The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It's also the ONLY one in the United States. Hi, I'm travel writer Keith Kravitz and its' my wish that everyone experience this natural wonder at least once in a lifetime. So let's answer the question...

"Where is the Grand Canyon?"

The Grand Canyon is located near the borders of Utah and Nevada in Northern Arizona. The Colorado River, which drains water from seven western states, runs through its entirety. Most of the Grand Canyon is inside Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon Village, located on the South Rim, is the hub of the National Park. Its GPS coordinates are 36°3'12?N 112°8'22?W.

North & South Rims

The Colorado River, which is a mile deep at the bottom and flows 277 miles through the Park, bisects the canyon into North Rim and South Rim.

Driving from the South Rim to the North Rim is a 215-mile adventure and takes five hours. Spare yourself 11 hours in the car (round trip) by taking a South Rim helicopter or airplane tour.

The vegetation between the two rims is distinct. The South Rim, elevation 6,500, is covered in the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the United States. The North Rim's elevation is more than 8,000 feet and the terrain gets more wooded.

Getting to the South Rim

The South Rim is open year round (the North Rim is closed from October through April). Reach it by flying into Grand Canyon Airport. Rail service is available from Williams, AZ, to Grand Canyon Village. Interstate 40 is the major highway. Drivers got to Williams and get off at State Route (SR) 64.

Grand Canyon West

This is a 9,000-acre area that lies just outside the boundaries of the National Park on the West Rim. It is owned and operated by the Hualapai Indian Tribe, and hosts the world-famous Grand Canyon Skywalk. It's the only place where helicopters can fly to the bottom of the canyon.

The West Rim is a popular day trip for Las Vegas travelers. It's just 120 miles from Sin City. Ways to get there include:

• Rental car - I'm not a big fan of this. It's the most expensive option. Plus the last 10 miles is on a rough dirt road. Rent an SUV.
• Bus tours - Plenty to choose from. Many come with helicopter and boat ad access to the Skywalk.
• Helicopter tours - Fly to the bottom. Upgrade to a raft trip and Skywalk access. Basic air tours are available.
• Airplane tours - Similar to heli trips, including landing packages that come with raft, boat, and Skywalk.

GPS coordinates for Grand Canyon West are: 36° 0' 44? N, 113° 48' 40? W

Visit Grand Canyon

Now that we've answered the questions " Where is the Grand Canyon," I hope you're inspired to visit. Check out one of the links is this article. They go to Grand Canyon tours that I've reviewed. You can't go wrong with any of them.

See you up there!