Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is located in Arizona in the northwest corner of the Grand Canyon. With over a million acres of land to explore, the size is nearly equal to Grand Canyon National Park, though this monument is little-known. The national monument was established in 2000 by Presidential Proclamation. Three ecoregions meet at the national monument creating an expansive region of remote land. These three ecoregions are the Colorado Plateau, Mohave Desert, and the Basin and Range Province.
This expansive national monument has many different areas to explore. Many popular routes and loop roads have scenic vistas and historical sites to explore. The Grand Gulch Mine Loop leads visitors to the ruins of a mining operation. Twin Point Scenic Grand Canyon Overlook greets those who make the journey with breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon. At night, the dark sky is free of light pollution making the area an optimal location for stargazing.
The roads within the national monument are rocky with tight turns. Four-wheel-drive vehicles or UTVs are highly recommended. It is discouraged to attempt travel on these roads in a standard car or with an RV. Even with the most well-equipped car, visitors should come with spare tires, a full tank of gas, tools in case they get stuck, and extra food and water. Many areas at this remote park have no cell phone service while in other areas it’s spotty at best.