Grand Canyon facts at a glance
The Grand Canyon lies entirely in Arizona. The South Rim is the part most visitors see: it includes Grand Canyon Village in the west and Desert View in the east, about 23 miles (37 km) apart on AZ 64. Both entrances are open around the clock, every day of the year.
The numbers below are the figures you meet most often. Some of them differ from one measure to the next, so each one says what it describes. For fees, trail closures and the current status, use the linked pages.
How deep is the Grand Canyon?
Depth, length and width in one table.
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 278 river miles (447 km) | Figures of 277 to 278 miles (445 to 447 km) are in use, depending on how the river is measured. All describe the same canyon. |
| Average width, rim to rim | 10 miles (16 km) | The widest point is 18 miles (28.8 km). |
| Average depth | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Depth reaches nearly 1,500 m, depending on where you measure. |
| Rim height, South Rim | About 7,000 ft (2,100 m) | Grandview Point stands at 2,256 m (about 7,400 ft). |
| Time zone | Mountain Standard Time all year | The park does not switch to daylight saving time. |
The canyon is not equally deep everywhere, so treat any single depth figure as a guide. At the viewpoints the drop to the river looks closer than it is. A hike down and back up takes far longer than the view suggests, which is why the hiking page sets out what is open and what is not.
Our pick: geology on the trail
A guided hike with notes on geology, history and wildlife.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Grand Canyon South Rim tours
Bus and jeep tours, day trips and helicopter flights to see the canyon from the rim and from the air.
How old is the Grand Canyon?
There are two answers, and they are easy to mix up. The rock in the park is very old: the oldest igneous and metamorphic rocks reach about 1.8 billion years. The canyon itself is much younger. The present course of the Colorado River is about 6 million years old.
So the canyon is not 1.8 billion years old. It cuts through rock of that age, and the layers are visible in the walls. The Yavapai Museum of Geology on the rim explains the layers with exhibits and viewing windows, and it is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in autumn. It sits about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) on foot from the Mather Point area, or a short ride on the Orange Route shuttle.
Grand Canyon history in dates
A short timeline for the South Rim.
1904 and 1905
Kolb Studio dates from 1904 and El Tovar opened in 1905. Both stand in the Village Historic District, together with Hopi House, Lookout Studio and the depot.
Grand Canyon Village →26 February 1919
Grand Canyon National Park was established.
1979
The park was added to the World Heritage List.
South Rim elevation, visitors and safety numbers
Figures for the whole park in 2025.
4,430,653 visits in 2025
That is the count for the whole Grand Canyon National Park. It is not a South Rim figure and not the number of different people. Plan for crowds in spring break weeks in March and April, from Memorial Day to Labor Day and in big holiday weeks. Arriving before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. is easier.
Best time to visit →232 search and rescue incidents
The park recorded 232 such incidents in 2025. The number does not equal the number of people rescued. A day hike from the rim to the river and back is not advised, least of all from May to September.
Bright Angel Trail →Entry costs in 2026
A private vehicle pays $35 for 7 days, including its occupants. Since 1 January 2026 every person aged 16 and over who is not a US resident pays an extra $100, unless a valid pass covers it. The general entry needs no reservation.
Entrance fee →South Rim, North Rim and Grand Canyon West
Three places with the same name on the map.
The South Rim is the main visitor area of the national park and is open all year. The North Rim is a separate area that has had limited access since the 2025 fire, and its lodge is destroyed. The Skywalk at Grand Canyon West lies outside the national park on tribal land, roughly 250 miles (400 km) from the South Rim, a drive of around 5 hours. It is a separate trip, not a stop on the way. For that side of the canyon, see the Grand Canyon Skywalk guide. For the current status of the park, read Is the Grand Canyon open?
Grand Canyon facts: frequently asked questions
How deep is the Grand Canyon?
The average depth is 1 mile (1.6 km), or nearly 1,500 m depending on where you measure. The depth changes along the canyon, so any single figure is an approximation.
How long is the Grand Canyon?
The canyon runs 278 river miles (447 km) along the Colorado River. Figures between 277 and 278 miles (445 to 447 km) are in use. They describe the same canyon and differ by a few kilometres.
How old is the Grand Canyon?
The rock reaches about 1.8 billion years, but the canyon in its present form is much younger. The Colorado River has followed its present course for about 6 million years.
How many people visit the Grand Canyon each year?
The park counted 4,430,653 visits in 2025. That covers the whole park and counts every entry, not individual people.
What is the elevation at the South Rim?
The South Rim sits at about 7,000 feet (2,100 m). The high altitude makes the air thinner and the days cooler than in Phoenix or Las Vegas, so bring layers in every season.
Is this the official Grand Canyon website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of Grand Canyon National Park, the National Park Service or the lodging operators in the park. Check the current status with the National Park Service before you go.