Journey Into the Grand Canyon

You’re standing on a giant rock. As you peek over the edge, your stomach flips.

The deep valley below could fit four skyscrapers as tall as the Empire State Building! The valley is surrounded by giant cliffs. These towering walls of rock look like layers on a cake. Each layer is a different shade of red, orange, or gold.

At the bottom of the valley, you see a shimmering river, twisting and turning like a snake. It feels like you’re on another planet! But you’re in Arizona, at one of the most stunning places in the country: Grand Canyon National Park. 

Millions of people come here every year. Less than 1 percent of visitors attempt what you’re about to try: climbing down to the mighty Colorado River below. Will you make it?

You’re standing on a giant rock. You look over the edge, and your stomach flips. 

The valley below is deep. It could fit four skyscrapers as tall as the Empire State Building! The valley is surrounded by giant cliffs. These walls of rock look like layers on a cake. Each layer is a shade of red, orange, or gold. 

At the bottom of the valley, there’s a river twisting and turning like a snake. It feels like you’re on another planet! But you’re in Arizona. You’re at one of the most stunning places in the country: Grand Canyon National Park.

Millions of people come here every year. Very few of these visitors try what you’re about to do. You’re climbing down to the Colorado River below. Will you make it?

The Grand Canyon is a beautiful and special place. It stretches for 277 miles. It’s so big that astronauts can see it from space! 

How did such an enormous canyon form? People have long shared stories to answer this question. One is a tall tale invented by loggers in the 1800s. A tall tale is a funny story that features superhuman characters doing impossible things. In that tale, a giant named Paul Bunyan creates the Grand Canyon by dragging his huge ax along the ground.

Today scientists know that the Grand Canyon formed over millions of years. How? Flowing water from the Colorado River slowly carved through the land, making a deep canyon in the rock. Some scientists think the canyon is 70 million years old. Dinosaurs were still alive back then!

The Grand Canyon is a beautiful and special place. It’s 277 miles long. It’s so big that astronauts can see it from space!

How did this giant canyon form? For a long time, people have answered this question by telling stories. One of these stories is a tall tale invented by loggers in the 1800s. A tall tale is a funny story with superhuman characters doing impossible things. In that tale, a giant named Paul Bunyan creates the Grand Canyon by dragging his huge ax along the ground.

Today scientists know that the Grand Canyon formed over millions of years. How? Flowing water from the Colorado River slowly cut through the land, making a deep canyon in the rock. Some scientists think the canyon is 70 million years old. Dinosaurs were still alive back then!

Ready for your adventure? You check your backpack for water, snacks, extra clothes, a map, and a tent. Then you start down the challenging 8-mile path to the canyon floor.

Whoosh! A giant bird swoops right past you. It’s a California condor. Its wings spread 10 feet across. That’s longer than a bed! You’re lucky to have seen this rare bird. There are only about 550 of them in the world.

Crash! Chunks of rock break off and bounce into the canyon. As pieces of the cliffs fall down, the canyon slowly becomes a little bit wider. It’s one way the land is always changing. You won’t notice these changes today. But the Grand Canyon will look different in millions of years.

Ready for your adventure? You check your backpack for water, snacks, extra clothes, a map, and a tent. Then you start down the difficult 8-mile path to the bottom of the canyon.

Whoosh! A giant bird flies right past you. It’s a California condor. Its wings spread 10 feet across. That’s longer than a bed! You’re lucky to have seen this rare bird. There are only about 550 of them in the world.

Crash! Chunks of rock break off and bounce into the canyon. As pieces of the cliffs fall down, the canyon slowly becomes a little bit wider. It’s one way the land is always changing. You won’t notice these changes today. But the Grand Canyon will look different in millions of years.

Sweat drips down your face. The canyon’s temperatures range widely.
Some trails, like this one, are scorching hot. Others have snow. 

Clip-clop, clip-clop. A line of mules approaches. The rider greets you warmly. He’s a Native American guide from the Havasupai (hah-vuh-SOO-pye) tribe. His tribe has lived on this land for hundreds of years. He’s heading to his village—the only place in the country where mail is delivered by mule. 

Sweat drips down your face. The canyon’s temperatures vary a lot. Some trails, like this one, are very hot. Others have snow.

Clip-clop, clip-clop. A line of mules approaches. The rider greets you warmly. He’s a Native American guide from the Havasupai (hah-vuh-SOO-pye) tribe. His tribe has lived on this land for hundreds of years. He’s going to his village. It’s the only place in the country where mail is delivered by mule.

Suddenly, you spot a twisting shape on the path ahead. Sssssss. A pink rattlesnake! You freeze. This dangerous reptile can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. Luckily, it slithers away into the bushes. Phew.

Suddenly, you spot a twisting shape on the path. Sssssss. A pink rattlesnake! You freeze. This dangerous snake can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. Luckily, it slithers away. Phew.

Finally, you reach the Colorado River! It roars like never-ending thunder. 

You’ve climbed down 4,500 feet to the canyon floor. The canyon walls tower above you like giant castles. As you gaze up in wonder, you realize—the sun is setting! You quickly head to a campsite and set up your tent.

The sunlight dims, and one by one, stars peek out. Soon thousands of them light up the night sky. 

As you climb into your tent, you’re still buzzing with energy. You’ve only just scratched the surface of this amazing place. Tomorrow you’ll go rafting down the Colorado River. Also on your list? Stepping out onto the Skywalk. That’s a walkway with a glass floor sticking out from the canyon’s edge. 

Closing your eyes, you’re ready to dream of all the adventures to come in this wild and wonderful place.

Finally, you reach the Colorado River! It roars like thunder.

You’ve climbed down 4,500 feet to the canyon floor. The canyon walls tower above you like giant castles. You look up in wonder. That’s when you realize that the sun is setting! You quickly head to a campsite and set up your tent.

The sunlight dims. One by one, stars come out. Soon thousands of them light up the night sky.

You climb into your tent. But you’re still buzzing with energy. You’ve done only a few of the things this amazing place offers. Tomorrow you’ll go rafting down the Colorado River. Also on your list? A walk on the Skywalk. That’s a walkway with a glass floor. The Skywalk sticks out from the canyon’s edge.

 You close your eyes. You’re ready to dream about all the adventures you’ll have in this amazing place.