It’s the Big One: the king among America’s great natural wonders and a sight that no visitor forgets. Even though six million people visit each year, it’s possible to stroll along the rim or take a free shuttle bus and find some space to be alone with the spectacular views down to the Colorado River.
The great joy of the Grand Canyon is observing its many colours, shapes and perspectives vanishing into the distance. Down its precipitous cliffs, you can read two billion years of geological time in the red-brown rock strata and observe where the river has carved out buttes, towers and valleys in the landscape.
Best of all, you can see how the changing light of day affects the view. From the gentle shades of morning to the sharp contrasts of midday and the deep red-purples of twilight and sunset, the canyon is transforming every minute. You can spend a whole day here being inspired by the majesty of its vastness, so bring a picnic, a camera or a sketchbook and just soak up the atmosphere.
