America’s greatest natural wonder contains more wonders within it

Seven wonders within the Grand Canyon

Arizona’s giant natural wonder reliably strikes awe, whether tackled from inside or above.

Be stunned at Mather Point

Sunset over Mather Point.Credit: iStock

Poking out on a curve of the South Rim, a short walk from the Grand Canyon Visitor Centre, Mather Point is where many visitors first encounter Arizona’s almighty chasm. Here, 2170 metres above sea level, it becomes abundantly clear that the Grand Canyon is not just one canyon, but a network of them, building layers on top of each other, leaving scores of cliffs and mesas cut from the desert plateau. Across the breathtakingly gouged panorama, different coloured strata mark the passage of time, while tiny glimpses of brown at the bottom give sightings of this colossal landscape’s creator – the Colorado River. See nps.gov

Stroll the Rim Trail

Powell Point on the Rim Trail.Credit: Alamy

Mather Point is one of several viewpoints along the 21 kilometre Rim Trail from South Kaibab Trailhead to Hermits Rest. For those who want to walk, rather than go on a serious hike, this is the best option. The trail runs parallel to the Hermit Road, which is serviced by regular shuttle buses. There’s a geology museum along with the lookout at nearby Yavapai Point, but Powell Point – 6.9 kilometres from Mather Point – is a good target. Along with expansive views on three sides, Powell Point has a memorial to John Wesley Powell, the first man to travel the 446 kilometre length of the Grand Canyon.

Hike the Bright Angel Trail

The scenic Bright Angel Trail.Credit: iStock

Entering the Grand Canyon is a serious undertaking, and the National Parks Service forcefully stresses that no-one should attempt to hike to the Colorado River and back in a day. The Bright Angel Trail is the most popular trail inside the canyon, stretching 15.3 kilometres from the South Rim to the Bright Angel Campground on the northern side of the river. The initial stages switch back between the steep cliffs of a side canyon, with bighorn sheep, mules, butterflies and condors often appearing on the way to the cottonwood tree-lined Havasupai Gardens oasis.

Brave the Grand Canyon Skywalk

The view from the Skywalk – out and down.Credit: iStock

On Hualapai Indian land at Grand Canyon West, the Grand Canyon Skywalk is a cantilevered platform jutting out from Eagle Point, 1100 metres above the Colorado River. Obviously, this makes for highly impressive views of the deep, splintering canyon, but the extra twist is that the platform is made of see-through glass. Looking down between your legs becomes a test of nerve. The timid should be reassured by the knowledge that the Skywalk is engineered to be strong enough to hold 70 fully loaded Boeing 747s. See grandcanyonwest.com

Raft the Colorado River

Rafters on the Colorado River, within the Grand Canyon.Credit: iStock

Most rafting adventures through the Grand Canyon are strenuous multi-day expeditions, but the Hualapai River Runners offer one-day trips on a motorised raft from Peach Springs. These Native American-led tours initially tackle some relatively gentle rapids before continuing on a peaceful float past caverns, side canyons and waterfalls. They talk history and nature on the way as the murky brown Colorado continues cutting the canyon ever deeper. See grandcanyonwest.com

See the colours at sunrise

The colours of the Canyon become more vivid at sunrise and sunset.Credit: iStock

Come at sunrise or sunset, and you begin to realise that the Grand Canyon is as much about the colours as the cliffs. Yellows, oranges and reds in the rock strata become ultra-vivid, and a place that looks stark by day takes on a glorious richness. Stay close by – you won’t see the colours at gateway cities such as Williams or Flagstaff. The atmospheric wooden Cabins at Grand Canyon West are a short walk from the rim, while the pool-equipped Red Feather Lodge in Tusayan is a 15-minute drive from Mather Point. See grandcanyonwest.com and redfeatherlodge.com

Drive to the stone tower

The 21-metre-tall stone-built Watchtower at Desert View Point.Credit: iStock

The 37 kilometre-long Desert View Drive strings together several viewpoints on the South Rim, and drivers are allowed to tackle it independently year-round. If being selective about stops, Grandview Point shows off the striking Horseshoe Mesa and the canyon gradually widening to the east, while Desert View Point has a 21-metre-tall stone-built Watchtower. Its architecture is modelled on the buildings of the ancient Puebloan people that once lived around the canyon.

The writer was a guest of the Arizona Office of Tourism. See visitarizona.com