Inside Grand Canyon

The 25th annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held this June on both the South and North rims of Grand Canyon National Park. Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their expertise. Free slide programs will be offered and numerous telescopes will be set up to view planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, the moon, and the sun. National parks such as Grand Canyon are protective harbors for some of the last remaining dark skies in this country. Weather permitting; you can expect spectacular views of the universe! This event is sponsored by the National Park Service, Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (South Rim), and Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix (North Rim), with funding from the Grand Canyon Association.

http://go.nps.gov/gcnightsky Journey to a place where the Milky Way stretches across the heavens. Experience the mystery and wonder of Grand Canyon's night sky with Astronomer Tyler Nordgren and Park Ranger Rader Lane. Explore its beauty and learn what you can do to help preserve it.

In Episode 03, "Phantom Ranch," visit a historic oasis nestled at the bottom of Grand Canyon; a storied place that can only be reached on foot, by mule, or by rafting the Colorado River. Grand Canyon In Depth is a video series that explores the natural and human history of Grand Canyon National Park. Join park rangers, scientists, and historians as they take us beyond the rim of the canyon to discover the diversity of life and the extraordinary beauty of Grand Canyon National Park. Produced by the National Park Service in association with Bristlecone Media and Grand Canyon Association, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park.

In Episode 02,"Hidden Waters," travel with scientists to explore springs hidden deep within Grand Canyon. The ecosystems of Grand Canyon's seeps and springs represent some of the most complicated, diverse, productive, provocative, and threatened ecosystems on earth. Grand Canyon In Depth is a new video series that explores the natural and human history of Grand Canyon National Park. Join park rangers, scientists, and historians as they take us beyond the rim of the canyon to discover the diversity of life and the extraordinary beauty of Grand Canyon National Park. Produced by the National Park Service in association with Bristlecone Media and Grand Canyon Association, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park.

In "More Than A View," Park Ranger Stephanie Sutton invites us to go beyond the rim and explore all that Grand Canyon National Park has to offer; diverse life zones, landforms, and cultural history. Grand Canyon In Depth is a new video series that explores the natural and human history of Grand Canyon National Park. Join park rangers, scientists, and historians as they take us beyond the rim of the canyon to discover the diversity of life and the extraordinary beauty of Grand Canyon National Park. Produced by the National Park Service in association with Bristlecone Media and Grand Canyon Association, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park.

One of the best ways you can experience the South Rim of Grand Canyon in 3 to 4 hours is to combine walking with shuttle bus riding. Learn how to get out to spectacular scenic views, and visit the historic Grand Canyon Village.

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 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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

(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.

(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.

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.

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.

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.

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