Grand Canyon National Park Travel Forum

Somebody please tell me what is so interesting about the deserts of the American Southwest? Why does everybody slobber praise on the Grand Canyon? Why is Lake Mead the boating/water skiing mecca of the western U.S.? If it's going to draw visitors away from Olympic, or Yellowstone or Glacier, then I'm all for it. I just can't understand it.

hmmm, I'm from Norway and since we have a grand nature ourselves, we are hard to impress. I was however impressed by the Grand Canyon. I was also equally impressed by the Meteor Crater nearby (I guess one has to understand a little about that one first).
The deserts of Arizone are very exotic to me and I was impressed by the cactuses at Tucson.
But I guess it all boils down to ones vantage point

I haven't seen the Grand Canyon myself, but any huge natural formation makes people think about their place in the universe and how insignificant human beings really are. Wonder and philosophy, all in one spot!

I have seen deserts in Arizona and New Mexico, and the red rocks, the mountains, and the sand have a unique beauty -- very different from what I'm used to, but breathtaking in their own way.

As Daarth pointed out, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I had a friend who went to the wild and rocky Mendocino coast every chance she got. To her, it meant tranquility, but to me, it meant boredom and freezing weather! A visit every few years would be fine for me.

I have been to Glacier, Lympic, Yellowstone, and many other national parks, including the Grand Canyon. While each has its own striking beauty I can see why it would seem that the desert Southwest wouldn't be the best. However, I was fortunate enough to go on a 6 day rafting trip down the lower part of the canyon, and I can say that is was one of the most wonderful things I have ever done during my life. The canyon ecosystem is so unique, the way the light filters to the canyon bottom, the mixture of plant diversity around the sources of water with the dry red sand and rock is acutally quite striking. In addtion there are places down in the canyon that are truly amazing. There is underground river that falls from the middle of the canyon wall, the side creeks offer a unique experience. As for people who visit as a day trip, I am not sure what the major draw is, other than the realization of the shear power of the water to shape the earth, and the time it took to do it. I think to truly appricate the Grand Canyon you must stay for a while, hike into the canyon (not just to Phantom Ranch) but really get out and explore, this is where the draw is. As for Lake Mead, I think of it as Los Vegas's playground and nothing more. I don't think I would ever really want to go there, but the Grand Canyon itself is worth a visit.

as agentx , I have been to most of those places mentioned. Lucky for agent to do the rapids. That is in my dreams. I agree with all the assessments so far. Lake Mead is large and has little wind, so is good for water sking and no sailing. Not for me, nor my real sailing friends.
Fred

this is an easy one to answer. just listen.... to Ferde Grofé's (and Aaron Copland) 'Grand Canyon Suite'.... experience the Sunrise, Painted Desert, On the Trail, Sunset, Cloudburst...

I've hiked down into the canyon 3 times and camped on the Supai Indian Reservation (I'm the only member with a Supai page!). In addition to being one of the 7 natural wonders of the world the Grand Canyon remains one of the last few places in the US that is unchanged by man. Life in the canyons is pretty much as it was centuries ago. When you consider how the canyon was formed and its sheer size it is hard not to be impressed.

Jenn D - the same might be said of the Sonoran desert.

Cuz, it's kinda pretty?
Jeff-

Yep.... Time for another "Jeff Story" (I *will* be writing a book) Hokay.... decided to drive from Denver to Phoenix to see my Mom.... Hadn't checked out the maps or anything, just thought I'd 'go for broke'.... NOT a good idea.... anywhoo, ended up driving around the White River Indian Reservation for hours! By now, it was the middle of the night, and surprisingly enough, I had passed the same 'piddle station' 3 times. (ya woulda thunk I had gotten a clue.... but NO!) Passed it the 4th time, and gave up. Took a "nappy-time" break, and STILL hadn't made it over the Mogillion Ridge. Then it snowed.... it gets snappier from here... I didn't bring a coat.....
Jeff-

Who the flip is "Kylie Minogue"? Never heard of he/she/them. Must be a *regional* thing....
Jeff-

Stacy-
A "legend in your own mind" I suppose? (LOL!)
Jeff-

And a *whack* with the "bag" would be enough.... :)
Jeff-

Yes, you have, my Dear..... You have a *very* short memory! :)
Jeff-

LOL!!! You GO! Great response....
Jeff-

The Grand Canyon has enticed me for years....I just never got out there. I think my fascination with it stems mainly from the fact that somehow it's the only thing that stuck in my head in my Earth Science class way back when. It impressed me then (or was it the fact that we saw a movie on it in class and a movie is far more fun than a lecture any day??:-) and I've wanted to go there in person every since.

The pictures alone lure me. It looks huge, vast, unlike anything I've ever seen before, colorful, amazing. Experience tells me that things are even better when seen in person....so I still have it on my long list of future destinations.

Angie

Very sad way of looking at God's art work.

In each State it has it own beauty and interest. Arizona is very different in it's own county. Flagstaff has the snowy mountain (San Francisco Peck, one of Navajos sacred mountains). Page, with it's painted desert (which isn't a desert but the High plateau)...Big beautiful Lake Powell, wind carved cave to venture in and feel the sacred land of the Navajos. Phoenix and Tucson offer the castuses and desert view of the old wild west we see on TV cowboy and Indians. The gold and silver and coppermines of the 1800's and still there for all to see how the west was won. If you like Native things...Arizona is the Native American State, many tribes live all around this big State, which by the way was once Mexico so we do have a Mexican American and all kind of Culture. Very Nice. But for the Grand Canyon it is a must see place, one of the 7th natural wonder and even in the canyon there is a Supai (Native American) Reservation. I think one of the VT member used a word "Tranquility" is what you feel when you see for the first time you don't want to leave, in fact you want to take it home with you, but you can't so take a picture.
As for Lake Mead, not very good or nice lake to swin or waterskii...Please if you want nice clean water to play in Lake Powell is the place, 1900 mile of shoreline and canyons you can take your boat into to explore.
Enjoy my Arizona.

Vere'

Look.... I went there in a Pinto (not the bean, but the Car) and loved it. One of the most fantastic trips of my life!. I really do wish I had taken the camera with me.... sadly, I didn't.....
Jeff-.

Me, I go ever chance I get to the Grand Canyon...it's like a playground to me.
I travel around the world some and alot in the States, but one day I said to myself..."Self", you are going to start vacationing in your own backyard, and so I did and I LOVE it.

Vere'

I just had a problem with the word "slobber". Is this a dialect thing, or is it routine.... If you haven't BEEN to one of the most fantastic place on Earth, "slobber" isn't a very nice thing to say. (GRAZ... i'm with you all the way!)
Jeff-

Yes, BIG smiles, and the Canyon will smile back at you.

Vere'

You got it Buddy! Isn't it amazing?
Jeff-

OK I live near Yellowstone, and I have seen a lot of National Parks, and I STILL think Yellowstone is one of the bests. BUT if you are really interested in what people see in the SW you really should take a look at Oregan Pipe Cactus National Monument in SW Arizona. It has such an extraordinary variety of catus, some tall, some broad, some small, in fact there are 26 different species! The organ pipe is a large cactus found rarely in the US and the monument encompasses the bulk of its U.S. population. You will also find the saquaro with their arms pointing in all different directions. The Teddybear chollas look fuzzy and cuddly, but don't touch!!!! It is the light collored, long sharp thorns that give them their fuzzy look. There is a Paloverde tree that has green bark. There are also mountains and many different kinds of wildlife such as lizards, snakes, sheep, kangaroo rats, Javelina,and coyotes just to name a few of the animals you may be lucky enough to see. A huge variety of birds,such as Gambel's quail, Roadrunners, hawks, Catus wrens, etc. I could go on and on- it is just amazing how much life there is in the desert. And if you are fortunate enough to get there after there as been rain in the desert it is SURPRISINGLY green! The Ocotillo looks like dead sticks sticking up in the air, but add some rain and they suddenly come to life with green leaves up and down the sticks, and red flowers waving from their tips. This is a great place to hike, but NOT in the hot months, and be careful not to touch the catus, as some spread by breaking off if brushed and attaching themselves to the unlucky traveler, who is now suppose to drop them off somewhere else where they can sprout into a new catus. You would almost think those cholla jumped right off to reach you-----

The Grand Canyon--It is deep, it is broad, it is long, the colors are beautiful. I saw it once, it was worth the views and the hike part way down gave me a better feel for the canyon, but overall there is more variety and places to explore in Yellowstone.

AHH Lake Mead, not a bad lake, but hey, take a look and Lake Superior and some of its wilderness shorelines--now there IS a lake, a Japanese friend of mine didn't believe me when I showed it to her and told her it was a lake. She thought it was an ocean, she had to bend down to taste the water to see if it was salty before she would believe---

OH!!! Grand Canyon--look at my picture---can you guess where I am sitting? Yes? About 1,000 ft. down inside the Grand Canyon.

Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon??? (in person - pictures or video don't count)

If you can see it in person & still ask this question, I don't know what to tell you. If you haven't seen it: The Grand Canyon is magnificent and capable of rendering one speechless when viewing it (especially when flying through it - now that was incredible!). Yellowstone, Olympic, and Glacier are all amazing too - but definately nowhere even remotely close to resembling the Grand Canyon. There just isn't anything else like it.

Melissa

Melissa and KimberlyAnn, this is all too comical. Yes I've seen the Grand Canyon and on my web page you will see that I felt I had absorbed enough in the first five minutes. Just a homogeneous ditch.

Mike: To each his own I guess. For me the first glimpse I got of the canyon is the most memorable sight of my life. Of course, I had seen pictures and tv shows all the time, but none of those prepared me for the deep colors I saw in person. I went in March and the crowds were down and there was some snow here and there which accented the experience.

Question. Why do you equate the green color of the Colorado with "toxic polution". If you want to see some real toxic conditions, head over to the Salton Sea.

You mention the Bright Angel Trail, why didn't you venture into the canyon a little bit? To me it is one of the great hikes in the world--especially when the snow has not yet melted and there is the thrill of negotiating icy patches in sneakers and finding that the water stations halfway down the trail are closed due to the lingering wintery conditions. Ok, I'm not all that bright, but it was fun.

Zrim: on my page I said I fully expect to differ in opinion if I went into the Canyon. I mean down by the river. Wherever I saw the water, the water was green -- not glacial green, but polluted-caliber green. A tinge of snow might help the view from the rim, but you would have to take the entire Bright Angel trail to see the river to change your perspective, since the chasm where it stretches out is as lackluster as its trailhead. To each his own is true, but I've had several agree with me that the Grand Canyon is a disappointment.

So sad.

You see the cup half empty and not half full.
Just to let you know, the color of the river changes when the weather changes like clouds, rain, and wide open ski.
Maybe you need to take the Kaibab trail, now that worth you two cents. But, it sound like you already made of up mind not to come.