Grand Canyon National Park

Arizona State Travel Guide

North America

According to countryaah, Phoenix is Arizona largest city.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

According to abbreviationfinder, Grand Canyon National Park is located in the state of Arizona, in the southwestern United States. The nearest airport is Phoenix. The state of Arizona has mild winters and extremely hot summers, with frequent thunderstorms from July through September. The summer months are only a paradise for true sun worshippers; daytime temperatures can exceed 50°C. The Grand Canyon has a desert climate characterized by hot summers and cold, snowy winters in the north. Do you want to experience the Grand Canyon ‘from the inside’? Rent a helicopter and have a picnic in the Grand Canyon! Given the heat of the summer months and the cold of the winter, which closes off the North Rim from October to May, the months of April and May, as well as September through November, are ideal for visiting the park.

Views

Lipan Point on the South Rim sits above a bend in the Colorado River and offers a panorama that stretches far west. In addition, the Unkar Delta, one of the most fertile archaeological sites in the park, is clearly visible here. Other beautiful sunrise and sunset spots include the Grand Canyon Lodge, Mohave, Hopi, and Desert View. On the North Rim, head to Cape Royal for the best view.

Tours

On the South Rim, the Desert View Drive is one of the most beautiful routes to view the Canyon, as you see more here than from the Cape Royal Road and the Hermits Rest Route.

Hermit’s Rest

At the end of the Hermits Rest Route is a strange structure from 1913 that indeed looks most like a hermitage. Inside you will find a fireplace, authentic furniture and candlesticks on the wall.

Helicopter flight

For a compelling view over the Canyon, book a helicopter flight with, for example, the Dreamcatcher Sunset Tour. It flies from Las Vegas to Hidden Valley and the Valley of Fire.

Other National Parks nearby

During a trip to the National Parks of the Southwest, Grand Canyon can easily be combined with, for example, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.

Grand Canyon National Park

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

The Casa Grande, or Czech Grand House, is the oldest surviving monument left in southern Arizona by the original Hohokam Indian tribe. These Indians lived here for many years, but later they suddenly went unknown. The name of their tribe also translates to “Those who lived and left here.”

The original Indian culture was relatively advanced, they even managed to create a field irrigation system here. People were mainly engaged in agriculture and farming. In addition to Casa Grande, there were several other inhabited places around the Gila River. In 1694, the Jesuit priest Francisco Eusebio Kino passed through here, but he found only half-ruined abandoned ruins.

Casa Grande was originally a four-storey building built sometime in the 14th century, whose walls are up to 140 cm wide at the foundations. However, there were other houses around it that formed a complete Indian village. It was discovered during extensive archaeological research. According to historians, the Casa Grande building allegedly served as an astronomical observatory, as evidenced by the regular openings in their walls following the movements of the sun and moon across the sky, along with the walls oriented along the sides of the world. The ruins of Casa Grande are the first archaeological site in the United States to come under the protection of the federal government.

Crowned National Monument

Near Arizona’s New Mexico border is the wooded Coronado Reservation Area, the highest peak of which is Chiricahua Peak at 2,986 meters above sea level. Coronado is adjacent to the Chiricahua National Monument, which was once home to the Chiricahua Indians.

In the years 1540-1542, however, the Spanish colonizers led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado came here. He was born in 1510 in Salamanca, Spain, and at the age of 30 began exploring the American Southwest. One of the reasons for their arrival was also the rumor that there were large gold deposits in the area. Spanish troops clashed with Indian tribes, which over time were completely pushed out.

The monument, established in 1940, now preserves historical and natural attractions and protects all material objects related to the Coronado expedition. It reminds us how closely the United States is associated with Mexico, even though it has visible, physical and political boundaries.

However, the area also offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as rock climbing, caving, bird watching, hiking and much more. The local caves hide beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations. The diverse nature provides a home for many species of animals that hide in the local oak and pine forests. The most beautiful trips include circular routes from Massai Point to Echo Park or a little longer (12 km) to Heart of Rock.