What problems do some visitors cause in the Grand Canyon?

As humans continue to visit the Grand Canyon, they may unwittingly introduce alien plant and animal species that soon out-compete the local flora and fauna of the Grand Canyon. An example is the Tamarisk plant, an invasive woody plant that found its way from the Glen Canyon Dam down to the heart of the Grand Canyon.



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Falls, heat stroke, dehydration: Each year, hikers die on their Grand Canyon trip because they underestimate the dangers of the wilderness. Canyon experts Michael Ghiglieri and Tom Myers (a biologist and a medical doctor) documented these tragedies in their book Over the Edge – Death in Grand Canyon.

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Tourism often puts pressure on natural resources through over-consumption, often in places where resources are already scarce. Tourism puts enormous stress on local land use, and can lead to soil erosion, increased pollution, natural habitat loss, and more pressure on endangered species.

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The odds of dying from falling off the rim in the Grand Canyon are 1 in 1.8 million visitors. There are roughly 5 million visitors at the Grand Canyon every year, and on average two to three deaths per year are from accidental falls over the rim, according to park spokeswoman Kirby-Lynn Shedlowski.

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E. coli bacteria has been detected in the water supply inside the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, according to an advisory released by the National Park Service (NPS).

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As tourists bring new money to an area, crime rates may also increase, with tourists being targeted as 'easy money'. Locals may also develop a negative view of tourists, especially with large influxes of visitors, or if local values are not respected by tourists and popular visitor areas are not kept clean.

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Environmental impacts can be categorized as direct effects including degradation of habitat, vegetation, air quality, bodies of water, the water table, wildlife, and changes in natural phenomena, and indirect effects, such as increased harvesting of natural resources to supply food, indirect air and water pollution ( ...

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Disadvantages of Tourism
  • Tourists' Negligence of the Environment. ...
  • Exploitation of Local Culture. ...
  • Tourists' Lack of Compliance. ...
  • Lack of Job Security/Seasonal only. ...
  • Limited to Service-only Jobs. ...
  • Uneven Infrastructure Development. ...
  • Foreign Business Owners. ...
  • Disregard for Other Sectors.


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Bring a flashlight with you in case you need to explore the park at night. Avoid hiking alone and try to find a hiking partner or group to explore the park with. Be aware of the wildlife in the park and take precautions to avoid any dangerous encounters.

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View Grand Canyon Safely In areas where there is a railing or fence, do not climb over the barrier. Keep an eye on all of the people in your group, especially small children. Make sure that your travel companions have both feet firmly planted on pavement or developed trails at all times. Know where the edge is.

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Water available at these locations has been deemed safe for all human and animal consumption. Potable water at Grand Canyon is treated at multiple locations before being distributed for consumption. Grand Canyon treats all potable water beyond State of Arizona and EPA standards for public consumption.

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