I do not have photos of my visit to Grand Canyon in 1993, but the memory of it will remain with me forever. My wife and son were with me as we drove late at night down the road to the lodge on the north rim. It was about 10:30 p.m. My wife and son were engaged in watching the incredible night sky and the stars, while I kept my focus on the road. Suddenly, a huge animal arched completely from one side of the road to the other in a split second. It was a mountain lion. Later, a park ranger told me that he had been working there for eight years and had never seen a mountain lion. So, I felt honored to have seen this magnificent animal. Surely, we Americans have little understanding of the meaning of our wonderful national parks. Otherwise, our current government could not take such an antagonistic approach to these sacred places.
Sincerely,
Grand Canyon National Park
America’s Southwest is full of breathtaking canyons, but none as famous or as widely visited as the Grand Canyon. This world-famous landmark offers wondrous views, spectacular hiking, exhilarating whitewater rafting and countless adventures. One look across the enormous chasm confirms just why this inspirational place is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a must-see destination for so many travelers. The park also protects a wealth of biological diversity, including numerous endemic and threatened species and several rare ecosystems.
State(s): Arizona
Established: 1919
“All of us have an urgent need to immerse ourselves in the natural environment, away from the man-made world of materialism. The Native Americans obviously knew how sacred were the places that have been set aside as national parks by wise, thinking administrators. These precious spaces contain far more spiritual substance than any materialistic endeavors in our culture.”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}-
Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park
My husband, Doug, has never camped in a national park. We bought a rooftop camper and set off the 5 hour drive to the Grand Canyon and spent 24 hours hiking, biking, eating and sleeping at the Park and he loved it! Good thing I bought an America the Beautiful…
-
Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park
The first park we ever visited together was Grand Canyon National Park. We had only been dating a few months, but it was always at the top of my bucket list so Roberto surprised me with a trip. Not only did we fall in love with GCNP, but we fell…
Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now