Yellow Trapper

Grand Canyon – Taking a Helicopter Tour

Of all the beautiful and magnificent places in the United States none can beat the Grand Canyon. Gazing upon that beautiful area, with its many shapes and colors takes one’s breath away, and has been named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. There are numerous vantage points to look at, over the rim, but nothing compares to Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours.

Anybody who is familiar with the ‘Grand Canyon Suite’ music can feel what the composer, of that song, saw when he wrote it. The clip clop of mules walking down the steep trail, to the bottom, is reflected in one section of that song. The sound of birds, a small looking stream and little buildings on the canyon floor, are all given life in that music.

Different areas have been painted many times by renowned artists, yet they have been unable to completely record all the reds, yellows, oranges along with other colors which continually change as the sun’s rays move across this magnificent piece of nature. Standing on the edge of a rim, it is not uncommon to see some of nature’s creatures that reside there in harmony.

Proof has been found that humans lived in the National Park over 10,500 years ago. In at least 4,000 of those years it was populated by Indigenous Peoples. It was in 1540 that Europeans, men from Coronado’s gold-seeking expedition, first caught sight of it. Through the years, many trappers and others came through the region. History books are full of names of the many individuals who visited and enjoyed this wonderful work of nature.

In 1869, John Wesley Powell traveled the gorge with a boat expedition. On a second journey he named it the Grand Canyon. This was followed by pioneers hunting for a location to mine copper in the 1880′s. This is when tourist amenities were developed. To arrive at the place, at that time, tourists had to hire a stagecoach.

With the construction of a railroad, to the Fourth Rim, in 1901 more visitors came to enjoy this amazing spectacle. Given Federal protection, as a forest reserve, in 1893, the canyon achieved national park classification in 1919, one of several first parks established by the new National Park Service. The El Tovar Hotel, which is still in existence today, was constructed in 1905.

The Grand Canyon was shaped by the Colorado River, which flows across the floor of the canyon at around 4 miles per hours. Many people take a boat cruise down the river or go by raft for an thrilling excursion. Riding down the compact trail from the top of the rim to the floor is quite an experience but it’s also rather rough on one’s body.

Grand Canyon National Park is incredibly large, covering a huge number of acres with exciting sights from all sides. To see the full area, a lot of people take a Grand Canyon helicopter tour. This provides the opportunity for one to view the area from every possible angle, not missing anything. Some of these helicopters will even land on the chasm floor for a tasty lunch.

About the Author

Mr. Plunket is a world traveler who especially enjoys exploring Grand canyon National Park. If you are planning a trip to the canyon, he recommends this site for Grand Canyon helicopter tours.

Foraging in the Wilderness with Trapper Jack