Mather Point, Grand Canyon NP, Arizona

A late-winter snowstorm dusts both north and south rims of the Grand Canyon as seen in this black & white photograph from Mather Point along the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park. While snow-frosted Bright Angel Point in the distance reaches over 8,000 feet into the Arizona sky and Mather Point tops out at 7118 feet above sea level, the cottonwood trees far below along the Colorado River at 2400 feet were fully leafed out during this second week of March and hikers were sporting short sleeves. This huge elevation difference allows a rich diversity of habitats from rim to river. Lush alpine forests of Douglas fir carpet the highest points along the North Rim while sparse desert vegetation endures the scorching summer heat at the bottom of the canyon.