Taking a Grand Canyon airplane tour is one of the most memorable events in life. The carving out of the canyon took millions of years. There is a magnificent vista spread out below as you fly over the South Rim. Rock formations tell the geological history of this national treasure. The scope of this immense structure is more awe-inspiring than any man-made structure could hope to be.

Airplanes transport visitors from Las Vegas to the South Rim providing many memorable sights along the way. There is Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and the Arizona desert. There is no better angle to view all these monumental sights from. An aerial view is breathtaking.

A typical tourist will fly from Las Vegas to the South Rim. There are overnight accommodations inside the park. A view from another perspective is provided for those who drive along the South Rim. Bus tours most often include a guide to narrate what is seen along the road. This makes it easy for the visitors to focus on the scenery along the way.

It is 280 miles from Las Vegas to the South Rim of the canyon. You can travel by rental car in about five hours. You might consider a side trip on the famous Route 66 that is now so empty of traffic. The freeway system changed the historic route forever. A faster way to arrive is a flight from Las Vegas to the park entrance.

Mather Point is there at the entrance. You can see the amazing view of the canyon below that is shown in travel brochures and other literature. Angels Point is a notable landmark that is located at the widest and deepest spot along the canyon. The Colorado River lies a mile below. There are astonishing rock formations that tell an historical tale of the millions of years in which the canyon was formed.

Sightseeing on the South Rim includes Grand Canyon Village, Yavapai Point and Observation Station. Some man-made structure are fine examples of architecture built in the early 1900s. Two fine examples are Lookout Studio and the El Tovar Hotel. There is a developed path that takes visitors from one landmark after another. There is shuttle bus service in the busy season.

There are different climates at the different levels of the walls. The area as a whole is referred to as semi-arid desert. Along the Colorado River lie sand beaches. Higher up you will see various cacti and other shrubs growing. Above that are juniper and pinyon pine trees. A few thousand feet higher, ponderosa pine trees are abundant. Up one more level lies a spruce-fir forested area. There are numerous species of animals living at all levels.

Bounteous wildlife calls the park home. Most animals are timid and do not venture out while people are around. You may catch a glimpse of a Kaibab or Tasseled-eared squirrel. The latter has distinctive tufts of hair growing on the ears. Bighorn sheep climb rocks that look impossible to climb and night brings Mexican spotted owls out of hiding. Mountain lions roam parts of the area, hunting for small animals.

Wildlife is a cause of concern for some experts. They think the overabundance of visitors will damage the ecosystem in the park. The animals living in the park are protected by law and no visitors are allowed to feed them. Those who visit by taking a Grand Canyon airplane tour are possibly easing the effect of humans on the environment within the park.

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