Grand Canyon National Park

There are few destinations in the United States that can leave as big of an impression in your mind as the Grand Canyon. There are places of historic significance, like Williamsburg Virginia, and places of geologic significance like Yellowstone National Park. There are wild animals in Denali National Park, Alaska, and just plain ol fun places like Disney World. But in the end, there's nothing quite like the impression that's left on your mind when you walk up to the edge of the Grand Canyon, stand as close as you safely can, and stare out into the emptiness, the silence, and the pure grandeur of the entire scene. If you're lucky, a California Condor may fly by to give you a sense of perspective.

The Grand Canyon, located in northern Arizona near the town of Williams along Interstate 40 is an absolute must see destination for anyone traveling that way. Whether you have a week or two to spend, or just a few hours, your time will not be wasted if you just walk out to the rim and look.

Geologically, the canyon is called an “erosion feature” by the official web site. The National Park Service uses the term to help define the difference between the age of the rocks that make up the canyon walls, and the canyon itself. Some of the layers in the bottom of the canyon, for example are known to be about 2 billion years old, but the canyon itself, or the “erosion feature” that exposes those rocks, is only estimated at about 5 or 6 million years.

Designated as Forest Reserve in 1893, the Grand Canyon later became a National Monument, and finally a National Park in 1919,only three years after the creation of the National Park Service. Along with parks like Yellowstone, which was the first National Park, Grand Canyon was among those first places to be protected by Congress, signifying its importance and significance.

How to Get There – The easiest way to get to the Grand Canyon via automobile is from Williams, Arizona. Williams is located on Interstate 40 about 30 minutes west of Flagstaff. From Williams, turn north on Highway 64, following signs to the Grand Canyon and drive for about an hour. There's a small town just before the park entrance called Tusayan where you'll find a good RV park, several places to shop, eat, and an outstanding Imax theater. Another interesting way to visit the Grand Canyon is by traveling to Williams and riding the historic Grand Canyon Railway. We'll cover this 65 mile train ride a bit more in this month's Side Trip to Williams.

Where to Stay - Being an RV magazine we'll concentrate on places to stay with your RV. During the summer months the park and surrounding facilities can be quite busy, so this is one destination that's good to check ahead and have reservations. This applies to just about every kind of facility from tent camping to hotel rooms. For the RVer, one convenient place to stay is the Grand Canyon Camper Village in Tusayan. This RV campground features easy access to the park, full hook-ups including some sites with cable TV, and more primative sites for the budget minded. Another popular spot is the Trailer Village South Rim Campground, which is located inside the park. Hook-ups are available in some sites.

There are many more RV parks available around the Grand Canyon Area, including some very nice facilities in Williams and along Highway 64 in the town of Valle.

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