Considering the ancient landscape of the Grand Canyon dates as far back as 70 million years, you’d think it hasn’t changed much in recent times. Historic photos, however, tell a different story. Check out these before-and-after photos of the Grand Canyon in Arizona to see just how far it’s come in all these decades and/or centuries. It’s always been beautiful, but a glimpse into the past is always nice:

If you’re planning a visit to this incredible national park, there’s no better time to visit than during National Park Week. Learn all about this celebration of America’s great outdoors — including fee-free days throughout the year!

This photo, taken in July of 1940, shows a park ranger traversing Clear Creek Trail on muleback. The trail was constructed in the mid-1930s to give Phantom Ranch visitors access to a side canyon.
Grand Canyon National Park/Wikimedia
The mule is transporting young trout to stock the creek with for fishing purposes.
Today, this 30.6-mile hike is much more heavily trafficked -- but considering the rock was formed over eons of erosion, you can hardly tell. Mule activity on the trail ceased amid WWII, so you likely won't encounter anyone other than pedestrians.
Jim Cornelius/AllTrails
Please note: Clear Creek Trail is an extremely challenging, multi-day backpacking trip that should only be attempted by very experienced adventurers.
Boasting some of the best views in the park, Grand Canyon Lodge overlooks the sprawling North Rim. It was built in 1927-28, initially consisting of the main building plus 20 deluxe and 100 standard cabins.
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr
This photograph was taken in July 1940.
A 1932 fire that began in the basement destroyed much of the main building, along with two cabins. Rebuilding began four years later, a project that gave us the Grand Canyon Lodge of today.
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr
The lodge might look different than it once did, but panoramic vistas such as this haven't gone anywhere.

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Pictured here is the point where the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers converge. It was taken from inside a helicopter circa 1957.
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr
Even in black and white, the sight is one to behold.
Take a look at the confluence in color. You can clearly see where the two bodies of water meet.
Fermin Perez Modino/Google Local
A bucket list-worthy view, without a doubt.
Remote and isolated, the Havasupai Indian Reservation is among the most elusive places in all of Arizona. It's home to Havasu Falls, a 98-foot-tall natural wonder so coveted, you need a permit to visit.
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr
Not everyone knows that an additional four waterfalls cascade down the rocky landscape. This is an 1899 photo of Navajo Falls.
Navajo Falls dried up due to a diversion in water course, but two new waterfalls replaced it after a 2008 flooding incident. Rock Falls and New Navajo Falls are located about one mile up from the Havasupai Campground.
Jeremy Stapleton/Flickr
Remember, a hike to any of the Havasupai waterfalls is extremely strenuous and must be planned a year or more in advance.

Visit the Grand Canyon NPS website to learn more about the park’s history.

What are your thoughts on these before-and-after photos of the Grand Canyon? Let us know, and check out our previous article for more Arizona history: 25 Rare Photos Taken In Arizona During The Great Depression.

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National Parks to Visit in Arizona

Tori Jane | January 17, 2022

What are some of the best hiking trails at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona?  

The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular destinations in the United States, and it’s easy to see why; it’s outrageously beautiful and somehow terrifying at the same time, and we couldn’t love it more. Few things remind you of how tiny you are as much as a good hike into or around the canyon! Some of the best include the world-famous Bright Angel Trail, which is easily the most popular hike in Arizona (if not the country). You can take numerous trails to some amazing waterfalls (we do have those here!), like the Thunder Head Trail, Deer Creek Trail, and the North Kaibab Trail. There are at least 30 amazing hikes at or in the Grand Canyon, many of which will show you sights you’ve never seen before (and will never see anywhere else). It’s an amazing place for hikers of all skill levels! For more information on those waterfall hikes at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, check this article out. 

What are some of the best National Parks in Arizona?  

Arizona has 31 state parks and 24 National sites, meaning parks, memorials, ruins, historic places, and more. “Best” is certainly subjective, though we’re pretty sure there’s truly something for everyone in the Copper State when it comes to amazing National Parks. Obviously, Grand Canyon National Park is the #1 attraction in the entire state (and one of the tip-top ones in the country), but there are more than just that one. Saguaro National Park, way down south near Tucson, is home to more than 2 million incredible Saguaro cacti, which grow exclusively in our deserts and in parts of Mexico. It’s a unique forest unlike any other, and we think you’ll love it. Petrified Forest National Park is also an incredible sight to behold, unlike any other you’ll find in the US, and it’s geology geek’s dream.  

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