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Grand Canyon's Rocks Are Incredibly Old
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Arizona
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Grand Canyon's Rocks Are Incredibly Old
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Geologically speaking, Grand Canyon is considered to be a "young" feature, much of it having been eroded in just the last 5-6 million years. But the ages of Grand Canyon's rocks are a different matter entirely, spanning over 1.5 billion years of Earth's history. The oldest known rock in Grand Canyon, known as the Elves Chasm Gneiss, is located deep in the canyon's depths as part of the Vishnu Basement Rocks and clocks in at an ancient 1.84 billion years old. The youngest of Grand Canyon's rock layers, the Kaibab Formation, forms the rims of the canyon and is a mere 270 million years old. But that's still even older than the dinosaurs! This interpretive exhibit along the Trail of Time discusses some of the methods geologists use to determine the ages of rocks, tools which are part of a field within the science of geology known as geochronology. This stop also offers an opportunity to actually see and touch a piece of the Elves Chasm Gneiss, the oldest known rock in Grand Canyon.
Bright Angel Trail
~1 min drive
The most popular hiking trail into Grand Canyon, the Bright Angel Trail lets hikers walk in the footsteps of the canyon's Indigenous peoples, miners, and early tourists, as they descend into the canyon's depths. Offering outstanding views, morning and afternoon shade, resthous…
Village Greenway
~1 min drive
4.9 mi · Easy
Bright Angel Trail
~3 min drive
16 mi · Hard
Rim Trail - Mather Point
~2 min drive
The Rim Trail is a mostly paved path that stretches roughly 13 miles (21 km) along the southern rim of Grand Canyon from South Kaibab Trailhead in the east to Hermits Rest in the west. Most people won't hike the whole trail in one go, but walking short sections of the rim can…
Residential Loop
~1 min drive
1.3 mi · Easy
South Kaibab Trail
~5 min drive
A 6.49-mile lollipop trail in Arizona connecting to the Bright Angel Toll Road system.
Mohave Point
~4 min drive
Another spectacular point for watching sunset, Mohave Point offers excellent views of the Colorado River deep in the canyon below. From here you can also see the Salt Creek, Granite, and Hermit rapids. Below this viewpoint, 'The Alligator' named by Emery Kolb points across th…
Zuni Trail
~1 min drive
0.3 mi · Easy
Rim Trail
~5 min drive
26 mi · Hard
South Kaibab Trail
~5 min drive
Know Before You Go Before heading down into the canyon, consult the signs at the trailhead, and scan the QR code for trip planning, current weather, water availability, and trail information/closures. (or visit our Key Hiking Messages webpage). Trail Reopenings and Current C…
