“So, how big is
it?” Really big. Imagine a
big hole 103 Colosseums wide, 6 Golden Gate Bridges long and 5 Eiffel
Towers deep. For the quantitative folks, thats 10mi/16km wide,
277mi/445km long and 5820ft/1609m deep. Top
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“How many people
fall off the edge?” Of the 8-10 people
who die at the Grand Canyon, 2-3 of the deaths are from falling over
the rim. Top
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“How far is it to
the river?” From the south rim,
the shortest route is 7 miles (or a
very quick but painful fall.Not recommended). From the north rim along
the most convenient trail, it’s 14 miles. If you are planning
on hiking
to see the river, please hike safe.
Not even the rangers who live and work at the canyon like to hike all
the way to the river and back in one day. Do yourself a favor. Get a
permit and stay overnight. Top
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“What is your
favorite short hike into the canyon?” My
favorite hike under 3 hours is to
Ooh Aah Point.
It’s
about 3/4 miles down the South Kaibab Trail and
it’s a very impressive view.
“What’s
the best way to get around?” On
the South Rim, and especially during the busy season, I’d
recommend the
free shuttle bus. I think it’s the best combination of
usefulness and
flexibility. Everywhere else, I’d recommend bringing a car.
Tour buses can also be useful but keep in mind that your time viewing
the canyon will be limited by their schedule. Top
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“Where’s
the best place to park?” Generally,
the best parking spots in the park are the large dirt lot near the
train depot or the General Store/Yavapai Lodge parking lot. For more
detail, see how to find your way around
without getting a traffic headache. Top
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“What is the
best place to see the river?” My
favorites are Pima Point and Desert View. From Desert View on the east
rim, you can see a sparkling blue, wide river. But after the Little
Colorado tributary meets the river, it turns brown from all the added
silt.
The views from these two points are so different you might think you
are seeing two different rivers. But nope, they are one and the same. Top
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“Where is the best place to see the sunset?” Any
point that sticks out into the canyon and gives you an unobstructed
view west is a good bet.
That said, how private do you want your sunset to be? My dad likes to
have his sunsets to himself. His favorite spot is the west end of the
parking lot at the South Kaibab Trailhead.
But if you don’t mind a large
audience of fellow gazers, try
the west rim. Hopi and Mohave Points are great vantage points. Top
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“Where can I get
something local and unusual to eat?” Yummmm...
Navajo tacos... Every time I bring friends home, I like to drive back
to Flagstaff by going east on highway 64 to 180. We stop at the Cameron
Trading Post on the Navajo reservation for Navajo Tacos.
What's so special about these tacos? They are serverd open-faced, piled
high with fillings and they use thick Navajo fry bread for the
‘tortilla'. That is definately a local Southwest dish.
You could also try the rock candy from the souvenir stores. It looks
like a river rock, but luckily, it doesn’t taste like one!
The prickly pear cactus jelly is another southwest original.
It’s made from the bright red cactus fruit (without the
prickles). Top
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“What is that
strange looking pokey green plant with the big stalk coming out of the
top?” Is the entire plant pokey, or just
the end of the
leaves? If it’s just the tips, then it’s a banana
yucca (that's the one
in the picture here).
If the whole thing has short spines, then it is an agave plant. The
first explorers named this the century plant because it seemed like it
only bloomed once every hundred years. (It actually grows for 30 years,
blooms once and then dies!) Top
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“The deer and
squirrels seem tame. They come right up to us. Why can’t we
feed them?”
First
of all, they may seem nice but they are still wild animals and can bite
or kick. It's not unusual either. The most common tourist injury at the
walkin clinic is squirrel bites.
Secondly, feeding wild animals eventually amounts to killing them.
Before you hate me for saying that, understand this.
Not only do they NOT learn to find their own food, but human food (and
it's plastic wrapper, they can't always tell the difference) is not
good for wild animals' digestion systems. See my wildlife page
for the gruesome details. Top
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“Wait…
You mean people actually live here?” Yes,
this is where my family lived while I was growing up. There are about
2,000 people who live in the Grand Canyon Village year round. Most of
the permanent residents live in houses owned by the park service. Top
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“What houses?
Where?” While
you are looking out at the canyon from the south rim, turn around. See
all those trees? The houses are cleverly hidden behind them. Top
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Any other burning questions? Do
you have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me
and I’ll add it!
Ok. Now that your curiousity has been satisfied… Would you
like to see what I other things I think are amazing about this place? Top
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