Grand Canyon National Park is located in northwestern Arizona about 75 miles north of the cities of Flagstaff and Williams. The park covers well over one million acres and is more than twice the size of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

The Canyon, cut by the raging Colorado River, is immense in size, averaging 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles in length. It is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 15 miles at its widest.

If you have seen pictures of the canyon and have ever dreamed of visiting it, you will be shocked when you first lay eyes upon it. Grand Canyon is immense and it truly is like nothing you have ever seen or experienced. This canyon is a gift that the good Lord has given us and it is humbling to stand on its rim and experience its magnificence.

Grand Canyon National Park is heavily visited for most of the year and it is imperative to plan ahead for lodging, camping, backcountry permits, mule trips or other winderness adventures. Persons planning to visit only for the day should arrive early as parking is limited.

Besides sightseeing, hiking is probably the most popular activity in the canyon. There are 400 total miles of hiking trials in Grand Canyon of which only about 31 miles receive continual maintenance.

A warning about Grand Canyon hiking that is very important. More than 250 people are rescued from the canyon every year. This is mainly due to the fact that hiking in the canyon is opposite from most anywhere else you may hike.

The first part of your hike in Grand Canyon is easy because it is downhill and steep. But don't forget you have to return. What goes down must come up! The return trip can be extremely strenuous, especially in summer. The most common person rescued in the canyon is a male in his twenties. Don't try to be macho! It is recommended that you don't hike in the canyon when temperatures exceed 100 degrees fahrenheit.

There are plenty of activities to enjoy while vacationing in Grand Canyon, such as safe activities like touring the rim of the canyon in your car, horseback riding, nature walks, and more adventurous activities like whitewater rafting, cross country skiing, camping and fishing.

Should you decide to visit this one of a kind natural wonder, the beauty, size, inspiration and grandeur of Grand Canyon will stay with you for a lifetime. It truly is a natural treasure that is larger than life itself.

Enjoy your vacation in Grand Canyon. And above all, be safe!

Alan LeStourgeon operates a vacation rental web site where you can find comfortable cabin rentals, recreational and hiking vacation information and information on Cades Cove TN.