Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park General Management Plan August 1995 Introduction:

Grand Canyon National Park today encompasses approximately 1,218,375 acres of public land on the southern end of the Colorado Plateau. It is a globally significant natural resource containing scenic vistas known throughout the world. In recognition of its significant values, Grand Canyon National Park was designated as a world heritage site on October 26, 1979. A 277-mile stretch of the Colorado River runs through the park, and thousands of miles of tributary side-canyons are included within its boundaries. The exposed geologic strata - layer upon layer from the basement Vishnu schist to the capping Kaibab limestone - rise over a mile above the river, representing one of the most complete records of geological history that can be seen anywhere in the world. The park contains several major ecosystems from the mixed Mohave desertscrub of the lower canyon to the coniferous forests of the North Rim. Many species of plants and animals make up these diverse ecosystems. While many wild creatures live out their entire lives within the protected park area, migratory species also benefit from the temporary sanctuary that the park affords. Over four million recreational visits are recorded in the park each year, primarily on the South Rim. Recreational pursuits include river running, fishing, hiking, photography, nature study, and sightseeing. But a vacation to the Grand Canyon can become more than a recreational or scenic venture. The canyon's grandeur and the awesome physical forces that are continuing to shape it can transform the experience of a perceptive visitor from a casual sightseeing trip to one that helps form or influence personal views of nature and individual responsibilities to conserve it. A person's first view of the Grand Canyon often evokes awe and an overwhelming sense of wonder. As one attempts to comprehend the grandeur and scenery rolling off to the far horizons, the tremendous size and depth of the canyon begin to make a second impression, intensifying the awe and deepening the wonder. This place is truly special. From a scenic perspective alone it is unique on the planet, but there are other attributes of the Grand Canyon that cannot be experienced or clearly understood from an overlook on the rim. Almost the entire park is wild in character, and it is this pristine natural setting that imparts another dimension to the experience of visiting the canyon. Thousands of acres of untrammeled country allow a person to hike for days in solitude and, from time to time, to experience natural quiet. But visitors do not have to immerse themselves in wilderness to appreciate what it means to them and to the human spirit. Whether one is rafting down the river, hiking along the Tonto Trail, or enjoying panoramic views from the rim - it is during the quiet times, as the long shadows of evening fill the side canyons and the cool air descends in soft breezes from the rim, that one can look inward as much as outward and experience again that same awe and wonder, and understand that the essential wildness of the Grand Canyon is a precious gift that we must cherish and protect. Grand Canyon National Park Foundation Statement Executive Summary

Grand Canyon National Park today encompasses approximately 1,218,375 acres of public land on the southern end of the Colorado Plateau. It is a globally significant natural resource containing scenic vistas known throughout the world. In recognition of its significant values, Grand Canyon National Park was designated as a world heritage site on October 26, 1979.

A 277-mile stretch of the Colorado River runs through the park, and thousands of miles of tributary side-canyons are included within its boundaries. The exposed geologic strata - layer upon layer from the basement Vishnu schist to the capping Kaibab limestone - rise over a mile above the river, representing one of the most complete records of geological history that can be seen anywhere in the world.

The park contains several major ecosystems from the mixed Mohave desertscrub of the lower canyon to the coniferous forests of the North Rim. Many species of plants and animals make up these diverse ecosystems. While many wild creatures live out their entire lives within the protected park area, migratory species also benefit from the temporary sanctuary that the park affords.

Over four million recreational visits are recorded in the park each year, primarily on the South Rim. Recreational pursuits include river running, fishing, hiking, photography, nature study, and sightseeing. But a vacation to the Grand Canyon can become more than a recreational or scenic venture. The canyon's grandeur and the awesome physical forces that are continuing to shape it can transform the experience of a perceptive visitor from a casual sightseeing trip to one that helps form or influence personal views of nature and individual responsibilities to conserve it.

A person's first view of the Grand Canyon often evokes awe and an overwhelming sense of wonder. As one attempts to comprehend the grandeur and scenery rolling off to the far horizons, the tremendous size and depth of the canyon begin to make a second impression, intensifying the awe and deepening the wonder. This place is truly special. From a scenic perspective alone it is unique on the planet, but there are other attributes of the Grand Canyon that cannot be experienced or clearly understood from an overlook on the rim.

Almost the entire park is wild in character, and it is this pristine natural setting that imparts another dimension to the experience of visiting the canyon. Thousands of acres of untrammeled country allow a person to hike for days in solitude and, from time to time, to experience natural quiet. But visitors do not have to immerse themselves in wilderness to appreciate what it means to them and to the human spirit. Whether one is rafting down the river, hiking along the Tonto Trail, or enjoying panoramic views from the rim - it is during the quiet times, as the long shadows of evening fill the side canyons and the cool air descends in soft breezes from the rim, that one can look inward as much as outward and experience again that same awe and wonder, and understand that the essential wildness of the Grand Canyon is a precious gift that we must cherish and protect.