Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument

Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument covers about one million acres of high plateaus, deep canyons, and rugged mountain terrain across northern Arizona. The landscape displays varied rock formations and elevations that shift from desert floor to forest-covered heights.

The monument was established in 2000 to protect archaeological resources and natural landscapes spanning thousands of years of human presence. Ancestral Puebloan peoples built settlements and left cultural remains throughout the region before their departure.

Indigenous peoples have lived in this region for thousands of years, leaving behind rock art and settlement sites that still dot the landscape today. Walking through the monument, you encounter these traces of past inhabitants woven into the natural surroundings.

A visit requires a high-clearance vehicle and navigation tools since no facilities or services operate within the monument. Bring adequate water and supplies to prepare for remote conditions and limited help along rarely traveled routes.

The monument sits where two distinct geological provinces meet, with Mojave Desert landscapes transitioning into Colorado Plateau terrain. This rare convergence creates an unusual blend of plant life found in both arid and higher elevation environments within the same area.

Location: Mohave County

Inception: January 11, 2000

Operator: National Park Service;BLM

Website: https://nps.gov/para

GPS coordinates: 36.40000,-113.70000

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:03