The Grand Canyon National Park is only 51 miles north from our campground on Route 64.
Both the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon National Parks have been cut into the ground rather than driven upward like mountains. Consequently, as you approach them (if you’ve never seen them before) the landscape “hides” what you are about to see until you actually drive into an observation point and you are captivated by the vista before you.
We entered the South Rim and the Grand Canyon hid its greatness from our view until we turned the corner and entered the first viewing point… and it didn’t disappoint us! As we stepped to the low stone wall what laid before us seemed surreal. Our first glance at the striking vastness, color and depth left us speechless. It’s difficult to comprehend that we are looking at the results of water, wind, and exposure to the elements for more than several hundred million years... and Mother Nature’s not done yet!
I’ll let this three photos left to right are the view from one viewing point speak for itself…
Both the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon National Parks have been cut into the ground rather than driven upward like mountains. Consequently, as you approach them (if you’ve never seen them before) the landscape “hides” what you are about to see until you actually drive into an observation point and you are captivated by the vista before you.
We entered the South Rim and the Grand Canyon hid its greatness from our view until we turned the corner and entered the first viewing point… and it didn’t disappoint us! As we stepped to the low stone wall what laid before us seemed surreal. Our first glance at the striking vastness, color and depth left us speechless. It’s difficult to comprehend that we are looking at the results of water, wind, and exposure to the elements for more than several hundred million years... and Mother Nature’s not done yet!
I’ll let this three photos left to right are the view from one viewing point speak for itself…
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We drove the twenty-five mile “Desert View Drive” east stopping at each of the viewing points.
Each time we stepped to the precipice we found it difficult to imagine the massive work of nature and time before us. More than anything else we relished the beauty and size of surely one of nature’s wonders.
We returned to the main entrance and planned to take in the west drive when the clouds rolled in with rain. Our six hours at the Canyon left us in awe.
Each time we stepped to the precipice we found it difficult to imagine the massive work of nature and time before us. More than anything else we relished the beauty and size of surely one of nature’s wonders.
We returned to the main entrance and planned to take in the west drive when the clouds rolled in with rain. Our six hours at the Canyon left us in awe.
Actually, the Grand Canyon was not created by the Colorado River cutting down through the earth, but rather the river has stayed at a relatively constant elevation as the whole Colorado Plateau has been up-lifted over the last 65 million years or so (estimates of the age of the Grand Canyon itslef vary from 5 million to 40 million years). Regardless of how it was formed or how old it is, it's a magnificent place to see.
ReplyDeleteMike Augeri