When I visited the Grand Canyon for the first time in 1989 I was struck by its beauty. It is really hard to describe my reaction when I caught the first glimp of the 'big gap'. Especially at the first view point near the park entrance you will see people motionless staring at the canyon. The Grand Canyon national park was established in 1919. With nearly 5 million visitors per year the Grand Canyon is the number one tourist attraction of Arizona.
Most people visit the South rim of the Canyon.
Although most visitors only spent a few hours in the park it tends to get very crowded. During the summer it is not easy to find a parking space for you car. The North rim is less crowded and offers also spectacular views. While the South rim is open all year the North rim is closed in the winter. The mission of the Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Association is to promote, encourage and advocate the interests of the hiking and backpacking community in the regions of Grand Canyon.