Learn About Oak Creek Canyon

If you are wanting to hike, swim, or fish; visit Oak Creek Canyon! People going to Arizona can be overwhelmed by all of the activities and tourist attractions readily available to them within the state. A common question asked is, what other destinations should I check out besides The Grand Canyon? Among the most popular choices for adventurers is the stunning Oak Creek Canyon. Oak Creek Canyon is commonly referred to by the locals as the small cousin of the Grand Canyon. While it does not match up in size, it does feature incredibly unique scenic charm. This is a fabulous place to visit heading to or from the Grand Canyon.

This geographical creation is a steep canyon with a fabulous river gorge. It is located in Northern Arizona between Sedona and Flagstaff. The Canyon is often dismissed as just one more hiking location in Arizona but nothing could be further from the truth! If your trip will not permit a full day at Oak Creek Canyon, don't worry. Tourplicity's Grand Canyon Day Tour drives through this work of art on the way to the Grand Canyon!

Oak Creek Canyon Facts

Oak Creek Canyon is close to 13 miles long. It has a width that ranges from 0.8 miles to 2.5 miles wide. The canyon hits depths ranging from just 800 feet to a spectacular 2,000 feet. Due to faulting during the canyon's formation, Oak Creek Canyon's West Rim is about 700 feet higher than its East Rim. The canyon's elevation to the western side is around 7,200 feet whereas the east side's elevation is close to 6,500 feet. This diverse area contains water features, red rock formations, and pine trees.

Geological evidence reveals that the formation of Oak Creek Canyon occurred about 10 million years ago. The original canyon was later filled by a number of lava flows and gravel deposits during the Miocene Epoch. Around this time frame, the Oak Creek Fault which was once inactive became active. At this point, the existing day canyon started to form along the fault line because of the erosional action of Oak Creek. Oak Creek carves through the canyon and it is a tributary to the Verde River.

The eroded walls of the Oak Creek Canyon are mainly formed of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. These sedimentary rocks are formed by the build-up of sediments over time. The exposures of Kaibab Limestone and Toroweap formations are only on the canyon's northern end. The most commonly exposed rock on the southern edge of the canyon are the white and red colored sandstones of the Schnebly Hill Formation. The east rim of the canyon includes some of the youngest rocks. This area's rocks developed from basalt lava flows that are estimated to be 6 million years old.

Recreational Activities

The Oak Creek Canyon is found within the unique Coconino National Forest. Some areas of the canyon are assigned as federal wilderness areas to conserve their natural condition for future generations. There are numerous recreation areas, picnic areas, and campgrounds managed by the United States Forest Service within the canyon. This makes the Oak Creek Canyon an awesome place to visit for people of all ages.

One of the main attractions is the natural water slide, Slide Rock. Located in Slide Rock State Park, the slide ranges from 2.5 feet to 4 feet wide and is 80 feet long! If you count on visiting Slide Rock make sure you visit when the water is warm. It can reach near freezing temperatures in the cooler months. Also, be cautious in the water when crossing on foot because the sandstone is very slippery. The canyon also presents more than 49 miles of fishable waters along the creek. Fishing fanatics can hope to catch catfish, brown trout, rainbow trout as well as smallmouth bass in this area. Aside from swimming and fishing, backpacking the trails leading into the canyon or up to the canyon's rim is a must do activity.

If you intend to check out the canyon on your own, you can access it relatively easily. You will just need to drive south from Flagstaff on US Route 89A. After about 14 miles, you will arrive at the canyon's edge. At this point the canyon plunges close to a thousand feet through a string of switchbacks to the bottom. On the bottom of the canyon, you can investigate an extra thirteen miles alongside the flowing, crystal clear Oak Creek.

If you do not have the time to visit Oak Creek Canyon, take advantage of our Grand Canyon Day Tour. The tour departs from Scottsdale, Tempe, or Phoenix and will drive through Oak Creek Canyon on the way to the Grand Canyon! Call us and speak with a tour specialist to make your reservation today!

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Historical Information About The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a "five-thousand-foot-deep gorge carved by the Colorado River in northwestern Arizona". It reaches 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and more than a mile deep. The Grand Canyon is a consequence of continual erosion due to the Colorado River throughout millions of years.

Where is the Grand Canyon located?

The Grand Canyon lies in the northwest corner of Arizona and it borders Utah and Nevada. It is accessible from neighboring areas like Phoenix, Flagstaff, Sedona, and Las Vegas. The vast majority of the Grand Canyon is located within Grand Canyon National Park and is overseen by the National Park Service (NPS), the Hualapai Tribal Nation and the Havasupai Tribe.

Additionally, the Colorado River passes through the enormous canyon. It touches seven states, but the Grand Canyon National Park is inside Arizona's state borders. Arizona is predominantly thought of as the Grand Canyon State. Apart from the Grand Canyon, the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is found in Utah and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area contacts the Grand Canyon in Nevada.
The Grand Canyon's climate is primarily semi-arid. Some segments of the upper plateau feature forests. Alternatively, the canyon's lower regions are a series of desert basins. According to the NPS, there more than 1,500 plants and 517 combined creatures found in the park. These creatures include several species of mammals, fish, reptiles and more.

The Grand Canyon is divided into two different zones. They are known as the North Rim and the South Rim. The South Rim is open all year and it experiences the bulk of the park's guests. In addition to the canyon, the South Rim has numerous services such as an air terminal and railroads. This area is a good location for transport services and is accessible from surrounding cities. Visitors will usually depart from these areas by utilizing a Grand Canyon Day Tour.

The North Rim lies closer to Nevada and Utah. This area is not nearly as accessible as the South Rim nevertheless it has amazing views and sights. Normally, hiking is the best way to gain access to it via the North and South Kaibab Trails. There are also roads to the North Canyon but the range is over 200 miles and due to factors like weather and conditions, they are not always proven to be safe to travel.

Grand Canyon Skywalk 

The Canyon's National Park is a great tourist location. Within the park is one of the more popular tourist attractions, the Grand Canyon Skywalk. The horseshoe shaped platform is made of glass and the rim of the Grand Canyon is 70 feet behind you. The opposite side of the canyon is 3 miles in front of you. It stands almost 4,000 feet above the floor of the canyon. The structure opened in March 2007 and over 300,000 people visit is every year.

How was the Grand Canyon formed?

Geologists dispute over the particulars of the formation of the Grand Canyon. Many argue the process and time it took to forge this incredible site. The overall consensus was updated at a 2010 conference. Its believed that the Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon over 6 million years ago.

Modern advancements in dating methods suggest a new theory and time of when the rocks where revealed by erosion. The theory conflicts with the conventional idea that the canyon was uniformly created and that there where actually two separate canyons initially. They are known as the East and West Canyons. The West Canyon could be as old as 70 million years according to recent studies.

The walls of the Grand Canyon are composed of almost fifty different rock layers. Since they run the length of the canyon, this provides scientists with the ability to study geologic progression.
Over century's time, indigenous people made the canyon their home and created settlements all throughout it. Many clues into their civilization have been discovered inside the canyon and it's caves. Furthermore, the Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon a religious site and made pilgrimages to it.

An explorer from Spain, García López de Cárdenas, was the 1st European recorded to have seen the Grand Canyon. Garcia was a member of the 1540 expedition of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado. He located the canyon when searching for a river he learned about from the Hopi people.

President Theodore Roosevelt, promoted the conservation of the Grand Canyon. When at the canyon, he spent time hunting and studying the terrain. Based off of his adventure their, he mentioned, "In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world. I want to ask you to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is. I hope you will not have a building of any kind, not a summer cottage, a hotel or anything else, to mar the wonderful grandeur, the sublimity, the great loneliness and beauty of the canyon. Leave it as it is. You can not improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it". President Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon Game Preserve in 1906 and the Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908. Nearly 15 years later the Grand Canyon eventually became the fifteenth national park. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson authorized The Grand Canyon National Park Act and the NPS assumed administration duties of the park.

The Grand Canyon is an amazing sight to see. If you are interested in visiting the canyon make sure to arrange for your trip. Tourplicity offers tourists with a complete catalog of tour options. Call us to schedule your Grand Canyon Day Tour today!

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Planning To Visit The Grand Canyon?

Maximizing a Grand Canyon Day Tour or reserving 2 to 3 days at the canyon are the ideal ways to experience it. The canyon is one of the most impressive natural wonders on the planet. It attracts more than 4 million annual visitors and encompasses 1,904 square miles. Therefore, it is no surprise why it is one of the country's most treasured natural wonders! This spectacular landmark is a place that every person should make a point to experience. It would be virtually impossible to see all that it offers nonetheless; we can make some helpful recommendations so that your future trip will be an awesome experience!

LOCATION

Decide on which side of The Grand Canyon you want to see. The South Rim will access the most park services available but remember that this section will have a large amount of vacationers. Alternatively, the North Rim offers a secluded environment at higher elevations. If you are interested in the North Rim, plan your trip between the middle of May to mid October. It will only be accessible at those times since snowfall starts earlier in the season compared to the South Rim.

PREPARING AHEAD

Figure out when and the length of time you will be visiting the Grand Canyon so that you can take advantage of its incredible sights. Generally, people devote a day to three days touring. The most popular times to visit the Grand Canyon are spring, summer, and fall. The South Rim is open year round and is generally busiest in the summer. If you are interested in embarking on an activity such as a Grand Canyon Day Tour, hiking trips, helicopter tours, or white water rafting. These tourist attractions are very popular and you will need to make reservations several months ahead of time. Between scheduled tours don't forget to visit of the local museums and picturesque roads and trails. Many visitors enjoy visiting The Grand CanyonVillage. This village offers great lodging and gives you access to Yavapai Point.

TRANSPORTATION

The Grand Canyon is accessible by driving or flying and there are many day tours offered leaving from neighboring areas. Most vacationers depart from Phoenix, AZ, Flagstaff, AZ, or Las Vegas, NV. Riding on a bus or driving yourself to South Rim will allow you to experience the terrain however, flying will offer a breathtaking view. It will take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach the canyon if you plan on driving from Phoenix and 4 hours and 9 minutes from Las Vegas. The North Rim is typically accessed from the South Rim by car, bus, or flight.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The canyon has several lodging possibilities for its travelers. Everything from outdoor camping, lodges, RV parks, to hotels are available. If you plan on lodging at a campsite there is an average fee of $40 a night. Rooms at a local hotel or The El Tovar Hotel can range between $100 to $400 a night. In either case there are pros and cons to each option. Either way you can't go wrong!

The Grand Canyon should most certainly be on everyone's to do list. Properly planning your Grand Canyon Day Tour or multi-day visit is important if you would like to experience everything it offers. Tourplicity provides visitors with a terrific catalog of tours to enjoy. Have a look at our Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Las Vegas options if you are interested in visiting. Contact us today to set up your Grand Canyon experience!

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Marvelous Things to do in Phoenix!

You can find numerous things to do in Phoenix, from crazy and thrilling trips to the typical touring activities that you 'd generally find in tours. Whether you're on an aerobatic power ride or observing the sights on a Phoenix city tour, you're sure to have fun during your stay in the Grand Canyon State's "Urban Heart," Phoenix, Arizona.

The most efficient way to get to know the "valley of the sun" is to enjoy a four-hour Phoenix City Tour. Not only will you tour the Phoenix metro area and the a number of attractions therein, but you'll view some incredible panoramas of the Phoenix area and the Sonoran Desert that surrounds this city. Once you've taken this tour, you're sure to find a variety of other activities to do in Phoenix requiring you to revisit several sites.

A first visit on the Phoenix city tour is to the Arizona Capitol Museum located inside the Arizona State Capitol Building. The capitol was built from native Arizona components in 1898, such as copper, granite and an one-of-a-kind lava rock called malapai. Arizona built the capitol to prove to the U.S. Federal Government that it was ready to become a state, an event that materialized in 1912, when Arizona became America's 48th state.

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