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What you said about the park rangers reminded me of a conversation I once had with a rail-road engineer, "For every rule in the book, there's a body somewhere.". They are trying to keep you alive, not just spoil your fun.

Hearing a british guy say the names of the local tribes gave me a giggle. I'm Diné, so hearing Navajo said in his accent was funny. Have a good day folks.

I will never forget the first moment I looked over the rim and realised the scale of the canyon. It was truly breathtaking.

When I went to the Grand Canyon last year for the first time, we went during the day and came back again at night. After living in a city for almost 20 years, I've grown accustomed to light pollution in the night sky (a clear night consists of the moon and a hand full of stars). Seeing the night sky at the Grand Canyon for the very first time was as overwhelming as seeing the depths of the canyon for the first time during the day.

“In nature there are neither rewards nor punishment; there are only consequences.” - Robert B. Ingersoll. The Grand Canyon proves that.

"Sometimes their bodies aren't found till the spring thaw." The way Simon said that made me feel like it was supposed to be profound or kinda mind-blowing but I'm Canadian and sitting here going "well ya, that's generally when you find people who get lost in winter."

"Did we pack enough water?" Nope, pack more.

When you first see the Grand Canyon, your brain can barely take it in; it has no reference for the sheer scale of it. It is breathtakingly beautiful.

I remember a Flintstones episode when Fred and Barney visited the Grand Canyon and it was just a little creek and Fred was like well I heard it's supposed to get a lot better a long time from now.

17:14 - There is no such thing as "idiot proof", because an idiot has the determination to find a way...

Everything Simon says is exactly true. I've hiked 'The Canyon' four times in my life, and visited there many more times, and I'm a FAA licenced aircraft mechanic. Simon, this video should be playing in the GCNP Visitors Center lobby, instead of those 'canned' federal government films.

I remember heading home from Vegas, traveling east, and the pilot announced he was going to fly over the Grand Canyon (it was a nice day). I looked down from Boeing 727-level, I was seeing some mild formations and water, and was like, Uh, it looks nice. Five minutes later, it was, OH MY GOD! (The Wow-meter broke...)

Havasupai Canyon itself would make a good geo video. One of the most picturesque places on earth.

The fact that two planes managed to find and hit each other in such a vast space is just...

Me and my two best friends did the rim to rim hike, and I definitely recommend it but if you do please make sure to be ready for it. After the hike our legs were jelly for 3 days and we hike all the time in Colorado.

I've lived and worked at the Grand Canyon for 5 years. Simon could do an entire Buissnes Blaze episode about the idiot tourist who have died/been injured out here!

So, In my youth, 1970, I camped on the Tonto Plateau, setting up my site next to a small stream running down through Bright Angel. I encountered two disasters. First, Upon crawling into my sleeping bag, I was met by the stinger of a scorpion that had presumably nestled into my bag to get warm. I was stung twice. Once in my ribs and once on my neck. Pain like a dozen wasp stings. Hiking out in pain was not pleasant. Earlier that evening, before the stings, I had soaked my lentil bean dinner in water from the stream (downstream from the mule trail). Unobserved, the microscopic amoeba living in the water set up housekeeping in my digestive tract and, a few days later I came down with a severe case of Amoebic Dysentery. I was transferred home to hospital in Philadelphia after catching a ride from the canyon to Denver airport. I will be forever greatful to the exNavy sailor who provided a pickup truck camper bed to lay in on that trip from Hell. I guess I dodged two bullets in the canyon.

One of the coolest things I've ever seen was a thunderstorm that was in the canyon below the rim with lightning striking up. Years ago I used to work at south rim during summer vacation from school. I used to run to the halfway point (actually more jog to save my knees) and run back up...I don't think I ever made it far on the run back up...usually someone would offer and pay me to carry their backpack back up to the top. Still beat them back to the top sometimes by hours. Made more money on the side this way than my job with Fred Harvey lol.

I visited the canyon back in the late 50's. A site I will never forget. It was as if I saw it yesterday. Yes, it's that spectacular.

I went to the Grand Canyon back in 1986, It hasn't changed a bit, I should scan my photo a do a montage of my visit. All the best and take thank you for sharing. Cheers from Canada!

I always found it funny that the most famous place in arizona, is the place where there is considerably less of arizona

My first visit to the Grand Canyon was in Oct 1985 and latest was in Sept 2020. Comparing pictures taken between the years many more barriers were put up to try and protect people from themselves . But as always the stupid will die out.

Simon, or whoever reads these videos, you already know what I'm gonna say. You should make a Geographics on The Ozark Mountains. Love you and your team's work

I visited the Grand Canyon when I was 8. I went with family, and it was so amazing! Dehydration is definitely a real possibility, especially for those of us that aren’t used to the extremely dry air. You don’t feel yourself sweating, so often don’t realize how much moisture is lost and how fast! Simon spoke accurately when he said you may need as much as 3 gallons a day! 😉 Breathtakingly beautiful. 12/10 would do again.

Pictures can’t do it justice. Seeing it with your own eyes, it will humble you. Make you feel really Tiny and insignificant

Talking to some Rangers who have worked there, most "falling" deaths are actually suicide jumpers. They just categorize it for sensitivity.

In October, 2002, I and a friend hiked the Grand Canyon, north rim to south rim, over 3 days. Your warnings about safety in the canyon are on target. Before our hike, we watched three vhs videos about the canyon (this was pre-youtube) so we knew what to expect and how to prepare. To this day, I have fond memories of that hike.

During a vacation in Vegas almost 15 years ago, I decided to do a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. Best decision I ever made. A helicopter ride down into the gorge, followed by a ride on the river. It was one of my bucket list items, and I was so glad I got the opportunity. Looking back on it, pictures simply don't do it justice. It needs to be seen in person.

One of the most amazing places on Earth. Truly needs to be seen to be appreciated.

Common Sense: not as common as the name would imply.

My rim to rim hike was by far the hardest thing I've ever done. It was 125F at Phantom ranch when we left. By the time we reached the ranch at 11pm it was down to 'only' 98 degrees. Hiking up to the North Rim was unbelievable, it was hiking up a mountain, but in nearly 100 degree heat, brutally low humidity, and after you are already tired. I carried 2x 1.5L bottles and still ran out between stops. Luckily my hiking partner was able to carry on the 1.5 miles to the next water stop and filled them up and a very, very nice pair of young men were kind enough to carry them down to me. When I finally finished I literally flopped down in the grass and fell asleep for 4 hours until my family came and found me and provided me with the most welcome meal of my life.

It’s certainly a grand canyon! What a beautiful place to visit. No wonder it’s such an iconic landmark of the US

I've been to the Grand Canyon three times. I camped out at the five fingers area on the north rim. The second time I hiked out to Angels Rest. I also hiked down to the village of Supai to view the three waterfalls. The last time i camped at Desert View on the south rim. The next morning I went to desert view to watch the sun rise. Thank you Simon for a great overview!

I been there 20 years ago... I remember feeling little (a little 15 yr old) then. The strong wind blow on my face and I vividly rmb playing with echoes. I hope I can still go there one more time before I kick the bucket.

I’m from Minnesota and visited the Grand Canyon, Sedona, various ancient Native American dwelling monuments while visiting my snowbird grandmother when I was 10. I loved every moment of it (even cried on the plane ride home) and hope to visit again after the pandemic is over!

I remember flying over the Grand Canyon when I was in the Army on my way to NTC in the Mojave desert in California.

I did the rim to rim hike about 10 years ago, it was one of the most amazing adventures of my life and i hope to do it again someday soon...

Just had an "OMG we are on the same page!" moment when you said, "it's not Disneyland"! I was just about to write that as a comment because it's the advice I give anyone coming to Arizona and wanting to visit the Grand Canyon. Nicely done video, thank you.

Speaking of flying in and around the Grand Canyon, I remember reading in 'Vulcan 607' by Rowland White, that on their way to Nellis Air Force Base for a bombing competition one of the RAF Vulcan pilots decided to fly in the canyon at high speed. They then landed and one of the first things they saw was a map with the Grand Canyon marked as a 'No-Fly Zone'

I've been to the canyon several times but only once did we hike in and rafted out. I was much younger then, in my 20's and the roundabout Bright Angel trail is nearly 10 miles to the bottom at phantom ranch. Our guides were incredibly professional and I can appreciate how much they helped us even if it seemed they were tough. They will clearly state that people die if they don't follow the rules. I'm so glad I got to do this, it is truly amazing but yeah, listen to the people who know what they are doing. Also as far as planning goes, most trips like these you book a year in advance...so you have time to prepare... The heat (we went in August) was insane and I'm from the South... Have to be ready... Great video Simon!

I feel no shame to admit that I teared up every time I visited GC.

I worked there a few years ago, a ranger told me there are hundreds of cars at the bottom. It's too expensive to get them out so they just drain the fluid and camouflage them

People doing stupid stuff along the rim is a common sight.

Do Niagara Falls! That would be a perfect follow up to this.

Back in January 1999 my family took the steam train from Williams to the South Rim. My uncle and I had a brief snowball fight (only a few were thrown) and ended with him hitting the back of my neck as I tried to avoid it.

I visited in early February 2020. The majesty of the canyon is indescribable. Go there and just take it in. Breath deep and marvel. Mother Nature at her finest.

One of only a handful of places on Earth that can truly be called awesome without exaggeration.

The descent of the wildness of the park since my first visit in 1968 is heartbreaking. The South Rim is now plagued by RVs and the smell of exhaust. I am so glad that I got to hike the Tonto Plateau in the "wilderness days" of the late 1960s.

I hope you have been able to visit the Canyon. I live in the US and have been fortunate enough to visit most of the canyon parks. Probably the most spectacular visually was in the winter. Thanks for the videos. I’m subscribed to all of your channels, I think.

I tried the rim to river thing, it destroyed my legs and it took a week and a half. Even after the pain was gone, I felt like my legs were weaker. I did this hike in 8 hours. I would definitely advise against doing this.

There's a very informative book called Death in Grand Canyon, it's absolutely worth a read. A great insight to the history and minds of people in the past.

15:48, seeing as the field elevation of kgcn (grand canyon airport) is about 6100 ft, both aircraft were flying very low, and the twin otter was most likely on its climb out after take off.

Excellent video, thank you so much for it.

Excellent video! Great production values! Very good information! Carry on...as you were...

I'm happy I drove through it while moving from Cali to GA. Was one of the best drives I have done.

Great video. Safety is every visitors gig. Even in boring rural Pennsylvania we got wild places where people go missing cause they think there’s a Starbucks around the corner or that big snorting black bear is Winnie the poos cousin.

I've been there many times. Still takes my breath away

I truly enjoy your channels! Thank you for the content.

Thanks

I loved the grand Canyon piece I live about 40 miles 64KM south of the South Entrance. in the old days I used to have a park pass and all the rangers knew me. That has changed with concessions running the place now.

Thank you SImon. Was waiting for this one. Been there, and it is breathtaking.

Always nice to see your state in a geographics video!

"Where's all the faces? Of the Presidents?" - Andy Dwyer

Back in '94 when I hiked the canyon with my geography class, we had a lecture from a ranger the night before we decended. Paraphrased, "It's a $1000 to start the rotors, $100 for each air mile to get to you, if need a winch, it's another $500, and then $1000 for the ambulance ride from the Canyon to Flagstaff. You have been warned." After that he went through our packs and gear to make sure that we had what we needed and that at least we would set off prepared. We had a great 4 days in the Canyon. Bright Angel, to Phantom Ranch, to Cottonwood to the North Rim on the North Kaibab. It was a marvelous experience and if you ever have a chance to take it and go.

Thank you for your continuing excellent work!

What a place. Mans conception of size & distance is out done. I have a scar on my shin for being stupid enough to ignore sign ‘do not climb over’ Great vid

I went there when I was 10 years old and all I could think was, "Wow, this looks like a painting."

PWEB-low, not PEW-blow. Sorry - that's my home region, and you hurt my ears 😂.

Colca Canyon would be worth a video as well. Probably much harder to get English info/material, but it is also very spectacular.

Wonderful video! I am born and raised in Phoenix. I have been to the Grand Canyon 5 or 6 times. I have seen the canyon with snow on it, it's beautiful. Arizona is advertised as nothing but a huge desert, but the top half of the state is full of mountains and forests all kinds of beautiful stuff. I have hiked the 10 mile hike into the canyon (and another 3 miles to the camp sites) in Havasupai and camped down there for a week. It was incredible to wake up every day, walk out of your tent, and be at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. There are also 3 huge waterfalls. Mooney falls is like 200 feet tall. And another time my dad, his friend, and me went camping (not at the bottom of the canyon, just at the top). We were going to go on a helicopter tour, but that night my dad decided to cook a pizza over the campfire. He didn't cook it all the way and got food poisoning. At like 3 in the morning he got up and got out of the tent to take a piss and throw up. He was taking a piss and fainted. He face planted into the tree he was pissing on and broke his nose. So we ended up having to spend the next day at the medical office instead of taking a helicopter tour haha. I was like 13, I was so bummed.

I have visited the Canyon many times. Last time i was there I saw so many people ignoring the warning signs I just had to leave because I was sure someone was going to plummet off the edge. They all wanted to take selfies! It is a beautiful place and can be visited quite safely if you follow the rules.

Read that the term tourist trap came from the early grand canyon. Renting an mule to travel to the bottom was very cheap. Well the ride up again was much more expensive :)

I live in northern az, we do rim to rim to rim hikes, there are fresh water springs along the way so we dont need to carry a lot of water.

Love these videos. I even tolerate his ad reads. Well done, sir.

Was just there last week so of course I had to watch this video again. Even better after I was recently there!

About 10 years ago 3 buddies and me hiked and camped in the bottom of the Grand Canyon for a couple days.....In August.... We'd get up an hour before dawn and hike out to a place we'd scouted to watch the sunrise. Just... spectacular. Then we'd just pick a trail and go until we got down to half our water then head back to camp, which was good since it would get to like 105F by 10am. We'd hang out in the shade until it got cool enough to head back out and explore. Some of my favorite memories of my life. Sadly, on our way down, we say a man sitting on a rock clutching his chest, with his family. The rangers and help were on the way. It was only maybe 30 minutes from the parking lot, they definitely weren't there to camp, just a quick visit. About an hour later we saw a helicopter fly by. On our way back up a few days later we ran across a ranger who told us he died. :( That said... If you haven't been there, and you ever have the chance, you MUST go see it for yourself someday. No matter how many times I see it, it's still utterly mindblowing. Your brain just cannot comprehend what it's looking at.

It's been on my bucket list for a Long time , I know ,pictures do Nothing justice, I cant imagine how ,Awesome it must be .

I do not recommend hiking to the river and back in one day. I was actually there the week he recorded this, but just now seeing it. Its beautiful, and was an amazing experience that i will never do again. I went with 2 friends. We prepped before going. Warm clothing/extra clothes, hiking boots , plenty of food , 3L water pouches. We started down kaibab trail at 8am sharp, and crawled out from bright angel trailhead at 11:15pm . It is not an easy hike by any means necessary, and should not be shrugged off. I drank my entire 3L of water by the time i got to the bottom, and probably another 4L going back up. You will piss ALOT , so get used to it! My knees started hurting on the beginning of the 9 mile hike back up, and by the time i made it to the truck, i could barely walk. Took 4 weeks for them to heal . It was 16° when we crawled out, me and my buddy were physically fucked, so we stayed in the heated bathroom while the other buddy walked the last 3 miles to the truck to come pick us up . Overall, A great life experience, one that ill remember forever, but ill never do that again lol. 1 timer ordeal

I had the fortune to visit it almost 30 years ago, and the moment I stood by the rim I knew that I would never forget that breathtaking view for as long as I live. IMHO, it is a place you absolutely MUST see at least once in your life if you have the means to. Truly a worthy bucket list entry.

The Grand Canyon isn't Disneyland. That would be the perfect official warning/disclaimer for tourists/visitors/ thrill seekers/aspiring adventurers.

I rafted 188 miles through it in 2016 with Hatch.......trip of a lifetime. Highly recommend

I remember going to the canyon as a kid one year. My dad was stationed in AZ and we took a trip. I wasn’t mature enough to appreciate what I whitenessedvthst day but when things get back to normal I want to revisit here and see the Niagara Falls after seeing a previous video of yours. You and your team have given me a lot to look at and think about thank you!

A good thing that the park has done is installing water fills and bathrooms along most of the trail from South to North. There’s even a great little store where you can get a delicious lemonade and mail out a post card! Especially on the south rim the water fills are only about 5-7 miles apart.

Spent 2 nights at the bottom in 131 degree heat in June 2019. A very magical place.

I ran out to and back from Plateau Point along the Bright Angel Trail on my first visit about 30 years ago. Wouldn't change a thing.

Tips if you are planning on hiking the Grand Canyon. There are two trails that go down to the river from the South rim, the South Kaibab and the Bright Angel. The Bright Angel has drinking water at Indian Garden, the South Kaibab has no water. We hiked down the shorter but steeper S. Kaibab and then 2 days later we hiked up the Bright Angel. If someone is going to hike to the river I would recommend doing it this way as you have water available on your hike out. It is nice to do the 2 different trails as the scenery is quite different. Lodging is available at the bottom of the canyon at Phantom Ranch (cabins and dormitory style) as is food. Space at Phantom Ranch is VERY limited. I would secure lodging PRIOR to doing anything else. I would also not attempt hiking down and back out on the same day unless you are in extremely good physical condition, with emphasis on the extremely. We stayed 2 nights at Phantom Ranch and hiked to Ribbon Falls (flat, approx 12 miles round trip) on the day between the hike in and the hike out. It took a leisurely 6 hours to get to Phantom Ranch and a much more difficult 8 hours to hike out. We hiked in February, which was great. I would avoid June-August. Others may have different opinions.

Flew to Arizona last year and headed towards the canyon was pretty beautiful

5:35 OH, I just love HUGE tracts of land!

I hiked down and back up one day when in my 20s (not all the way to the bottom, but close enough), and was shocked at how terribly exhausted I was upon reaching the bottom of our excursion. I ate probably about a quarter of a pound of raw salmon we'd brought with us, as well as two bagels. Nearly wept when I realized we'd have to hike all the way back up. And I was in pretty good shape!

It was rumored a teacher from my middle school died while hiking at the Grand Canyon. Never got any details though, he just didn't come back one year after summer vacation.

I went to the Grand Canyon. My pants were gone when I left.

There is no camera that can take any picture of the canyon, that is adequate for the task. It *must* be seen in person. And, really, you cannot be in a hurry. A return trip for me is planned. Solo. Like my first trip.

@Geographics : Thanks for this presentation, Simon, well done! In 1995, either late September or early October, I went with a cousin to Las Vegas, where we could see some A&E shows but also used LV as a base, from where we traveled to Death Valley Desert (eastern part), the Hoover Dam, Zion or else Hurricane Park, and then the north rim of the Grand Canyon, where we stayed at a sort of lodge over night and we, there, were at a little over 8,000 ft altitude ; but, if the canyon is around 6,000 ft depth, then this means that the bottom is not at sea level. I thought it might be, but this video tells me no and that it, instead, is above sea level. Still quite a hike, and I don't think I'd do that round-trip in a single day. 2 days, maybe (?), but not in a single day. After this video, the whole of it, hiking all the way down and then back up to North Rim, maybe it'd take me 3, possibly even 4, days. The trail was steep and we made it part way down during only afternoon, and this was a SHORT part of the trail. We could clearly see that we were still FAR above the bottom. There apparently are plenty of Rattle Snakes at the bottom, but from a little I read, there are raised platforms that were constructed for people to use to stay over night, so above where these snakes roam around. Sleeping on the ground at the bottom apparently is NOT a good idea, so these platforms were constructed, afaik (never got that far down so never saw these platforms, but it's credible that some were constructed). If going down, so also going back up to the North Rim is anywhere near 19 miles, each way, too, then it definitely wouldn't be a single day trip for me, for 1) I only hike during day light, and 2) I'm not Super Man. I knew damn well when my cousin and I went down for an afternoon that there was absolutely no way for us to make it to the bottom of the canyon and back up during the same day ; NO WAY, José. We were far from being even half way down. The bottom might be 6,000 ft down, but walking the trail is much longer, according to your video. Otherwise, we'd need to rappel down, straight. We weren't there for anything like that. Rapeling down, if possible, and then climbing back up the rope would take a LONG time, very possibly more than a single day, ... I guess anyway. And you're talking about the South Rim, which I read when out there is somewhat lower than the North Rim.

I had the great privilege to have gotten to visit when I was a child and it truly is incredible and awe inspiring.

love your content, man!

Nature’s way of culling out the stupid.

It’s truly a sight to behold

Loved the video. Well done as usual. I'm proposing one on Niagara Falls!

I feel pretty terrible for the rangers whose jobs are to find dead bodies. That must be really rough.