Grand Canyon Statistics

Park Creation

1882 First unsuccessful attempt to establish a Grand Canyon National Park

1893 Designated a "forest reserve" by President Benjamin Harrison (Presidential Proclamation #45)

1908 Established as Grand Canyon National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt (Presidential Proclamation #794)

1919 Designation of Grand Canyon National Park by an act of Congress on February 26 (40 Stat 1175).

1975 Grand Canyon National Park Enlargement Act an act of Congress on January 3 (88 Stat 2089)

(Public Law 93-620)

1979 Designation as a World Heritage Site on October 26

Grand Canyon Statistics

Park Size: 1,217,403.32 acres / 487,350 hectares

1,904 sq. miles / 4,950 kilometers

The Grand Canyon

Length 277 river miles / 433 km

Width

     Minimum (Marble Canyon) 600 feet / 180 meters / 18,000 cm

     Average Rim to Rim 10 miles / 16 km

     Maximum Rim to Rim 18 miles / 28.81 km

Average Depth 1 mile / 1.6 km

Rim Elevations

     South Rim 7,000 feet / 2100 m / 210,000 cm

     North Rim 8,000 feet / 2400 m / 240,000 cm

     Lake Mead Boundary 1,200 feet / 360 m / 36,000 cm

Volume

     Cubic Yards 5.45 trillion

     Cubic Meters 4.17 trillion

"The Colorado River" (within Grand Canyon National Park)

Length 277 miles / 443 km

Average Width: 300 feet / 90 m / 9,000 cm

Minimum Width 76 feet / 23 m / 2,280 cm

Average Depth 40 feet / 12 m / 1,200 cm

Greatest Depth 85 feet / 25.5 m / 12,550 cm

Average Gradient 7 feet per mile / 12 m / 1.6 km

Elevation at Phantom Ranch 2,400 feet / 720 m / 72,000 cm

The Colorado River is 1,450 miles / 2,333 km long from its source in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California.

Grand Canyon Budget

FY 2006 Funding/Budget

ONPS Base Operating Appropriation $19,067,600

(ONPS, Operation of the National Park System)

SEPAS Project Funding $633,222

(SEPAS, Special Emphasis Program Allocation)

Equipment Replacement $547,962

Fire pro Base $1,801,830

80% Recreation Fee Demonstration Revenue Returned

(FY-97) $5,878, 100

(FY-98) $17,576,200

(FY-99) $19,083,000

(FY-00) $18,952,900

(FY-01) $17,772,656

(FY-02) $15,133,000

(FY-03) $12,646,480

(FY-04) $17,327,066

(FY-05) $12,637,171

(FY-06) $9,792,019

Total (FY 97-FY06) $146,798,592

Federal Lands Highway Program $96,000

Income

Utilities Reimbursable $4,319,605

Quarters $1,250,222

Concession Franchise Fees – 80% Portion (2006) $4,074,477

Donations (monetary) $303,163

Other (reimbursable, refundable, etc.) $2,924,865

National Park Service Staffing – Fiscal Year 2006

FTE (Full Time Equivalency) Information and Distribution:

Superintendent’s Office 11

Project Management Team 5

Administration 38

Science Center 41

Concessions 6

North Rim 26

Planning & Compliance 9

Maintenance 111

Interpretation 38

Protection 105

Fire 25

Total FY 2006 FTE Distributed Park wide 415

Geology

Plant and Animal Life

Birds 373 Species

Mammals 91 Species

Fish 17 Species

Reptiles and Amphibians 57 Species

Crustaceans 33 Species

Mollusks 37 Species

Invertebrates 8,480 (known species)

Plants (flowering or vascular) 1737 Species

Mosses 64 Species

Lichens 195 Species

Fungi 167 Species

Endemic Species 12 Species

Exotic non-native 171 Species

Vegetation Formations 6 Types

(Includes forest, woodland, scrubland, grassland, desert land, wetland, and riparian)

Extirpated Species: Grizzly bear, Black footed ferret, Gray wolf, Jaguar, Bear valley sandwort, Colorado pike minnow, Bony tail chub, Razorback sucker, Round tail chub, Northern leopard frog.

Endangered / Threatened: Animals: California condor, Humpback chub, Southwestern willow flycatcher, Razorback sucker, Mexican spotted owl, Kanab ambersnail, Little Colorado River spinedace, Yuma clapper rail, Desert Tortoise and Bald eagle. There are over 35 species of former USFWS Category 2 and Species of Special Concern.

Plants: The sentry milk vetch (Astragalus cremnophylax var.cremnophylax) is the only endangered plant in the park. There are no listed threatened plant species. Seven species of special concern (formerly category 2 species) are known.

The oldest human artifacts found are nearly 12,000 years old and date to the Paleo-Indian period. There has been continuous use and occupation of the park since that time. Archeological remains from the following culture groups are found in Grand Canyon National Park: Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Basketmaker, Ancestral Puebloan (Kayenta and Virgin branches), Cohonina, Cerbat, Pai, Zuni, Hopi, Navajo, and Euro-American. The park has recorded over 4,800 archeological resources with an intensive survey of nearly 3% of the park area.

Historic Structures

National Historic Landmarks

Individual Buildings 9

Districts (377 Buildings) 3

The Grand Canyon Village was listed as a National Historic Landmark District consisting of 257 contributing properties.

National Register of Historic Places

Individual Structures 9

Districts (336 structures) 6

Determinations of eligibility have been received for an additional 44 buildings and structures, and nominations are pending for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places for nine trails.

Determination of eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places has been received for 323 archaeological sites along the Colorado River.

List of Classified Structures (LCS): 875 listings LCS is inclusive of the National Historic Landmark and National Register programs currently being reviewed.

Climate

South Rim

Mean High Temperature 85°F / 29°C

Mean Low Temperature 18°F / -7°C

Average Annual Precipitation 26 in. / .66 m / 66 cm

North Rim

Mean High Temperature 77°F / 25°C

Mean Low Temperature 15°F / -9°C

Average Annual Precipitation 40 in. / 1 m / 100 cm

Phantom Ranch

Mean High Temperature 105°F / 40°C

Mean Low Temperature 38°F / 3°C

Average Annual Precipitation 8 in. / .2 m / 20cm

Climate in Grand Canyon National Park is relatively mild. However, low humidity generally allows large temperature differences between day and night. Since precipitation totals are low, year-to-year variations can be large (the passage of a few major storms can have a significant impact on the year’s total).

Visitation

Visitation – 2006 4,356,144

2006 Shuttle System Passengers 4,586,496

Year-round shuttle service began March 10, 2000.

Implemented in 1974, the shuttle system has provided over 83,137,631 rides since its inception.

2006 Backcountry Night Users 84,919

Corridor 48,225

Other Backcountry Trails 36,694

Approximate number of backcountry permits issued 11,131

2006 Colorado River Day Users

(As outlined in the Colorado River Management Plan of 1989)

Commercial 115,500

Noncommercial 54,450

2006 Mule Trip Riders

Xanterra (South Rim)

Plateau Point 4720

Phantom Ranch 1 night 3018

Phantom Ranch 2 nights 216

2006 Trail Rides (North Rim)

1 Hour Ride 1852

3 Hour Ride (1/2 day ride) 3370

All Day Ride 598

2006 Train Passengers 238,380

Commercial Air Tour Passengers (Industry Figures) 642,000*

Commercial Air Tour Flights (Industry Figures) 90,000*

*Note: Commercial air tour operations reported by the industry to the FAA between May 1, 1997 and April 30, 1998.

Development

Buildings

National Park Service 589

Concessionaire 553

Total 1,142

Trails

Maintained 51 miles / 82.1 km

Total 588 miles / 946.29 km

Roads 228 miles / 336.93 km

Sewage Treatment Facilities 4

Inner Trans-canyon Pipeline 23 miles / 37 km

Water from Roaring Springs to the North and South Rims

Lodging Units

South Rim 917

North Rim 203

Phantom Ranch 15

Recreational Vehicle Sites 70

Rim Campsites

Mather 316 family, 7 group, 3 hiker/biker

Desert View 50 family

North Rim 83 family, 4 group

Tuweep 10 family, 1 group

Visitor Facilities

Visitor center / museums, backcountry office, historic structures, scenic overlooks, rim trails, overnight lodging, trailer sites, dump stations, tent campsites, restaurants, cocktail lounges, general stores, gift shops, bookstores, kennel, post office, bank, service stations, dentist, medical clinic, showers and laundry. Some facilities may operate seasonally.

Visitor Services

Educational / environmental exhibits, ranger programs and hikes, Junior Ranger program, curriculum-based education programs, self-guided hikes, publication sales, backpacking, hiking, camping, picnicking, mule riding, guided bus tours, air tours (originating outside the park), shuttle bus service, river trips, bicycling, auto touring, fishing, church services, law enforcement, medical services, ambulance, fire protection, and taxi.

Concessioners

In 2005, the last year for which complete figures are available, 22 concessioners grossed approximately $127.9 million and paid franchise and other fees of approximately $7.9 million.

Law Enforcement Activities

Law Enforcement Activities – 2006

Part I Offenses Investigated 155

Part II Offenses Reported 1189

Law Enforcement Jurisdiction Concurrent

Emergency Medical Services – 2006

Emergency Medical Service Incidents 1278

Fatalities 13

Search and Rescue Incidents – 2006 249

Fire – 2006

Structural Fire Responses 71

For Information on the Tusayan Ruins at the Grand Canyon Click Here

For Information on the Grand Canyon's Artist in Residence Program Click Here

For Information on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon Click Here

For Information on Watching Sunrises and Sunsets at the Grand Canyon Click Here