The Grand Canyon consists mainly of steep horizontal rocks made from millions of years of deposition and lava flow.The Grand Canyon is a big geographical masterpiece canyon made due to the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon is situated in the plateau regions of northwestern Arizona, which is in the southwest direction in the United States.These rocks have formed in spectacular shapes and colors, owing to the different types of sedimentation of various soils for approximately six million years. The Colorado River runs through the canyon which has formed a mile-deep channel. The Grand Canyon winds through the plateau starting from the mouth of the river Paria up to Grand Wash Cliffs near the state boundary of Nevada, the whole range covering a distance of about 277 mi (445.8 km). The width of the range extends up to 18 mi (29 km).The Grand Canyon National Park has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO which consists of one of the most beautiful and scenic sites in the Grand Canyon.It is about 55 mi (88.5 km) long, which covers the length of the Colorado River from Lake Powell to Lake Mead and is also the deepest part of the Grand Canyon.The most valuable characteristic of the Grand Canyon comes from the time scale in which the rocks and the walls represent our Earth’s history. This site holds the records of the geological events which took place on earth which is still mostly unharmed from human interference. Ideally, any time of the year is good for paying a visit to the Grand Canyon, as it is open all year round, 24 hours a day.The Grand Canyon welcomes more than five million tourists every year, most of them paying a visit to the South Rim which is much more easily accessible compared to the North Rim and with better living facilities.After reading these interesting Grand Canyon tips that you ought to follow while exploring the national parks in the region, also check Grand Canyon facts and Grand Canyon formation.Grand Canyon Vacations With KidsThe Grand Canyon sees millions of visitors every year, ranging from little kids to senior citizens, as it is open for all every day. In 1979, the Grand Canyon National Park has declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.It is a great destination for family vacations, as there are several attractions to see there, some people often spending a weekend or more than a couple of days basking in the beauty of the beautiful mountains.One manner in which you can enjoy Grand Canyon vacations with kids is by renting a bike. Many varieties of bikes for kids, teenagers, women, and adults are available at nearby places which you can take for a ride on the paved section called the Rim Trail. This trail connects the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and the South Kaibab Trailhead, spreading for about 5 mi (8 km). It is a one-way route with a paved road for biking and does not have any car traffic.Stargazing is also one of the reasons why many visitors visit the Grand Canyon. It has clear skies most nights and the elevated height without any city lights to cause light pollution gives a clear view of the millions of stars which is a major attraction for star trekkers and photographers. The Grand Canyon also hosts an annual star party every June. During this event, kids, as well as adults, can set up their telescopes to observe the night sky, which holds all the planets, constellations, and galaxies.Another way in which the Grand Canyon family vacation can be enjoyed is by white water river rafting through the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon Youth is a nonprofit organization that introduces little kids to rafting trips across the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. These trips also include educational experiences about the heritage site based on science and natural history. If one opts for a multi-day tour, these trips also include activities like camping, hiking, and helping with the meals. Generally, the guides are responsible for rafting the boats as it can be dangerous for children but the children help them out with small tasks in return to let them enjoy the experience.Hiking Grand Canyon With KidsThe Grand Canyon has several hiking trails frequented by trekkers and hikers. Some of these routes are pretty easy for amateurs and kids, while some need trained professionals and guides to accompany the hikers. One of the easiest hiking trails is the Rim Trail, which is situated on the South Rim.The Rim Trail provides one with some of the best views of the whole Canyon, where one can see the plateaus, valleys, and colorful mountains expanding to the horizon. This trail is also suitable for adults and old people who may not be able to hike on rigorous slopes and mountains.Most of the Rim Trail is a paved way, easy to walk through for people with strollers, and provides a very comfortable option for people who are not looking for anything rigorous. This trail does not go down any slopes or mountains and remains mostly flat throughout the way. The Rim Trail starts at Mather point beside the Visitor Center.Another hiking trail is the Bright Angel Trail, which has many rest houses along the way, one of them famously known as Bright Angel Lodge. The trail is about a 12 mi (19.3 km) round trip, which is easy to go down but comparatively difficult to climb up back. Some people opt to return mid-way from the Bright angel rest houses, so as to save the efforts involved in a rigorous hike. It is also suggested that Bright Angel trail hike should not be done during mid-day, as the rising temperature and sun can cause sunstroke or exhaustion in many people who are not used to the heat.Another place where tourists with kids can hike is the Shoshone point, which is located on the Grand Canyon South Rim. It is a small overlook, which is not crowded most of the time and can serve as a serene family trip. The path to the Shoshone point is mostly an unpaved dirt road flourishing with ponderosa pine forest on its sides making it a very scenic place. Apart from this, any tourists who are looking for some serious hiking trips with their kids can always climb down the Grand Canyon rim, which takes about four hours to reach the bottom. This hike may need more than a single-day trip to complete, as it takes double the time to climb back to the rim from the bottom, especially with young children as the hiking trail includes a lot of dangerous slopes.Another hiking journey that is reserved for a few people who make prior bookings is a hike to Havasupai Falls. It is located on Havasupai Native American Reservation, where one can visit these falls by completing a full day hike, as the trail is not an easy one. Other means of reaching the waterfall are by horse or mule ride, or helicopter flight.Visiting The Grand Canyon With KidsVisiting the Grand Canyon with kids can be fun as well as educative, as adults may as well be unaware sometimes of the amazing facts behind the formation of the Grand Canyon and its heritage and importance among the scientific community.For guiding the kids and their parents, during the months of June, July, and August, park ranger-led programs are held every day which covers topics like geology, wildlife, and history along with various night programs.If you are visiting in summer, you can visit the Hopi House, which holds artistic performances of the traditional Native Americans. One can learn about their culture and heritage from such dance performances which are put up by the Navajo troupe. Other such historical buildings provide young kids with insights into the arts and culture of the native tribes and their history. These tours are also led by tour guides and park rangers for an informative and educative experience for kids.Children can also visit the skywalk, which is one of the most visited attractions of the Grand Canyon. It is a glass skywalk that extends for about 70 ft (21.3 m) out of the edge of the Grand Canyon West Rim and is elevated 4,000 ft (1,219.2 m) in the sky. The Colorado River can be seen running thousands of feet directly below our feet, which is a thrilling experience for many.Apart from these attractions one of the main and most famous characteristics of the Grand Canyon is that it is an International Dark Sky Park. This means that it is one of the places in the world where one can see the stars clearly which attracts a lot of star lovers and tourists alike. Many families visit the Grand Canyon National Park especially to stargaze with their children and learn about the wonders of the skies.Grand Canyon Tours With KidsOne of the most famous attractions for young kids to the Grand Canyon is the Junior Ranger Programs which the National Park offers.This program or activity is available for kids who are four years of age or older, which includes filling up a junior ranger booklet with each kid’s unique observations and drawings that they make during their trip to the Grand Canyon. This program also offers an age-wise curriculum that covers the natural and cultural history of the Grand Canyon, as well as fun activities led by park rangers for the program. In the end, kids receive a badge of a Junior Ranger after completing all the activities and filling up their junior ranger booklet.Another interesting way in which one can tour the Grand Canyon is with the train ride the park offers. This Grand Canyon railway is a unique one, which was used in the World War two-era as a passenger train, which has been restored for tourists today. This Grand Canyon railway comes with several attractions like friendly conductors, musicians belting out tunes in every compartment of the train. The train also consists of a luxury coach which offers its passengers complimentary sodas for kids and drinks for adults, along with snacks, fruits, and cheese platters.During its journey, a mock train heist takes place, where the actors ride on horses and stop the train, boarding the train to ask for tips from the passengers and entertain the little children. The heritage site also offers various deals on Grand Canyon helicopter tours, where people can enjoy the views of the beautiful mountains and deep valleys from the elevated height of a helicopter! Sometimes, tourists can also descend to the canyon floor of the Grand Canyon during their helicopter rides.Best Way To See Grand Canyon With KidsOne of the best ways to visit the Grand Canyon is not just to visit the place, but to understand its significance in today’s world as to why it is such an important and heritage site.The Yavapai Geology Museum is an important stop during the Grand Canyon tours with kids, as it contains educational displays of the geologic study and significance of the Grand Canyon which is displayed with a topographic 3D model. This Museum gives a panoramic view of the canyons from its huge glass windows, which has been replicated on the touch screen topographical model of the same, the information of which is available easily for the inquisitive kids.Another educational tour offered to the tourists is a trail called Trail of Time, which is a huge help in understanding the geological history and the awe-inspiring age of the Grand Canyon. The Trail of Time extends for about 1.7 mi (2.7 km) from the Yavapai Geological Museum along the Grand Canyon south rim till the Verkamp’s Visitor Center. Tour guides are available to help the tourists with the information and explain the significance of the exhibited rock samples and rock layers that have been collected from all the geological layers found in the Grand Canyon.There are hundreds of rock samples that belong to more than 70 layers of formation, collected from approximately six million years of layering. Tourists are allowed to even touch some of these rock samples, which date back millions of years. The Grand Canyon Field Institute is a nonprofit organization that conducts courses for tourists led by experts in the fields of history and hiking. One of their courses ‘Meet the Canyon: A Family Hiking Adventure’ is a one-day course which involves various activities and informative sessions where one can learn about the history, significance, importance, and heritage of the beautiful natural wonder of the Grand Canyon.Talking about the Grand Canyon mule ride, the grand canyon has mule trips for serious hikers with only lodging. You can go for just a short walk along the canyon walls. It entails walking distance for a few hours and then stopping at six different spots. It shows places where hermits rest. The walk has a market plaza, and desert view watchtower to ensure safety. There is the kachina lodge to stay at and the Harvey house cafe to have a bite at. Along with that, there is an exceptional helicopter tour and the matter point to visit. Also, there is the grand El Tovar hotel for high-end service.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Grand Canyon with kids then why not take a look at Grand Canyon history, or Grand Canyon layers?
The Grand Canyon consists mainly of steep horizontal rocks made from millions of years of deposition and lava flow.
