The Grand Canyon »

About the Grand Canyon, Arizona

The Grand Canyon leaves all who experience it with a sense of wonder, magic and awe. From its dramatic 1500 m (5000 ft) deep, 446 km (277 mi) long, and up to 29 km (18 mi) wide gorge, to its diverse plateaus, towers and hills, the Grand Canyon is one of the world's most stunning destinations. Rich with exceptional beauty, ancient geological history and modern universal amazement, the Grand Canyon attracts more than 5 million tourists each year.

Just 247 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, the Grand Canyon is frequently a destination for Arizona visitors. The number of things to do in the Grand Canyon is countless. Experience the majestic beauty of the Grand Canyon for yourself. Take a trip down the Colorado River and see deep into the Grand Canyon's characteristic gorge. Marvel at the layer upon layer of rock, piled like a stack of pancakes. Float down the river on a expertly guided tour and watch wildlife surrounded by tiers of limestone, sandstone, and shale excavated by the Colorado River and over half a billion years of wind, water and energy.

See the Grand Canyon as the eagle does and soar above the plateau on a helicopter or airplane tour. Fly around towering buttes, mesas, and valleys within the Grand Canyon's main gorge. Soar over dense evergreen forests of juniper and piñon, or arid plateaus speckled with desert plants like agave and Spanish bayonet. The Grand Canyon plateau region's forests are segmented by old lava flows, hills of volcanic debris and intrusions of igneous rock. Seeing the Grand Canyon by air is an unforgettable adventure with a unique perspective.

You may choose to experience the Grand Canyon by land. Walk in the footsteps of ancient peoples and explorers that first discovered the Grand Canyon. Make your own adventure or take a guided hike or horseback tour. Or choose one of the area's popular jeep or bus tours and allow area experts to open your eyes to the Grand Canyon's endless wonders.

Dotted amongst the communities that surround the Grand Canyon, tourists seeking lodging will find charming bed and breakfasts, grand hotels and lodges, resorts, cabins, vacation rentals and more. Whatever you fancy as the perfect accommodation, Grand Canyon lodging is your dream come true.

You will also find restaurants, shopping, art galleries, and other services in the communities of the Grand Canyon area. Find yourself wandering through quaint boutiques, art and shopping areas. Discover one-of-a-kind hand-made treasures and enjoy the thrill of selecting a special souvenir.

And if you've spent some time in the Grand Canyon and you think you've done all there is to do, there are even more attractions just a short drive away. Dramatic Sedona is less than two hours south, scenic Flagstaff is about 80 miles southeast, and historic Prescott is two hours away, just south of Sedona. And just 4.5 hours south in the Valley of the Sun, one could get lost forever in the numerous activities offered in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Cave Creek and Carefree. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and Las Vegas are frequent choices for commercial air travel, and both Grand Canyon Airport and Flagstaff's Pulliam Airport are available for private commuter and tour company planes.

What climate should you expect on the Coconino and Kaibab plateaus, the North and South Rim? At 1500 and 2700 km (5000 and 9000 feet ) above sea level, the climate of the plateau region above the Grand Canyon can swing between extremes of heat and cold. The canyon floor can also exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, but seldom experiences frost in the winter. Regardless of the weather, the Grand Canyon is one of the world's favorite sites year-round. Visit the Grand Canyon and see why it has been the stuff of wonder for centuries of adventurers, vacationers, artists and explorers.

More About the Grand Canyon

In July 1989 Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan directed Reclamation to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the operation of the Glen Canyon Dam. Thus, more than a quarter-century after the floodgates of the dam closed, its environmental effects were to be judged scientifically. Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which authorizes the EIS process, cultural resources are an aspect of the environment worthy of study and consideration, just as are natural resources. The EIS for Glen Canyon Dam operations therefore mandated scientific studies of cultural resources within the area potentially affected by water releases. Further Glen Canyon Dam operations are considered a federal undertaking that either directly, indirectly or potentially affect cultural resources. Acknowledgement of this enacts the National Historic Preservation Act of 1992 (amended) (NHPA). Under Section 106 of this act the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is responsible for the impacts to cultural resources caused by dam operations and National Park Service (NPS) is dually responsible for these cultural resources under Section 110 of NHPA.

In a joint venture, Reclamation and NPS decided that the first step in the EIS process with respect to cultural resources was to conduct an intensive inventory of archaeological sites in the river corridor. The area surveyed encompassed a 255-mile stretch of the river corridor, extending from Glen Canyon Dam to Separation Canyon. The vertical extent of the survey area was the riverine environment that incorporated all terrestrial river-derived sediments below the estimated 300,000 cfs level, as well as a few areas of eolian sand dunes lying slightly above this level.

The survey was conducted from August 24, 1990 to April 30, 1991. During this time some 1,968-person days were spent surveying about 10,506 acres. A total of 475 archaeological sites and 489 isolated occurrences of artifacts or features were located and recorded. Regarding the impacts of Dam operations on archaeological sites, it was judged initially that 336 of the 475 recorded sites existed in locations that could potentially be adversely affected by changing water releases. Since 1992, the NPS archaeologists monitoring sites have been able to refine site impact categories identified by Fairley et al. 1994. To date, 264 sites are considered affected (directly, indirectly, potentially and cumulatively) by the operations of Glen Canyon Dam.

It is sufficient to note that the cultural monitoring program has operated from its inception within a complicated framework of laws, regulations, and other directives that are not always in accord with one another. At times, there has been an inherent conflict between complying with the provisions of Section 106 of NHPA (mitigating the effects of a federally sponsored undertaking), while at the same time recognizing and adhering to long-standing NPS policies (i.e., Section 110 of NHPA) regarding the "preservation-in-place" of cultural resources.

Therefore, a crucial document created to guide Reclamation's Section 106 compliance in conjunction with other NPS legal mandates is the 1994 Programmatic Agreement (PA). This PA, regarding the operation of the Glen Canyon, was signed by officials of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), and six Indian Tribes and Nations -- the Hopi Tribe, the Hualapai Nation, the Kaibab Paiute Tribe, the Navajo Nation, the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah for the Shivwits Paiute Tribe, and Zuni Pueblo -- with an interest in the affected cultural resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Implementation of this agreement fulfills Reclamation's responsibilities for Section 106 of NHPA relative to Glen Canyon Dam operations and also satisfies NPS needs.

The PA outlines the responsibilities of Reclamation for the mitigation of these adverse effects under Section 106 of NHPA, spelling out the responsibilities of the RCMP as follows:
The purpose of the Monitoring and Remedial Action Plan shall be to generate data regarding the effects of Dam operations on historic properties, identify ongoing impacts to historic properties within the APE [Area of Potential Effect], and develop and implement remedial measures for treating historic properties subject to damage.

Currently, all work conducted by archaeologists has been completed under stipulations in a Monitoring and Remedial Action Plan (MRAP). The processes delineated in the MRAP guide the ongoing process for the identification, monitoring, and remedial actions on cultural resources impacted, or potentially impacted, as a result of the operations of Glen Canyon Dam.