Air Quality
Pollution dramatically reduces canyon visibility.
Plan Around Air Quality
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Air Quality Details
The Grand Canyon lies downwind from coal-fired power plants in the Four Corners region, local mining operations, and urban and industrial regions of Mexico and California that all send pollution wafting overhead. The resulting effect on visibility at the canyon can be quite dramatic, not to mention the harm that pollution causes to the park's forests, soil, waterways, and wildlife. The impact that most park visitors may notice is on the views, which can be reduced from 170 miles to about below 70 miles by hazy pollution. Crystal-clear days are rare; on most days, pollution reduced canyon visibility to about 120 miles. Webcams within the park monitor daily visibility, while the National Park Services uses other instruments to track ozone, nitrogen, and sulfur levels. Shuttle buses and alternative-fuel vehicles are used in part to reduce automobile pollution in the park.
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Learn About the Park
Nearby Parks Around Air Quality
Compare nearby parks around Air Quality when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Air Quality
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Air Quality while the map context is still fresh.
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