What can I say about the canyon that hasn’t already been said? I went there soon after arriving in AZ with my mother and her boyfriends’ kids. It was my second trip, but the first with the intent of photographing it. It is a 3 plus hour drive north of Phoenix, and not really close to anywhere except maybe Flagstaff, AZ. It is always crowded no matter the time of the year. It is not cheap ($25 a car), it will take almost all day just to see small portions of it, and it is quite the tourist trap in some ways. Having said all that, it is well worth it. It is more than just a big hole in the ground as some people I have known felt it was. It is almost surreal and can even appear to be a painting in the distance, which on a clear day, is visible up to 10 miles across. It is aptly named because it is just amazingly huge, colorful, and grand in every way. You can get as close as you want to, and many spots are right on the edge of hundreds of feet straight down.
Falling into the canyon is a REAL possibility, and happens more often than one would think. Shooting the canyon is addictive as the clouds and canyon walls present many different looks and angles. If you go, leave very early, if you can, make it a several days trip, so you can at least see a small percentage of it. If you have the money, take the helicopter ride into the canyon. If you like hiking, walk down into it from the south rim trails. But remember it will take you longer to hike back up. The north rim is closed during the winter, but I hear it is just as awesome to see, but harder to get to…which would explain the lesser number of people who go to the north rim. Expect big crowds, pricey gifts, and windy conditions. But make sure you go at least once in your life, as it is worth all the effort and time to get there.
