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.