2020 Park Statistics On This Page... Navigation
Authorization
1882: First unsuccessful attempt to establish a Grand Canyon National Park
1893: Designated a "forest reserve" by President Benjamin Harrison (Presidential Proclamation #45)
1908: Established as Grand Canyon National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt (Presidential Proclamation #794)
1919: Designated Grand Canyon National Park by an act of Congress on February 26 (40 Stat 1175)
1975: Grand Canyon National Park Enlargement Act enacted by Congress on January 3 (88 Stat 2089) (Public Law 93-620)
1979: Designated a World Heritage Site on October 26
2019: Designated an International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) by the International Dark-Sky Association in June after being awarded Provisional IDSP status in 2016
Geography
Grand Canyon National Park
- Park Size:
- 1,218,375 acres (493,059 ha)
- 1,904 square miles (4,931 km2)
- Length: 277 river miles (446 km)
- Width:
- Minimum at Marble Canyon, 600 feet (180 m)
- Average Rim to Rim, 10 miles (16 km)
- Maximum Rim to Rim, 18 miles (28.8 km)
- Depth: Average, 1 mile (1.6 km)
- Elevations:
- South Rim 7,000 feet (2,100 m)
- North Rim 8,000 feet (2,400 m)
- Volume: 5.45 trillion cubic yards (4.17 trillion m3)
Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park
- Length: 277 miles (446 km)
- Average Width: 300 feet (90 m)
- Minimum Width: 76 feet (23 m)
- Average Depth: 40 feet (12 m)
- Greatest Depth: 85 feet (25.5 m)
- Average Gradient: 7 feet per mile (1.3 m/km)
- Elevation at Phantom Ranch: 2,400 feet (720 m)
The Colorado River is 1,450 miles (2,333 km) long from its source in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California.
Geology
Grand Canyon National Park preserves an iconic geologic landscape and resources ranging from 1,840 to 270 million years old, including diverse paleontological resources; unconsolidated surface deposits; a complex tectonic and erosion history; and Pliocene to Holocene volcanic deposits. The Colorado River established its course through the canyon about six million years ago and likely evolved from pre-existing drainages to its current course. Geologic processes, including erosion of tributaries and slopes, and active tectonics continue to shape the canyon today. The geologic record in Grand Canyon is an important scientific chronicle and is largely responsible for its inspirational scenery.
Learn more about geology in Grand Canyon.
Natural Resources
Wildlife
Birds: 450 species
Mammals: 91 species
Fish: 18 species, 5 native
Reptiles and Amphibians: 58 species
Invertebrates: 1,443 species, including 292 butterflies and moths
Exotic (non-native) animals: 27 species
Park Endemic animals, not extirpated: 9 species; 5 butterflies, 1 pseudoscorpion, 1 tarantula, 1 snake, and 1 mollusk
Regionally Endemic animals, not extirpated: 5 species; humpback chub, razorback sucker, flannelmouth sucker, Kaibab squirrel, and the Navajo Mexican vole
Federally Endangered Species: California condor, humpback chub, razorback sucker, southwestern willow flycatcher, and Ridgway's rail.
Federally Threatened Species: Mexican spotted owl, yellow-billed cuckoo, and desert tortoise.
Extirpated Species: Grizzly bear, black-footed ferret, gray wolf, jaguar, Bear Valley sandwort, Colorado Pikeminnow, bonytail, roundtail chub, northern leopard frog, and southwestern river otter.
There are over 35 species of special concern and former USFWS Category 2 species.
One reptile, three mammal, and one mollusk species are known only from the Grand Canyon region. At least nine species of insects are endemic to Grand Canyon, and six fish species are endemic to the Colorado River basin.
Vegetation
Vascular Plants: 1,747 species
Endemic Plants: 4 species
Exotic (non-native) Plants: 208 species
One Endangered Species: Sentry milk-vetch (Astragalus cremnophylax var. cremnophylax)
Nine species of special concern (formerly category 2 species) are known, and 25 additional vascular plants are of management concern due to their limited distribution.
Six Vegetation Formation Types: riparian, desert scrub, pinyon-juniper woodland, ponderosa pine forest, spruce-fir forest, and montane meadows/sub-alpine
Cultural Resources
Human History
The oldest human artifacts found date to the Paleoindian period and are nearly 12,000 years old. Since that time, various cultures have continually used and occupied the park. Archaeological evidence from the following prehistoric culture groups are found in Grand Canyon National Park: Paleoindian, Archaic, Basketmaker, Ancestral Puebloan (Kayenta and Virgin branches), Cohonina, Cerbat, Pai, and Southern Paiute. Historical-period cultural groups are the Hopi, Navajo, Pai, Southern Pauite, Zuni, and Euro-American. The park has recorded 4,615 archaeological resources with intensive survey of approximately 7.5 percent of the park area.
There are 3,391 ancestral sites dating to the prehistoric period recorded in the park. These sites are found in all environmental zones from the rim to the river. There are 453 historic period Native American sites recorded in the park at the present time.
Tribal Partners
Grand Canyon is home to 11 federally recognized tribes with deep history and connection to the Grand Canyon since time immemorial. Tribal governments and communities work closely with park administration and management on a host of programs. Through collaborative projects such as the Desert View Watchtower Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site, the park is working with tribes to provide accurate and culturally appropriate information to visitors. This "First Voice" programming acknowledges the rich and diverse cultural history of the Grand Canyon and celebrates the connections native people have to the Canyon. Tribal lands surrounding the park offer many unique tourism opportunities to visitors planning a trip to the Grand Canyon.
Historic Resources
National Historic Landmarks
- 4 Individual Buildings
- 3 Districts
- 1 Site
National Register of Historic Places
- 8 Buildings
- 10 Districts
- 2 Sites
- 1 Structure
National Register properties include archaeological sites, historic structures, cultural landscapes, and ethnographic resources. Determinations of eligibility have been prepared by both Hopi and Zuni preservation offices identifying elements of the greater Grand Canyon, Colorado River, Bright Angel Creek, and Little Colorado River as a Traditional Cultural Property.
List of Classified Structures (LCS): 874 listings
LCS includes National Historic Landmark and National Register listed or eligible properties.
Climate
Climate in Grand Canyon National Park is relatively mild. However, low humidity generally allows large temperature differences between day and night. Since precipitation totals are low, year-to-year variations can be large. The passage of a few major storms can have a significant impact on the year’s total.
South Rim
Mean High Temperature: 67°F (19.4°C)
Mean Low Temperature: 28°F (-2.2°C)
Average Annual Precipitation: 13.01 inches (33.05 cm)
Total Precipitation in 2020: 5.88 inches (14.93 cm)
North Rim
Mean High Temperature: 57°F (13.9°C)
Mean Low Temperature: 31°F (-0.6°C)
Average Annual Precipitation: 24.48 inches (62.18 cm)
Total Precipitation in 2020: 8.79 inches (22.33 cm)
Phantom Ranch
Mean High Temperature: 82°F (27.8°C)
Mean Low Temperature: 56°F (13.3°C)
Average Annual Precipitation: 9.73 inches (24.71 cm)
Total Precipitation in 2020: 2.86 inches (7.26 cm)
2020 Visitation
Detailed park statistics are available.
Total Visitation
2016: 5,969,811
2017: 6,254,238
2018: 6,380,495
2019: 5,974,411
2020: 2,911,887
Shuttle System Passengers
1,142,098 boardings (not passengers)
The shuttle system was implemented in 1974.
Year-round shuttle service began March 10, 2000.
Backcountry User Nights
Total: 49,184
Corridor: 27,103
Other Backcountry Trails: 22,081
Backcountry permits issued: 10,786
Backcountry permits used: 6,592
Detailed backcountry use statistics are available.
Colorado River User Days
Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek
Commercial: 53,326
Noncommercial: 69,096
Diamond Creek to Pearce Ferry
Noncommercial: 9,797
Mule Trip Riders
Xanterra, South Rim
Phantom Ranch 1 night: 1,267
Phantom Ranch 2 nights: 292
Canyon Vistas: 5,735
Canyon Trail Rides, North Rim
One Hour Rim Ride: 1,029
Half Day Inner Canyon Ride: 1,909
Half Day Rim Ride: 121
Train Passengers
North-bound boardings: 83,712
2020 Visitor and Resource Protection
Law Enforcement Activities
Total Number of Criminal Cases: 797
Arrests: 45
Part I Offenses Investigated: 53
Part II Offenses Reported: 1,050
Law Enforcement Jurisdiction: Concurrent
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Service Incidents: 693
Fatalities: 13
Search and Rescue (SAR)
Incidents Total: 235
Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR)
Total Contacts: 76,310
Preventative Actions: 12,541
Hiker Assists: 332
Structural Fire Incidents and Responses
Total: 93
Wildland Fire Incidents and Treatments
Fire Starts Incidents: 9
Acres treated with wild and prescribed fire: 4,253
Acres of defensible space treated: 21
Houses treated for FireWise standards: 11
2020 Interpretive Services and Activities
Visitor Centers and Contact Stations
Grand Canyon Visitor Center
Verkamp’s Visitor Center
Yavapai Observation Station
Tusayan Ruin and Museum
Desert View Visitor Center
North Rim Visitor Center (closed in 2020)
Kolb Studio
Indian Garden
Phantom Ranch
Headquarters
Interpretive Walks, Talks, and Programs
Presentations: 144 to 2,160 visitors (1/1/20-3/13/20)
Environmental Education Programs
Presentations: 236 to 6,828 participants
Junior Rangers sworn in: 13,280
Publications
Print Publications currently maintained: 50
Park Unigrids/maps distributed on South Rim: 547,200
Pocket Map and Services Guides distributed on South Rim: 775,250
All other brochures: 138,450
Pocket Map and Services Guides: Available in eight languages
Digital Media
Facebook followers: 641,532
Instagram followers: 752,932
Twitter followers: 161,046
Total nps.gov/grca page views: 17,165,776
Development
Buildings
Total: 1,181
National Park Service: 645
Concessioners: 536
Trails
Paved: 35 miles (56.3 km)
Unpaved: 560 miles (901.2 km)
Total: 595 miles (957.6 km)
Roads
Paved: 106 miles (170.6 km)
Unpaved: 148 miles (238.2 km)
Total: 254 miles (408.8 km)
Sewage Treatment Facilities
Total: 4
Trans-canyon Pipeline
Water from Roaring Springs to the North and South rims
Total: 23 miles (37 km)
Lodging Units
South Rim: 908
North Rim: 219
Phantom Ranch: 15
Rim Campsites
Mather: 317 family, 7 group, 2 hiker/biker, 2 livestock
Desert View: 50 family
North Rim: 90 family, 3 group
Tuweep: 9 family, 1 group
Recreational Vehicle Sites
Total: 123
Visitor Facilties and Services
Visitor facilities include visitor centers, museums, theaters, backcountry offices, historic structures, scenic overlooks, accessible rim trails, lodging, campgrounds, dump stations, service stations, restaurants, cocktail lounges, coffee shops, general stores, gift shops, bookstores, clinic, bank, post offices, churches, and a dog kennel. Some facilities are seasonal.
Services include educational exhibits, curriculum-based education programs, junior ranger programs, ranger programs and hikes, picnicking, bicycling, bike rentals, self-guided hikes, mule riding, backpacking, fishing, river trips, overnight lodging, camping, camper services, guided bus tours, air tours (outside of park), shuttle bus service, taxi, auto repair, publication sales, gift and grocery sales, law enforcement, medical and emergency services.
Concessioners
In Fiscal Year 2020, 22 concessioners grossed approximately $84.4 million and paid franchise and other fees of approximately $7.4 million.
Administration
FY 2020 Funding
Operation of the National Park System (ONPS)
ONPS Base Operating Appropriation: $22,182,227
ONPS Non-base Funding: $36,571
Special Emphasis Program Allocation (SEPAS)
FirePro Base: $1,352,523
Construction and Major Maintenance: $154,591
Repair and Rehabilitation: $426,199
Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act—80% portion
(FY-11) $13,780,061
(FY-12) $13,972,969
(FY-13) $14,775,466
(FY-14) $8,407,057 (collections reduced by LSI buy down)
(FY-15) $18,361,846
(FY-16) $15,215,281 (collections reduced by Pipeline reserve)
(FY-17) $11,739,334 (collections reduced by Pipeline reserve)
(FY-18) $16,263,449
(FY-19) $15,788,360
(FY-20) $16,411,907
10 Year Total (FY10-20) $158,083,588
Federal Lands Highway Program: $0
Income 2020
Utilities Reimbursable: $3,956,077
Quarters: $1,858,463
Concession Franchise Fees—20% Portion: $3,328,025
Filming and Location Fees: $2,975
Donations (monetary): $1,223,145.23
Transportation (Shuttle Buses): $3,125,282
Other (reimbursable, refundable, etc.): $1,110,114
National Park Service Staffing—Fiscal Year 2020
Information and distribution of all staff (Permanent, Term, and Seasonal) as of September 2020.
Superintendent’s Office: 23
Administration: 21
Science and Resource Management: 46
Concessions Management: 19
Planning, Environment, and Projects: 12
Facility Management: 112
Interpretation: 74
Visitor and Resource Protection: 159
Fire and Aviation Management: 37
Total National Park Service Staffing
(FY-16) 451
(FY-17) 382
(FY-18) 452
(FY-19) 372
(FY-20) 503
Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) Program
Volunteer hours by category
Administration: 1,983
Campground Host: 1,407.5
Cultural Resource Management: 424.75
General: 0
Interpretation/Education: 3,699.25
Natural Resource Management: 4,527.5
Protection/Law Enforcement: 13,451.25
In-Kind Service Amount
Total volunteers in park: 405
Total hours: 26,576.25
National value of each volunteer hour: $27.20
Total in-kind services: $722,874
Neighbors
Coconino County-AZ
Flagstaff-AZ
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area-AZ/UT
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument-AZ
Jacob Lake-AZ
Lake Mead National Recreation Area-AZ
Mohave County-AZ
Tusayan-AZ
Vermillion Cliffs National Monument-AZ
Williams-AZ
Valley of Fire State Park-NV
Garfield County-UT
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument-UT
Kanab-UT
Kane County-UT
Washington County-UT
Partners and Stakeholders
Arizona Game and Fish Department-AZ
Arizona Strip Field Office-AZ
Flagstaff Area National Monuments-AZ
Kaibab National Forest-AZ
Pipe Spring National Monument-AZ
Bryce Canyon National Park-UT
Kanab Field Office-UT
Zion National Park-UT
11 Traditionally Associated American Indian Tribes
Havasupai Tribe-AZ
Hopi Tribe-AZ
Hualapai Tribe-AZ
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians-AZ
Las Vegas Band of Paiute Indians-NV
Moapa Band of Paiute Indians-NV
Navajo Nation-AZ
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah-UT
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe-AZ
The Pueblo of Zuni-NM
Yavapai-Apache Nation-AZ
Arizona Congressional Representatives
Senator Kyrsten Sinema
Senator Mark Kelly
First District Representative Tom O’Halleran
Fourth District Representative Paul Gosar
Superintendent
Edward Keable
Media Contact
Public Affairs Office: 928-638-7779
Park Information
928-638-7888
Website
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