Just 10 years after G E Kinkaid’s discovery of a huge complex cut out of the Grand Canyon rock in a cave located about 42 miles up the Colorado River from El Tovar Crystal Canyon, United States President Woodrow Wilson officially designated the area a national park, restricting access to vast areas of the geological wonder that would become one of continent's most popular tourist attractions.

The majority of the canyon remains open to hikers, rafters and sightseers but several parts were designated as no-go zones within the national park to allegedly protect sensitive land and cultural sites. These restrictions appear in permit rules and ranger guidance rather than dramatic warning signs but travellers being turned away from certain paths or areas is a common theme.

Mind you, the caution is understandable as the canyon is littered with hundreds of caves formed over thousands of years protecting endangered wildlife, containing rare minerals and historic remains, with bat colonies and fragile formations inside many of them requiring quiet and clean conditions. So the restrictions in many cases are totally justified and all caves are closed to visitors unless they have a formal research permit, as exploring them without training risks injury and damage. So, while some caves were explored long ago, they are now locked up to “protect” the history and life inside.... FULL STORY