Inside Grand Canyon

Minute Out In It: Hermit Creek - Pools and Pour-offs

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:54:05 -0700

Take a 1 minute break beside a flowing Grand Canyon creek. This video was recorded on April 21, 2012 along Hermit Creek, in the vicinity of the Hermit Creek Campground.
WATER is the lifeblood of Grand Canyon a force of erosion, a sustainer of scarce riparian habitat in a desert environment, a spiritual element for native peoples, a provider of recreation, and a central factor in the exploration, development, and politics of the American West. Download the Hermit Trail Route Description here: http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/Hermit_Trail.pdf Learn more about hiking and camping within the Grand Canyon here: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/campsite-information.htm

2012 Celebrate Wildlife Day: Saturday, May 19

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:37:18 -0700

On Saturday May 19, Grand Canyon National Park will host its fifth annual Celebrate Wildlife Day in conjunction with National Endangered Species Day. This is the special day each year that is all about promoting understanding and appreciation of the amazing wildlife that makes the Grand Canyon landscape its home.

Join the rangers and other partners at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center to learn more about the park's wildlife and endangered species. Family friendly activities take place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Special indoor and outdoor programs, interactive exhibits, educational demonstrations and live animal demonstrations throughout day at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

Learn more here: http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/wildlife-day.htm

Condors of the Grand Canyon - Audio Podcast

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:38:54 -0700

The California condor is a dramatic and a dramatically endangered bird. Grand Canyon National Park has become an important refuge for California condors and one of the best places on Earth to see them in the wild. In this podcast we will first tell you more about these wonderful birds and then we’ll talk about when, where and how to recognize them when you visit the park.
Download the transcript here: http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/upload/Inside_grca_condor200904.pdf Lean more about California Condors here: http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/california-condors.htm

Elk at Grand Canyon: Facts and Cautions.

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:33:56 -0700

Elk are frequently seen in and around Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. In this Ranger Minute, Park Ranger Haley Bercot shares some interesting facts about this majestic animal. What should one do if they sight an Elk? How close should one get? Can elk be dangerous? Many visitors see large wild animals that seem tame and therefore approach far closer than they should. For safety's sake stay at least 50 feet away from the elk! Never approach wild animals. Photograph all wildlife from the safety of your vehicle. Use telephoto lenses and observe quietly. It is dangerous, and illegal, to feed wild animals in a national park. Violators will be fined. Wildlife can become dependent upon handouts and lose their ability to hunt and forage. Such animals lose their fear of humans. They can become aggressive and bite, kick, or gore. Many are struck by cars while searching for handouts. Help us keep wildlife wild. Never feed or approach wildlife. For more videos about wildlife safety please visit: http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/safetyvideos.htm

Join Us For Grand Canyon Archeology Day, March 24, 2012

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 13:37:20 -0700

Hi, my name is Marna Bastian. I'm a park Guide at Grand Canyon National Park. On Saturday, March 24, 2012 Grand Canyon will be hosting its fifth annual Archeology Day, in honor of Arizona's Archeology and Heritage Awareness Month. Our archeology day is intended to help park visitors learn more about those who had lived here long ago. Some of the special things we'll be doing will be lots of different kids activities: making a pinch pot out of clay, doing a sifting activity for artifacts; so kids can learn a little bit about what archaeologists do. We'll also be doing a scratch art activity which will kind of mimic a rock art petroglyph. We’ll be planting corn beans and squash. So, lots of fun activities between 10 AM and 4 PM on Saturday, March 24 at the Shrine of the Ages.

Hi, this is Ranger Libby Schaaf. In addition to the kids activities will have some special guest programs. Our park archeologist, Jason Nez, will be doing a demonstration of how to make a prehistoric pot and he will later be doing a hike on the Bright Angel trail to a petroglyph site. In addition we will have anthropology professor Chris Downum, from Northern Arizona University, giving an illustrated program with slides from our museum collection artifacts entitled, "Across the Ages, Images and New Discoveries in Grand Canyon Archeology. Be sure to catch that program because it represents a lot of new research on our Grand Canyon artifacts.

In addition, throughout the month of March, which is Archeology Month in the state of Arizona, we'll be having special guest speakers doing evening programs, so please check our website for times details and locations of the special programs. We’ll have a Park Archeologist giving a talk, we’ll have guest speakers coming in to talk about rock art; some of our other cultural resource management staff will be presenting programs about current research as well; so please join us at the special Archeology Month programs. The theme this year is connecting past with present.

Throughout the day on Saturday, March 24, several ranger programs will highlight archeology including our rim walk at 9:30 at Verkamp's Visitor Center, our Mather Point talk at 11 a.m, our 2 p.m. porch talk at Verkamp's Visitor Center and the regularly scheduled Tusayan Ruins Walk at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The evening concludes with a fantastic program given by Shonto Begay, a master Artist In Residence who is going to talk about his contemporary paintings and his heritage growing up on the Navajo reservation; how that's influenced him and his culture reflected in the paintings. Please join us for Archeology Day, we have a full program of all kinds of exciting activities for young and old alike. Thank you.

Mary Colter, Grand Canyon Architect

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:24:45 -0700

Some of most unique structures along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon were designed by Mary Colter, Chief Architect and Decorator for the Fred Harvey Company/ Santa Fe Railroad. In this Ranger Minute, Ranger Huggins lists the six Colter designed buildings at Grand Canyon where park visitors can rest, stay, eat and shop, Colter was know for using local materials to create rustic buildings in the Southwestern style.

2012 Grand Canyon Star Party Podcast - 2012 Star Party June 16-23.

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:24:40 -0700

2012 Grand Canyon Star Party: June 16-23. (22st Annual)

For eight days in June, park visitors to Grand Canyon National Park can explore the wonders of the night sky on Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim with amateur astronomers from across the country who will volunteer their expertise an offer free nightly astronomy programs and free telescope viewing.

On the South Rim, events will include a slide show nightly at 8:00 p.m., followed by telescope viewing behind the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Parking is available in lots 1 through 4, and the Village Route shuttle bus runs every half-hour until 11:00 p.m. To make sure you get a seat at the slide show, arrive a few minutes early.

On the North Rim, telescopes will be set up on the porch of the lodge every evening, with some possibility of daytime scopes available as well. Bulletin boards at the Visitor Center will list additional events such as star talks and special slide show programs in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium.

The event is free other than paying the park entrance fee of $25.00 per vehicle, good for 7 days of coming and going to either rim. No reservations are needed except for astronomers wishing to share their telescopes, who register through the astronomy clubs sponsoring the event. Come for a night, or for the whole 8 night-event. Explore the Grand Canyon by day, and the universe by night! http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm

Parking by the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and Mather Point

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:27:20 -0700

Join Park Ranger Ron Brown on a tour of the four parking lots that surround the busy South Rim Visitor center. Information includes; the lot that is closest to the Grand Canyon and Canyon Rim Trail, where the restrooms are, the best lot to park an RV, the lot that is closest to the visitor center, etc. For more information, view this page: http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm

Condor Takes a Dip in a Grand Canyon Creek

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:20:27 -0700

WATER is the lifeblood of Grand Canyon, a force of erosion, a sustainer of scarce riparian habitat in a desert environment, a spiritual element for native peoples, a provider of recreation, and a central factor in the exploration, development, and politics of the American West. This video was recorded on April 17, 2011 at Pipe Creek, which is along the Tonto Trail and east of Indian Garden. The condor in the video is #87, a male, hatched in captivity on 4/22/1998. In 2008: sired 476M/H6 w/ 133F/33 in Redwall cave below Grandeur Point. Learn more about CA Condors in Grand Canyon National Park here: http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/california-condors.htm

Explore and Exercise on the Rim Trail (Grand Canyon South Rim)

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 14:33:25 -0700

The Rim Trail along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon provides a great way to get out and experience the park. Use the rim trail to get some exercise while out exploring the 13 miles of multi-use pathway. Whether walking, hiking, running or strolling, the rim trail is a must during your visit to Grand Canyon -- get out of the car and go Explore! Part of the rim trail is open to bicycles. What many folks do is combine bike riding on the Greenway sections of the rim trail, with the Hermit Road. The Hermit Road is nice as it has shuttle bus traffic only - during the summer. NPS video by Brandon Torres.

Teamwork in the Natural World at Grand Canyon National Park (video)

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:10:27 -0700

In the natural world, when plants and animals benefit each other we call it a symbiotic relationship. Here at Grand Canyon National Park, we have lots of examples, including the relationship between yucca moths and yucca plants, between tassel-eared squirrels and ponderosa pines, and between badgers and coyotes. http://www.nps.gov/grca

Tusayan Pueblo Indian Ruins (Audiocast)

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:35:46 -0700

A Visit to Tusayan Ruins and Museum provides a glimpse of Pueblo Indian life some 800 years ago. Park Ranger Brian Gatlin introduces us to these ancient people who called Grand Canyon "home." In what ways were their lives similar to ours today?

Tusayan Ruin is located three miles west of Desert View and is open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Tusayan Pueblo Indian Ruins (videocast)

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:32:37 -0700

A Visit to Tusayan Ruin and Museum
provides a glimpse of Pueblo Indian life some 800 years ago. Park Ranger Brian Gatlin introduces us to these ancient people who called Grand Canyon "home." In what ways were their lives similar to ours today?

Tusayan Ruin is located three miles west of Desert View and is open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon Mountain Lions (videocast)

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:13:50 -0700

(Puma concolor, also called cougars or pumas) inhabit the canyons and forests of Grand Canyon National Park and are the region's only remaining large predator. Surprisingly, very little is known about this secretive animal’s behavior, range, and habits. In this Ranger Minute, Park Ranger Lori Rome shares some interesting facts.

Grand Canyon Mountain Lions (audiocast)

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:09:06 -0700

The Love Song of Summer

Wed, 20 May 2009 10:50:43 -0700

Everyone is trying to escape the heat. Everyone except for one love struck Romeo, singing loudly under the full punishing glare of the summer sun. From deep within the Grand Canyon, echoes the love song of the Cicada.

Ponderosa Pines: Living With Fire

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:20:17 -0700

How is the Ponderosa pine able to grow throughout the American West? Well, the secret to the tree's success is how well it has adapted to fire. Join Park Ranger Haley Bercot as she describes the unique ways in which the Ponderosa pine is able to protect itself from fire. But, what about people, what about those of us who live in these fire prone ecosystems? What about our homes? Our belongings? Our lives? We’re not naturally adapted to fire, but I think we can make a start by following the example of the Ponderosa Pine. Ponderosas protect themselves from fire with their armor of thick bark. We can do the same by using fire resistant building materials in our homes, and surrounding our homes with a defensible space.

Grand Canyon Fly-through Animation

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 12:05:40 -0700

An exciting 7 minute video produced by NASA, the National Park Service Views Team and the USGS, takes viewers on a simulated flight across the entire 277 mile (433km) length of the Grand Canyon, where they explore its scenic wonders as their imaginary aircraft dives low over landslides and races through winding canyons.

Viewers experience roller-coaster twists and turns as they fly up above the Colorado River accompanied by a narrated introduction to Grand Canyon Geography.

How Grand Canyon Was Shaped Over Time

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:19:32 -0700

In this Ranger Minute, Ranger Joseph Felgenhauer describes a simple way to remember how the Grand Canyon was shaped over time: D.U.D.E. (The letters stand for Deposition, Uplift, Down cutting and Erosion.)

To download the transcript, go to this link: http://www.nps.gov/grca/photosmultimedia/upload/transc-RM200903dude.pdf