Lonely Planet Grand Canyon National Park [Paperback]

Jennifer Denniston (Author), Amy Marr (Author), David Lukas (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lonely Planet Grand Canyon National Park | Publication Date: March 2004

This comprehensive guide has in-depth coverage of nearby Native American sites, including historical and cultural background, plus it includes details on visiting all the canyon rims and advice on finding the best views.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...it would be hard to better this series of Lonely Planet National Park guides.' -- Suite101.com, March 2008
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

A trip to Grand Canyon National Park is an iconic American experience. Initially dismissed as little more than an obstacle to exploration, the canyon first drew 19th century miners bent on exploiting its rich natural resources. Native American resistance and the lack of water slowed development, but by the time Frederick Jackson Turner declared the end of the American frontier in 1893, entrepreneurs had transformed the canyon into one of the country's most celebrated destinations. At the dawn of the industrial revolution, people flocked to the canyon in search of the romanticized wilderness ideal and embraced its sublime beauty. They still do - today, the park attracts five million visitors each year from around the world.

Perhaps the most obvious draw is the spectacular landscape. The Grand Canyon's dramatic scenery enthralls even the most jaded visitors and leaves all who witness it somehow changed.

Its dimensions are mind-blowing. The Grand Canyon is a mile deep and averages 10 miles wide. Snaking along its floor are 277 miles of the Colorado River, which has carved the canyon over the past six million years, exposing rocks up to two billion years old - half of Earth's total life span. Anyone with even a passing interest in geology will find this a fascinating natural classroom. Viewpoints on both rims point out the various geological features, and rangers talks attract experts and novices alike.

The two rims of the Grand Canyon offer quite different experiences, and as they lie more than 200 miles apart by road, they are rarely visited on the same trip. Most visitors choose the South Rim, which boasts easy access, the bulk of services and the panoramic vistas for which the park is famous. The quieter North Rim has its own charms; at 8200ft elevation (1000ft higher than the South Rim), its cooler temperatures support wildflower meadows and tall, thick stands of aspen and spruce.

Hiking and rafting lure outdoor enthusiasts to the Grand Canyon year-round. With literally hundreds of miles of trails, including everything from moderate ambles through shaded woodland on the North Rim to treacherous scrambles on hot, inner-canyon trails, the park has something for hikers of every ability.

Trails from both rims descend into the canyon, and if you've got at least two days, you can hike from rim to rim. If you'd like to visit the inner canyon without hiking, take a mule trip, departing daily from both rims. Or consider a rafting trip. Each year more than 22,000 people raft the Colorado, and they're not all hardcore thrill-seekers; you'll find people of all ages, experience levels and capabilities on the river.

The canyon is also rich in human and cultural history. After an intensive survey of just 3% of the park, researchers have uncovered more than 4000 archeological resources, some stretching back nearly 10,000 years. Visitors can drive to such ancient sites as the Walhalla ruins on the North Rim or the Tusayan Ruins & Museum on the South Rim. Backcountry hikers can access other sites, including petroglyphs (etched images) and pictographs (painted images) along the canyon walls.

Despite the Grand Canyon's many riches, most visitors only spend a few hours in the park. It is possible to appreciate the canyon through a short stroll along the Rim Trail or an afternoon drive from viewpoint to viewpoint. But stay longer if you can. The more time you have, the more you'll discover its subtle nuances and quiet charm - a fairyland of moss deep in the canyon, a teasing creek cascading over rocks, echoes of history at ancient Pueblo Indian sites, and a silence and stillness that seem to engulf you. Even a short hike beneath the rim forms an intimate connection to the land that adds to the grandeur. Take your time, and let the Grand Canyon reveal its secrets.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740595610
• ISBN-13: 978-1740595612
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,587,537 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional book, August 13, 2007

By 

Kent Baker "Photoguy" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lonely Planet Grand Canyon National Park (Paperback)

Couch potatoes should not write reviews for books intended for those of us who have the ambition to explore a region with our own two feet! This is an excellent book intended for an audience that wants to experience the Grand Canyon, not simply get out of the car and walk to a viewpoint and look at it. You do not need a guide book for that, the Park Service brochure is excellent and will be all that is required. Since the Grand Canyon is such a vast place, this guide book will be invaluable in helping you decide just how much you can experience in the time you have to spend here. And to help you determine just what you should attempt for your own physical condition! I highly recommend it for those interested in seeing and experiencing the Grand Canyon from other perspectives, in addition to the excellent viewpoints provided by the Natrional Park Service.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forty hikes for all levels of difficulty, ranger programs, mule trips, and useful tips for traveling with children and pets, May 5, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet Grand Canyon National Park (National Parks) (Paperback)

The primary and principle purpose of a travel guide is to assist the traveler to have the most successful trip possible. When visiting the Grand Canyon, one of America's true scenic wonders, the Lonely Planet edition of the "Grand Canyon National Park" travel guide offers detailed itineraries for exploring the South and North canyon rims with seventeen specific itineraries (plus side trips to Las Vegas, Route 66, Sedona, Flagstaff, and Skywalk!). Enhanced with forty hikes for all levels of difficulty, ranger programs, mule trips, and useful tips for traveling with children and pets; and sound, practical advice for adventure experiences ranging from Colorado river rafting, to horseback riding, to biking, to helicopter rides, and so much more, the "Grand Canyon National Park" is very strongly recommended guide for novice visitors and experienced travelers alike.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for a used book, April 9, 2011

By 

TLB - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lonely Planet Grand Canyon National Park (National Parks) (Paperback)

Got it on time, worth the price I payed and I can enjoy the book.
With that kind of books try to look more carefully for the year of publication.