Deep within the spruce and fir, I make my camp along the North Rim, but before I eat supper, I walk over to the nighttime edge of the Grand Canyon to peer three or four thousand feet down to see a tiny flickering campfire way below that lures me down very early the next day from a chilly forty degrees into heat of mid-summer and then some–from Canadian forest to Mexican desert with shoulder-high prickly pear cactus and Spanish bayonet, but I find a perch above the cooling spray of Ribbon Falls where I can drink my fill and turn around to climb back up with fresh water in my canteens as thunder begins to roll; however I lose my energy far too fast with barely enough tepid water to drink until a sudden shower of hailstones coats the ground allowing me to crunch on pellets of ice to moisten my mouth and spirit until I stand once again on the cool rim to stare down into all that canyon space.
Sincerely,
Grand Canyon National Park
America’s Southwest is full of breathtaking canyons, but none as famous or as widely visited as the Grand Canyon. This world-famous landmark offers wondrous views, spectacular hiking, exhilarating whitewater rafting and countless adventures. One look across the enormous chasm confirms just why this inspirational place is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a must-see destination for so many travelers. The park also protects a wealth of biological diversity, including numerous endemic and threatened species and several rare ecosystems.
State(s): Arizona
Established: 1919
“National Parks like the Grand Canyon slake our spirit's thirst for our primal planet. ”
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Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park
Our family had a very short stint living in Arizona (364 days!) but we did our best to explore that part of the country. The highlight for me was the Grand Canyon. If you look closely, you can maybe peek an 8 week old baby strapped to my chest. I…
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