Much of Grand Canyon’s width has been gained through the erosive action of water flowing down into the Colorado River via tributaries. As long as water from snow melt and rain continues to flow in these side drainages, erosion will continue.

The top layers had been exposed to the Earth’s elements for millions of years. This would cause more rock to be taken away and sent down the river as sediment, which would make the top of the canyon wider. This causes the bottom of the canyon to be much narrower.

The canyon was formed as the Colorado River cut through these uplifted rock layers in the process called erosion. In addition to the river, other forces of erosion such as rain, snowmelt, and small creeks and streams from side canyons also cause the Grand Canyon to become wider and deeper.

Except for the occasional visitor who hears a rock fall, or a rare large landslide, it is not apparent that the canyon is actively getting bigger. However, the erosional processes that originally formed the Grand Canyon are still active today as the Colorado River and its tributaries slowly cut deeper into the canyon.

The typical visitor takes a brief look into the Grand Canyon and departs pumped full of wonder. The typical stay lasts from five to seven hours, according to park surveys, and the average time spent looking at the canyon is 17 minutes. This means most of the travel along the south rim is by motor vehicle.

We recommend between one to three days at the Grand Canyon, though you could stay for longer for a relaxed visit. With only one day at the Grand Canyon, you can check out a few viewpoints, hike into the canyon or on the Rim Trail, and catch the sunset.