How long did it take to form the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River corridor?

The Grand Canyon exposes rocks that are much older than the canyon itself. Much of the deep incision by the Colorado River is thought to have intensified in the past 5 to 6 million years, though the full history is more complex and debated. Tectonic uplift, river capture, and changing climate helped the river cut downward more effectively. The result is a canyon that is millions of years old but carved through rocks that can be nearly 2 billion years old.