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Exploring | Sports and the Outdoors | Shopping
Visitors to the canyon converge mostly on the South Rim, and mostly in summer. Grand Canyon Village is here, with a majority of the park’s lodging and camping, trailheads, restaurants, stores, and museums, along with a nearby airport and railroad depot. Believe it or not, the average stay in the park is a mere half day or so; this is not advised! You need to spend several days to truly appreciate this marvelous place, but at the very least, give it a full day. Hike down into the canyon, or along the rim, to get away from the crowds and experience nature at its finest.
Exploring
Scenic Drives
Desert View Drive.
This heavily traveled 23-mile stretch of road follows the rim from the East entrance to Grand Canyon Village. Starting from the less-congested entry near Desert View, road warriors can get their first glimpse of the canyon from the 70-foot-tall watchtower, the top of which provides the highest viewpoint on the South Rim. Eight overlooks, the remains of an Ancestral Puebloan dwelling at the Tusayan Ruin and Museum, and the secluded and lovely Buggeln picnic area make for great stops along the South Rim. The Kaibab Trail Route shuttle bus travels a short section of Desert View Drive and takes 50 minutes to ride round-trip without getting off at any of the stops: Grand Canyon Visitor Center, South Kaibab Trailhead, Yaki Point, Pipe Creek Vista, Mather Point, and Yavapai Geology Museum. | Grand Canyon.
Hermit Road.
The Santa Fe Company built Hermit Road, formerly known as West Rim Drive, in 1912 as a scenic tour route. Nine overlooks dot this 7-mile stretch, each worth a visit. The road is filled with hairpin turns, so make sure you adhere to posted speed limits. A 1.5-mile Greenway trail offers easy access to cyclists looking to enjoy the original 1912 Hermit Rim Road. From March through November, Hermit Road is closed to private auto traffic because of congestion; during this period, a free shuttle bus carries visitors to all the overlooks. Riding the bus round-trip without getting off at any of the viewpoints takes 75 minutes; the return trip stops only at Pima, Mohave, and Powell points. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Historic Sites
Kolb Studio.
The Kolb brothers began building their photographic workshop and residence in 1904, a time when no pipeline meant Emery Kolb descended 3,000 feet each day to get water to develop his prints; he operated the studio until he died in 1976 at age 95. Today the building provides a view of Indian Garden and houses a gallery with changing painting, photography, and crafts exhibitions. There’s also a small Grand Canyon Association store here. During the winter months, a ranger-led tour of the studio illustrates the role the Kolb brothers had in the development of the Grand Canyon. Call ahead to sign up for the tour. | Grand Canyon Village near Bright Angel Lodge | Grand Canyon National Park | 928/638–2771 | www.grandcanyon.org/kolb | Free | Apr.–mid-Oct., daily 8–7; mid-Oct.–Apr., daily 8–6.
Best Grand Canyon Views
The best time of day to see the canyon is before 10 and after 4, when the angle of the sun brings out the colors of the rock, and clouds and shadows add dimension. Colors deepen dramatically among the contrasting layers of the canyon walls just before and during sunrise and sunset.
Hopi Point is the top spot on the South Rim to watch the sun set; Yaki and Pima points also offer vivid views. For a grand sunrise, try Mather or Yaki points.
TIP Arrive at least 30 minutes early for sunrise views and as much as 90 minutes for sunset views at these points. For another point of view, take a leisurely stroll along the Rim Trail and watch the color change along with the views. Timetables are listed in the Guide and are posted at park visitor centers.
Lookout Studio.
Built in 1914 to compete with the Kolbs’ photographic studio, the building was designed by architect Mary Jane Colter. The combination lookout point and gift shop has a collection of fossils and geologic samples from around the world. An upstairs loft provides another excellent overlook into the gorge below. | About 1/4 mile west of Hermit Rd. Junction on Hermit Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park | Free | Daily 9–5.
Powell Memorial.
A granite platform honors the memory of John Wesley Powell, who measured, charted, and named many of the canyons and creeks of the Colorado River. It was here that the dedication ceremony for Grand Canyon National Park took place on April 3, 1920. | About 3 miles west of Hermit Rd. Junction on Hermit Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Tusayan Ruin and Museum.
Completed in 1932, this museum offers a quick orientation to the lifestyles of the prehistoric and modern Indian populations associated with the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau. Adjacent, an excavation of an 800-year-old dwelling gives a glimpse of the lives of some of the area’s earliest residents. Of special interest are split-twig figurines dating back 2,000 to 4,000 years ago, a replica of a 10,000-year-old spear point, and other artifacts left behind by ancient cultures. A ranger leads twice-daily interpretive tours of the Ancestral Puebloan village along a 0.1-mile paved loop trail. | About 20 miles east of Grand Canyon Village on E. Rim Dr. | Grand Canyon National Park | 928/638–7888 | Free | Daily 9–5.
Scenic Stops
The Abyss.
At an elevation of 6,720 feet, the Abyss is one of the most awesome stops on Hermit Road, revealing a sheer drop of 3,000 feet to the Tonto Platform, a wide terrace of Tapeats sandstone about two-thirds of the way down the canyon. From the Abyss you’ll also see several isolated sandstone columns, the largest of which is called the Monument. | About 5 miles west of Hermit Rd. Junction on Hermit Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Desert View and Watchtower.
From the top of the 70-foot stone-and-mortar watchtower, even the muted hues of the distant Painted Desert to the east and the Vermilion Cliffs rising from a high plateau near the Utah border are visible. In the chasm below, angling to the north toward Marble Canyon, an imposing stretch of the Colorado River reveals itself. Up several flights of stairs, the watchtower houses a glass-enclosed observatory with powerful telescopes. | About 23 miles east of Grand Canyon Village on Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon National Park | 928/638–2736 | Daily 8–8; hrs vary in winter.
Grandview Point.
At an elevation of 7,399 feet, the view from here is one of the finest in the canyon. To the northeast is a group of dominant buttes, including Krishna Shrine, Vishnu Temple, Rama Shrine, and Sheba Temple. A short stretch of the Colorado River is also visible. Directly below the point, and accessible by the steep and rugged Grandview Trail, is Horseshoe Mesa, where you can see remnants of Last Chance Copper Mine. | About 12 miles east of Grand Canyon Village on Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Hermits Rest.
This westernmost viewpoint and Hermit Trail, which descends from it, were named for “hermit” Louis Boucher, a 19th-century French-Canadian prospector who had a number of mining claims and a roughly built home down in the canyon. The trail served as the original mule ride down to Hermit Camp beginning in 1914. Views from here include Hermit Rapids and the towering cliffs of the Supai and Redwall formations. You can buy curios and snacks in the stone building at Hermits Rest. | About 8 miles west of Hermit Rd. Junction on Hermit Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Fodor’s Choice | Hopi Point.
From this elevation of 6,800 feet, you can see a large section of the Colorado River; although it appears as a thin line, the river is nearly 350 feet wide. The overlook extends farther into the canyon than any other point on Hermit Road. The unobstructed views make this a popular place to watch the sunset.
Across the canyon to the north is Shiva Temple, which remained an unexplored section of the Kaibab Plateau until 1937. That year, Harold Anthony of the American Museum of Natural History led an expedition to the rock formation in the belief that it supported life that had been cut off from the rest of the canyon. Imagine the expedition members’ surprise when they found an empty Kodak film box on top of the temple—it had been left behind by Emery Kolb, who felt slighted for not having been invited to join Anthony’s tour.
Directly below Hopi Point lies Dana Butte, named for a prominent 19th-century geologist. In 1919, an entrepreneur proposed connecting Hopi Point, Dana Butte, and the Tower of Set across the river with an aerial tramway, a technically feasible plan that fortunately has not been realized. | About 4 miles west of Hermit Rd. Junction on Hermit Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Lipan Point.
Here, at the canyon’s widest point, you can get an astonishing visual profile of the gorge’s geologic history, with a view of every eroded layer of the canyon and one of the longest visible stretches of Colorado River. The spacious panorama stretches to the Vermilion Cliffs on the northeastern horizon and features a multitude of imaginatively named spires, buttes, and temples—intriguing rock formations named after their resemblance to ancient pyramids. You can also see Unkar Delta, where a creek joins the Colorado to form powerful rapids and a broad beach. Ancestral Puebloan farmers worked the Unkar Delta for hundreds of years, growing corn, beans, and melons. | About 25 miles east of Grand Canyon Village on Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Maricopa Point.
This site merits a stop not only for the arresting scenery, which includes the Colorado River below, but also for its view of a defunct mine operation. On your left, as you face the canyon, are the Orphan Mine, a mine shaft, and cable lines leading up to the rim. The mine, which started operations in 1893, was worked first for copper and then for uranium until the venture came to a halt in 1969. Little remains of the mine infrastructure today, but some displays along the Rim Trail discuss its history. The Battleship, the red butte directly ahead of you in the canyon, was named during the Spanish-American War, when warships were in the news. | About 2 miles west of Hermit Rd. Junction on Hermit Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Fodor’s Choice | Mather Point.
You’ll likely get your first glimpse of the canyon from this viewpoint, one of the most impressive and accessible (next to the main visitor center plaza) on the South Rim. Named for the National Park Service’s first director, Stephen Mather, this spot yields extraordinary views of the Grand Canyon, including deep into the inner gorge and numerous buttes: Wotans Throne, Brahma Temple, and Zoroaster Temple, among others. The Grand Canyon Lodge, on the North Rim, is almost directly north from Mather Point and only 10 miles away—yet you have to drive 215 miles to get from one spot to the other. | Near Grand Canyon Visitor Center | Grand Canyon National Park | 928/638–7888 | www.nps.gov/grca.
Tips for Avoiding Grand Canyon Crowds
It’s hard to commune with nature while you’re searching for a parking place, dodging video cameras, and stepping away from strollers. However, this scenario is likely only during the peak summer months. One option is to bypass Grand Canyon National Park altogether and head to the West Rim of the canyon, tribal land of the Hualapai and Havasupai. If only the park itself will do, the following tips will help you to keep your distance and your cool.
Take Another Route
Avoid road rage by choosing a different route to the South Rim, forgoing the traditional Highway 64 and U.S. 180 from Flagstaff. Take U.S. 89 north from Flagstaff instead, passing near Sunset Crater and Wupatki national monuments. When you reach the junction with Highway 64, take a break at Cameron Trading Post (1 mile north of the junction)—or stay overnight. This is a good place to shop for Native American artifacts, souvenirs, and the usual postcards, dream-catchers, recordings, and T-shirts. There are also high-quality Navajo rugs, jewelry, and other authentic handicrafts, and you can sample Navajo tacos. Highway 64 to the west takes you directly to the park’s east entrance; the scenery along the Little Colorado River gorge en route is eye-popping. It’s 23 miles from the east entrance to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center in the village.
Skip the South Rim
Although the North Rim is just 10 miles across from the South Rim, the trip to get there by car is a five-hour drive of 215 miles. At first it might not sound like the trip would be worth it, but the payoff is huge. Along the way, you’ll travel through some of the prettiest parts of the state and be granted even more stunning views than those on the more easily accessible South Rim. Those who make the North Rim trip often insist it has the canyon’s most beautiful views and best hiking. To get to the North Rim from Flagstaff, take U.S. 89 north past Cameron, turning left onto U.S. 89A at Bitter Springs. En route you’ll pass the area known as Vermilion Cliffs. At Jacob Lake, take Highway 67 directly to the Grand Canyon North Rim. North Rim services are closed from mid-October through mid-May because of heavy snow, but in summer months and early fall, it’s a wonderful way to beat the crowds at the South Rim.
Mohave Point.
Some of the canyon’s most magnificent stone spires and buttes visible from this lesser-known overlook include the Tower of Set; the Tower of Ra; and Isis, Osiris, and Horus temples. From here you can view the 5,401-foot Cheops Pyramid, a grayish rock formation behind Dana Butte, plus some of the strongest rapids on the Colorado River. | About 5 miles west of Hermit Rd. Junction on Hermit Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Moran Point.
This point was named for American landscape artist Thomas Moran, who was especially fond of the play of light and shadows from this location. He first visited the canyon with John Wesley Powell in 1873. “Thomas Moran’s name, more than any other, with the possible exception of Major Powell’s, is to be associated with the Grand Canyon,” wrote noted canyon photographer Ellsworth Kolb. It’s fitting that Moran Point is a favorite spot of photographers and painters. | About 17 miles east of Grand Canyon Village on Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Navajo Point.
A possible site of the first Spanish view into the canyon in 1540, this overlook is also at the highest natural elevation (7,461 feet) on the South Rim. | About 21 miles east of Grand Canyon Village on Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Pima Point.
Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Tonto Platform and Tonto Trail, which winds its way through the canyon for more than 70 miles. Also to the west, two dark, cone-shape mountains—Mount Trumbull and Mount Logan—are visible on the North Rim on clear days. They rise in stark contrast to the surrounding flat-top mesas and buttes. | About 7 miles west of Hermit Rd. Junction on Hermit Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Trailview Overlook.
Look down on a dramatic view of the Bright Angel and Plateau Point trails as they zigzag down the canyon. In the deep gorge to the north flows Bright Angel Creek, one of the region’s few permanent tributary streams of the Colorado River. Toward the south is an unobstructed view of the distant San Francisco Peaks, as well as Bill Williams Mountain (on the horizon) and Red Butte (about 15 miles south of the canyon rim). | About 2 miles west of Hermit Rd. Junction on Hermit Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Yaki Point.
Stop here for an exceptional view of Wotans Throne, a flat-top butte named by François Matthes, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist who developed the first topographical map of the Grand Canyon. The overlook juts out over the canyon, providing unobstructed views of inner-canyon rock formations, South Rim cliffs, and Clear Creek canyon. About a mile south of Yaki Pointis the trailhead for the South Kaibab Trail. The point is one of the best places on the South Rim to watch the sunset. | 2 miles east of Grand Canyon Village on Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Fodor’s Choice | Yavapai Point.
This is also one of the best locations on the South Rim to watch the sunset. Dominated by the Yavapai Geology Museum and Observation Station, this point displays panoramic views of the mighty gorge through a wall of windows. Exhibits at the museum include videos of the canyon floor and the Colorado River, a scaled diorama of the canyon with national park boundaries, fossils and rock fragments used to re-create the complex layers of the canyon walls, and a display on the natural forces used to carve the chasm. Dig even deeper into Grand Canyon geology with free daily ranger programs. Check ahead for special events, guided walks, and program schedules. There’s also a bookstore. | 1 mile east of Market Plaza | Grand Canyon Village | Free | Museum daily 8–6.
Educational Offerings
Ranger Programs
Interpretive Ranger Programs.
The National Park Service sponsors all sorts of orientation activities, such as daily guided hikes and talks, which change with the seasons. The focus may be on any aspect of the canyon—from geology and flora and fauna to history and early inhabitants. For schedules on the South Rim, go to any of the Grand Canyon visitor centers, pick up a free copy of the Guide, or check online. | 928/638–7888 | www.nps.gov/grca | Free.
Junior Ranger Program for Families.
The Junior Ranger Program provides a free, fun way to look at the cultural and natural history of this sublime destination. These hands-on educational activities for children ages 4 and up, available at the visitor centers, include guided adventure hikes, ranger-led “discovery” talks, and book readings. | 928/638–7888 | www.nps.gov/grca/forkids/beajuniorranger.htm | Free.
Sports and the Outdoors
Air Tours
Flights by plane and helicopter over the canyon are offered by a number of companies, departing from the Grand Canyon Airport at the south end of Tusayan. Though the noise and disruption of so many aircraft buzzing around the canyon is controversial, flightseeing remains a popular, if expensive, option. You’ll have more visibility from a helicopter, but they’re louder and more expensive than the fixed-wing planes. Prices and lengths of tours vary, but you can expect to pay about $169 per adult for short plane trips and approximately $179–$250 for brief helicopter tours (and about $500 for combination plane and helicopter tours leaving from Vegas). These companies often have significant discounts in winter—check the company websites to find the best deals.
Tours
Grand Canyon Airlines.
This company offers a variety of plane tours, from a 50-minute fixed-wing tour of the eastern edge of the Grand Canyon, the North Rim, and the Kaibab Plateau to an all-day tour that combines flightseeing with four-wheel-drive tours and float trips on the Colorado River. They also schedule combination tours that leave from Las Vegas (plane flight from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Airport, then helicopter flight into the canyon). | Grand Canyon Airport | Tusayan | 928/638–2359, 866/235–9422 | www.grandcanyonairlines.com | From $169.
Maverick Helicopters.
Maverick Helicopters has 25- and 45-minute tours of the South Rim, North Rim, and Dragon Corridor of the Grand Canyon. Airplane tours out of Las Vegas are also provided. A landing tour option for those flying from Las Vegas to the West Rim sets you down in the canyon for a short snack below the rim. | Grand Canyon Airport | Grand Canyon | 928/638–2622, 800/962–3869 | www.flymaverick.com | From $165.
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters.
Leaving from Grand Canyon Airport, Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters operates in tandem with Grand Canyon Airlines to offer combination fixed-wing and helicopter tours of the canyon. Add-on options include off-road jeep tours and smooth-water rafting trips. | Grand Canyon Airport | Tusayan | 928/638–2764, 888/635–7272 | www.papillon.com | From $124.
Bicycling
The South Rim’s limited opportunities for off-road biking, narrow shoulders on park roads, and heavy traffic may disappoint hard-core cyclists. Bicycles are permitted on all park roads and on the multiuse Greenway System, as well as Bridle Trail. Bikes are prohibited on all other trails, including the Rim Trail. Some find Hermit Road a good biking option, especially from March through November when it’s closed to cars. You can ride west 8 miles and then put your bike on the free shuttle bus back into the village (or vice versa). Mountain bikers visiting the South Rim may be better off meandering through the ponderosa pine forest on the Tusayan Bike Trail. Rentals and guided bicycling tours are available April to October at the South Rim from Bright Angel Bicycles (928/638–3055 | www.bikegrandcanyon.com) at the visitor center complex. Bicycle camping sites are available at Mather Campground for $6 per person.
White-Water Rafting at the Grand Canyon
So you’re ready to tackle the churning white water of the Colorado River as it rumbles and hisses its way through the Grand Canyon? Well, you’re in good company: the crafty, one-armed Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell first charted these dangerous rapids during the summer of 1869. It wasn’t until 1938, though, that Norman Neville led the first commercial river trip (using plywood boats!) down this fearsome corridor. Running the river has come a long way since then—and since Alexander Grant made the first trip by kayak, in 1941, in a canvas-covered craft he built out of scrap lumber, partly salvaged from an outhouse.
Before You Go
Keep in mind that seats fill up fast due to the restricted number of visitors allowed on the river each season by the National Park Service. Due to the limited availability, reservations for multiday trips should be made a year or two in advance. Lots of people book trips for summer’s peak period: June through August. If you’re flexible, take advantage of the Arizona weather; May to early June and September are ideal rafting times in the Grand Canyon.
What to Expect
White-water rafting still offers all the excitement of those early days—without the danger and discomfort. Most trips begin at Lees Ferry, a few miles below the Glen Canyon Dam near Page. There are tranquil half- and full-day float trips from the Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry, as well as raft trips that run from 3 to 18 days. The shorter three- and four-day voyages either begin or end at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon at river mile 87. On the longer trips, you’ll encounter the best of the canyon’s white water along the way, including Lava Falls, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “the fastest navigable white water stretch in North America.” Life jackets, beverages, tents, sheets, tarps, sleeping bags, dry bags, first aid, and food are provided—but you’ll still need to plan ahead by packing clothing, a rain suit, hats, sunscreen, toiletries, and other sundries. Commercial outfitters allow each river runner two waterproof bags to store items during the day. Just keep in mind that one of the bags will be filled up with the provided sleeping bag and tarp, which only leaves one for your personal belongings.
While most people band together as a group, there’s still plenty of open space for solitude. After the first night, most rafters give up on pitching tents and spread their sleeping bags under the stars.
Hiking
Although permits are not required for day hikes, you must have a backcountry permit for longer trips. Some of the more popular trails are listed here; more detailed information and maps can be obtained from the Backcountry Information centers. Also, rangers can help design a trip to suit your abilities.
Remember that the canyon has significant elevation changes and, in summer, extreme temperature ranges, which can pose problems for people who aren’t in good shape or who have heart or respiratory problems. TIP Carry plenty of water and energy foods. Listen to the podcast Hiking Smart on the Park’s website to prepare for your trip. The majority of each year’s 400 search-and-rescue incidents result from hikers underestimating the size of the canyon, hiking beyond their abilities, or not packing sufficient food and water.
TIP Under no circumstances should you attempt a day hike from the rim to the river and back. Remember that when it’s 80°F on the South Rim, it’s 110°F on the canyon floor. Allow two to four days if you want to hike rim to rim (it’s easier to descend from the North Rim, as it’s more than 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim). Hiking steep trails from rim to rim is a strenuous trek of at least 21 miles and should only be attempted by experienced canyon hikers.
Easy
Fodor’s Choice | Rim Trail.
The South Rim’s most popular walking path is the 12-mile (one-way) Rim Trail, which runs along the edge of the canyon from Pipe Creek Vista (the first overlook on Desert View Drive) to Hermits Rest. This walk, which is paved to Maricopa Point and for the last 1.5 miles to Hermits Rest, visits several of the South Rim’s historic landmarks. Allow anywhere from 15 minutes to a full day, depending on how much of the trail you want to cover; the Rim Trail is an ideal day hike, as it varies only a few hundred feet in elevation from Mather Point (7,120 feet) to the trailhead at Hermits Rest (6,650 feet). The trail also can be accessed from several spots in Grand Canyon Village and from the major viewpoints along Hermit Road, which are serviced by shuttle buses during the busy summer months. On the Rim Trail, water is only available in the Grand Canyon Village area and at Hermits Rest. Easy. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Grand Canyon Park Insider: Chuck Wahler
When Chuck Wahler tells people to “take a hike,” he means it in the most helpful, encouraging sense. A longtime employee at Grand Canyon National Park, Wahler knows the lay of the land, and he encourages folks to get a feel for it on foot. A hike “either along the rim or into the canyon” ranks among his “must-do” suggestions for park visitors.
As the former chief of the operations branch for the park’s Division of Interpretation and Resource Education, Wahler managed frontline operations for the division (he’s now an instructor of park employees at the Albright Training Center). “The staff that works with me operates the park visitor centers and museums, and presents interpretive programs to our visitors,” he explains.
Those programs include the popular “Junior Ranger” activities, which also make Wahler’s must-do list: “If there are children in your group, have them participate.”
Variety is the spice of park life as far as Wahler is concerned, and the range of activities is his favorite thing about his workplace. “It is a constantly changing place,” he says, “different from minute to minute, day to day, and season to season.” That diversity inspires another suggestion: “Views of the canyon from along Hermit Road are very different from those along Desert View Drive,” explains Wahler. “If you have the time, plan to experience both areas of the park.”
Navigating the 1,904-square-mile park is a sizable task, but it’s made easier by the free shuttle system. The buses stop at 30-some points of interest, and Wahler advocates hopping aboard whenever possible. “You’ll spend more of your time exploring the park and less time looking for a place to park.”
For another insider tip, he touts the park’s aptly named newspaper. “The Guide provides visitors with all the basic information they need to plan their visit to the park. Taking a few minutes to read the newspaper will help make a visit more enjoyable.” Distributed at the entrance station, the Guide is printed in English, French, German, Japanese, and Italian.
Wahler also urges travelers to consider coming during the off-season (late fall through early spring). “The weather can be delightful, and the park is often less crowded than in the summer.”
No matter the season, Wahler’s final must-do is a simple one: “Find a quiet place along the rim, and just sit and enjoy the canyon.”
Moderate
Bright Angel Trail.
This well-maintained trail is one of the most scenic hiking paths from the South Rim to the bottom of the canyon (9.6 miles each way). Rest houses are equipped with water at the 1.5- and 3-mile points from May through September, and at Indian Garden (4 miles) year-round. Water is also available at Bright Angel Campground, 9¼ miles below the trailhead. Plateau Point, on a spur trail about 1.5 miles below Indian Garden, is as far as you should attempt to go on a day hike; the round trip will take six to nine hours.
Bright Angel Trail is the easiest of all the footpaths into the canyon, but because the climb out from the bottom is an ascent of 5,510 feet, the trip should be attempted only by those in good physical condition and should be avoided in midsummer due to extreme heat. The top of the trail can be icy in winter. Originally a bighorn sheep path and later used by the Havasupai, the trail was widened late in the 19th century for prospectors and is now used for both mule and foot traffic. Also note that mule trains have the right-of-way—and sometimes leave unpleasant surprises in your path. Moderate. | Trailhead: Kolb Studio, Hermits Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Clear Creek Trail.
Make this 9-mile hike only if you are prepared for a multiday trip. The trail departs from Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon and leads across the Tonto Platform to Clear Creek, where drinking water is usually available but should be treated. Moderate. | Trailhead: Phantom Ranch | Grand Canyon National Park.
Difficult
Grandview Trail.
Accessible from the parking area at Grandview Point, the trailhead is at 7,400 feet. The path heads steeply down into the canyon for 3 miles to the junction and campsite at East Horseshoe Mesa Trail. Classified as a wilderness trail, the route is aggressive and not as heavily traveled as some of the more well-known trails, such as Bright Angel and Hermit. There is no water available along the trail, which follows a steep descent to 4,800 feet at Horseshoe Mesa, where Hopi Indians once collected mineral paints. Hike 0.7 mile farther to Page Spring, a reliable water source year-round. Parts of this trail are icy in winter, and traction crampons are mandatory. Difficult. | Trailhead: Grandview Point, Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Hermit Trail.
Beginning on the South Rim just west of Hermits Rest (and 7 miles west of Grand Canyon Village), this steep, unmaintained, 9.7-mile (one way) trail drops more than 5,000 feet to Hermit Creek, which usually flows year-round. It’s a strenuous hike back up and is recommended for experienced long-distance hikers only; plan for six to nine hours. There’s an abundance of lush growth and wildlife, including desert bighorn sheep, along this trail. The trail descends from the trailhead at 6,640 feet to the Colorado River at 2,300 feet. Day hikers should not go past Santa Maria Spring at 5,000 feet (a 5-mile round trip).
For much of the year, no water is available along the way; ask a park ranger about the availability of water at Santa Maria Spring and Hermit Creek before you set out. All water from these sources should be treated before drinking. The route leads down to the Colorado River and has inspiring views of Hermit Gorge and the Redwall and Supai formations. Six miles from the trailhead are the ruins of Hermit Camp, which the Santa Fe Railroad ran as a tourist camp from 1911 until 1930. Difficult. | Trailhead: Hermits Rest, Hermits Rd. | Grand Canyon National Park.
South Kaibab Trail.
This trail starts near Yaki Point, 4 miles east of Grand Canyon Village, and is accessible via the free shuttle bus. Because the route is so steep (and sometimes icy in winter)—descending from the trailhead at 7,260 feet down to 2,480 feet at the Colorado River—and has no water, many hikers take this trail down, then ascend via the less-demanding Bright Angel Trail. Allow four to six hours to reach the Colorado River on this 6.4-mile trek. At the river, the trail crosses a suspension bridge and runs on to Phantom Ranch. Along the trail there is no water and little shade. There are no campgrounds, though there are portable toilets at Cedar Ridge (6,320 feet), 1.5 miles from the trailhead. An emergency phone is available at the Tipoff, 4.6 miles down the trail (3 miles past Cedar Ridge). The trail corkscrews down through some spectacular geology. Look for (but don’t remove) fossils in the limestone when taking water breaks. Even though an immense network of trails winds through the Grand Canyon, the popular corridor trails (Bright Angel and South Kaibab) are recommended for hikers new to the region. Difficult. | Trailhead: Yaki Point Rd., off Desert View Dr. | Grand Canyon National Park.
Jeep Tours
Jeep rides can be rough; if you have had back injuries, check with your doctor before taking a 4X4 tour. It’s a good idea to book a week or two ahead, and even further if you’re visiting in summer or on busy weekends.
Tours and Outfitters
Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safaris.
If you’d like to get off the pavement and see parts of the park that are accessible only by dirt road, a jeep tour can be just the ticket. From March through November, this tour operator leads daily 1½- to 4½-hour off-road tours within the park, as well as in Kaibab National Forest. Sunset tours and combo tours adding helicopter or airplane rides are also available. | Grand Canyon National Park | 928/638–5337 | www.grandcanyonjeeptours.com | From $54.
Grand Canyon Store.
This tour company offers off-road adventures year-round in comfortable cruisers (small luxury vans with heating and air-conditioning) rather than jeeps. Full-day tours go either to the South Rim, or to the bottom of the canyon on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. Helicopter tours or white-water raft tours through the canyon are included in some of these trips. | 212 W. Rte. 66 | Williams | 928/638–2000, 800/716–9389 | www.discovergrandcanyon.com | From $249.
Marvelous Marv’s Grand Canyon Tours.
For a personalized experience, take this private tour of the Grand Canyon and surrounding sights any time of year. Tours include round-trip transportation from your hotel or campground in Williams, Tusayan, or Grand Canyon; admission to the park; scenic viewpoint stops; a short hike; and personal narration of the geology and history of the area. | 200 W. Bill Williams Ave. | Williams | 928/707–0291 | www.marvelousmarv.com | From $100.
Mule Rides
Mule rides provide an intimate glimpse into the canyon for those who have the time, but not the stamina, to see the canyon on foot. TIP Reservations are essential and are accepted up to 13 months in advance.
These trips have been conducted since the early 1900s. A comforting fact as you ride the narrow trail: no one’s ever been killed while riding a mule that fell off a cliff. (Nevertheless, the treks are not for the faint of heart or people in questionable health.)
Outfitters
Fodor’s Choice | Xanterra Parks & Resorts Mule Rides.
These trips delve into the canyon from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch, or east along the canyon’s edge (the Plateau Point rides were discontinued in 2009). Riders must be at least 55 inches tall, weigh less than 200 pounds (for the Phantom Ranch ride), and understand English. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Riders must be in fairly good physical condition, and pregnant women are advised not to take these trips.
The three-hour ride along the rim costs $118. An overnight with a stay at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon is $515 ($901 for two riders). Two nights at Phantom Ranch, an option available from November through March, will set you back $732 ($1,206 for two). Meals are included. Reservations (by phone), especially during the busy summer months, are a must, but you can check at the Bright Angel Transportation Desk to see if there’s last-minute availability. | 888/297–2757 | www.grandcanyonlodges.com | Phantom Ranch rides daily; Rim rides mid-Mar.–Oct., twice daily; Nov.–mid-Mar., once daily | Reservations essential.
Skiing
Tusayan Ranger District.
Although you can’t schuss down into the Grand Canyon, you can cross-country ski in the woods near the rim when there’s enough snow, usually mid-December through early March. The ungroomed trails, suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers, begin at the Grandview Lookout and travel through the Kaibab National Forest. For details, contact the Tusayan Ranger District. | 176 Lincoln Log Loop | Grand Canyon | 928/638–2443 | www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab.
Freebies at the Grand Canyon
While you’re here, be sure to take advantage of the many complimentary services offered.
• The most useful is the system of free shuttle buses at the South Rim; it caters to the road-weary, with four routes winding through or just outside the park—Hermits Rest Route, Village Route, Kaibab Rim Route, and Tusayan Route. Of the bus routes, the Hermits Rest Route runs only March through November and the Tusayan Route only in summer; the other two run year-round, and the Kaibab Trail Route provides the only access to Yaki Point. Hikers coming or going from the Kaibab Trailhead can catch the Hikers Express, which departs three times each morning from the Bright Angel Lodge, makes a quick stop at the Backcountry Information Center, and then heads out to the South Kaibab Trailhead.
• Ranger-led programs are always free and offered year-round, though more are scheduled during the busy spring and summer seasons. These programs might include activities such as stargazing and topics such as geology and the cultural history of prehistoric peoples. Some of the more in-depth programs may include a fossil walk or a condor talk. Check with the visitor center for seasonal programs including wildflower walks and fire ecology.
• Kids age four and older can get involved with the park’s Junior Ranger program, with ever-changing activities including hikes and hands-on experiments.
• Despite all of these options, rangers will tell you that the best free activity in the canyon is watching the magnificent splashes of color on the canyon walls during sunrise and sunset.
Shopping
Nearly every lodging facility and retail store at the South Rim stocks Native American arts and crafts and Grand Canyon books and souvenirs. Prices are comparable to other souvenir outlets, though you may find some better deals in Williams. However, a portion of the proceeds from items purchased at Kolb Studio, Tusayan Museum, and all the park visitor centers go to the nonprofit Grand Canyon Association.
Desert View Trading Post.
A mix of traditional Southwestern souvenirs and authentic Native American arts and crafts are for sale here. | Desert View Dr. near the watchtower at Desert View | Grand Canyon National Park | 928/638–3150.
Hopi House.
This two-level shop has the widest selection of Native American art and handicrafts in the vicinity. | 4 El Tovar Rd., across from El Tovar Hotel | Grand Canyon Village | 928/638–2631.