courtesy of thecanyon.com

The Grand Canyon is located in the northern region of Arizona close to the borders of Utah and Nevada in the Northwest. Two Hundred and seventy seven miles of the Colorado River runs through the canyon, and was the cause of this spectacular example of erosion. Although scientists used to think that this took place over millions of years, some scientists now believe that the canyon was formed in spurts of violent activity.

The Colorado river gets its water from seven different states as it travels the full 1450 miles from Colorado to Mexico’s Gulf of California. If you’re thinking of taking a rafting trip down the Colorado River, you probably won’t go the entire length of this national park. There are 277 miles of river within the park, and it can take up to 16 days to travel it by boat!

The deepest part of the canyon is over a mile (6000 feet deep) from the rim of the canyon to the river. The width of the canyon at Grand Canyon Village is approximately 10 miles, but the canyon is as wide as 18 miles at certain points.

Grand Canyon Maps

Download one of more of these great maps of the Grand Canyon for your report or vacation. All of these maps are in PDF format.

Grand canyon area map - NPS

Grand Canyon Area Map
This map puts the Grand canyon in context. You get a view of the park as it relates to the Arizona, Utah, and Nevada borders, and you can see how it relates to Lake Mead and Glen Canyon.

Detailed Grand Canyon Map
This is the most detailed map of the Grand Canyon that we could find. It’s an odd size (14.56” x 9.5”), so you’ll need to reduce it’s size by scaling it under page setup, before you print it, unless you can print tabloid sheets (11”x17”). This is an excellent map.

North Rim Map
If you’re looking for hiking trails leaving from the North Rim, then this map will have what you need. Whether you’re looking for rim hikes or hikes into the canyon, they’re all marked on this clear map.

North Rim - Overview Map
This map gives a bird’s eye view of the North Rim, without the close-ups of the “North Rim” map.

Grand Canyon Village Map - South Rim
Get a great overview of the Village with this map. It shows the roads, lodges, and other important locations within the village.

Desert View Drive Map - South Rim
If you’re going through the Grand Canyon area and would like to take a great driving tour, follow this map for the best sights. It takes you along Route 64, and shows you the viewpoints and select trailheads.

Source: National Park Service