A B
O U T T H E
P A R K
The statistics listed above are
impressive. But wait for sunrise at the Grand Canyon's
rim or the sight of a California condor soaring against the canyon's
walls and you'll
know why numbers alone can never really give
you a sense of
this place.
To fully appreciate the beauty and biodiversity of this remarkable
national park,
make a trip to the canyon's bottom. Due to the dramatic changes
in elevation, five life zones exist within park boundaries- the Lower
Sonoran, Upper
Sonoran, Transition, Canadian, and Hudsonian.
Grand Canyon National Park is divided into two parts - the North Rim
and the South Rim. Although the canyon is 15 miles at its widest,
travel time between the two rims is over five hours for auto-bound
travelers. The North Rim is higher and quieter, but wildlife -
hazed by herds of tour buses - can sometimes be more easily seen at the
South
Rim. The
views are stunning from either rim of
the park.
WHERE TO SEE WILDLIFE:
South
Rim: Stop at the park visitor
center in Grand Canyon Village and ask about condor and other
recent wildlife sightings. In 1996, the Peregrine Fund
reintroduced the California Condor at Vermillion Cliffs
just north of the Grand Canyon. The first condor chick was born
in a remote area on the canyon's south rim in 2003. Over 50
condors now frequent the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas.
In the South Rim's pinyon-juniper
forests, look for pinjon and scrub jays, gray flycatchers, horned
lizards and desert cottontails. Watch for desert bighorns
on
Bright Angel Trail, particularly during the rutting season in
early to mid- October. Bighorns are also sometimes seen during
rafting trips down the Colorado River. River trips and rim hikes
are also recommended for spotting raptors.
Mule deer are common and easily seen in Grand Canyon
Village at dusk. They often graze along the railroad
tracks or
on the lawn in front of the El Tovar Hotel.
In the fall,
both deer and elk can sometimes be seen at Trailer Village -
the park's RV/trailer site.
North
Rim: Blue
grouse and Kaibab squirrels may be seen on the road to Point Imperial. Watch for deer and
wild
turkey on the 23 mile Cape Royal road.
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L O D G I N
G - C A M P I N G
NORTH RIM : Choose from Frontier, Western or
Pioneer
cabins. There is also a 40 room motel. To be sure
of a cabin or room, you'll need to book months in advance.
Frontier cabins
are
small, basc log cabins with one full-size and one twin bed. Our
recommendation is a Western Cabin with a rim view. Description of cabins
A restaurant with
an unbeatable view is located in the Grand Canyon Lodge,
but to enjoy it you'll have to arrive before the park's winter closure
date of October 15. (The South Rim remains open.)
SOUTH RIM: Grand Canyon Village is 60
miles north
of Williams, Arizona and offers many different lodging
options. But try to reserve rooms months in advance,
particularly if
you wish to stay in one of the two historic park lodges - Bright Angel
or El Tovar.
Bright Angel, El Tovar, and a newer motel, Thunderbird Lodge, are all
located on the canyon's rim. There are also numerous lodging
options outside of the park.
At the bottom
of canyon, you can stay at a cabin or in dorm space at the Phantom
Ranch, but again, you'll need to reserve well in advance of your
planned arrival..
C A M P G R O U N D S
Mather Campgound is near Grand Canyon Village and Desert
View Campground near the eastern entrance to the park. Trailer
Village, as its name
implies, is for RVs and trailers. The park also provides a backcountry
guide.
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Colorado
River, credit USFWS
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