Vast, magnificent and inarguably beautiful, the Grand Canyon is easily the most distinguishable natural wonder, something you must see to believe from the eagle’s point of view.
Stretching 277 miles from end to end, the Grand Canyon‘s rocky walls descend more than a mile to the canyon’s floor, where the wild Colorado River continues to carve away at the rugged landscape.
Grand Canyon West is on the Hualapai Nation’s portion of Grand Canyon just before it enters Lake Mead. It is located near Las Vegas and can be easily combined with a tour of Hoover Dam in a one day excursion from your Las Vegas Hotel.
Grand Canyon West is the closest part of the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas at 2-3 hours drive from the city. The road out to Grand Canyon West is completely paved now and many visitors are taking in the Grand Canyon Skywalk when they visit Grand Canyon West.
One of the most dramatic viewpoints is at Guano Point, boasting stunning 360-degree views of the Canyon and what’s left of the $3.5 million aerial tramway system built in 1957. The tram once stretched 8,800 feet across the canyon to a guano mine.
As you gaze out across the expansive canyon, let thoughts of the brave souls who attempted to mine nitrogen-rich guano for fertilizer from the guano cave discovered in 1930 fill your mind. For 20 years, these miners rode the aerial tramway to cross the river spanning 7,500 feet with a vertical lift of 2,500 feet.
Grand Canyon West is not part of Grand Canyon National Park but instead sits on Hualapai Tribal lands—108 miles of which run along the western end of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River. This side of the canyon is more desert-like with elevations that average 4,000 feet, and it remains warmer in the summer.
The Hualapai people, which means the ‘People of the Tall Pines‘ have inhabited this area since A.D. 600 and culturally identify as part of the Pai Yuman which includes the Havasupai and Yavapai.
The Grand Canyon is like God’s canvas painted in golds and pinks and oranges and purples. It swept over narrows and crags in an area that’s an average of 10 miles wide (18 miles at its widest) and a mile deep.
Rock layers formed during the Paleozoic Era are the most conspicuous in the Grand Canyon’s walls. Coastal environments and several marine incursions from the west between 550 and 250 million years ago deposited sandstone, shale and limestone layers totaling 2,400 to 5,000 feet thick.
Layers from the Cambrian, Devonian, Mississippian, Pennsylvanian and Permian periods are present. Erosion has removed most Mesozoic Era evidence from the Park, although small remnants can be found, particularly in the western Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon itself is a late Cenozoic feature, characteristic of renewed erosion during this time. Vigorous cutting by the snow-fed Colorado River carved the Canyon’s depth. Canyon widening is held in check by the region’s dry climate. The asymmetry between rapid downcutting and slow widening results in the Grand Canyon rather than a more typical broad (and nondescript) river valley.
Although violent storms may send flash floods gouging down narrow side canyons, the lack of steady moisture has created a stark landscape of mostly naked rock. Harder, erosion-resistant rocks such as the Coconino Sandstone and the Redwall Limestone have eroded into bold cliffs. Softer layers melt into slopes like the Tonto Platform (Bright Angel Shale) and the Esplanade (Hermit Shale). The oldest, crystalline rocks are chiseled into the craggy cliffs of the Granite Gorges.
Grand Canyon West (The Company)
The Hualapai Tribe has been promoting Grand Canyon West as an adventure destination at the Grand Canyon since the early 1990’s. And when I went there in 2004, we had to go through the Joshua tree conservation area (which was a really bumpy ride).
Although Grand Canyon West is not located in Grand Canyon National Park, you can still experience the Grand Canyon here. Because it is not a National Park, Grand Canyon West is the ONLY location that you can take a helicopter ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. After descending to the bottom, you can then enjoy a short boat ride on the Colorado River.
Running from Colorado’s Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California, the Colorado River is 1,450 miles long. Within Grand Canyon National Park itself, the Colorado River’s 277 miles flow at an average speed of four miles per hour.
You will enjoy every minute of the time at the bottom of the Grand Canyon while taking in the majesty of the Canyon.
Eagle Point
In Canyon West, there’s another vantage point that would like you partake the impressive cliff face called the Eagle Point. Legend has it that the tribe faced a potential flood and one eagle came and warned them. And then the eagle turned into the cliff to protect them.
People come to Eagle Point these days to walk on the Skywalk. Also at Eagle Point is a reproduction of an authentic Native American Village. Stroll along the path lined with traditionally built housing, ovens and sweat lodges and be amazed at the unique architecture, style and functionality of each structure and feature.
Visited Aug 2004
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a natural formation distinguished by layered bands of red rock, revealing millions of years of geological history in cross-section. Vast in scale, the canyon averages 10 miles across and a mile deep along its 277-mile length. Much of the area is a national park, with Colorado River white-water rapids and sweeping vistas. It took 3-6 million years to form; erosion continues to this day to alter its contours.
The Canyon is generally divided into four main tourist areas:
- South Rim: The South Rim is the most popular destination for Grand Canyon visitors. Managed by the National Park Service, the South Rim is home to many of the most iconic viewpoints, as well as numerous hotels and attractions.
- North Rim: Also managed by the National Park Service, the North Rim provides a rugged alternative to the South Rim.
- West Rim: The Grand Canyon West tourist region is closer to Las Vegas than the popular South Rim. The West Rim is owned and operated by the Hualapai Indians, and is known for its viewpoints and the breathtaking glass Skywalk.
- East Rim: The East Rim of the Grand Canyon is the least accessible region and its not owned or maintained by any official organizations, but there are many unique viewpoints to explore, including Horseshoe Bend.
Grand Canyon didn’t become a national park until 1919. Although the Grand Canyon may seem like an obvious choice for a national park, the first attempt to organize Grand Canyon as a national park was made in 1882, and it was shot down. In fact, the canyon didn’t become a national monument until 1908, and then it took 11 more years to finally establish it as a national park. The reason for the delay? Land and mining moguls who were concerned that the classification would restrict their access to the area.
Thank goodness there were some righteous men in government back then.
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