Camping in Our National Parks - The Grand Canyon

What can one say about the Grand Canyon that hasn't already been said, many, many times before?

Adjectives such as breathtaking, unbelievable, awe-inspiring seem small and insufficient in describing this natural wonder of all natural wonders. But precisely because the Grand Canyon has made such a huge impression for so many years, it has come to seem almost commonplace and cliché, little more than just a "big hole in the ground." Its beauty, however, lies deeper than its outside facade of a huge geological phenomenon. The Canyon boasts several major ecosystems and is home to a number of rare and endangered animal and plant species that can only be found in the Park. Within the Canyon, geologic features, rock types, and caves offer the visitor with an archaeological bent an opportunity to explore a unique landscape found nowhere else in the world. Whatever preconceptions one may harbor about the Grand Canyon, few visitors who make the journey there leave feeling unmoved by its one of a kind beauty.

Despite its immense size, the Grand Canyon National Park has only a few developed (accessible by car) campgrounds, in each of its two Rims (the Canyon itself is separated into the North and South Rims by the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, a 277 mile long canyon.) Mather Campground is located in the South Rim, the Rim most Park visitors choose to visit because it is open all year long and is easily accessed by transportation services. Located in the Grand Canyon Village, Mather offers RV and tent camping with restrooms and laundry and pay showers nearby. Because of its location in the more popular South Rim, this campground fills up quickly, especially during the summer months, and therefore reservations are always strongly recommended. Desert View Campground, also located in the South Rim, does not accept reservations and contains no laundry or shower services; therefore bringing your own camping shower to wash off the desert dust would be a good idea.

For rugged individualists who prefer to avoid the crowds and enjoy the Canyon at a higher, wilder, more secluded elevation, the North Rim Campground is the natural choice. Open from mid-May to mid-October, the North Rim also offers RV and tent camping as well as laundry and showers, which are located at the entrance to the campground. For the ultimate outdoor Grand Canyon experience, visitors can also choose to camp in the interior of the Canyon; getting there, however, can only be achieved by the old-fashioned methods of walking or riding down on a mule. While this may seem like a strenuous way to reach a campground, the rewards of watching the sun set from the interior of the Grand Canyon seem well worth it. Packing a solar camping shower along for the ride would further enhance the experience: what could be more refreshing than a warm shower at the end of a day of hiking?

For those who have yet to visit the Grand Canyon, its allure may have been diminished by its clichéd image. But a single visit to this grandest of all National Park is sure to dispel any ambiguity, for the Grand Canyon is a sight like nothing else on Earth.