Grand Canyon National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grand Canyon National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Grand Canyon from the South Rim at dawn
Grand Canyon National Park Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Grand Canyon National Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Coconino and Mohave counties, Arizona, United States
Nearest city	Fredonia, Arizona (North Rim) Tusayan, Arizona (South Rim)
Area	1,217,262 acres (4,926.08 km2)
Established	January 11, 1908 (1908-01-11) as a national monument February 26, 1919 (1919-02-26) as a national park
Visitors	4,733,705 (in 2023)
Governing body	National Park Service
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Natural: vii, viii, ix, x
Inscription	1979 (3rd Session)

The Grand Canyon National Park is a famous national park in northwestern Arizona, United States. It is home to the amazing Grand Canyon, a huge gorge carved by the Colorado River. Many people think it's one of the greatest natural wonders in the world!

The park covers a massive area of about 1.2 million acres (4,900 square kilometers). In 2023, over 4.7 million people came to visit. Because of its unique natural beauty, UNESCO named the Grand Canyon a World Heritage Site in 1979. The park celebrated its 100th birthday on February 26, 2019.

History of Grand Canyon National Park

1938 poster of the park

The Grand Canyon became very popular in the 1880s. This was after railroads were built, making it easier for people to visit. Early visitors and pioneers helped create places for tourists to stay and explore.

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt visited the canyon. He was so amazed that he said: "The Grand Canyon fills me with awe. It is beyond comparison—beyond description; absolutely unparalleled throughout the wide world... Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is. Do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity and loveliness. You cannot improve on it. But you can keep it for your children, your children's children, and all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American should see."

President Roosevelt really wanted to protect this special place. Even with his strong support, the Grand Canyon didn't become a national park right away. The first idea to make it a national park came in 1882 from Senator Benjamin Harrison. He wanted it to be the third national park in the U.S., after Yellowstone and Mackinac.

Harrison tried again in 1883 and 1886, but it didn't happen. After he became president, he created the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve in 1893. Later, Theodore Roosevelt made it the Grand Canyon Game Preserve in 1906. Then, in 1908, he declared it a National Monument.

More attempts to make it a national park failed in 1910 and 1911. Finally, on February 26, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Grand Canyon National Park Act. This officially made it a national park! The National Park Service, which started in 1916, took over managing the park.

Creating the park was a big win for the conservation movement. This movement aims to protect nature. Being a national park helped stop plans to build dams on the Colorado River inside the canyon. Later, the Glen Canyon Dam was built further upriver.

In 1975, two other protected areas, the Grand Canyon National Monument (to the west) and Marble Canyon National Monument, became part of Grand Canyon National Park. In 1979, UNESCO officially recognized the park as a World Heritage Site.

In 1987, a law was passed because of concerns about airplane noise. It said that "Noise associated with aircraft overflights at the Grand Canyon National Park is causing a significant adverse effect on the natural quiet and experience of the park." This meant that loud planes were bothering visitors and the natural peace of the canyon.

Grand Canyon Quarter

In 2010, the Grand Canyon National Park was honored with its own coin. It was part of the America the Beautiful Quarters program. On February 26, 2019, the park celebrated 100 years since it became a national park.

Today, the Grand Canyon is part of Region 8 of the National Park Service. This region is also known as the Lower Colorado Basin.

Key Dates in Park History

• 1882: First try to make Grand Canyon a national park.
• 1893: President Benjamin Harrison names it a "forest reserve."
• 1908: President Theodore Roosevelt makes it the Grand Canyon National Monument.
• 1919: Congress officially creates Grand Canyon National Park on February 26.
• 1975: The park gets bigger with the Grand Canyon National Park Enlargement Act.
• 1979: It is named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on October 26.

Exploring the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon regional map

The Grand Canyon is famous for its huge size and deep layers of colorful rocks. These rocks show Earth's history going back billions of years! The canyon was formed by the Colorado River and its smaller streams. This happened after the Colorado Plateau slowly lifted up, causing the river to cut deeper and deeper.

The main areas visitors go to are the South Rim and the North Rim. The rest of the park is very wild and rugged. However, you can reach many places by pack trails and backcountry roads. The South Rim is easier to get to and gets about 90% of all park visitors.

The park's main office is in Grand Canyon Village. This is close to the South Entrance and one of the most popular viewpoints.

South Rim: The Most Visited Area

From Powell Point on the South Rim

Most people visit the South Rim. You can get there by driving on Arizona State Route 64. This road enters the park near Tusayan, Arizona and goes east. Interstate 40 also helps people reach the area from the south. From the north, U.S. Route 89 connects Utah, Colorado, and the North Rim to the South Rim. About 30 miles (48 kilometers) of the South Rim can be reached by road.

Services and Places to Stay

Grand Canyon Village is the main place for visitors. It has everything you need, including places to stay, gas, food, and souvenirs. There's even a hospital and churches. You can also find trails and guided walks here.

There are several hotels and lodges along the South Rim. These include El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, and Maswik Lodge. All of these are in Grand Canyon Village. Phantom Ranch is a special place to stay, located deep down on the canyon floor. There's also an RV Park called Trailer Village for campers.

North Rim: A Quieter Experience

Sunset at Cape Royal Point, North Rim. Wotans Throne featured.

The North Rim is located right across the Grand Canyon from the South Rim. It sits on the Kaibab Plateau and Walhalla Plateau. The main visitor areas are around Bright Angel Point.

The North Rim is much higher than the South Rim, at over 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) high. Because of its high elevation, it gets a lot more snow. This means it closes every year from December 1 to May 15. Visitor services also close or are limited after October 15. Driving from the South Rim to the North Rim takes about 4.5 hours and covers over 220 miles (350 kilometers).

On the North Rim, you can find the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and a campground run by the park staff.

Weather at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon has different types of weather depending on where you are. It can be cold and dry, or have warm and cool summers. The weather changes a lot from the rim to the bottom of the canyon.

For example, at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, the average lowest temperature in winter is about 3.3°F (−15.9°C).

Fun Activities at the Grand Canyon

There are many exciting things to do at the Grand Canyon, whether you visit the North Rim or the South Rim.

North Rim Adventures

From Toroweap Overlook on the North Rim

The North Rim has fewer roads, but it offers some amazing viewpoints. You can drive to places like Point Imperial, Roosevelt Point, and Cape Royal. You can also take fun mule rides that go thousands of feet down into the canyon!

Many visitors enjoy hiking on the North Rim. Popular trails include the Widforss Trail, Uncle Jim's Trail, and the Transept Trail. The North Kaibab Trail is a long trail that goes all the way down to the Colorado River. From there, you can cross the river and connect to the South Kaibab Trail and the Bright Angel Trail, which lead up to the South Rim.

The Toroweap Overlook is in the western part of the park on the North Rim. To get there, you'll need to drive on unpaved roads off Arizona State Route 389. These roads go through Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument before reaching the overlook.

South Rim Excitement

From Desert View on the South Rim

The South Rim has lots of activities for park visitors. You can take a driving tour that's about 35 miles (56 kilometers) long. It's split into two parts. The western drive to Hermit's Point is 8 miles (13 kilometers) long. It has several viewpoints like Mohave Point, Hopi Point, and the Powell Memorial. From March to December, you can only reach Hermit's Rest using a free shuttle bus from the Park Service. The eastern part of the drive to Desert View is 25 miles (40 kilometers) long and is open to private cars all year.

You can also enjoy walking tours along the Rim Trail. This trail goes west from the Pipe Creek viewpoint for about 8 miles (13 kilometers) on a paved path. Then, it continues for 7 miles (11 kilometers) on an unpaved path to Hermit's Rest. You can start hiking almost anywhere on this trail. A shuttle can bring you back to where you started. Mather Point is a popular place to begin, as it's often the first view people see when entering from the south.

For a unique view, you can take private canyon flyovers. These are offered by helicopters and small airplanes from Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Grand Canyon National Park Airport. Because of a past accident, scenic flights are not allowed to fly within 1,500 feet (457 meters) of the rim inside the Grand Canyon National Park. However, flights within the canyon are still available outside the park's boundaries.

Grand Canyon Conservancy: Helping the Park

The Grand Canyon Association (GCA) is a special nonprofit group that works with the National Park Service. It helps raise money to support Grand Canyon National Park. They do this by running gift shops and visitor centers inside the park. They also offer educational programs about the nature and history of the area.

Their goals include:

• Creating cultural sites that celebrate different Native American tribes.
• Protecting the park's dark night skies for stargazing.
• Supporting new discoveries and explorations within the park.
• Building and taking care of hiking trails.

A panoramic view from the South Rim

Historic Buildings at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon National Park has many old and important buildings. Many of them were designed by a famous architect named Mary Jane Colter.

Village Historic District Buildings

• Hopi House (built 1905), designed by Mary Jane Colter.
• Verkamp's Visitor Center.
• Train Depot.
• El Tovar Hotel.
• Bright Angel Lodge (built 1935), designed by Mary Jane Colter.
• Buckey O'Neill Cabin (built 1890), designed by William "Buckey" O'Neill.
• Lookout Studio (built 1914), designed by Mary Jane Colter.
• Kolb Studio (built 1904), designed by Ellsworth Kolb and Emery Kolb.

Other Historic Buildings

• Hermit's Rest (built 1914), designed by Mary Jane Colter.
• Phantom Ranch (built 1922), designed by Mary Jane Colter.
• Desert View Watchtower (built 1932), designed by Mary Jane Colter.

Images for kids

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  Grand Canyon from the South Rim at dawn

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  1938 poster of the park

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  Grand Canyon Quarter

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  Grand Canyon regional map

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  From Powell Point on the South Rim

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  Sunset at Cape Royal Point, North Rim. Wotans Throne featured.

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  From Toroweap Overlook on the North Rim

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  From Desert View on the South Rim

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  A panoramic view from the South Rim

See also

In Spanish: Parque nacional del Gran Cañón para niños