Grand Canyon. This article is about the canyon in the southwestern United States. For other Grand Canyons, see Grand Canyon (disambiguation). The Grand Canyon (Hopi: Ongtupqa; Yavapai: Wi:kaʼi:la, Navajo: Tsékooh Hatsoh, Spanish: Gran Cañón) is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the U.S. state of Arizona in North America.