Can you walk up to the edge of the Grand Canyon?

Question

I'm wondering if there are any laws, park policies, barriers that would prevent someone from standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

Answer 1

There are no specific rules preventing people from walking up to the very edge of the canyon, although there are signs around warning people to be careful.

At all of the major overlooks and the areas around the lodges (where %95 of visitors stay) there is always either a metal railing or a stone wall between you and the edge. It would be very difficult for an adult to fall off the edge at one of these developed spots by accident. Nearly all the people that die from falls at the edge of the canyon are either very small childern who run around the edge (or climb under) the railing or people lacking in common sense who climb past the railings to get a photo, etc. I have never heard of an adult falling of the edge in the developed areas who was not doing something stupid.

Now if you go hiking into the canyon, especially on the lesser used trails like Hance or Grandview, there are some scary spots in places, but even on the trails accidental falls by people who were not doing something stupid are rare (though they do happen). Far more people die in the canyon each year from heat stroke, dehydration, and related issues rather than falls.

Note that the Grand Canyon is over 277 miles long at the river. When you figure in both side of the canyon and all the ins-and-outs of the side canyons, you are looking at probably a couple thousand miles of rim - not very feasible to fence it all off.

Keep in mind too, that far far more people walk down sidewalks each day with no walls or fences preventing them from stepping 5 feet to the side and right into the path of a car. The developed rim areas of the canyon is really not a dangerous place at all - it just that when an accident does occur (again, usually somebody doing something stupid), it gets national attention.

Answer 2

I have been there and yes you can walk to the egde, but most of the time there will be a fence or soemthing to prevent you from falling (sounds safe enough, right?) Although, if you chose to hike on a trail up the canyon or down into it, you will surely be able to stand on the very edge without and restrictions.
=)

Answer 3

No, you can do it, but most of the time in really steep areas there are fences to hold you back.

Answer 4

You can fall in if you want. You can also walk into it - there are numerous trail heads that lead to river.