienced operators and company providers who are well-versed in showing visitors the top spots to see on your joy flight. If you or your giftee prefers their feet firmly planted on the land, there are coach tours, horse and mule riding tours, river tours and hiking tours that are offered for anything from half-day experiences to multi-day-night expeditions. Grand Canyon Village and the visitor center are central hubs for many tours and trail access, and you can also start your adventure from Page or the north and south rims. Many activities are suitable for all ages and interests, with family-friendly options and opportunities to learn from park rangers.
The colours of the canyon are captivating and constantly change throughout the day. If we have one tip, it’s to make sure you stay long enough to take in the immense beauty of the canyon as it throws off rich reds, purples and golden hues as the sun steadily moves across the clear blue sky. Don’t miss sunrise tours for truly spectacular views. Beautiful experiences happen every day here. The diversity of this magnificent desert biosphere is every bit as breathtaking as you can imagine.
Blow, we’ve listed down what you can see when visiting one or both of the canyon’s two best rims. We say one or both because it may be difficult to decide which rim suits your needs best. And believe us when we say there is also plenty of speculation and good-hearted rivalry out there among the locals as to which rim is the better of the two.
Hopefully, this brief overview will be of some help.
The South Rim
The south rim is the most accessible and popular of the two rims. Standing slightly lower to ground you can look right across the ravine to the opposite rim, taking in all of the spectacular scenery of the surroundings. Visitors can mountain bike their way along the Hermit Road, hike or ride a mule - a time honored method - along the valley floor or scenic trail routes. The north rim also offers similar experiences!
The great advantage is that there are plenty of places offering excellent vistas of the south rim. These vantage points include:
The Grandview Point is situated just below 7,500 feet and offers the grandest view. This is where you can see buttes and rock towers including Krishna Shine, Vishnu Shrine, Shiva Temple and Rama Shrine as well as River Colorado which runs with two valleys formed and gorges seen.
Mather Point is situated at just over 7,000 feet elevation.
The Desert View is conveniently located at the east entrance to the canyon.
The Yavapai Point is great to visit if you’re into geological history.
The Yaki Point is accessible by coach tours during peak season (mid-May to mid-September), where passengers can relax and enjoy a guided interpretive tour led by knowledgeable guides. Wheelchair accessible coaches are available for visitors with mobility needs - please check in advance.
The Hermit’s Road offers exceptional viewing at various spots such as Hopi, Maricopa and Pima points.
Moran Point, Lipan Point, Desert View Watchtower and the Lookout.
The West Rim
The west rim is also easy to access and quieter than the more popular south rim. But there is still magic everywhere you look. Just a two-hour drive from Las Vegas and a quick trip from Laughlin, or Lake Havasu, road travellers can take their time to enjoy all that a full day at the canyon has to offer. This is big sky country with wide-open spaces across the rim peak that are a stark contrast against the forested ravines below. The west rim is home to perhaps the biggest man-made attraction of the park - the Grand Canyon Skywalk. This tour gets visitors buzzing with excitement as they make the horseshoe walkout over beautiful Joshua Forest. But you can also take a boat ride along the river course and experience the water of the Colorado River, and for budding photographers, this west rim will give you the memories of a lifetime as you capture your perfect photo images from Eagle Point and Guano Point.
Whenever you make the time for a Grand Canyon tour, be it in your travel itinerary or a gift to fill the travel plans of a loved one, you are guaranteed to discover adventure on a grand scale.
