James Kaiser - Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide: Grand Canyon National Park (Color Travel Guide)

Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide

8th Edition

2020 Destination Press & its licensors

ISBN: 978-1-940754-43-7

Written & Photographed
by James Kaiser

Special thanks to AJ Lapr, Tom Pittenger, Lon Ayers, Dawn OSickey, Colleen Hyde, Pam Frazier, Tricia Lund, Ginger Reeve, Gray Thompson, Cat Zusky, Peter Brewitt, Peter Bohler, Brian Gootee, Clayton Norman, Erin Burgess, Peter Potterfield, Luise Phelps, Jessica H, Karl Kahler, and all the amazing river guides Ive met over the years.

As always, special thanks to my family, friends, and all the wonderful people I encountered while working on this guide.

All information in this guide has been exhaustively researched, but names, phone numbers, and other details do change. If you encounter a change or mistake while using this guide, please send an email to . Your input will help make future editions of this guide even better.

Although every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of information within this guide, the authors and publisher do not assume and disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. If the rigors and threats of nature are in any way beyond your capabilities, do not attempt any hike in this guide. Many photos contained within this guide depict people in precarious situations; do not assume that any situations depicted in this book are in any way safe. All maps in this guide are based on official USGS data, but serious hikers should supplement their outings with detailed hiking maps.
Printed in Singapore

I f youve purchased this book, youre going to Grand Canyon. Maybe youre already here. If so, youre at one of the worlds most amazing placesan act of geology so massive it can be seen from space, and so beautiful it lures millions of visitors each year.

My first introduction to Grand Canyon was in college, driving cross-country on my way to California. When I reached Grand Canyon, I walked to the rim, basked in the view, and took a few photos. Then I climbed back into my car and headed to Las Vegas. Did I like the view? Of course. Did I realize Grand Canyon had much more to offer? Not really.

A few years later, I realized the magnitude of my mistake. In 2003 I went on my first Grand Canyon river trip. It was one of the most incredible journeys I have ever taken. For three weeks I rafted the Colorado, running rapids and hiking to dozens of spectacular sightslush side canyons, hidden waterfalls, ancient archaeological ruins. River guides, many of whom spent decades rowing the Colorado, imparted their love and knowledge of Grand Canyon to me. By the end of the trip, I was hooked. I returned again and again, hiking the trails, studying the geology, and learning as much as I could about this amazing place.

Looking back, I cant believe I ever took Grand Canyon for granted. Sadly, many visitors continue to make the same mistake. They step out of their cars, bask in the view, and then run off to their next destination. Vegas? Check. Hoover Dam? Check. Grand Canyon? Check. One of earths greatest treasures and they missed it!

Thats where this book comes in. From hiking to biking to river trips, Grand Canyon has it all. But its an incredibly overwhelming place. This guide breaks it down, shows you the best Grand Canyon has to offer, and equips you with everything you need to make the most of your time in the park. So go for a hike, drive along the rim, or spend the night at a historic lodge. But whatever you do, dont peek over the rim and wonder what to do next!

O ne mile deep . Ten miles wide. Two hundred seventy seven miles long. Covering 1.2 million acres in northern Arizona, Grand Canyon is a breathtaking act of geology. Teddy Roosevelt called it the one great sight every American should see. The panorama from the rim is one of the most impressive scenes in the world, but Grand Canyon is much more than just a pretty view. Hidden within its depths are geologic marvels, fascinating creatures, the ruins of an ancient civilization, and some of the best outdoor adventures in North America.

Cut by the Colorado River over the past six million years, Grand Canyon is a colossal labyrinth of towering buttes and deep side canyons. Although its massive, most visitors head to one of two developed areas: the South Rim or the North Rim. The South Rim, located two hours north of Phoenix, is by far the more accessible and popular of the two. Home to six of the parks eight lodges, its what most people think of when they think of Grand Canyon. The North Rim is located just south of the Arizona/Utah borderone of the least densely populated places in the United States. Its remote location means fewer crowds, but with equally stunning views.

Hiking trails descend from both rims to the bottom of Grand Canyon. Along the way they pass through 11 layers of ancient rocks, ranging in age from 250 million to nearly two billion years oldalmost half the age of the Earth! At the bottom of the canyon, near the junction of three popular trails, lies Phantom Ranch, an overnight lodge that offers comfortable beds and home-cooked meals. Guided mule trips are also offered along several Grand Canyon trails. Both day and overnight trips are available.

Twisting through the bottom of Grand Canyon is the Colorado River. Fed by Rocky Mountain snowmelt before slicing through the deserts of Utah and Arizona, the Colorado is the most impressive river in the West. Although currently plugged by dams along much of its length, the Colorado flows free in Grand Canyon, dropping 2,000 feet in 277 miles. Roughly 25,000 people embark on river trips through Grand Canyon each year. In addition to 60 thrilling rapids, river trips provide access to spectacular hiking trails, stunning archaeological ruins, and gorgeous waterfalls. Without question, a river trip through Grand Canyon is one of the worlds most incredible outdoor adventures.

G rand Canyon offers some of the best hiking in America. The range of scenery is incredible, from cool alpine forests to narrow slot canyons to everything in between. There are trails that skirt the edge of the rim and trails that plunge thousands of feet to the Colorado River. And dont forget Grand Canyons two billion years of geologyarranged chronologically for your viewing pleasure.