The Grand Canyon is one of the greatest wonders of the world. The Grand Canyon is majestically carved out of rocks, with Colorado and other smaller rivers flowing through it.
The Grand Canyon area is 277 miles long or about 1,904 square miles. It is a vast area that will take you 5 hours or 215 miles to travel from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Most of the area does not have hiking or other trails. As the Grand Canyon took about 6 million years to create, it is one of the world’s natural wonders.
Table of Contents
- How Big Is The Grand Canyon?
- How Many People Visit The Grand Canyon Every Year?
- How Long Did It Take To Create The Grand Canyon?
- Are There Any Dangerous Animals In The Grand Canyon?
- Should I Hike The Grand Canyon?
- Are Mule Rides In The Grand Canyon Safe?
- Can You Visit the Grand Canyon North And South Rim On the Same Day?
- Are There Any American Indian Reservations At The Grand Canyon?
- How Can I Virtually Travel The Grand Canyon?
- Related Questions
Here are some of the significant questions that continue to be asked about the Grand Canyon.
How Big Is The Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon is immense. If the Grand Canyon were a state as part of the United States of America, it would be more significant than the U.S. State of Rhode Island, which is 1,212 square miles.
The Grand Canyon Park is 277 miles long and 18 miles wide. The Grand Canyon park does not include the entire canyon; the Grand Canyon is 1,904 square miles in total.
How Many People Visit The Grand Canyon Every Year?
The Grand Canyon is one of the more visited National Parks in the United States. About 5.9 million people will visit the Grand Canyon National Park every year.
In 1919 when Grand Canyon has officially declared a National Park, just over 44,000 people visited the park. The Grand Canyon National Park continues to see millions of visitors a year.
How Long Did It Take To Create The Grand Canyon?
It is estimated that it took over 6 million years to create the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon was formed by geological activity and erosion by the Colorado River.
Because of its unique heritage and beginnings, the Grand Canyon continues to be one of the most studied landscapes in the world. The Grand Canyon is essential for its rich geological and archaeological history.
Are There Any Dangerous Animals In The Grand Canyon?
Most visitors may be surprised to learn that the Rock Squirrel is the most dangerous animal in the Grand Canyon and causes the most injuries. Every year hundreds of visitors are bitten by the Rock Squirrel when they try to feed these animals. You must beware, as the Rock Squirrel at the Grand Canyon will give you a nasty bite.
The park also has other dangerous animals you will need to avoid, including coyotes, foxes, bats, and even mountain lions. As it is also the western part of the United States, you should watch out and avoid rattlesnakes.
Should I Hike The Grand Canyon?
No matter your fitness level, you should take a long or short hike when you visit the Grand Canyon. Whether short or long, all the walks in the Grand Canyon can offer some great views.
Are Mule Rides In The Grand Canyon Safe?
Many people who do not want to hike the Grand Canyon may decide to do it the old fashion way, which is to ride a mule to see parts of the Grand Canyon. The Mules rides at the Grand Canyon have an excellent safety record.
The mules are known to be safe and have been used in the Grand Canyon for years and are still used today to deliver mail. Mules have a sense of self-preservation. A mule is not likely to do anything that will endanger them or the person riding on the mule.
Even with the mule’s sense of self-preservation, the mules will walk to the outer edge of the Grand Canyon. If you decide to ride a mule, you need to allow the mule to do their job and for the mule guide to also lead you to safety.
Listen To Our Podcast About How Big Is The Grand Canyon? & Other Grand Canyon Questions below or by clicking here.
Can You Visit the Grand Canyon North And South Rim On the Same Day?
Even though the North and South Rim of the Grand Canyon are technically only 10 miles apart, driving between the two areas will take you much longer. The drive between the North and South Rim needs to go over the Colorado River and loop around the Canyon, so the total miles between the North and South Rim is 215 miles or 5 hours of driving.
The distance between these two rims is such a long distance; it just shows how vast and impressive the Grand Canyon is.
Are There Any American Indian Reservations At The Grand Canyon?
Long before the Grand Canyon was the Grand Canyon, American Indian Tribes lived in the Grand Canyon area. Today the two most prevalent tribes that reside on the reservations at the Grand Canyon are the Havasupai and the Hualapai.
There is a Supai Indian Reservation that will allow some tourism, but getting to the reservation is not easy as everyone must hike the 8 miles to get in and out of the Supai Indian Reservation.
The Supai Indian Reservation is a 1,000-year-old remote Indian village in Supai, Arizona. It is located below the rim of the Grand Canyon and has been home to the Havasu Basaja or People of the Green Waters.
Above the village is a hidden limestone aquifer where blue-green waters will gush out; these waters help sustain their agricultural fields of corn, squash, and beans.
The remoteness of the Supai Village can create some challenges for visitors and residents. Everything must make the 8-mile trek in and out of the Supai village by foot, horseback, or mule. The United States Post Office delivers the mail to the Supai Village by mule train.
If you want to visit the Supai Village on your trip to the Grand Canyon, you should check their website by clicking here; sometimes, the village is closed to tourism and visitors.
Besides these two groups of American Indian tribes, the Grand Canyon is where the Navajo, Hopi, Paiute, and Zuni American Indian tribes live nearby.
How Can I Virtually Travel The Grand Canyon?
If you cannot travel to the Grand Canyon or want to find a way to prepare for your trip, you can join the Conquer Virtual Challenge and virtually travel the Grand Canyon. Every time you walk, step, bike, swim or do another exercise, you can count the miles towards your Grand Canyon Virtual Challenge.
The Conquer Virtual Challenge is a great way to be able to see parts of the world as the Grand Canyon while at the same time exploring all aspects of the Grand Canyon, even those areas you were not able to see on your visit.
We love the Conquer Virtual Challenges as each time we walk, bike, or swim a mile; we can put in the miles for the Conquer Virtual Challenges; if you pass an important milestone for the Grand Canyon, the Conquer Virtual Challenges will send you a postcard to tell you about the area of the Grand Canyon you just traveled.
The Conquer Virtual Challenge is a great way to continue seeing and enjoying the beauty of the Grand Canyon long after your visit.
As a bonus, the end of the Grand Canyon route. The Conquer Virtual Challenges will send you a unique Grand Canyon medal.
To find out more about the Conquer Virtual Challenges and to automatically receive 10% off your first challenge, you can sign up for the Grand Canyon or any other challenge by clicking on the link below.
At A Bus On A Dusty Road, we talk about travel, life, and ex-pat living. We are all about “Living Life As A Global Citizen.” We explore social, cultural, and economic issues and travel.
We would love to have you be part of our community. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up-to-date by clicking here. If you have any questions, you can contact me, Anita, by clicking here.
Listen to our Podcast called Dusty Roads. You can find it on all major podcast platforms. Try out listening to one of our podcasts by clicking here.
Subscribe to our A Bus On A Dusty Road YouTube Channel with great videos and information by clicking here.
Related Questions
Is A Day Trip To The Grand Canyon Worth It?
If you only have one day to visit the Grand Canyon, it is still worth visiting. You can do things to prepare for your trip so that you will have the most time available. We recommend you go to see the South Rim area of the Canyon.
By clicking here, you can discover Is A Day Trip To The Grand Canyon Worth It?.
How Much Time Should We Plan To Spend At The Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon was once filled with water, but the Grand Canyon itself is at least 6 million years old. The rock and rock formations of the Grand Canyon help us to tell the story of this magnificent place on earth.
By clicking here, you can discover How Much Time Should We Plan To Spend At The Grand Canyon?.
Was The Grand Canyon Once Totally Filled With Water? & More
The Grand Canyon was once filled with water, but the Grand Canyon itself is at least 6 million years old. The rock and rock formations of the Grand Canyon help us to tell the story of this magnificent place on earth.
By clicking here, you can discover Was The Grand Canyon Once Totally Filled With Water? & More.
