Interview a Grand Canyon Ranger

The most common thing people say when they see the Grand Canyon for the first time is “WOW!” Often, they are standing at Mather Point looking out across to the north rim of the canyon, where park visitors can also go during the warmer seasons.

The view across the canyon is about 10 to 18 miles. On a clear day you can see miles and miles in all directions. But looking across the canyon can be equally exciting in all weather, especially when there are interesting clouds. Check out these live webcams to see for yourself! 

The Yavapai Point, webcam provides additional weather information including air quality and visibility distance so we can better understand the conditions and weather in the canyon.The canyon is 278 river miles long, and approximately 1 mile deep.

Checkout the statistics page for more.

Grand Canyon National Park is located in northern Arizona, in the United States of America. It is a part of the Colorado Plateau and includes a section of the Colorado River.

But did you know the park is only part of the Grand Canyon? Lots of different groups, including Native American communities, help take care of the entire canyon. Since the canyon is so huge, people use many different maps to explore it. Check out some of the maps including an interactive geology map by the Arizona Geological Society and United States Geologic Survey. These maps show many of the features that make the Grand Canyon special!

Grand Canyon’s formation takes many layers of rock, lots of water, and a long, long time. The story starts around 2 billion years ago when igneous and metamorphic rocks (rocks formed by intense heat and sometimes pressure) created the base layer and the rocks you can see in the deepest parts of the canyon. Then, slowly over a long time, different types of minerals, gravel, sand, and silt piled up on top and transformed into the many layers of rock and color you can see exposed in the canyon.Eventually the earth's crust shifted, causing the whole area of northern Arizona and surrounding states to rise, creating the Colorado Plateau. That's why, when you stand on the edge of the Grand Canyon, you’re 7,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level!The Colorado River is one of the main forces cutting through the Colorado Plateau, exposing these rocks to our eyes and creating the beautiful canyon we see. The Colorado River has been carving away rock for the past six million years. The shape of the canyon is much younger than the rocks which make up its walls.

The oldest rocks of the Grand Canyon can be found in the innermost and deepest part of the canyon. These rocks are sometimes 2 billion years old. These rock layers started as molten rock from the earth's interior layers and cooled to become the basement layer of the canyon, which is why they are called the basement rocks.

The top layers of the canyon are youngest rocks at Grand Canyon. But they are still very old—270 million years old! You might find fossils in this layer, called Kaibab Limestone, because 270 million years ago, northern Arizona was a tropical sea. The fossils scientists find are of animals that lived in the sea at that time and are even older than the dinosaurs.

After the layers of rock in the Grand Canyon formed, water played a big role—and still does—in shaping the canyon’s amazing landscape. The Colorado River has worn away at the rocks for six million years. Due to its steep slope, the river moves swiftly, carrying rocks and sediment and using them to carve deeper into the canyon. Over 278 miles, the Colorado River descends 2,000 feet through the Grand Canyon, continuing to transform the landscape.

With the power of speed and the amount of water, the Colorado River continues to carve into the rocks slowly changing the Grand Canyon over time.

Follow the journey of the Colorado River through many national park units in this video, “Pass the Hat.”

You might think the Grand Canyon is hot and dry all the time, but up on the rims, the weather changes with every season! The Grand Canyon experiences hot days, cold days, wet days, and very dry days.

Early summers are hot and dry on the rims of the canyon. On the South Rim, summer temperatures are generally in the 80s (27-32°C). The North Rim is cooler because it’s higher up in elevation, with summer highs in the 70s (21-26°C).

The late summer is “monsoon” season. Mornings often start sunny, but clouds build up throughout the day creating powerful thunderstorms. Sometimes, the rain falling from these thunderstorms evaporates before it can reach the ground. Other thunderstorms produce small but intense downpours, triggering flash floods in canyon creeks and streams.

In winter, both of the rims of the canyon receive snow. On average, the rims of the canyon can receive 50 to over 100 inches of snow (1.3-2.5m) each year. Since the North Rim is about 1,000 ft higher in elevation than the South Rim, winter conditions are even more extreme. It often gets the heaviest snowfall averaging 142 inches per year and had a record snowfall in 1978 of almost 23 feet of snow. Low temperatures on both rims can be 10-20°F but will rise to the 40s (4-9°C) while the sun is up.

Check out what the weather at the canyon looks like currently with our Yavapai Geology Museum webcam.

About 5,000 ft (1,524 m) below the rim, you reach the bottom of the canyon, where Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River are located--a popular spot for hikers! Weather at the bottom of the Grand Canyon can be very different than the weather at the top of the rim! Air temperature at the bottom of the canyon is warmer. Air cools as it rises, making the temperature at the canyon rims colder than the temperature at the bottom.

In the winter, you can hike down icy trails near the top of the canyon and reach the bottom of the canyon, where it will be 20°F warmer. In the summer, it is already hot on the rim of the canyon! So, if you hike down, you can experience temperatures of over 100°F degrees (38°C). People who plan to hike into the canyon in the summer have to be ready for the extreme heat and dry conditions.

The Grand Canyon region has been home to Native people since time immemorial. This means people have lived in this area way before any memories or stories were created about this place.

Tribal members share their traditional skills and knowledge about this place through public demonstration programs. In this video, sit beside Sunny Dooley, a Diné storyteller, as she shares the skills that are passed down through generations. Watch Laverne Greyeyes (Diné) weave a traditional rug, a skills she learned from her mother. Famous Hopi potter Darlene James shares her masterful craft that has been passed down over five generations. What have you learned from family and friends that you share with others?

Eleven tribes have ties and traditions interconnected with the Grand Canyon. These tribes consider the area sacred and have preserved their connection with the land through their cultural practices. These traditionally associated tribes include: the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, Navajo Nation, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the Pueblo of Zuni, and the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

Through the video, “We Are the Grand Canyon,” the 11 Grand Canyon tribal communities extend a heartfelt invitation to all who visit this sacred place.

Every year, around 5 million visitors from all over the world visit Grand Canyon National Park. Most visitors drive to the park by car or bus. Some visitors ride a special train to Grand Canyon Village, located on the South Rim. \\

The South Rim is open all year, but the North Rim is only open in the summer. The North Rim is higher up in elevation, so its colder, wetter winters bring lots of snow. For summer visitors, exploring the North Rim is a special adventure. You can experience the North Rim through all the seasons in this video. Some areas of Grand Canyon, like Tuweep, are so remote (or difficult to reach) that visitors must have specialized vehicles able to journey over rocky terrain.

Less than 1% of visitors to Grand Canyon National Park go below the rim! Those that venture down the steep cliffs of the canyon can do it by hiking or riding a mule. Some visitors experience the park by water—on the Colorado River! Want to hear what that sounds like? Put yourself in a boat on the Colorado River and run a rapid in the heart of the canyon by viewing this video: Running Granite Rapid. How would you describe the roar of the fast-flowing water?

The spectacular landscape of the Grand Canyon attracts visitors from around the world. Visitors capture the scenery by taking photos and creating art. Enjoy the view with Artist-in-Residence Heather L Johnson as she sketches the landscape of Grand Canyon.

Visitors also enjoy the stories that are shared at the canyon. Tribal members practice traditional and modern crafts through cultural demonstrations. Listen to award-winning Native American flute-maker Aaron White as he and the Sun converse through sound and light. Learn from Yavapai-Apache Silversmith Jerry Whagado as he shares the craft of silversmithing across multiple tribal communities. Visitors can also attend ranger programs to learn more about the park.

Most visitors enjoy the canyon from the rims. Less than 1% of visitors go below the rims of the Grand Canyon! Visitors have multiple ways to enjoy Grand Canyon National Park, whether it be via bike, foot, wheels, mule rides, helicopter tours, or boating.

Yes, people do hike into the Grand Canyon!

As we mentioned earlier, only 1% of Grand Canyon visitors go below the canyon rim. You might wonder, why don’t more people go below the rim?

Hiking into the Grand Canyon takes a lot of careful planning and preparation! The Grand Canyon is an adventure-filled and wonderful place, but it can also be very dangerous. In the summer months, the inner canyon reaches temperatures over 110°F (43°C)! To cool off, hikers like to take a dip in the Bright Angel Creek, since it’s so hot and dry down there, they don’t stay wet for very long. The conditions in the canyon are so intense, that is very important to learn from rangers how to Hike Smart. Smart hikers plan their route, start early in the day to avoid the hot sun, wear comfy hiking shoes, and bring plenty of water, salty snacks, sunscreen, a hat, and a map!

On February 26^th, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson designated Grand Canyon a national park. Earlier—in 1908—President Theodore Roosevelt designated Grand Canyon as a national monument.

It takes many people with many different skills to operate Grand Canyon National Park. The park is managed by people who care about the plants, wildlife, culture, and history of the area.

Park rangers also want every visitor to have a safe and enjoyable visit. Law enforcement rangers make sure special rules are followed to protect the park’s birds, animals, history, and visitors. Park guides take visitors on hikes to explore the beautiful surroundings. Rangers are helicopter pilots and mule wranglers that help transport people and supplies in and out of the canyon.

Scientist rangers study plants and animals and explore historical sites. This research helps us learn more about how to protect the park. Watch a ranger catch and tag monarch butterflies to learn more about their fall migration through the park during their long trek from Canada to Mexico.

Maintenance rangers repair roads after flooding, restore buildings, and keep the park clean. Rangers who are mechanics, accountants, computer specialists, and plumbers (just to name a few!) all help run Grand Canyon National Park.

As we discussed in the previous question, rangers do a lot of different work here at Grand Canyon National Park! Rangers like their jobs for different reasons. Let’s hear from several rangers by clicking the links below.

• Della Yurcik is a law enforcement ranger who provides help to visitors through medical care and search and rescue.
• Jason Nez, from the Navajo Nation, is a Fire Archaeologist at Grand Canyon National Park. He is an expert in the study and protection of cultural resources, like structures and rock art panels, when wildland fire occurs.
• Learn from Tina Yazzie, from the Navajo Nation, has been working with the National Park Service for over 31 years.
• Explore with Park paleontologists Anne and Erikka find, preserve, and protect fossils.
• Travel the Trail of Time with Ranger Lindsay, who helps visitors make connections to the park.
• Hike with Preventative Search and Rescue Volunteers who share important weather safety messages and help visitors out on the trails.

When you think about the Grand Canyon, you might picture rocky cliffs and not much else. However, once you start hiking into the canyon, you begin to see the different habitats that plants and animals call home.

Up at the top, large forests of evergreen trees (including pines, firs, and junipers) and deciduous trees (including aspens and oaks) withstand the cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers along the canyon’s edge. As the elevation drops below the rim of the canyon, it gets hotter and drier in the desert scrub community. Plants like mesquite trees, sagebrush, and prickly pear cacti have adaptations to help conserve water and endure hot weather.

At the very bottom of the canyon, along the Colorado River and streams, is the riparian community. This is the hottest ecosystem in the Grand Canyon. But the precious water supports diversity of plant life such as willows and cottonwood trees. The riparian community provides thick vegetation for shelter and food for many animals.

Over 90 species of mammals call Grand Canyon National Park home, including the largest land animal in North America—the elk. Visitors are lucky if they spot a family of desert bighorn sheep. Although majestic elk and nimble bighorn sheep can be found in the park, spotting javelinas could be an uncommon yet fascinating sighting! These wild pig-like creatures can often be seen darting along the canyon walls or rooting around in search food, like acorns or cacti.

There are over 450 species of birds at Grand Canyon National Park. Park biologists, rangers, and volunteers study some of the rarest birds in the world. For over 30 years, the Hawkwatch program has observed raptors, or birds of prey, during their fall migration through the Grand Canyon area. Count the hawks, osprey, and falcons alongside volunteers in this video.

Scientists study the California condor at Grand Canyon National Park because it is a federally endangered bird that almost became extinct. Condors are scavengers, meaning they eat dead animals. Scientists found out that many condors were dying because they were eating lead from bullets left in dead animals. Even a small amount of lead can be deadly to a condor.

To protect the species, scientists started breeding condors in captivity—a safe place where they can live and grow. Every year, condors are tagged and released back into the wild. These tags help scientists track where the birds go and what they do. You can find out more about tagged condors at Condor Spotter.

Today, there are more than 500 condors in North America. It is the largest land bird in North America with a wingspan of up to 9 ½ feet. Stretch out your arms—that’s just the length of one condor wing!

Grand Canyon is home to over 40 species of reptiles, including 18 lizards, 22 snakes, and 1 tortoise species. There are also eight species of amphibians, including toads, frogs, and salamanders. You might spot these animals throughout the park!

Imagine you’re hiking in the canyon. It’s summer, and you see a spiny lizard basking in the hot sun. As you look for a shady camping spot near the cottonwood trees at Havasupai Gardens, you notice tadpoles swimming in the cool creek. At night, you can hear loud croaks of the canyon tree frog that sound like a goat bleating. The next morning, as you hike out of the canyon, you hear a rustle in the bushes and see the pale pink tail of the Grand Canyon rattlesnake slither quickly away from you. As you near the rim, you spot a camouflaged short-horned lizard waiting in stillness for its prey under some fallen leaves.

Grand Canyon was once home to eight species of native fishes, but only five of these species are found in the park today. Two of the remaining species are on the endangered or threatened species lists: humpback chub and razorback suckers.

The number of native fish dropped for a few reasons. Water from the Glen Canyon Dam upriver can be too cold for the fish to reproduce. Invasive fish, or fish that are not native to this area of the Colorado River, also prey on the native fish. Non-native fish include rainbow trout and brown trout.

Flannelmouth suckers are the largest species of native fish still common in the Grand Canyon. Watch this video of flannelmouth suckers in Bright Angel Creek. How do you think this fish got its scientific common name?

There are over 1,500 species of plants at Grand Canyon National Park! As we talked about in previous questions, the weather at the edge of the canyon is much different than the weather at the bottom of the canyon, near the Colorado River. Because of this, the canyon has many different plant communities.

At the canyon rim, the forests are full of ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, and juniper trees. These trees thrive in cold, snowy winters and warm, sunny summers. Halfway down the canyon, the weather is hotter and drier. Here, plants like yucca and cacti have thick, waxy leaves to help hold in water. At the very bottom of the canyon, where rivers and creeks flow, trees like cottonwoods and willows need lots of water.

There are many endangered species in Grand Canyon National Park, including a snail, a small bird, and a species of butterfly. There is only one species of plant that is endangered, the sentry milk-vetch. It is only an inch tall. And it is only found growing from small cracks on the edge of the Grand Canyon. From this exposed habitat on the rim, the plant endures high winds, icy rain, and snow. Only a few seeds grow to a full-grown plant, a challenge made harder by hot temperatures, drought, and crushing footsteps from visitors.

In this video, watch rangers record observations of the endangered plant in a fenced area that protects the area. Rangers also study and help protect the sentry milk-vetch by growing plants in a greenhouse, where they pollinate the plants by hand. The plants and seeds from the greenhouse can then be planted in the park.

Climate change is impacting plants, animals, and visitors to Grand Canyon National Park. Some of the effects of climate change include hotter temperatures, drier soil, more non-native plants and animals, and a higher risk of wildfires. Scientists and rangers are studying these changes so they can make plans to help protect the park’s ecosystems and visitors.

Soil moisture, or water in the soil, is very important for trees in the pinyon-juniper woodland. Rangers predict that in the future, these trees will have a shorter growing season because the soil will dry out earlier in the spring. When the soil is too dry, trees become weak and are more likely to get damaged by diseases and insects like beetles. These beetles burrow into the trees, and when the trees are healthy, they can produce a sticky substance called resin to protect themselves. But when it’s too dry, the trees can’t make enough resin, so the beetles win. Pinyon nuts are very important to many Native American tribes that have cared for the canyon since time immemorial.

As a Climate Friendly Park, Grand Canyon National Park has committed to reducing energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emission from visitors, and use water more efficiently as measures to be better stewards of the park and the Earth.

Climate change is also affecting visitors. As we learned before, the bottom of the canyon gets very hot in the summer. With rising temperatures, spring and fall might also become too hot, making hiking unsafe during those times. By studying these changes, the park can help warn visitors about potential dangers before they start their adventures.

National parks are some of the last remaining sanctuaries for dark night skies, and this includes the night skies of Grand Canyon National Park. Once the sun sets at the Grand Canyon and the sky gets dark, you can see stars and planets filling the sky – so many stars, it’s hard to count them all!

Grand Canyon National Park earned a designation as an International Dark Sky Park. To be selected by the International Dark Sky Association, the park committed to reducing light pollution by installing responsible outdoor lighting that help protect the night skies and inspiring visitors to appreciate the values of dark night skies.

You can help protect the Grand Canyon from your own home! You can turn off lights when not in use. This saves energy and reduces the stress on water resources that produce hydropower. Turning off outdoor lights or using fewer lights helps protect the night sky where you live.

You can also plant native plants in your yard to help create homes for birds and insects, like the monarch butterfly. Who knows, maybe a monarch from your community will travel through the Grand Canyon one day! Watch this video about the relationship between monarch butterflies and the milkweed plant—the only plant where monarchs lay their eggs!

Another way to help is by observing plants and animals in your neighborhood. You can share what you see with scientists to help them learn more about these species and track changes over time. You can check out the observations that visitors have made recording plants and animals at the Grand Canyon’s iNaturalist page. Can you find observations made in your local community?