GOOGLE EARTH features the Grand Canyon as one of its built-in destinations — but how realistic are the renditions when the viewing angle is similar to that of a hiker instead of overhead? Judge for yourself with this view from Columbus Point, just off the Boucher Trail in Hermit Canyon. Move your mouse pointer over the image, or tap it on a phone, and the Google Earth image will gradually come into view.

Here’s a Google Earth placemark for this approximate vantage point. If you have an older system and this page is a mess, here are the Google Earth and photographic images.   Photo © by Joe Hudson