This National Park is located about 1.5 hours north of Flagstaff, Arizona. The park protects a big hole in the ground. At the base is the Colorado River. Okay...it's more impressive than that, by a lot. The park is split between North Rim (closed seasonally) and South Rim. The Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is an extension of the park to the west. Presidents can declare National Monuments with the stroke of the pen but Congress doesn't have to fund them.
Pro Tip: Hiking around the rim trails is easy. Commercially guided tours are required to ride a mule down the canyon or to raft the bottom. There are a few permits granted by lottery for water launches each year, allowing access for select dates the following year.
