Fun Facts About the Grand Canyon

How Old is the Grand Canyon?

Geological experts estimate that the Colorado River began eroding the Grand Canyon approximately 70 million years ago and exposes a geologic history that dates back 1.2 billion years in the canyon wall bands.

The youngest rock layer, the Kaibab Formation, is 270 million years old. The oldest known rocks in the canyon, called the Vishnu Basement Rocks, can be found near the bottom of the Inner Gorge. The Vishnu rocks formed about 1.7 billion years ago.

How Big is the Grand Canyon?

The entire Grand Canyon National Park covers an area of 1,218,375 acres. The canyon gorge spans 277 river miles long, reaches up to 18 miles wide, and is one mile deep at its deepest point.

The Grand Canyon is divided into multiple rims: the South Rim - which is the official "Grand Canyon National Park", the North Rim - which is located directly across from the South Rim and is 1,000 feet higher in elevation, and the West Rim - home to the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Where is the Grand Canyon Located?

The Grand Canyon is located entirely in northwest Arizona. The Grand Canyon South Rim is approximately an hour and 20-minute drive from Flagstaff, Arizona and just over 4 hours from Las Vegas. Visitors from Las Vegas can also fly to the Grand Canyon South Rim aboard a 2 hour and 20-minute airplane flight.

The Grand Canyon West Rim is approximately a 3 hour and 20-minute drive from Flagstaff and a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas. Helicopter tours from Las Vegas can reach the West Rim in just 35 minutes.

Do Native Americans Live at the Grand Canyon?

There is evidence of human occupation within and around the Grand Canyon for thousands of years, with the earliest sites dating back 12,000 years. Native Americans have lived along its banks for centuries, with the earliest known tribe being the Anasazi.

The two most prevalent tribes that reside on reservations at the Grand Canyon today are the Havasupai and the Hualapai, the latter of which own the Grand Canyon West.

The Hualapai reservation encompasses about 1 million acres along 108 miles of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River. The "People of the Tall Pines," the Hualapai run two main tourist attractions: Grand Canyon West and the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass-bottomed walkway that extends 70 feet out past the rim of the canyon. These two attractions draw close to a million visitors a year.

The Havasupai, also known as the "People of the Blue-Green Water," live on 3 million acres near the South Rim. The arrival of the Havasupai is set at around A.D. 1300, and they are known to be the only permanent, continuous inhabitants of the Grand Canyon.

The canyon is also described as the place of emergence for the Navajo, Hopi, Paiute, and Zuni.

What Kind of Plants and Animals are Found at the Grand Canyon?

There is a huge variety of animals at the Grand Canyon. More than 80 species of mammals can be found within its boundaries, including bighorn sheep, cougars, elk, and coyotes. Most incredibly, many fossils have been discovered throughout this area including dinosaur remains!

Additionally, more than 355 species of birds have been identified in the park. Tourists at the Grand Canyon can see the massive California Condors, swallowtail hawks, and even Bald Eagles - the national symbol of the United States.

There are also 89 plants classified as rare at the Grand Canyon that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.

How Popular is the Grand Canyon?

More than 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon each year - making it one of America's top tourist destinations. If you plan to visit the Grand Canyon, determine which rim best fits your interests. The Grand Canyon National Park, or the South Rim, is the most developed region, offering visitors multiple dining options, a variety of lodging, shopping, and museums. Because of this, the South Rim receives the most tourist visitation. You can also explore the park aboard a Hummer tour or fly over the deepest and widest canyon gorges in a South Rim helicopter tour.

The West Rim offers less as far as hotels, restaurants, and shopping, but features the Skywalk Bridge and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to land on the canyon floor in a helicopter. You can also visit Hualapai Point, a Native American cultural center offering authentic handmade crafts, a restaurant, a shooting gallery, and a zipline.

Fly to the Grand Canyon with Papillon!

Papillon is the world’s largest and longest-running air operator, and the only operator certified to fly the entirety of the Grand Canyon. We offer daily departures to both the South Rim and the West Rim, and each year we transport over 300,000 passengers from around the world to these incredible destinations. Browse our Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas and start planning your adventure today!