How Big Is The Grand Canyon National Park?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The Grand Canyon is a mile deep, 277 miles long and 18 miles wide. While the park doesn’t include the entire canyon, it does measure in at a whopping

1,904 square miles

in total.

How long does it take to drive around Grand Canyon?

Although the North Rim Visitor Center and the South Rim are within sight of each other and just a 20-mile hike, the minimum driving distance between the two around the east end of the canyon is 220 miles,

about 5 hours

.

How much of the Grand Canyon is national park?

Grand Canyon National Park Nearest city Fredonia, Arizona (North Rim) Tusayan, Arizona (South Rim) Coordinates 36°03′19′′N 112°07′19′′WCoordinates: 36°03′19′′N 112°07′19′′W Area

1,217,262 acres (4,926.08 km

2

)
Established February 26, 1919

How long is the walk around the Grand Canyon?

The main trail is approximately

2.83 miles

(4.56 km). This fully accessible 1 hour walking trip provides breath taking vistas of Grand Canyon and allows you to ponder and understand the depths of geologic space and time.

Is the Grand Canyon bigger than Rhode Island?


The Grand Canyon is bigger than the state of Rhode Island

.

The Grand Canyon is a mile deep, 277 miles long and 18 miles wide. While the park doesn’t include the entire canyon, it does measure in at a whopping 1,904 square miles in total. In comparison, Rhode Island is around 1,212 square miles.

How deep is the Grand Canyon at its deepest point?

Grand Canyon is considered one of the finest examples of arid-land erosion in the world. Incised by the Colorado River, the canyon is immense, averaging 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles. It is

6,000 feet

deep at its deepest point and 18 miles at its widest.

Can you drive your own car through the Grand Canyon?


Private vehicles can drive east along the canyon rim for 23 miles (37 km) to the Desert View Services Area, and the East Entrance of Grand Canyon National Park

.

Can you drive down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon?

If your night at the Grand Canyon is at the South Rim of the National Park, that’s simply not an option.

There are no vehicular roads to the “bottom”

. This is at the deepest part of the GC and the rim is a vertical mile above the Colorado River; the only way to the river is by hiking trail.

Can you see the Grand Canyon without paying?


There are many free destinations and activities in and around the Grand Canyon

. Additionally, there are multitudes of ways to explore what this amazing national park has to offer. Examples include helicopter tours, boat tours, riding a mule through the wild, jeep tours, airplane tours, and more!

Is the Grand Canyon one of the 7 Wonders of the World?

THE SOUTH RIM, GRAND CANYON, AZ – July 17, 2018 – This jagged 277-mile-long gorge carved by the Colorado River and reaching depths of a mile is

one of world’s seven natural wonders

and the centerpiece of Grand Canyon National Park. You can explore its 1.2 million acres by land, water and air.

How long would it take to fall to the bottom of the Grand Canyon?

in general, a trip to the river from the South Rim will take

about 5 hours

down, and about 15 hours back up. However, a descent from the North Rim will take close closer to 8 hours to the river, and may take 20+ hours back to the rim depending on fitness.

Will your cell phone work in the Grand Canyon?


Your cellphone will work on your Grand Canyon river trip

… as a camera. And as a video camera. As a music player. It will work as a dandy little coaster for your cocktail, if you remember to bring a waterproof case for it.

Can you stay overnight at the bottom of the Grand Canyon?

Staying Overnight

Phantom Ranch, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, is a popular destination for both hikers and mule riders.

Overnight hiker dormitories and cabins can be reserved and meals are available for purchase

. Advance reservations for meals and lodging at Phantom Ranch are required.

Can you walk to bottom of Grand Canyon?

Q: How long will it take to get to the bottom from the South Rim? A: The South Kaibab Trail is 6.8 miles to Bright Angel Campground and the Bright Angel Trail is 9.3 miles.

It will take most hikers between 4 and 5 hours to get to the campground on either trail.

What is at the bottom of Grand Canyon?


Phantom Ranch

is a historic oasis nestled at the bottom of Grand Canyon. It is on the north side of the Colorado River tucked in beside Bright Angel Creek. Phantom Ranch is the only lodging below the canyon rim, and can only be reached by mule, on foot, or by rafting the Colorado River.

Who owns Grand Canyon?

Despite these strategically located private in-holdings, the vast majority of the Grand Canyon is owned by

the federal government

, held in trust for the American people and managed by a varied collection of federal agencies. Indian reservations, state land, and private land surround these federal lands.

What is the biggest canyon in the world?

Largest canyons

The

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon

(or Tsangpo Canyon), along the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, is regarded by some as the deepest canyon in the world at 5,500 metres (18,000 ft). It is slightly longer than the Grand Canyon in the United States.

What city is closest to the Grand Canyon?

The two major cities closest to the Canyon are

Phoenix and Las Vegas

. Flagstaff, AZ is only 1.5 hours from the South Rim and although it is a smaller city, it does have an international airport. Tusayan is the closest town to Grand Canyon Village and also has a small public airport.

How many people have fallen into the Grand Canyon?


About 180 people

have died by falling in the Grand Canyon. G&M divided these into the following: Falls from the ledge.

What is the temperature at the bottom of the Grand Canyon?

The great depth of Grand Canyon produces a variety of conditions between the South Rim and Phantom Ranch. Temperatures usually vary by 20 oF (11 oC) between the top and the bottom.

Summer (June – August) – Temperatures often exceed 100 oF (38 oC)

at the bottom of the canyon.

Does anyone live in the Grand Canyon?


Yes, a small group of people live in the Grand Canyon

. The Havasupai (which means “people of the blue-green waters”) have a reservation that borders Grand Canyon National Park. Their village is located near Havasu Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River that often sees flash floods.

Can you sleep in your car at Grand Canyon?


Not allowed

. Sleeping in your car constitutes “camping” and the only camping allowed at the South Rim is in the developed campgrounds, i.e. Mather and Desert View. There are also National Forest campgrounds outside of the park. Dispersed camping is also permitted in the Kaibab National Forest.

How wide is the Grand Canyon at its narrowest point?

Its narrowest point is in Marble Canyon, where it is

600 feet

wide. Its maximum width of 18 miles is found at several different points.

Can you see the Grand Canyon without hiking?

West Rim is within Grand Canyon West, located on the Hualapai Reservation, which is closer to Las Vegas than the other areas. Can we visit without hiking?

Yes. All visitors can enjoy the breathtaking views from along the rim.

Do mules ever fall in the Grand Canyon?

At approximately 9:00 this morning the Grand Canyon Regional Dispatch Center received a radio call from a mule wrangler reporting that

a mule had lost it’s footing, fell, and then rolled over the passenger that it had been carrying

. The accident occurred approximately 2 1⁄2 miles below the rim on the Bright Angel Trail.

Is there a train that goes down into the Grand Canyon?


The historic Grand Canyon Railway departs daily from Williams, Arizona and travel 65 miles to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon

. The historic Grand Canyon Railway departs daily from Williams, Arizona and travel 65 miles to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Can you take a helicopter to the bottom of the Grand Canyon?


Grand Canyon West is the ONLY location that you can take a Helicopter Ride to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon

, then enjoy a short Boat ride on the Colorado River. The Over The Edge Tour is just the ticket to add this adventure to your life. Skywalk Ticket is NOT included.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.