Grand Canyon National Park
Geology
​ The Grand Canyon was formed over 70 million years ago by the Colorado river eroding, or breaking down the rock making and shaping the canyon we know today.
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10,000 years ago when the Canyon already formed, Indian tribes (Puebloans, Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai, Navajo) settled in the canyon. The canyon was considered sacred, and was the source of many of the tribes spiritual beliefs.
Location and Lodging
The Grand Canyon sits in northern Arizona, about a 4-hour drive from Phoenix and 5 hours from Las Vegas. If you’d rather fly closer, you can land at smaller airports like Flagstaff (about 90 minutes away) or Tusayan (GCN), which is just 10 minutes from the South Rim entrance.
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When it comes to places to stay, the South Rim has the best options. Inside the park, you’ll find historic lodges like the El Tovar Hotel and Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins — both perfectly located right on the rim. If you prefer staying just outside the park, the town of Tusayan, AZ, has several nice hotels and is only a few minutes from the entrance.
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If you’re visiting with family, the Rim Trail is an awesome place to start. Many sections are paved, making it stroller-friendly, and the views are absolutely amazing. You can walk as far as you like, and there’s even a Visitor Center along the way.
Our favorite trail was the Bright Angel Trail. It takes you down into the canyon, and you can decide how far to go depending on your energy level. We hiked to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse and then turned around — it was the perfect distance for us! This trail actually goes all the way to the North Rim, and we loved chatting with hikers who were doing the full journey.
Another great hike is the South Kaibab Trail up to Ooh Aah Point — it’s about 1.8 miles round trip and totally worth it for the views (and the name!). We also did the Desert View Drive, a scenic route that offers several overlooks where you can pull over and take in different perspectives of the canyon.
Family Friendly Trails
South Kaibab trail and Ooh Aah point
Bright Angel Trail
Rim Trail
Fun Facts/Tips
We treated ourselves to a delicious lunch at the El Tovar Hotel after our hike on the Bright Angel Trail — I definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time since it gets busy!
On the same trip, we also visited Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, both about 1.5 hours from Tusayan. Antelope Canyon is on Navajo Nation land, so make sure to book your tour in advance. It was such a unique experience and the perfect add-on to our trip!
Horseshoe Bend
Antelope Canyon