The Grand Canyon is undoubtedly one of the most fantastic travel destinations in the United States. As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, this national park, located entirely within the northwestern portion of the State of Arizona, demands the attention of over four million visitors each year. This makes the Grand Canyon the second most-visited park in the United States, second only to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And while you may have known where the park is located, or all about its reputation among national parks the world over, here are some things that you may not have known about this national treasure.
First, visitors to the Grand Canyon can visit both sides of the park in the same day. The distance between the North Rim and the South Rim is approximately 10 miles straight across; however, no enterprising individual has yet to attempt to build a bridge across the rims. That means that if you want to visit both rims in the same day, you will have to drive the 215 miles around them, which takes about four and a half hours.
Many visitors don’t bother attempting to visit both sides of the canyon because of the long journey, but this is definitely a mistake since both rims provide visitors with unique activities and spectacular views. If you aren’t interested in making the drive, you can hop aboard the Transcanyon Shuttle that makes the trek on a daily basis for $160 per person, round trip.
Second, there are still members of a Native American tribe that call the canyon their home. A reservation belonging to the Havasupai (translation: people of the blue-green waters) is located just on the border of the Grand Canyon National Park, near Havasu Creek, which is a tributary of the Colorado River. The Havasupai welcome outsiders to the reservation, but if it’s something you’re interested in, you will need to be prepared to hike. The village is at least an eight mile trek from the nearest road, and all visitors are charged a $25 cash fee to enter.
Third, visitors cannot purchase bottled water at the Grand Canyon. After realizing that 20% of the park’s trash was a result of plastic water bottles, the park made the decision on March 10, 2012, to go green and stop selling water in disposable containers. But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get a drink at the park anymore. The Grand Canyon now offers free water stations throughout the park so that visitors can bring their own containers and fill up when they need to.
Charity Jackson wrote this article for Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tours. Experience all the Grand Canyon has to offer today!
