The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in the state of Arizona, USA. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the first national parks in the United States.

Above a sweeping curve in the river and with views far downstream to the west, Lipan Point is the most dramatic and easily accessible place to view the canyon, as well as a superb spot to watch the sunset. The Unkar Delta, one of the most archaeologically rich areas in the park, is visible directly below the overlook.

Most Dramatic Rim View
Lipan Point (on Desert View Drive, South Rim). Above a sweeping curve in the river and with views far downstream to the west, Lipan Point is the most dramatic and easily accessible place from which to view the canyon. It's also a superb spot to watch the sunset. The Unkar Delta, one of the park's archaeologically richest areas, is visible directly below the overlook. (That said, all of the points overlooking the Colorado River along the rim offer dramatic views. These include Pima, Mohave, Hopi, Moran, Lipan, Desert View, and several unnamed pull-offs.)

Watching the Sunset from the Westernmost Deck of Grand Canyon Lodge
While the sun disappears behind the pines along the rim, you can soak up the colors on the horizon while sitting in a comfortable chair and sipping a beverage from the nearby saloon. After the sun sets, warm up by the immense outdoor fireplace on the lodge's eastern deck. For unobstructed views, go to Lipan Point on the South Rim or Cape Royal on the North Rim.

Best Scenic Drive
Desert View Drive (South Rim). You'll see more of the canyon on this route than on either of the canyon's other two main drives (Cape Royal Road and Hermit Road). From the western overlooks, behold the monuments of the central canyon; the eastern overlooks have far-ranging views of the Marble Platform and the canyon's northeast end. Along the way, stop at 825-year-old Tusayan Pueblo, which was once occupied by the Ancestral Puebloans. The Watchtower, a historic edifice fashioned after towers built by the Ancestral Puebloans, is a perfect place to finish the drive.

Walking along Rim Trail
This walk along the rim affords views straight down into the canyon. Paved and smooth, it lets walkers enjoy the scenery without worrying too much about their footing. Its 10-foot width allows groups of friends to stroll side by side. And, given its location between two of the park's busiest overlooks, it can be surprisingly quiet.

Escaping the Crowds
The vast majority of park visitors seldom venture farther than a half-mile from a parking area. If you're willing to walk a half-mile or more, whether it's on a corridor, rim, or wilderness trail, you'll begin to experience some quiet and solitude. This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the canyon.

Landscape
Throughout the past century, hundreds of authors have attempted to depict the enormous landscape that is Grand Canyon. Not surprisingly, words most often fail to invoke the sense of awe and wonder that many visitors experience. Edward Abbey, a noted Southwest author, once penned: “Those who love it call it the canyon. The canyon. As if there were no other topographic feature on the face of the Earth”.

There are, of course, other canyons on the planet. Some are longer, others wider, and even some that are deeper. Canyon visitors are often surprised to learn that Grand Canyon sets no records for sheer size. It is, however, simply regarded by most as the “grandest” canyon of them all.

Geologically, the canyon extends from Lee’s Ferry near the Arizona/Utah border to the Grand Wash Cliffs near Las Vegas, a distance of 277 mi (445 km). It ranges in width from about a quarter mile to over 18 mi (29 km) wide. In places the canyon is over a mile deep.

However, it is not the statistics that define this landscape as “grand”, but rather a combination of factors. The desert environment and a lack of herbaceous ground cover reveal a geologic story that is unparalleled. Surprisingly, the rock layers displayed at Grand Canyon show little sign of wear. The layers have been preserved almost perfectly, as though they were layers in a cake. Nowhere else on Earth displays so many volumes of the planet’s history in such pristine condition.

The resulting landscape provides visitors with some of the most magnificent and unsurpassed vistas on the planet. 

Skywalk

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a unique glass-bottomed cantilever bridge that spans 70 feet (21.34 meters) over the Grand Canyon’s rim and sits 4,000 feet (1219 meters) above the Colorado River. Completed in March of 2007, the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West has quickly become one of the best day trip destinations from Las Vegas, NV and Kingman, AZ and has become the most recognizable cantilever structure in the world.

Fees/Permits
All private vehicles entering the Grand Canyon must pay a $25 entrance fee, which is good for seven days. Individuals on foot or on a bike must pay a $12 entrance fee, also good for seven days. Exceptions: those holding an Annual Pass ($80, good for one year), Senior Pass ($10, good for life, available to US citizens 62 and older) or an Access Pass (free, available only to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are medically determined to be blind or permanently disabled). Note: An Access Pass can only be obtained in person by showing proof of medically determined permanent disability, or eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law.

Stay safe
Hiking at the Grand Canyon often surprises people who attempt Inner Canyon trips. It can be hotter than you'd expect, colder than you'd expect, drier or wetter. A prepared hiker is better able to survive the extremes of the canyon. Even for short walks into the canyon keep in mind that it is a seducer: it seems easy hiking down into it but when you come back up you find that you have over-extended yourself. It's the opposite of climbing up a tall mountain, where you can stop and turn back when you get tired, knowing that the descent will be much easier.

In particular, do not attempt to hike to the bottom of the canyon and back in one day. Hundreds of hikers each year have to be rescued from the Inner Canyon due to exhaustion and dehydration. While the temperature on the canyon rim is cool due to its elevation, below the rim it can be very hot. The vertical distance from the bottom back up to the rim is nearly a mile straight up (1.5km), in addition to the distance you travel horizontally. If you plan to go to the bottom of the canyon, spend the night (permit required), and take enough food, water, shelter, and other backcountry camping equipment to keep yourself safe and sound. If you don't have the equipment, don't go.