Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is so immense that grand doesn't even begin to express its size or beauty. Located entirely in northern Arizona, the park encompasses 277 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. One of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world.
Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site.
The width and depth of the Canyon vary from place to place. At the South Rim, near Grand Canyon Village, it is a vertical mile (about 5000 feet/1524 m) from rim to river (7 miles/11.3 km by trail).
At its deepest, it is 6000 vertical feet/1829 m from rim to river. The width of the Canyon at Grand Canyon Village is 10 miles/16 km (rim to rim), though in places it is as much as 18 miles/29 km wide.
Another way to look at size: a trip to the bottom of the Canyon and back (on foot or by mule) is a two-day journey. Rim-to-rim hikers generally take three days one-way to get from the North Rim to the South Rim.
Climate: Northern Arizona’s Grand Canyon's North Rim is 8,000 feet above sea level (1,000 feet higher than the South Rim) and can receive snow throughout most of the year. Weather is particularly unpredictable in spring and fall so visitors should be prepared for a variety of climates. The North Rim is closed in winter.
Summer
Summer temperatures on the North Rim are cooler than those on the South Rim because of its increased elevation.
The North Rim is closed in winter.
Spring and fall on both rims and the Inner Gorge weather is quite unpredictable, so visitors be prepared for sudden changes in the weather and a variety of climates.
Grand Canyon National Park
