Since there are no bridges over the Colorado River anywhere near the Grand Canyon, the shortest distance by road between the South Rim and the North Rim is 215 miles. The hike down one side of the Grand Canyon and up the other takes two days and a vast amount of effort. The temperature on the rim is often in the 90's in mid summer and increases quite considerably as you descend from the rim. Therefore the two rims must be considered as effectively forming two separate areas, although they are within sight of each other. The statistics of the Grand Canyon are staggering: LENGTH: 217 miles (not all of which lies within the Grand Canyon National Park). DEPTH: One mile. The world's tallest skyscrapers would fit inside the inner gorge of the canyon. WIDTH: Varies from 4 miles to 18 miles. The Grand Canyon is so vast and so complex that it is often difficult for the mind to comprehend what the eyes are seeing. Unless you are prepared to undertake an extremely strenuous hike or take an expensive mule trip or plane ride then your views will be limited to those from the rims, but these are magnificent in their own right. At sunset or sunrise, you can't tell where the heavens end and the earth begins. Everyone should visit the Grand Canyon National Park. ARIZONA the GRAND-CANYON-STATE