Discover the Grand Canyon with fun facts and activities for all ages! From Junior Ranger badges to geology and train rides, it’s the ultimate family adventure!
THE ULTIMATE PARENT’S GUIDE
Visit the Grand Canyon National Park: A Family Adventure Guide
Fun Facts
Interesting Things To Know About Grand Canyon National Park
- WOW! The Grand Canyon is so big that you could stack 19 Statues of Liberty on top of each other from the bottom to the rim!
- HOLY MOLY! The Colorado River that carved the canyon is so powerful that it moves rocks as big as cars during floods!
- SUPER COOL! The Grand Canyon creates its own weather – it can be snowing at the rim and feel like summer at the bottom!
- INCREDIBLE! There are pink rattlesnakes that live in the Grand Canyon, and they’re found nowhere else in the world!
- AMAZING! If you emptied all the water from Lake Erie, you could fill up the Grand Canyon’s space and still need more water!
Must-Visit Spots
Where To Go At Grand Canyon National Park
GRAND CANYON VISITOR CENTER AND MATHER POINT Get Ready for the GRAND CANYON VISITOR CENTER AND MATHER POINT : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This is your family’s perfect introduction to the canyon, with kid-friendly exhibits, helpful rangers, and one of the safest and most spectacular viewpoints in the park.
INTERESTING FACT! The Visitor Center has a special “touch table” where kids can feel different types of rocks found in the canyon, and some of these rocks are over 1.8 billion years old – that’s older than dinosaurs!
COOL ACTIVITY! Pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitor Center. Kids can complete fun activities, earn a badge, and take an official Junior Ranger oath!
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you could build a house anywhere along the canyon rim, what would you want to see from your window?
DISCUSS: Eagles and condors build their nests high up on the canyon walls, giving them some of the best views in the world!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: These amazing birds have some of the best “homes” in the Grand Canyon. California Condors, which almost went extinct, now soar through the canyon thanks to conservation efforts. Their wingspan can reach 9.5 feet – that’s wider than your bedroom! They use warm air currents rising from the canyon to glide for hours without flapping their wings. These birds can spot their food from over 4 miles away, which is like seeing something from your house that’s 40 football fields away!
ASK YOUR KIDS: How many colors can you count in the canyon walls?
DISCUSS: The different colors in the canyon come from different types of rocks and minerals – red rocks contain iron, white rocks contain limestone from ancient sea creatures!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The Grand Canyon is like a giant layer cake of rocks! Each color tells us about a different time in Earth’s history. The pink and red rocks were once part of ancient deserts, the grey layers were once ocean floors full of sea creatures, and the dark black rocks at the bottom are some of the oldest rocks on Earth! When it rains or snows, these colors become even brighter, like nature’s own painting that changes with the weather.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the special compass rose embedded in the ground near the viewpoint.
HINT: Look down at your feet near the main viewing area – it’s like a giant star pointing in all directions!
OBJECTIVE: Spot three different types of birds soaring above the canyon.
HINT: Morning is the best time to see birds – look for dark shapes gliding without flapping their wings.
BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL (BEGINNING PORTION) Get Ready for the BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL (BEGINNING PORTION) : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This historic trail offers young explorers their first taste of “hiking” into the Grand Canyon, with close-up views of canyon walls and fascinating rock formations right at the start.
INTERESTING FACT! The trail follows a natural break in the canyon that Native Americans and animals have used for over 10,000 years – that’s like walking in the footsteps of ancient travelers!
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a “sound map” by sitting quietly for 2 minutes at the trailhead and drawing or pointing to different directions when you hear sounds (birds, wind, people, etc.).
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you were a mule carrying supplies down this trail, what would you want to bring to the bottom of the canyon?
DISCUSS: Mules have been carrying supplies and people up and down this trail for over 100 years, and they never slip because their eyes can see all four of their feet at the same time!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: These amazing mules carry everything from mail to camping supplies to the bottom of the canyon. They’re so smart that they always walk on the inside of the trail, away from the edge. Each mule knows exactly when to stop and let others pass on the narrow trail. They can carry up to 175 pounds of supplies – that’s like carrying two kids at once! The mules even have their own special “hotel” at the canyon where they rest between trips.
ASK YOUR KIDS: What do you think made these zigzags in the trail?
DISCUSS: The trail’s switchbacks were designed to be gentle enough for mules to walk down, making them perfect for little legs too!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The zigzags in the trail are called switchbacks, and they’re like nature’s elevator! Instead of going straight down (which would be too steep), the trail goes back and forth to make it easier to walk. These switchbacks are so well-designed that they haven’t changed much in over 100 years. When it rains, the water follows these same zigzag patterns, creating little streams that help shape the canyon. Native Americans used to place stones along similar paths to help guide travelers, just like the trail markers we use today.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Look for the metal plate that marks the official start of the Bright Angel Trail.
HINT: It’s near your feet at the very beginning of the trail – it looks like a shiny dinner plate in the ground!
OBJECTIVE: Find three different colors of rock within the first few steps of the trail.
HINT: Look at the trail walls – one will be reddish, another might be grey, and another could be white or tan.
YAVAPAI GEOLOGY MUSEUM Get Ready for the YAVAPAI GEOLOGY MUSEUM : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This cozy museum is like a giant picture window into the canyon, with fascinating rock samples kids can touch and huge telescopes perfect for little explorers.
INTERESTING FACT! The building’s large windows were specifically placed to show the best views of the layers where scientists found fossils of ancient sea creatures that lived here 270 million years ago!
COOL ACTIVITY! Play “Rock Detective” using the museum’s special viewing tubes. These tubes help you focus on specific rock layers, making it feel like you’re using a superhero’s special vision powers!
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you could travel back in time to when this was an ocean, what sea creatures do you think you would see swimming here?
DISCUSS: Some of the rocks in the canyon contain fossils of sea creatures that look like tiny submarines, called nautiloids, that were as long as a car!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Imagine standing right here millions of years ago – you’d need scuba gear because you’d be underwater! The ocean that once covered this area was home to creatures that would seem alien to us today. There were swimming scorpion-like animals bigger than you, spiral-shelled creatures that could swim backward like today’s octopuses, and coral reefs full of colorful fish. The limestone rocks you see in the canyon walls are made from countless tiny sea creatures that piled up on the ancient sea floor, like layers in a giant cake.
ASK YOUR KIDS: How many different shapes can you spot in the rock layers across the canyon?
DISCUSS: The flat layers of rock you see are like pages in Earth’s history book – each layer tells a different story about what was happening here millions of years ago!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The canyon walls are nature’s greatest puzzle! Some layers look like giant steps, others like straight walls, and some even have curves and waves in them. These shapes tell us how they were formed – straight layers usually mean they were made at the bottom of calm seas, wavy layers might show ancient sand dunes, and broken-up layers could show where earthquakes happened long ago. Just like building with blocks, each layer had to be placed from bottom to top, with the oldest rocks at the bottom.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the special 3D model of the Grand Canyon in the museum and match what you see through the windows to the model.
HINT: The model has lights that show different parts of the canyon – try to find where you’re standing!
OBJECTIVE: Look for the sparkly minerals in the rock display that catch the sunlight.
HINT: These minerals often look like tiny mirrors or diamonds when the sun hits them.
OBJECTIVE:
HINT: Look for shapes that remind you of seashells or underwater animals you might know.
TRAIL OF TIME Get Ready for the TRAIL OF TIME : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This flat, paved walkway is like walking through time itself! Every step takes you millions of years into the past, with huge rock samples you can touch and bronze markers that make learning about time fun.
INTERESTING FACT! Each meter (about one big step) you walk along the trail represents one million years of Earth’s history. That means when you take 100 steps, you’ve “traveled” 100 million years into the past!
COOL ACTIVITY! Play “Time Traveler” by having kids count their steps between markers, pretending each step takes them further back in time. When they reach different rocks, have them act out what might have been happening when that rock formed (swimming in an ancient sea, crawling like desert creatures, etc.).
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If we could shrink all of Earth’s history into one day, when do you think humans would first appear?
DISCUSS: If all of Earth’s history was squeezed into one 24-hour day, humans would only appear in the last few seconds before midnight!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Imagine if dinosaurs showed up at around 11:00 PM on our Earth-history clock. The first fish would appear around 4:00 PM, and the first plants on land would show up around 7:00 PM. The rocks at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? They formed way back at 3:00 AM! This helps us understand just how long Earth has been around and how recently humans joined Earth’s story. The Trail of Time helps us visualize this immense timeline by letting us walk through it step by step.
ASK YOUR KIDS: Which rock along the trail feels the most different from the others, and what does it remind you of?
DISCUSS: Some of the rocks are so old that they formed before there were any plants or animals on Earth – they’re older than life itself!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Each rock tells its own story through its texture, color, and patterns. The smooth, striped rocks might have formed from sand dunes in an ancient desert. The rough, black rocks with sparkly crystals came from deep underground where it was super hot. Some rocks have tiny holes where air bubbles were trapped, like frozen chocolate chip cookies! By touching these rocks, you’re connecting with different chapters of Earth’s history, each with its own unique story to tell.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the medallion that marks the year you were born (remember: each meter equals one million years).
HINT: Look for the modern end of the timeline near the Yavapai Geology Museum.
OBJECTIVE: Locate the oldest rock sample on display and compare its color and texture to the youngest rock sample.
HINT: The oldest rocks are usually darker and have sparkly crystals in them.
GRAND CANYON RAILWAY DEPOT Get Ready for the GRAND CANYON RAILWAY DEPOT : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This historic wooden building welcomes the famous Grand Canyon Railway, where you can watch a real steam train arrive just like visitors did 100 years ago!
INTERESTING FACT! The train whistle you hear today is the same special sound that has echoed through the canyon for over 100 years – it’s like hearing history come alive!
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a “train symphony” while waiting for the train by having kids make different train sounds (choo-choo, whistle, wheels on tracks) and conducting them like an orchestra.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: How do you think people got all their food and supplies to the Grand Canyon before there were cars?
DISCUSS: The train used to bring water to the Grand Canyon in special tank cars because there wasn’t enough water here for all the visitors!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Before the train came in 1901, people had to ride in bumpy stagecoaches for a whole day to reach the Grand Canyon. The train changed everything! It could carry enough food for hundreds of people, bring ice to keep things cold (there were no refrigerators here!), and even transported the lumber to build the historic hotels. Today’s train still uses some of the same tracks laid down over 100 years ago, and the locomotive is powered by recycled vegetable oil from restaurants – making it one of the most eco-friendly trains in America!
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you could design your own train car, what would you put in it to make the ride fun?
DISCUSS: Some of the original train cars had special glass roofs so passengers could look up at the tall pine trees and stars during their journey!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The train cars have changed a lot over time. The first ones had wooden benches and pot-bellied stoves for heat. Today’s cars have comfortable seats, big windows, and even special dome cars where you can see in all directions. During the ride, musicians play old cowboy songs, and sometimes there’s even a pretend train robbery with cowboys on horseback! The train still follows the same path through the prairie and pine forests that the first trains did, giving riders the same exciting views that surprised visitors over a century ago.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the old-fashioned luggage cart on the platform and count how many wheels it has.
HINT: These carts were used to carry heavy trunks and suitcases from the train to the hotels.
OBJECTIVE: Look for the special clock that helped train conductors keep their schedules.
HINT: It’s inside the depot building and looks different from modern clocks!
Other Nearby Points of Interest
Other great things to do near Grand Canyon National Park
BEFORE YOU LEAVE – Make sure to check out more of what this area has to offer! Here are a few nearby spots that we think you’ll love just as much as the Grand Canyon National Park:
Bearizona Wildlife Park (Williams, AZ): Drive through this amazing park where you can see bears, wolves, and other North American animals up close from the safety of your car! Perfect for young wildlife enthusiasts.
Lowell Observatory (Flagstaff, AZ): Look through real telescopes and learn about space at this famous observatory where Pluto was discovered! They offer special programs for young astronomers.
Grand Canyon Deer Farm (Williams, AZ): Pet and feed gentle deer, meet friendly goats, and see other animals at this interactive wildlife park perfect for young children.
Read before you go
To make your visit even more exciting, check out these age-appropriate books:
- Grand Canyon” by Jason Chin – A beautifully illustrated picture book that takes children on a journey through the canyon’s layers and ecosystems.
- First Big Book of National Parks” by National Geographic Kids – Features kid-friendly information about the Grand Canyon and other parks.
- The Grand Canyon: A Special Place” by Catherine Howell – A simple, colorful book perfect for ages 4-7 that introduces basic canyon concepts.
- Download the free Junior Ranger activity book from the National Park Service website before your visit to get kids excited about what they’ll see.
- Watch the PBS Kids video series “Xavier Riddle Visits Grand Canyon National Park” available on YouTube.
Fun Facts
Interesting Things To Know About Grand Canyon National Park
- The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years.
- HOLY COW! The Grand Canyon is so big it creates its own weather patterns and can even influence the formation of clouds and rain!
- SUPER COOL! The rocks at the bottom of the canyon are nearly 2 billion years old – that’s almost half the age of Earth itself!
- MIND BLOWN! Scientists have discovered fossils of marine creatures at the top of the canyon, proving this area was once covered by an ancient sea!
- INCREDIBLE! The canyon contains over 1,000 caves, but only 335 have been documented, and just one is open to the public!
- WOW! The temperature difference between the rim and the bottom of the canyon can be more than 25 degrees Fahrenheit!
Must-Visit Spots
Where To Go At Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon Visitor Center and Mather Point Get Ready for the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and Mather Point : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This is your family’s perfect introduction to the canyon, offering both indoor interactive exhibits and your first breathtaking view of the vast canyon at Mather Point.
INTERESTING FACT! The viewing platform at Mather Point extends 40 feet out over the canyon rim, giving you the sensation of floating above the canyon!
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a “Grand Canyon Color Palette” by identifying different colors in the canyon walls and matching them to items in nature. During different times of day, the colors change dramatically!
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you could go back in time and watch the Colorado River carve this canyon, how long do you think it would take to see a noticeable change?
DISCUSS: The Colorado River carries about 500,000 tons of sediment downstream every day – that’s equivalent to 50,000 dump trucks full of rock and sand!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The river’s erosion power is incredible! The Colorado River continues to deepen the Grand Canyon by the thickness of a sheet of paper each year. The river’s brown color comes from all the sediment it carries. Scientists estimate that if you collected all the rock the river has carved away to create the Grand Canyon, it would make a pile 30 miles long, 30 miles wide, and one mile high!
ASK YOUR KIDS: Why do you think the rocks in the canyon walls have different colors, and what might these colors tell us about the past?
DISCUSS: The pink and red rocks get their color from rust (iron oxide), just like an old bicycle left in the rain!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Each color in the canyon tells a different story about ancient environments. The red rocks formed in dry deserts, while gray rocks formed in ancient seas. White rocks might contain the remains of sand dunes, and black rocks came from volcanic activity. Scientists can read these colors like pages in Earth’s diary, telling them about times when this area was covered by oceans, deserts, and even swamps!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the “Canyon Timeline” in the visitor center and locate the layer of rock that’s the same age as when dinosaurs first appeared.
HINT: Look for the Triassic Period in the rock layers, about 225 million years ago.
OBJECTIVE: From Mather Point, try to spot the Colorado River. Use the provided telescopes!
HINT: Look for a thin brown ribbon at the bottom of the canyon – it’s usually most visible in morning light.
Yavapai Geology Museum Get Ready for the Yavapai Geology Museum : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This historic observatory-turned-museum is like a time machine where you can learn about the canyon’s formation while looking through massive picture windows at the very rocks you’re studying!
INTERESTING FACT! The building was specifically positioned at this spot because it offers the best views of the Great Unconformity – a gap in the rock layers representing over a billion years of missing history!
COOL ACTIVITY! Use the 3D models and rock samples to build your own Grand Canyon layer by layer, then compare it to the real view through the windows.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If each layer of rock in the canyon is like a page in Earth’s history book, what do you think happened during the ‘missing pages’ of the Great Unconformity?
DISCUSS: The Great Unconformity represents 1.2 billion years of missing rock layers – that’s like ripping out 75% of Earth’s history book!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Scientists think this massive gap might have been caused by ancient glaciers that scraped away the missing rock layers like giant erasers. During this time, life was just beginning to evolve from simple single-celled organisms into more complex forms. The mystery of what happened during this huge time gap is one of geology’s biggest puzzles. Some scientists believe this period might hold clues about how life on Earth evolved!
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you could take a core sample from the canyon wall like a giant layer cake, how many different environments do you think you’d find evidence of?
DISCUSS: The Grand Canyon’s rocks show evidence of at least 9 different ancient environments, from deep oceans to scorching deserts to tropical swamps!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Each rock layer is like a snapshot of an ancient world. The Kaibab Limestone at the rim formed at the bottom of a warm, shallow sea filled with sharks and marine creatures. The Coconino Sandstone below shows ancient sand dunes where early reptiles once walked. The Bright Angel Shale contains fossils of primitive sea worms and trilobites. The deepest visible rocks, the Vishnu Schist, were once mountains as tall as the Himalayas!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the large relief model of the canyon and locate where you’re standing right now.
HINT: Look for the building marked “Yavapai Point” on the model – you’re inside it!
OBJECTIVE: Search for the display showing the oldest rock in the Grand Canyon and calculate how many millions of years old it is.
HINT: Look for the Vishnu Schist sample – it’s the darkest rock on display.
OBJECTIVE:
HINT: Look for the trilobite fossils in the Bright Angel Shale samples.
Bright Angel Trail (First 1.5 miles) Get Ready for the Bright Angel Trail (First 1.5 miles) : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This historic trail offers your family a safe but exciting opportunity to actually hike into the canyon, with amazing views and rest houses along the way.
INTERESTING FACT! The trail follows a natural break in the canyon walls that Native Americans used for thousands of years, and later became a route for miners searching for copper!
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a “Descent Journal” – at each switchback (trail zigzag), stop to record the changing colors of the rocks, temperature differences, and wildlife sightings.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: Why do you think the temperature changes as we hike down into the canyon? How many degrees difference do you think there is between the rim and 1.5 miles down?
DISCUSS: For every 1,000 feet you descend into the canyon, the temperature increases by about 5.5°F (3°C) – that’s like traveling hundreds of miles south in just a few steps!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: This temperature change creates distinct “life zones” in the canyon, similar to what you’d experience driving from Canada to Mexico. The rim is like walking through a pine forest in Colorado, while deeper parts of the canyon are like the Sonoran Desert in Mexico. This is why you might see pine trees at the top but cacti as you descend. Scientists call this the “vertical life zones” effect, and the Grand Canyon is one of the best places in the world to observe it!
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you were one of the early explorers or Native Americans using this trail, what natural signs would you look for to help you find your way back up?
DISCUSS: The Bright Angel Trail follows a natural fault line where underground springs created a rare year-round water source in the desert!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Early travelers relied on these springs for survival. The Havasupai people, who still live in the canyon today, used this trail for centuries before European explorers arrived. They knew exactly where to find water, which plants were edible, and how to navigate using rock formations as landmarks. The trail’s name comes from Bright Angel Creek, which was named by explorer John Wesley Powell in 1869 because its clear waters contrasted with the muddy Colorado River.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Count the number of switchbacks (zigzags) from the trailhead to the First Rest House.
HINT: Look for the trail markers – there are more than 10 but fewer than 20 switchbacks!
OBJECTIVE: Find evidence of the different “life zones” as you descend – look for changes in plants and geology.
HINT: Notice how the vegetation changes from pine trees to more desert-adapted plants as you go down.
OBJECTIVE:
HINT: The most visible changes occur at the major color transitions – look for changes from white to red to gray.
Desert View Watchtower Get Ready for the Desert View Watchtower : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This 70-foot tower combines amazing 360-degree canyon views with fascinating Native American history and architecture, plus it’s one of the few places where you can see the Colorado River’s big bend!
INTERESTING FACT! The tower’s architect, Mary Colter, deliberately added cracks and weathering to the tower’s exterior to make it look ancient, and even studied ancient Puebloan ruins to design it authentically!
COOL ACTIVITY! Become a “Tower Detective” – climb the tower while searching for the hidden symbols and Native American artwork painted on the walls. Each level tells different stories from various tribal nations.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: Why do you think ancient peoples built watchtowers, and how might this tower be different from or similar to the ones they built?
DISCUSS: Ancient Puebloan watchtowers were used not just for defense, but also as solar calendars and communication points between communities using smoke signals!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The Desert View Watchtower was built in 1932, but it tells stories that are thousands of years old. The tower’s design was inspired by ancestral Puebloan towers at places like Mesa Verde and Hovenweep. Inside, the walls feature authentic Native American art, including symbols that tracked the seasons and movements of the sun. The tower’s windows align with specific astronomical events, just like ancient towers did. Even today, many Southwest tribes consider this area sacred and use traditional stories to pass down knowledge about the canyon.
ASK YOUR KIDS: From this height, can you spot any evidence of how the Colorado River changed direction over time? What forces might make a river bend?
DISCUSS: The dramatic bend in the Colorado River visible from the tower took over 5 million years to form as the river carved through different types of rock!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Rivers naturally want to flow in straight lines, but they’re forced to bend when they hit harder rock layers. From the tower, you can see how the river created what geologists call an “entrenched meander” – imagine a giant snake frozen in stone! The river’s course was set millions of years ago when the land was much flatter, and as the canyon deepened, the river maintained its winding path. The bends actually help the river carry more sediment and carve deeper into the canyon.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the Hopi mural painted by artist Fred Kabotie and identify three different symbols in it.
HINT: Look on the first floor – the mural tells the story of the Hopi emergence into this world.
OBJECTIVE: Locate all four cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) from the top floor and identify one major landmark in each direction.
HINT: Use the Colorado River as your main reference point – it flows from east to west.
OBJECTIVE:
HINT: This special viewing device is located on the top floor and helps you see details in the canyon that might be hard to spot with the naked eye.
Grand Canyon Historic Village Get Ready for the Grand Canyon Historic Village : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? Step back in time to experience how tourists first visited the canyon in the early 1900s, complete with a historic train depot, the iconic El Tovar Hotel, and the fascinating Hopi House.
INTERESTING FACT! The Santa Fe Railway once advertised the Grand Canyon as the “World’s Greatest Moving Picture” – they built a railway spur just so people could visit!
COOL ACTIVITY! Become a “Time Travel Reporter” – create a news story about what it was like to visit the canyon in 1905, using the historic buildings as your backdrop and inspiration.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you were designing a hotel at the Grand Canyon in 1905, what challenges would you face bringing in building materials and supplies?
DISCUSS: Every log, nail, and brick used to build El Tovar Hotel had to be transported by train over 60 miles through wilderness, and fresh water had to be delivered daily by rail cars!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The El Tovar Hotel was considered a luxury wilderness retreat when it opened in 1905. It was designed to look like a cross between a Swiss chalet and a Norwegian villa, complete with a fancy dining room where proper dress was required! The hotel had its own greenhouse to grow fresh vegetables, and even raised its own cows and chickens to feed guests. Famous visitors included Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, and Western author Zane Grey. Today, many of the hotel’s original features remain, including hand-painted murals and historic furniture.
ASK YOUR KIDS: Why do you think the Hopi House was built to look like a traditional Pueblo dwelling, and what can it teach us about Native American architecture?
DISCUSS: The Hopi House was designed by Mary Colter, who spent months living among Hopi people to learn their building techniques and cultural traditions!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The Hopi House was built in 1905 as both a market for Native American crafts and a living museum. It was modeled after the ancient Hopi pueblo of Old Oraibi, which has been continuously inhabited for over 900 years. The building was constructed using traditional methods – thick walls to keep cool in summer and warm in winter, small windows to protect from harsh desert sun, and flat roofs where corn and other foods could be dried. Native American artisans would demonstrate their crafts here, helping visitors understand their living culture.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the old railway time schedules in the Train Depot and compare them to modern train arrival times.
HINT: Look for the historic displays near the ticket counter.
OBJECTIVE: Locate three different types of Native American art or craft items that were historically sold at Hopi House.
HINT: Look in display cases for pottery, jewelry, and woven baskets.
OBJECTIVE:
HINT: Check out the historic photos in the hotel lobby and compare them to what you see today.
Other Nearby Points of Interest
Other great things to do near Grand Canyon National Park
BEFORE YOU LEAVE – Make sure to check out more of what this area has to offer! Here are a few nearby spots that we think you’ll love just as much as the Grand Canyon National Park:
Bearizona Wildlife Park (Williams, AZ): Drive through this amazing wildlife park where you can see bears, wolves, and other North American animals in their natural habitat. Perfect for animal-loving families!
Lowell Observatory (Flagstaff, AZ): Visit this famous astronomical research facility where Pluto was discovered. They offer amazing nighttime stargazing programs and interactive exhibits perfect for curious minds.
Walnut Canyon National Monument (Flagstaff, AZ): Explore ancient cliff dwellings built into canyon walls by the Sinagua people. The Island Trail takes you past 25 cliff dwelling rooms!
Read before you go
To make your visit even more exciting, check out these age-appropriate books:
- Grand Canyon” by Jason Chin (Ages 9-12) – A beautifully illustrated journey through the canyon’s geological history
- Who Pooped in the Park? Grand Canyon National Park” by Gary D. Robson (Ages 9-11) – A fun way to learn about wildlife through animal tracking and scat
- Death in the Grand Canyon: Stories of Fatal Accidents in the Park” by Michael P. Ghiglieri
- Grand Canyon National Park’s Junior Ranger Program website
- National Geographic Kids’ Grand Canyon feature
- PBS Learning Media’s Grand Canyon collection of educational videos
- How the Earth Was Made: The Grand Canyon” (History Channel)
Fun Facts
Interesting Things To Know About Grand Canyon National Park
- HOLY ROCKS! The oldest rocks in the Grand Canyon (Vishnu Schist) are nearly half as old as Earth itself – 1.8 billion years old!
- MIND BLOWN! The canyon contains over 290 species of birds, 90 species of mammals, 47 species of reptiles, and 9 species of amphibians!
- INCREDIBLE! The temperature difference between the rim and the river can exceed 25°F on any given day!
- NO WAY! The Grand Canyon creates its own weather patterns, influencing local climate and creating unique atmospheric conditions!
- EPIC! Native Americans have continuously inhabited the Grand Canyon region for over 12,000 years!
Must-Visit Spots
Where To Go At Grand Canyon National Park
Bright Angel Trail Get Ready for the Bright Angel Trail : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This historic trail offers the quintessential Grand Canyon hiking experience, descending through 2 billion years of geological history while providing stunning views and natural shade.
INTERESTING FACT! The trail follows a natural fault line used by Native Americans for thousands of years before being developed into a tourist trail in 1891.
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a geological timeline photo journal. Photograph different rock layers as you descend, using the Grand Canyon’s rock layer chart to identify each formation’s age and ancient environment.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If these canyon walls could talk, what stories would they tell about the ancient environments that existed here?
DISCUSS: The darkest rocks at the bottom of the canyon are nearly 2 billion years old – older than complex life on Earth!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The canyon’s walls reveal ancient beaches, swamps, and even deserts. The Bright Angel Shale contains fossils of marine worms and trilobites from when this area was an ancient sea. The Coconino Sandstone shows fossilized sand dunes from when this region was a vast desert. The Kaibab Limestone at the rim contains fossils of sea creatures from a shallow tropical sea. Each layer is like a page in Earth’s history book, telling stories of dramatic climate changes and evolving life forms.
ASK YOUR KIDS: How do you think climate change might affect the Grand Canyon in the next century?
DISCUSS: The Colorado River currently carries about 500,000 tons of sediment through the Grand Canyon every day!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Climate scientists predict more extreme weather patterns could accelerate erosion in some areas while drought could affect the Colorado River’s flow. The Southwest is experiencing its worst drought in 1,200 years, impacting water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. This affects not only the canyon’s ecosystem but also millions of people who depend on the Colorado River for water. The changing climate could alter the delicate balance of plants and animals that call the canyon home, potentially leading to shifts in migration patterns and species distribution.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Locate and photograph three different types of fossils in the limestone layers.
HINT: Look carefully at rock faces about eye level, especially in the Kaibab Limestone, for circular or shell-like patterns.
OBJECTIVE: Find evidence of the three different types of rock (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary) along the trail.
HINT: The darkest rocks at the bottom are metamorphic, while most of the colorful layers are sedimentary.
Desert View Watchtower Get Ready for the Desert View Watchtower : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This 70-foot tower combines incredible panoramic views with Native American architecture and art, offering a unique perspective of both cultural history and the eastern canyon.
INTERESTING FACT! Architect Mary Colter designed the tower to deliberately look weathered and ancient, incorporating authentic Native American construction techniques and symbolism.
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a time-lapse video of the sunset from the tower’s observation deck, capturing the changing colors on the canyon walls as the light shifts.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: How did ancient peoples navigate and survive in this harsh landscape before modern technology?
DISCUSS: The Hopi people created detailed maps of water sources throughout the canyon using intricate rock art symbols that can still be found today.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The Desert View area was a crucial crossroads for ancient peoples. The Ancestral Puebloans developed sophisticated methods for harvesting rainwater and growing crops in this arid environment. They built elaborate trade networks spanning thousands of miles, exchanging turquoise, pottery, and other goods. The tower’s design incorporates elements from various ancient structures across the Southwest, including Hovenweep and Mesa Verde. The interior murals tell stories of migration, survival, and spiritual connection to the land.
ASK YOUR KIDS: Why do you think Mary Colter chose this specific design for the watchtower, and how does it reflect both function and cultural respect?
DISCUSS: The tower’s windows are deliberately misaligned to create natural air circulation, using principles of ancient desert architecture.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Colter spent six months studying ancestral Puebloan architecture before designing the tower. She incorporated authentic construction techniques like using irregular stones and intentionally uneven mortar work. The tower’s design serves multiple purposes: it’s an observation point, a gallery of Native American art, and a living lesson in cultural preservation. The spiral staircase mimics the ancient kiva designs, while the steel framework is hidden to maintain historical authenticity. Each floor tells a different story through murals painted by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Identify and photograph five different Native American symbols in the murals and explain their meanings.
HINT: Look for the information plaques near each mural that explain the symbolism.
OBJECTIVE: Find the specific window that frames the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers.
HINT: This view is visible from the top floor, and the rivers appear as different colors when they meet.
Grand Canyon Geology Museum Get Ready for the Grand Canyon Geology Museum : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This museum offers interactive exhibits that bring the canyon’s geological story to life, with real rock samples, 3D models, and cutting-edge scientific explanations.
INTERESTING FACT! The museum’s windows are specifically positioned to highlight actual rock formations that match the exhibits you’re viewing inside.
COOL ACTIVITY! Use the interactive erosion model to simulate how different weather conditions would affect canyon formation over millions of years.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: How do geologists use the Grand Canyon as Earth’s history book, and what makes it such a unique geological laboratory?
DISCUSS: The Great Unconformity represents a missing chunk of time spanning nearly 1.2 billion years – a quarter of Earth’s history!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The canyon’s layers are like a perfectly preserved timeline, with each stratum telling a different story about Earth’s past environments. Scientists use radiometric dating to determine precise ages of rocks, while studying mineral compositions reveals ancient climates. The presence of marine fossils in certain layers proves this area was once underwater. Current research uses cutting-edge technology like LiDAR scanning to create detailed 3D maps of the canyon, revealing new insights about its formation.
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you could travel back in time to any layer of the Grand Canyon, which would you choose and why?
DISCUSS: The Vishnu Schist at the canyon bottom formed under conditions so intense that the rock actually flowed like plastic!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Each layer represents a distinct environment: tropical seas, vast deserts, lush swamps, and even ancient mountains. The Bright Angel Shale contains fossils of some of Earth’s earliest complex life forms. The Hermit Formation shows evidence of early reptiles and amphibians venturing onto land. The Kaibab Limestone at the rim formed in a warm, shallow sea teeming with marine life similar to today’s Great Barrier Reef.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Locate all the major rock layers in the 3D model and match them to their corresponding time periods.
HINT: Use the color-coded stratigraphic column as your guide.
OBJECTIVE: Find evidence of three different types of fossils in the museum’s collection and determine their environments.
HINT: Focus on the marine fossils in the Kaibab Limestone and plant fossils in the Supai Group.
Yavapai Point Get Ready for the Yavapai Point : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? Offers the most scientifically significant view of the canyon, with perfect sight lines of the inner gorge and clear views of the Colorado River.
INTERESTING FACT! The observation station here was intentionally built along the “Lines of Sight” that geologists used to understand the canyon’s formation.
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a time-series photography project capturing the same view at different times of day to document how changing light affects rock color and shadow patterns.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: How do you think the Colorado River, which looks tiny from up here, managed to carve such an enormous canyon?
DISCUSS: The river carries enough sediment in a single day to fill 250 dump trucks!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The Colorado River’s erosive power comes from both its speed and the sediment it carries. Think of it as nature’s sandpaper, constantly scraping away at the rock. The river drops an average of 7.5 feet per mile through the canyon, making it one of the steepest major rivers in North America. The process is still ongoing – the canyon gets slightly deeper each year. Climate change, dam construction, and water usage are all affecting how the river continues to shape the canyon today.
ASK YOUR KIDS: What evidence can you see from this viewpoint that suggests this area was once underwater?
DISCUSS: The light-colored Kaibab Limestone at the rim contains fossils of marine creatures that lived 270 million years ago!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The horizontal striping of the canyon walls represents different ancient environments. The flat layers indicate these rocks formed under water, while cross-bedding in some layers shows ancient sand dunes. The presence of ripple marks in certain rocks proves they formed in shallow waters. Modern geological processes continue to shape the canyon through erosion, rock falls, and flash floods.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Locate and photograph three different examples of geological features (faults, folds, or erosional patterns).
HINT: Look for the dramatic angular patterns in the Vishnu Schist near the river.
OBJECTIVE: Find the exact spot where you can see both Bright Angel Creek and the Colorado River converge.
HINT: Use the observation station’s geological markers as your guide.
South Kaibab Trail Get Ready for the South Kaibab Trail : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? Offers the most direct route to the Colorado River with spectacular 360-degree views and fewer crowds than Bright Angel Trail.
INTERESTING FACT! The trail was built as an alternative to the privately-owned Bright Angel Trail in 1924 and follows a natural ridgeline rather than a fault line.
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a digital elevation profile using a hiking app to track your descent through different geological zones.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: How do the different ecosystems we pass through reflect the dramatic elevation changes in the canyon?
DISCUSS: Hiking from rim to river is like walking from Canada to Mexico in terms of climate zones!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The canyon contains five of North America’s seven life zones. The rim resembles Canadian forests, while the inner canyon matches Mexico’s Sonoran Desert. Each zone supports unique plant and animal species adapted to specific conditions. Temperature increases about 5.5°F for every 1,000 feet you descend. These distinct zones are becoming increasingly important as scientists study how climate change affects different elevations.
ASK YOUR KIDS: What engineering challenges do you think the trail builders faced when creating this path?
DISCUSS: The trail builders used dynamite and hand tools to carve much of the trail out of solid rock!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The trail’s construction required innovative engineering solutions. Workers had to consider water drainage, erosion control, and safe grades for mules. They built retaining walls using local rock to match the surroundings. The trail’s switchbacks were carefully designed to minimize erosion while maximizing views. Modern trail maintenance still uses traditional tools and techniques to preserve the historic character.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Document the transition between life zones by photographing different plant species at various elevations.
HINT: Look for dramatic changes in vegetation every 1,000 feet of descent.
OBJECTIVE: Find and identify three different types of rock layers that the trail cuts through.
HINT: The most dramatic color changes occur at Cedar Ridge and Skeleton Point.
Other Nearby Points of Interest
Other great things to do near Grand Canyon National Park
BEFORE YOU LEAVE – Make sure to check out more of what this area has to offer! Here are a few nearby spots that we think you’ll love just as much as the Grand Canyon National Park:
Antelope Canyon: Located about 2.5 hours away, this stunning slot canyon offers incredible photo opportunities and a chance to learn about Navajo culture and geology.
Sedona: Just 2 hours south, featuring spectacular red rock formations, world-class hiking trails, and unique vortex sites that combine geology with spiritual significance.
Meteor Crater: About 2 hours southeast, this massive impact crater is nearly a mile wide and offers a fascinating look at cosmic geology and space science.
Read before you go
To make your visit even more exciting, check out these age-appropriate books:
- “How the Grand Canyon Became Grand” by Stephen Pyne – Perfect for teens interested in both science and history
- “Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau” by Ron Blakey – Excellent visualizations of how the landscape changed over millions of years
- Watch “Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder” on the National Geographic YouTube channel
- Download the official NPS Grand Canyon App for interactive maps and real-time updates
- Review the Junior Ranger Program materials (even for teens) – they offer excellent scientific background
- Follow Grand Canyon National Park’s social media accounts for current conditions and interesting facts
- Download the iNaturalist app to participate in citizen science projects during your visit
LOCATION SUMMARY
Imagine standing at the edge of a giant, colorful puzzle that Mother Nature took millions of years to create! The Grand Canyon is like having a thousand storybooks of Earth’s history laid open before your eyes. What if you could travel back in time just by looking at the different colored stripes in the rocks? At this incredible national park, your young explorer will discover a place where rivers carved through rock, ancient sea creatures left their marks, and every view tells a different story of our planet’s amazing past.
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