Grand Canyon

The camera stands on bare red sandstone, on a shelf with the canyon opening out in front and the ground rising behind. The light is nearly gone, which is the best time to look at this place: the flat top of every butte across the gorge is still lit while everything below the rim has already gone into shadow, so the canyon reads as a set of separate objects rather than as a hole in the ground. The banding in the far walls is legible from here - different rock, different age, laid down flat and cut through afterwards. Closer to hand the sandstone underfoot is scoured smooth, with a few juniper and scrub growing out of the cracks.

Nobody knows for sure how the Grand Canyon was formed. More specifically, there are questions about the specific geological processes and the exact timing of it all. What is known is that water played a key role. Flowing through the Grand Canyon is the Colorado River, and this venerable waterway is largely responsible for carving out the immense chasm. A recent study suggests that the Colorado River shifted its course and began flowing through the Grand Canyon area some 17 million years ago.

Water isn't the only natural element that is responsible for forming the Grand Canyon. Others include wind and volcanism, and there are geologists who also point to such factors as continental drift and variations in the Earth's orbit. Either way, the canyon is a visual wonder, and within its realms, approximately two billion years of geological history are on display. Multi-colored ribbons of sedimentary rock tell much of the story in terms of the geological history, and they also lend to the scenic splendor of the canyon. As the light changes throughout the day, so too do the colors of the Grand Canyon. Therein lies much of the scenic allure. Every year, approximately five million people come to Grand Canyon National Park to see it all for themselves, and you can rest assured that most, if not all of these visitors are blown away by the canyon's depth and majesty.

Hiking A number of hiking trails either follow along the canyon rims or lead down into the canyon itself. The popular trails are those that are found along the more visited South Rim - an example being the famed South Kaibab Trail. This trail along Yaki Point Road leads all the way down to the Colorado River, and round trip day hikes can be six miles long. Guided Grand Canyon hiking trips can be arranged by those interested. It should be noted that none of the trails that lead into or out of the Grand Canyon are easy, and hikers are discouraged from hiking from the rim down to the river in one day, especially during the hot May-September months.

River Rafting Rafting trips down the Colorado River provide an amazing perspective of the deep chasm, and they range from single to multi-day affairs. Rafters can stick to smooth water or indulge in whitewater adventures according to their wants and needs, and it is possible to enjoy both commercial and noncommercial Grand Canyon rafting trips. The self-guided, noncommercial raft trips require a permit that is pretty tough to get, and even if you are trying to book a guided commercial trip, you might have to arrange everything up to one or two years in advance. In other words, river rafting trips in the Grand Canyon are in high demand.