Finne's Follies: The Magnificent Canyon

It is my firm belief that the Grand Canyon was too modestly named. I propose the name "Grand Canyon" be changed to "Magnificent Canyon" immediately. There really are no sufficient words to describe its grandeur, but "magnificent" comes close.

Our base of operations for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon adventure was Jacob Lake Campground, situated about 45 minutes north of the Rim. For the South Rim, we stayed at Tenn-X Campground, which was much closer -- roughly a mile from Tusayan (pronounced "too'-see-yuhn"), where we picked up the shuttle for the Canyon. Both parks are part of the US Parks & Recreation campgrounds, and we were able to book them online. There were no hookups whatever, but as the weather was mild for the duration of our stay, we didn't need the AC and only ran the generator in the morning and evening to recharge our batteries. They were both very nice campgrounds, lack of hookups notwithstanding.

We spent only one day at the North Rim, stopping first at the visitor center, where we walked a couple of the shorter trails to the Rim. After that, we got in the car and drove another twenty minutes along Cape Royal Road, which is on a spur to the east of the main visitor area. It took us to a viewing area called "Angel's Window." I can't imagine walking out onto that spot without very strong railings, which (fortunately) were present. The views were amazing. Spectacular! (Can you tell this was my first visit to the Canyon??)

Angel's Window (North Rim)

This was the path over the "window"-- a sheer drop
on either side. (I did NOT look down!)

There are multiple parking areas along the North Rim roads to stop, view and take pictures. I have shared my favorite photos, out of the 350 or so shots I took, at the end of the post. But, of course, pictures never do justice to God's amazing natural wonders.

The road to the South Rim took us past the Vermillion Cliffs, which are actually a part of the shallower eastern-most part of the Grand Canyon-- and then over the Colorado River.

Vermillion Cliffs

Bridge over the Colorado

Because there is so much more to see at the South Rim, we took two days there. The place was packed in September-- I'd hate to see it at peak season! The main visitor center is in Tusayan, about five miles from the Rim and before you get to the gate. Here there is an IMAX theater that shows a forty minute film called "Secrets of the Grand Canyon." It gives you an aerial ride over the canyon and delves a little bit into the history of its discovery. We saved that for the second day.

From Tusayan, you can buy (or show) your entry passes and board a shuttle that takes you into the park (bypassing the long lines of cars backed up at the entry point) and straight to the Rim Visitor Center where you can connect with one of three shuttle routes: two going east along the Rim (Orange), and one going west (Blue). The Blue route takes you to a point at which you can pick up the Red route that goes to the furthest western stopping point.

On the first day, we rode the Blue and Red routes, which have the most scenic stops, including the Village, the "Bright Angel" trailhead, and "Hermit's Rest," the farthest point.

Endless canyon view from the South Rim

Entrance to "Hermit's Rest"
(an old stone building near the cliff edge that is now a gift shop)

The second day we headed back to the Park and rode the two (east and west) Orange line shuttles. The nice thing about the shuttles is that you can walk as much or as little as you wish. All the stops are within a few feet of the Rim, but there are also many trails along the edge you can choose to walk--even between shuttle stops. Trails vary from lengths of a quarter mile up to one or two miles. Then, for the very hearty among us, there are the trails leading down into the canyon, such as the "Bright Angel" trail that goes all the way to the river and back up to the North Rim.

We ended our visit with lunch at the Yavapai Lodge and then back to Tusayan for the IMAX show.

Of course the "philosophy of this world" saturates the "interpretive centers" everywhere you go, speaking of an earth millions of years old and the gradual changes that have occurred over this made-up time period, as though they were facts...as though they were there when everything happened. (Read Job 38.) Scientists are never able to explain the problems and contradictions with this old-earth theory (there are many), and yet continue to reject God's claim to creation...or for that matter, His claim to existence.

God's Word tells us about the Great Flood of Noah's time. Jesus himself made reference to it, confirming its reality. What could cause a flood of that magnitude, and how would it change the face of the earth? I ran across this video not too long ago that I think you'll find interesting. It explains exactly how a cataclysmic event such as the one described in Genesis could create the Grand Canyon and all other canyons and rock formations around the world. And, it answers questions such as why we find fossils of ocean creatures in the middle of huge continents.