Welcome to the Grand Canyon!
It’s considered one of the seven wonders of the world. It stretches lengthwise for 277 miles and is 18 miles wide! And I am standing at the south rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, and the natural beauty is unrelenting…so how did I get here?
All Aboard!
It all begins in the town of Williams, Arizona, located about 65 miles south of the Grand Canyon. Instead of fighting traffic, why not let the Grand Canyon Railway do the driving? You climb onboard a series of beautifully refurbished railway cars for a 2 hour and 15 minute ride through beautiful scenery…
Once you arrive, it’s literally a 5-minute walk until you see this – a series of views that are breathtaking and so immense you can’t possibly capture it on film, but I tried:
Note the bird flying just right of dead center in the picture: there are Eagles, hawks, and even condors up here – yes, condors!
There is also wildlife all around the park as well, and you are warned repeatedly not to feed the elk, moose, deer or even squirrels, who are apparently very aggressive up here and will climb on you to get your food!
Here I am again trying to give perspective on the incredible beauty and scope of what is behind me – and you can also see the shot of the bottom of the canyon, which you can actually hike down to and spend the night in a night lodge there – more on that in my “hiking the Grand Canyon” post still to come!
You get more than three hours to explore, or you can stay overnight at one of the many hotels at the southern rim and return on the train the next day – that way you can see spectacular sunsets and sunrises as well…then it’s back on the train for the return trip, where you see more incredible beauty outside your train window:
The Grand Canyon train is a lot of fun: they begin the day with a short wild west show and those same “outlaws” rob the train on the way back – helps keep the ride fun…
I have more to come about the trip, including my short hike down into the canyon as well – let me know if you’ve ever gone to The Grand Canyon!
Categories: documentary films, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir, Uncategorized
I’ve been twice and cannot wait to return and spend more time there.. Great pics!! Being there in person though is indescribable..
Thanks for the comment! Yes, pictures don’t capture it at all – you stare at the wonder of it, then look at the cities and think “but it’s so much more dramatic than this!”
Hi John,
You are so correct. I’ve stood where you did in your photos and our shots did not begin to carry the “WOW” factor to this place. Thanks for sharing.
You are so right – it’s impossible to capture what it is like to stand there…unbelievable…thanks for the comment!
Great pictures. I haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon yet, but it is on my list.
Pictures can’t really do justice to the beauty and wonder of it…and it will always be there…and I have to give the Parks division credit, it is very well run!
Well, the pictures are wonderful and certainly make a person want to see it for themselves. It is good to hear it is run well.
I think riding a train to Grand Canyon is a great idea. When I lived in California I actually looked into taking a train from California to Grand Canyon, you can do that as well. I really like train, nice ones that is. I would choose going in my own vehicle, or by train, over a plane any day. You can see and experience so much of the landscape when you’re on the ground. I’m only 4-5 hours (depending if you go to North or South rim,) from Grand canyon now, and I am planing on going there soon. I’ve been there once, five years ago. The beauty is overwhelming in an amazing way. I did see more than 20 elks during that visit. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Thanks for the comment – I agree that flying takes you high over everything and you experience nothing…
Yes. I used to enjoy it a lot, but nowadays I’m avoiding it as much as I can.
This is AMAZING! What a brilliant way to travel and see the Grand Canyon. It is now high on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.
If you get the chance to go the train is absolutely the way to do it…traffic is bad most times getting into the national park but the train takes care of that, and they do it so well! Thanks for the comment!
Great pictures. This looks like a great way to see that part of the country. Love it!
Thank you for the comment! It simply can’t be properly captured…that canyon behind me is 18 miles across!
Those views are just sooo amazing! I would love to visit and hike there!! ❤
Thanks for the comment! It’s beautiful beyond description, and know that the other rim is 18 miles across…the 6 miles hike down to the bottom would be a phenomenal experience!
I’d love to visit the Grand Canyon and this has certainly whet my appetite.
Rachael | https://rachaelstray.com
Thanks for the comment! There was a wide variety of people there: locals, other Americans, and a ton of visitors from other countries as well, and it can handle people with disabilities too – I was very impressed with how well run it was! And welcoming!
Wow that sounds brilliant – very welcoming and inclusive.
Since moving to AZ, Cassie has been to the Grand Canyon five times. I’ve been four times. Be sure to explore other parts of the rim. Desert View, for instance, is a very different perspective. The campgrounds there are fantastic. And while it’s much harder to access, I want to get to the North Rim someday soon.
Jimmy, thanks for the comment – I want to go back, with my wife next time, and plan accordingly…this was a one-day “i’ve got to see this thing its just too close not to what am i an idiot?” thing!
Jimmy, thanks for the comment! Camping there must be an amazing experience!
Fantastic shots. I want to go there in the future.
My son and I did this trip in June (our first)! We both loved the train ride (how about those prairie dogs also when you leave the station lol)! It is breathtaking, awe inspiring, magnificent and 100’s of other adjectives. We are planning to go back when we can spend longer than one day there. I have some great photos, but you’re correct there’s something more powerful there than can be captured on film. Glad you got to experience it.
Glad you had the same terrific experience – thanks for the comment as always!
I know this area well! Great shots and thanks for the train ride, too. I haven’t done that. Just drove to the Canyon several times. One day I’d like to descend and take a river ride. Glad you had a great time.
Gorgeous! We were there last year and spent a couple nights in the park. It was awesome to see both sunrise and sunset over the canyon! I’d love to go back again!
Your train trip sounds very exciting, John. I have not been to the Grand Canyon but I hope we will visit some day.
Robbie, as part of a visit to the west coast of the US, it’s worth the extra time…and take this train you avoid ALL of the traffic into the park! The pictures just can’t capture the majesty of what you see…
That’s a trip to envy indeed, John. And taking the train was an inspired choice too.
Best wishes, Pete.
Lots of Brits there – which was actually yesterday Pete…it’s worth the trip!
I can believe that it is, John.
Both my sons and my now-ex hubs have been to the Grand Canyon. But I’ve never seen a video of it before. Spectacular. Thanks so much. I will add that train ride to my trip planner, after reading this.
Janet, you know that it’s impossible to truly capture it, what an amazing view – it was my first time! Thanks for the comment!!!!