In Depth

Recommended Reading

Among the hundreds of books written about the canyon, several stand out.

The most authoritative hiking guide is Scott Thybony's Official Guide to Hiking Grand Canyon (Grand Canyon Association, 2005). It provides an overview of the park's major trails, with input from rangers. Thybony's advice is helpful when preparing for daylong or multi-day hikes.

For John Wesley Powell's account of his 1,000-mile Colorado River expedition, read Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons (Penguin USA, 2003).

For a general overview, leaf through Grand Canyon: A Natural History Guide (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993) by Jeremy Schmidt, who reveals the canyon's larger beauty by exploring the smaller relationships between its dwellers.

If you don't know schist (but would like to), pick up An Introduction to Grand Canyon Geology (Grand Canyon Association, 1999) by L. Greer Price, who explains the canyon's geology in terms anyone can understand. Carving Grand Canyon (Grand Canyon Association, 2005) by Wayne Ranney is geared for non-scientists and, aided by excellent photos, explores theories of the canyon's formation. A recommended book describing the canyon's ecological diversity is An Introduction to Grand Canyon Ecology (Grand Canyon Association, 1980) by Rose Houk.

If people interest you most, look for Living at the Edge (Grand Canyon Association, 1998) by Michael F. Anderson, whose careful research traces the canyon's human history from the prehistoric desert cultures through the present.

Al Richmond's Story of the Grand Canyon Railway (Grand Canyon Railway, 2005) mentions everyone who influenced the railway, including cowboys and kings.

All the above titles are available from the Grand Canyon Association (tel. 800/858-2808; www.grandcanyon.org).