Grand Canyon national park
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the top national parks in the United States and for good reason. This canyon was carved by the Colorado River over millions of years and stretches over 277 miles with depths up to a mile. The vistas are absolutely breathtaking and it is incredible the sheer magnitude of the canyon. You can take in the views, hike, raft, or take a scenic flight or helicopter ride over this incredible wonder.
getting to Grand Canyon National Park
If you are flying to the area, the closest airport is the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG). There are two portions of the park. The south rim is located just north of Flagstaff about 81 miles. Alternatively, flying into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport or Las Vegas Airport and planning for a road trip is another option. Phoenix is about 231 miles away and Las Vegas is about 278 miles away. The north rim is about 212 miles from the south rim. Many visitors to Page and Kanab add the north rim to there itinerary. Of note the north rim is closed in the winter.
getting around
The best way to visit this national park is in your own private vehicle. You can drive through most of the park on paved roads. If you are flying to the area, you should rent a car. You could also consider renting an RV and camping in the area. Once you are in the park there are free shuttle buses that can help you get around after you park. If you visit during the winter months December-February you can drive yourself easily to each section and down Hermit Road (rest of the year is shuttle bus only).
There are also so many tour options if you prefer to let someone else do the driving. Bus tours operate out of Flagstaff and Las Vegas.
where to stay
Flagstaff is the ideal city to stay in while visiting Grand Canyon National Park. Since the park is split it two sections if you plan to visit the north rim you may be coming from Page, AZ or Kanab, UT. You can also make a it a day trip if you are staying in Phoenix.
If you want to camp in the park there are several campgrounds available. Reservations are required and highly recommended to book in advance on recreation.gov. Some options include Mather Campground which has 327 sites with flush toilets and drinking water, Trailer Village RV Park which is only in park with full hookups and Desert View Campground with 49 sites. There are also several options for camping outside of the national park including Ten-X Campground and Grand Canyon Camper Village.
when to visit
The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park can be visited year round. The North Rim is closed during the winter. The busiest time to visit Grand Canyon is between May and October. Early spring and fall have less crowds with still pleasant temperatures. The trails will be less crowded as well. During the winter, there are even fewer crowds and you may see some snow. Some trails may be icy or closed due to the weather. While visiting the south rim, Hermit Road is open to private vehicles from December-February.
fees
The fee for the park is $35 per vehicle, $20 per person or $30 per motorcycle.
America the Beautiful Annual Pass: $80 interagency pass good for one year from month purchased- I highly recommend this if visiting more than 3 parks in a year.
top things to do
Visit the visitor centers
There are two main visitor centers for the South Rim. That is the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and teh Verkamp’s Visitor Center which is located in the Village Historic District. The visitor centers are open daily from 8 AM- 7PM. They have maps and bookstores with lots of information. Of note the Grand Canyon Conservancy Park Store is located across the plaza from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and that is where you would find the Passport stamp and Junior Ranger books and badges.
Collect passport stamps
If you are into collecting stamps from all the national parks and have a passport book, you will be in heaven in this park. There are so many awesome stops where you can stamp your book. Not only at the Verkamp’s and Grand Canyon Visitor Center but also at the Kolb Studio (open Sunday-Thursday 9AM-4PM), the Yavapai Geology Museum (open daily 8AM-7PM), the Tusayan Museum and Ruins (currently trail open Thursday-Monday 9AM-5PM -museum closed) and the Desert View Watchtower (open 8 AM-6PM).
Drive the Rim
The Desert View Drive is a 23 mile long scenic drive that is open to private vehicles year round. If you visit during the winter months, you can drive the entire south rim including Hermit Road. Hermits Rest is about 7 miles from the Village Transfer Station. If you visit between March and November and want to see this portion of the south rim you will need to take the free shuttle bus. This is a 80 minute round trip ride without getting off the bus.
Hiking
There are so many incredible hiking trails within Grand Canyon National Park. One of the most popular trails is the Bright Angel Trail which descends from the south rim to the Colorado River. There are several stops along the way for turn around. Other incredible trails include the South Kaibab Trail, Rim trail, Grandview Trail, Hermit Trail and more.
Biking
There is about 13 miles of biking trails within the park. Another great area to bike is on Hermit Road which is closed to private vehicles during most of the year. There are shuttle bus stops every mile if you want to take the bus back.
Sunrise and Sunset Viewing
Catching the Grand Canyon during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset are incredible. Some of the top spots for viewing sunrise include Mather and Yaki Points. Along the Desert Drive good points that offer both east and west views include Navajo and Desert View. For sunset, Hopi Point is one of the best views but also leads to increased crowds. Mohave and Pima along Hermit Road also offer great sunset views but with fewer crowds. Plan to arrive a little early to secure a spot especially during the summer.
Helicopter Tour
Helicopter tours are a great way to get an aerial view of the canyon. It is truly an unforgettable experience. There are several companies that offer tours.
Grand Canyon is a must
Trust me- this national park needs to be on the top of your list of places to visit. Even if you just go to one or two viewpoints you will be blown away. Mather Point is the viewpoint right at the entrance but I highly recommend going to another as that one is fenced and crawling with people. Just a simple walk away and you will have pure nature and breathtaking views. If you have a day it is great to see the whole southern rim. We still have to make it to the north rim as we visited the area during winter every time. If you want to visit the north and south I would recommend 2 days though you can do it in one if you want to just see the eastern part of the south rim.
