Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon, AZ (Sedona.biz) - Just 113 miles northwest of Sedona, via Flagstaff, is one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world; the Grand Canyon.  More than 1 million vehicles stop along its South Rim each year.

Said President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 "In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world...Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it."

Brief History

The Grand Canyon sits in the Colorado Plateau and was created 5 to 6 million years ago by the cutting erosion of the Colorado River into soft sedimentary rock as the Colorado Plateau rose.  The Canyon is 277 miles long, 6,000 feet at its deepest point, and 15 miles wide at its widest point. The Grand Canyon National Park encompasses over 1.2 million acres.  The Colorado River is 1,450 miles long, averages 100 yards across, and runs through the base of the Canyon from its source in the Rocky Mountain National Park to its end at the Gulf of California in Mexico.

The many colors and rock formations in the Canyon are from the different minerals in each layer of rock and because different kinds of rock erode at different rates.

Although humans have been visiting the Grand Canyon for over 10,000 years, beginning with Native Americans and later Spanish explorers, it wasn't until 1869 when U.S. Army Major John Wesley Powell led a series of expeditions through the canyon that its geology was recorded, and Powell gave it its name.

Present

Today the Grand Canyon is an annual destination for more than 4.5 million visitors wanting to gaze at its beauty, learn about its history and geology, and hike its trails. There are also mule trips, air tours, the Grand Canyon Railway, and shopping at the Grand Canyon Village.

Most visitors enter via the South Rim Entrance of the park (see detailed map below).  The first scenic spot is the canyon overlook at Mather Point followed by the main visitor center, the Canyon View Center, directly across the road.  Beyond is the Yavapai Observation Station at Yavapai Point and the Grand Canyon Village with shopping, lodging, and the Grand Canyon Railway train depot. The Canyon View Center is open from 8am - 5pm 365 days a year.

The most popular hikes are along the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trails but hiking down to the Colorado River is not recommended because it is an 8-12 hour trip.

For more information about the Grand Canyon there are two excellent websites at the  Grand Canyon Explorer and the National Park Service.

Click on map for more info.

Courtesy of the National Park Service/US Department of the Interior

Great Day Trip (refer to map above)

There are three ways to drive to the Grand Canyon from Sedona.  Once in Flagstaff, you can take 180 west to 64 north and enter the Grand Canyon at the main South Entrance (South Rim).

Another way is to take I-40 west to 64 north to the South Entrance.  I-40 is a major interstate.  The last way is to take 89A north and turn left on to 64 just before the town of Cameron.  This is the East Entrance, and provides more expansive views of the Grand Canyon along your drive.  You will also drive through the Navajo Reservation on 89A.

If you want to make the most of a day trip from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, here's our recommendation (you should leave Sedona around 7:30 AM): 

Route 66 in Williams, AZ

Williams:  Take I-40 west from Flagstaff and visit the town of Williams, AZ.  This is the heart of Route 66.  Although it's a one-horse town, this is where you'll find the Grand Canyon Railway, and you can pick up some great Route 66 souvenirs.  Route 66 was one of the inspirations behind the 2006 animated movie "Cars."

Grand Canyon:  You'll have to back track 2 miles from Williams to pick up 64 north to the South Rim entrance.  We recommend checking out the main visitors center and the Grand Canyon Village.  Instead of driving back via 64 south, we suggest you drive about 25 miles east on 64 to the Desert View Point.  There's an old stone observation tower and souvenir shop, and you'll get the best views of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River from this vantage point.

Wupatki

Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano:  Continue on 64 east to the end and turn right going south on 89A. 

Sunset Crater

Along your drive you can stop at Wupatki, an ancient Indian pueblo built in during the 1100s A.D.  Along a loop that takes you back to 89A, you'll also see the Sunset Crater, a mountain formed by erupting lava and volcanic ash.  The landscape will make you think you're on the moon!

Location

The Grand Canyon is located in northwestern Arizona.  It is 113 miles northwest of Sedona, and takes 2 1/2 hours to drive to.

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