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.
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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