"The glories and the beauties of form, color and sound unite in the Grand Canyon—forms unrivaled even by the mountains, colors that vie with the sunsets, and sounds that span the diapason from tempest to tinkling raindrop, from cataract to bubbling fountain."
- Major John Wesley Powell
Grand Canyon National Park is world renown for its scenic vistas. With ever-changing and colorful scenery of enormous proportions, it is widely considered one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. In Grand Canyon National Park, pine and fir forests, painted deserts, sandstone canyons, mesas and plateaus, volcanic and geologic features, the Colorado River, perennial streams, and waterfalls contribute to incredible panoramic views. Many of the park's scenic vistas are located on the South and North rims and some are accessible by car. Information on getting to these overlooks is available in the Park Maps document.
Although Grand Canyon National Park is located in a Clean Air Act Class I Area, visiblity at scenic vistas is often affected by haze from human sources including metropolitan areas and coal burning power plants. Sometimes a natural phenomenon limits visibility into the canyon. An inversion can occur when clouds hover below the rim and fill the chasm.
Last updated: February 24, 2015