grand canyon

[sophie_1003]

how does the grand canyon start? do you have to walk down into it or does the land around you start going up into cliff faces? if that makes any sense?

[campbellking]

The roads are all at the top, and you have the option of walking down if you want to.

[SteveD]

There's a clue here:

http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/

I went to the Grand Canyon several years ago - it's awesome! If you are going, try to get round to the north rim which is very different from the very commercialised south rim.

I had two major misconceptions about the GC before I went: I thought that it was all desert and barren and that it never rains.

1. There are trees.

2. It rains! Well, it did when we were there.

[sophie_1003]

ta much both of you! that bridge looks well scary!! its just i had a dream that i was walking through it the other night and got me thinking about it, would love to go there in real life though! how long did you go for?

[dzug]

'Walking down' is a serious overnight hike if you want to do it - or I believe there are organised trips on mule-back. If you are a super athlete you might do it in a long day but it's not recommended. Unfit people have died attempting it. Most visitors stay on the rim.

[sophie_1003]

yeah i wasnt suggesting i was going to pop over and have a stroll down lol just wondered how it starts, there are loads of pics of what i assume to be not near the start or end, wanted to see the start/end of it (if either are actually discernible?)

[dzug]

The North and South Rims where most visitors go are probably about the middle of the canyon - you can I think (not 100% sure) approach it at 'floor' level some considerable way downstream or follow it upstream from the South Rim by road for some distance. Much further upstream is another set of canyons in Canyonland National Park - not quite as spetacular but far less visited,

[SteveD]

We rented a car in Las Vegas and drove to the south rim where we spent one night in a hotel at the top (that's when it rained).

We just did the peering over the edge bit the next day then drove round to the north rim (6 hours' drive if I remember correctly) where we stayed in a cabin for one night.

We then drove back to Las Vegas.

The Skywalk wasn't there then.