Nature’s Paradise: A Trip to Grand Canyon National Park

My recent trip to Grand Canyon, one of Earth’s most powerful and inspiring landscapes, during the Christmas holidays was overwhelming. My husband was my companion on this trip. The best part about this trip was the weather,  temperature dropping below 25 Degrees (for a person who hasn’t ever seen snow in her lifetime) and chilled wind added an extra perk to the breathtaking view of the snow-capped rugged landscape.

The Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona is almost 272 miles from Las Vegas strip. So it takes almost 5  hours to reach there. We didn’t want to drive for so long, therefore we took Grand Canyon Tour and Travel bus package which included our hotel pick-up and drop-off, breakfast, and buffet lunch. It was a good deal. However, Grand Canyon Tour and Travel also offers Helicopter tours to Grand Canyon but I was more interested to see the land view of canyons.

We started from our hotel around 6 AM and reached Grand Canyon National Park around 12:15 PM.

The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile (6,093 feet or 1,857 meters). Nearly two billion years of Earth’s geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. I clicked this picture of the Colorado River from the bus.

As soon as we reached Grand Canyon National Park, I was extremely delighted to see the snow for the very first time in my life. You must be amazed to know this but I was staying in India during my early part of life and now in Florida, so I never got an opportunity to play with snow.

I got crazy and couldn’t believe my eyes. I was shivering from within but couldn’t stop myself to feel the snow through my bare fingers. I know that I am sounding completely insane but I had gone nuts seeing the landscape which I used to dream as a child.

My husband dragged me and said, “There are many more things waiting for you ahead”. He was absolutely right. It was “The South Rim” of Grand Canyon. You have to see to actually believe how beautiful the Grand Canyon is. It is probably the most amazing place that I’ve been to in the United States. Before I could say further, let these pictures speak themselves.

The Grand Canyon National Park has North and South Rims. The interesting fact is The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is a mile-deep and creates a barrier that bisects the park. Even though the average distance across the canyon is only 10 miles, be aware that it is a five-hour drive of 220 miles between the park’s South Rim Village and the North Rim Village. Therefore North Rim is least accessible and open for limited months. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is the most accessible part of the park and it is open throughout the year. 

There is also Look Out Studio, an observatory deck with a gift shop for buying souvenirs.

I couldn’t stop myself posing with this white snow creature in front of Look Out Studio. I wanted it to be a snowman but I was fine with whatever it was. 🙂

The view from the Look Out studio was breathtaking and you wonder if it is even real. It’s gigantic and the colors of yellow and red make it magnificent under the blue skies.

We also went to Bright Angel Lodge which is around 5 miles and 15 minutes drive from “The South Rim” of Grand Canyon. Bright Angel Lodge, designed in 1935 by famed Southwest architect Mary Jane Colter has a natural rustic character and is a Registered National Historic Landmark. This iconic lodge and its surrounding cabins are rich with cultural history.

At Bright Angel Lodge, there is a restaurant, bar, and coffee house which has a specific opening and closing time. Nothing could delight your taste buds more than a cup of hot chocolate in such chilling weather. 😉

Things To Explore

• If you love hiking, you can explore  Rim Trail, starting from any viewpoint in the village or along the historic Hermit Road and greenway.
• If you are fond of Camping, Grand Canyon National Park has plenty of things for you to explore. Advance campground reservations can be made for two of the three NPS campgrounds within Grand Canyon National Park. The NPS campgrounds do not have RV hook-ups. For more details, check here.
• You can attend Free Ranger Programs where you can learn more about the nature, science, history and culture of the Grand Canyon with a park ranger as your guide.
• You can stop by the Visitor Center or one of the Museums as “The South Rim” offers a variety of museums and information centers that house exhibits and provide park information.
• You can watch the park orientation film, Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder, shown at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. The movie is 20 minutes long and starts on the hour and half-hour. The first showing begins at 8:30 a.m. and the last showing is at 4:30 p.m. daily.
• You can also go for the South Rim Mule trip which is offered throughout the year. The Canyon Vistas Ride is a 3-hour trip that travels along the canyon rim.
  Overnight Rides go to the bottom of the canyon and stay at Phantom Ranch.
• You can also bring your own bicycle or rent it and explore the beautiful trails of canyons.

Excursion Cost: You can check here.

Best time to visit Grand Canyon National Park– March to May and September to November

The Grand Canyon isn’t called Grand for anything. It is simply a display of how beautiful mother nature can be. If you get a chance to go see the Grand Canyon, do it! It’s an amazing experience and definitely worth once in a lifetime.

Do share your experience if you have been to Grand Canyon National Park in the comments below or if not, when are you planning your trip to the Grand Canyon?

Happy Traveling,
Ana