I first saw the Grand Canyon 35 years ago on a family trip that took me though Kansas, Colorado, Arizona, and California. Like almost everyone who sets eyes on this natural wonder, I was totally dazzled by the Canyon’s indescribable beauty and sheer enormity. I thought then that it was a true work of art created by nothing less than the hand of God. Last week, I saw the Grand Canyon for the second time, and I was no less awestruck by its uniquely overpowering appearance.

Prior to coming to the Canyon, my wife Becky and I were in Phoenix for a lawyer’s conference she attended. Once it concluded, we headed north, stopping in Flagstaff for a night before reaching the historic El Tovar hotel just off the Canyon’s rim. Our room, though small by today’s  hotel standards, was comfortable enough. The restaurant served outstanding food in enormous portions. Even a half stack of pancakes more than filled me up, and a serving of short ribs was so large, it provided a full dinner for both Becky and me.

The highlight of our trip was a mule ride we took around part of the Grand Canyon’s southern rim. Mules, we learned, are better suited for travel around and into the Canyon. They are more sure-footed than horses and are less likely to be spooked. Our guide, Jacob, explained that a startled horse might go charging off the edge; a mule won’t. So Becky and I felt pretty safe on Be-Be and Biddy, respectively. By the way, all the mules appeared to be well fed and well treated.

During our two-hour outing, we kept a slow-but-steady pace, stopping occasionally to drink water and snap photos. From our lofty position we could make out thin hiking trails far below as well as pine trees growing along the sides of the Canyon. The Colorado River could seldom be seen, except where rapids gave it a foamy white appearance. On the opposite side, we could barely discern the Desert View Watchtower, designed by noted architect Mary Coulter. One of the more notable features within the Canyon is “Shiva’s Temple,” a peak that resembles a bird taking off in flight. Jacob told us that the Grand Canyon runs about a mile deep and is 18 miles across at its widest point. Temperatures can vary widely within the Canyon with desert-like conditions at its base and winter weather at its top.

On our last day, Becky and I walked a mile or so along a different part of the southern rim, stopping at some gift shops, including the Hopi House and the Lookout Studio. We read signs explaining how the Colorado River formed the Canyon over hundreds of millions of years. And of course, we took  one last chance to admire the breath-taking beauty before us. The Canyon’s unique rock formations, blending colors, and spectacular views give it a majesty that no man-made structure could ever equal.