17. Grand Canyon National Park

I originally wanted to paint the Grand Canyon during my 2019 50 states project but decided on horseshoe bend due to its instagram fame at the time. Many people do see the painting and think it’s part of the grand canyon so I thought I’d note Horseshoe bend is part of Glen Canyon not grand canyon but the Colorado river does flow through both.

Anyway, tackling the Grand Canyon years later when my painting skills had grown turned out for the best as I could capture the multicolored canyon in much more detail. I painted a view from the south rim of the Canyon. I got to see the Grand Canyon when I was 13. Though I’d love to see it again with adult eyes. I do remember the sheer grandeur of the vast canyon and feeling so small. 

The park was established February 26, 1919 it shares a birthday with Acadia! Grand Canyon sees the 2nd most visitors per year with Great Smoky Mountains seeing the most.

So what makes it so famous, it’s a crack in the earth. Well…  it’s a massive 277-mile-long, up to 18-mile-wide canyon! With Depth up to 6,000 feet, carved by the Colorado River. If you’ve never seen it in person just know photos don’t fully do it justice. The Park comes in at a massive 1,904 protected square miles, while in comparison the state of Rhode Island is around 1,212 square miles. This park is just shy of the top 10 for most protected areas coming in at 11.

The Colorado River running through the Canyon creates a uniquely difficult habitat for fish, with heavy silt, floods, and temperatures ranging from extreme heat in summer to sub-freezing in winter. As a result, only eight fish species are native to the Grand Canyon, six of which are found nowhere outside of the Colorado River. And of the 8 only 5-6 species are left to be found. The Humpback Chub is one considered endangered. Can we just take a second to realize how brutally honest the species is named. 

Okay Moving on The Grand Canyon Pink Rattlesnake is only found in the Grand Canyon, and is one of six rattlesnake species that live within park boundaries. The snake’s pink color means it blends into the rocks around it, making it extra surprising when a tourist catches a glimpse of one.

And even though Gila monsters, rattlesnakes, bighorn sheep and elk call this park home, the most dangerous animal to visitors according to park rangers and local emergency rooms is the Rock Squirrel. Most of the reports are bites on the hand. So don’t join that list, don’t feed the squirrels.

Have you seen the Grand Canyon? Tell me about it in the comments