Grand Canyon National Park
Staying Safe
Walking and Hiking
Don't overexert yourself in an effort to view park sights. The South Rim is 7,000 feet above sea level, and attempting several hikes in a short time period is taxing, especially for visitors from lower elevations or those with heart or respiratory problems.
Never try to hike from the rim to the Colorado River and back in one day. Remember that trails descend more than 4,000 feet and that you must climb uphill at the end of the day when you are most tired. Every year, at least 300 incidents occur on the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails, where unprepared hikers experience severe illness or injury while returning to the rim.
Use extra caution when hiking and walking during summer months. The summer sun is very strong and temperatures in the inner canyon often exceed 105°F. Wear a hat, use sunscreen and drink a gallon of water per person per day. Eat high-energy, salty snacks such as granola bars and trail mix. Hike in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid heat extremes. Stay on trails and rest often. Remember to allow twice as much time to climb out of the canyon as it took to descend into it.
Other than short day hikes, hiking alone in the canyon is not a good idea. Always let a friend know where you're going, so that someone can find you if you don't return on time. Park rangers will not start a search unless you are reported missing. Pack out what you pack in; leave no trace of your visit.
Check The Guide for a list of hikes, including descriptions and difficulty. Several books on Grand Canyon hiking are available in gift shops and bookstores.
Exploring the Canyon Rim
Be careful when exploring the canyon edge and watch your footing. Keep a close eye on children, especially at viewpoints along the rim.
Valuables
To protect your belongings, lock your car and take valuables with you.
Weather
The weather at Grand Canyon can change very quickly. With so much exposed rock, lightning poses a particular danger during sudden summer storms. These storms also frequently bring flash floods inside canyons, a hazard to inner canyon hikers. Watch the skies and check daily weather forecasts.
Grand Canyon In Depth
News from the Parks
Light Pollution Harms Not Just Stargazers
December 2, 2008 - 1:03pm
For students of astronomy, Sunday and Monday night is the equivalent of a World Cup Final, a new Mac operating system, and a Zeppelin reunion show all rolled into one. That’s because, as Horizons guest blogger Pete Spotts noted in his post Sunday, Jupiter, Venus, and the moon will gather to direct a lopsided frown at North America, an arrangement that won’t happen again for another 44 years.
December 2, 2008 - 1:03pm
For students of astronomy, Sunday and Monday night is the equivalent of a World Cup Final, a new Mac operating system, and a Zeppelin reunion show all rolled into one. That’s because, as Horizons guest blogger Pete Spotts noted in his post Sunday, Jupiter, Venus, and the moon will gather to direct a lopsided frown at North America, an arrangement that won’t happen again for another 44 years.
Tourists Bite on ‘Twilight’ Vampire Tours of Forks, Washington
December 2, 2008 - 12:59pm
Fans of the hit movie “Twilight,” inspired by Stephenie Meyer’s vampire series, are swarming tiny Forks on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where the novels are set, and checking out “Twilight”-themed tours, hotel packages and even food.
December 2, 2008 - 12:59pm
Fans of the hit movie “Twilight,” inspired by Stephenie Meyer’s vampire series, are swarming tiny Forks on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where the novels are set, and checking out “Twilight”-themed tours, hotel packages and even food.
Crowds Observe World AIDS Day In GG Park
December 2, 2008 - 12:56pm
People from across the country gathered in Golden Gate Park's National AIDS Memorial Grove Monday to observe the 20th annual World AIDS Day.
December 2, 2008 - 12:56pm
People from across the country gathered in Golden Gate Park's National AIDS Memorial Grove Monday to observe the 20th annual World AIDS Day.
Grounded in God, Green and Glaciers
December 2, 2008 - 12:37pm
Remember when Arizona Sen. John McCain criticized spending millions of taxpayer dollars to fund the DNA of grizzly bears in Montana during one of the presidential debates? “That’s us,” said David Restivo, a Roberts Wesleyan College alumnus and visual information specialist at Glacier National Park in Montana.
December 2, 2008 - 12:37pm
Remember when Arizona Sen. John McCain criticized spending millions of taxpayer dollars to fund the DNA of grizzly bears in Montana during one of the presidential debates? “That’s us,” said David Restivo, a Roberts Wesleyan College alumnus and visual information specialist at Glacier National Park in Montana.
Smokies' Formation Began 500 Million to 600 Million Years Ago
December 2, 2008 - 12:35pm
As the Great Smoky Mountains National Park prepares to celebrate its 75th year, students of history and geology are pondering questions that go back much farther than the park's creation in the 1930s. The most fascinating queries to them concern the actual formation of the mountains, their age and topography.
December 2, 2008 - 12:35pm
As the Great Smoky Mountains National Park prepares to celebrate its 75th year, students of history and geology are pondering questions that go back much farther than the park's creation in the 1930s. The most fascinating queries to them concern the actual formation of the mountains, their age and topography.
