Grand Canyon Snow
One of the surprising things to many who come to Northern Arizona is the fact that we have snow. And when I say snow, I mean not just a little, but quite a lot! In fact, Flagstaff is often listed as one of the top 10 snowiest cities in America each year. With the higher elevations and colder temperatures, we are no strangers to snowfall, and much of it settles around us during the winter months. While we see a fair amount of snow on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, it pales in comparison to the North Rim. Being roughly a thousand feet higher in elevation than the South Rim, the North Rim typically sees 10–12 feet of snow each year. This means that while the South Rim may be dusted lightly in snow, the North Rim becomes an awe-inspiring winter wonderland.
If you’ve never seen the Grand Canyon clothed in freshly fallen snow, you are missing out on something truly spectacular. The layers of rock, which are already magnificent and layered in hues of red, orange, and brown, take on a completely new character when blanketed by snow. While it rarely blankets the bottom of the canyon, the snow that falls on the banded layers of the Supai Group near the upper reaches of the canyon creates a red and white candy-cane display, arraying the canyon in a whole new veil of beauty.
This transformation is breathtaking, as the canyon, usually known for its vastness and grandeur, is momentarily softened by the delicate, pure snow. This glistening glory, like frosting on a multi-layered cake, is a sight to behold, with the snow resting gently on the canyon’s edges, providing a contrast to the deep, rich colors beneath. It’s often seen on our rim tours and guided hikes during the winter season. The crisp air, the quiet stillness of winter, and the awe-inspiring beauty of snow on the rim combine to make this a magical time to visit.
Even more remarkable is when we witness the snow blanketing the rim above during our early season river trips, offering a rare and fleeting view of a snow-covered canyon. The contrast of the river’s deep blue and the white snow on the rim above is something that can’t be captured in words, but only experienced with your own senses. To see the Grand Canyon through this snowy lens is to see it as a different place altogether, as if the canyon itself is telling us that its beauty is ever-changing, ever-shifting, and always renewing itself in the hands of the Creator.
The snow has a transformative effect on how we see the canyon. It doesn’t just change the scenery; it changes the way we engage with the world around us. It reminds me of the transformative effect that the blood of Christ Jesus has on how the Father sees us. Just as the snow transforms the canyon, the blood of Jesus transforms our lives. Because of the selfless sacrifice of the promised Messiah, God is able to see us in a different way—no longer stained by our own sinful nature, but made clean and renewed by His Son. Christ’s sacrifice allows us to be transformed in His glory. When God looks at us, He no longer sees our sin, but He sees the purity and righteousness of Jesus. It’s as if He is seeing us through a filter of His Son’s blood, which cleanses and renews us.
The gift of salvation that God makes available to us far surpasses the grandeur of this canyon. The depths of the Grand Canyon are awe-inspiring, but the depth of God’s love for us is immeasurable. The canyon is a symbol of creation’s majesty, but the gift of salvation is the pinnacle of His love, a love that is far deeper than this mile-deep hole in the ground. While the canyon can only be seen, salvation can be experienced personally and eternally. God’s love for us is an ever-present reality that is much deeper than any earthly landscape.
Even as I write this, I look out the window to see gracefully falling flakes making their way from the heavens to the earth, this very moment transforming the world around us. With each snowflake that falls, the world around me is softened, renewed, and made fresh. It reminds me that God is continually at work, making all things new, bringing light into the darkest of times. The snow outside is more than just a physical occurrence; it’s a reminder of the ongoing transformation God works in our hearts and lives. Thank you, God, for the beautiful reminder of snow—a reminder of Your cleansing, renewing power, and of the promise that we are made clean and whole in You.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 ESV
