Ready to witness one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders? Head to the Grand Canyon! Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the Grand Canyon offers stunning vistas, epic hikes, and a powerful sense of scale and serenity. Whether you visit the popular South Rim, remote North Rim, or venture below the rim, the Grand Canyon is a must-see American treasure.
Grand Canyon Highlights:
- For Hikers: Trek the Bright Angel Trail – A well-maintained trail offering breathtaking views and access into the canyon’s depths.
- For Scenic Lovers: Watch sunrise or sunset from Hopi Point – Marvel at shifting colors and dramatic light from one of the canyon’s best viewpoints.
- For Families: Visit the Grand Canyon Visitor Center – Learn about geology and history through interactive exhibits and ranger talks.
- For Adventurers: Raft the Colorado River – Experience the canyon from below with a whitewater rafting trip or multi-day river journey.
- For Photographers: Hike to Ooh Aah Point – A short but rewarding hike on the South Kaibab Trail with dramatic views.
Best Time to Visit the Grand Canyon
The best times to visit the Grand Canyon are spring (March–May) and fall (September–November), when daytime temperatures are mild and crowds are manageable. Summer brings more tourists and heat, while winter offers quiet beauty, snow-dusted rims, and limited access to the North Rim.
How to Get to the Grand Canyon
- By Car: The South Rim is about 3.5–4 hours from Phoenix or Las Vegas. The North Rim is more remote and seasonal (open mid-May to mid-October).
- By Train: Take the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, AZ, for a scenic and nostalgic route to the South Rim.
- By Air: Fly into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), or Las Vegas (LAS), then rent a car to reach the park.
Where to Stay Near the Grand Canyon
- Recommended for Families: Yavapai Lodge (South Rim) – Comfortable lodging inside the park with easy access to trails and shuttles.
- For a Rustic Experience: Phantom Ranch – A unique overnight stay at the canyon floor, accessible by hike or mule ride (reservations required well in advance).
- For Nearby Convenience: The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon (Tusayan) – A lodge-style hotel just outside the South Entrance with modern amenities.
Best Things to Do in the Grand Canyon
1. Havasu Falls
Rating: ★★★★★
I don't know if you'll be able to visit Havasu Falls but if you do plan on going, I'm including it first so that you can book ahead. Havasu Falls is one of the most gorgeous falls in the Grand Canyon, but it is difficult to reach. You have hike 10 miles into the canyon to be rewarded with this blue-green waterfall.
Hiking the 10 miles back up to the rim post-visit is the most challenging part of the trek, but well worth the effort.
This international attraction draws throngs of visitors every year, and it is difficult to get a reservation. Once there, you will find turquoise waters and spectacular waterfalls.
Wildland Trekking offers multi-day hikes to Havasupai and is a good choice to help you get there. Patience is key for getting a permit to hike to the falls.
160 Main Street, Supai, AZ, Phone: 928-448-2180
2. Horseshoe Bend
Start your tour of the Grand Canyon here: Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend top the list of attractions for travelers coming to the Grand Canyon from the eastern end. Horseshoe Bend is 5 miles outside Grand Canyon National Park in Glen Canyon.
The horseshoe-shaped bend in the Colorado River provides visitors and photographers with spectacular views. Visitors can choose from a number of tours that will help them experience Horseshoe Bend from the river, the air, or on foot.
Tours start in Las Vegas, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, and Page, Arizona. You can also experience Horseshoe Bend on self-guided tours.
Glen Canyon and Antelope Canyon are often paired with a visit to Horseshoe Bend.
Highway 89 South, Page, AZ, Phone: 928-608-6200
3. Black Suspension Bridge
Black Suspension Bridge is also known as the Kaibab Bridge because it connects the North Rim with the South Rim via the Kaibab Trail. Built in 1928, it became the first safe passageway between north and south Kaibab. Prior to that, the only way across the Colorado River was hopping aboard a steel cage that dangled precariously from a cableway above the river. Today, it’s still one of few bridges to cross the Colorado River. In fact, other than the nearby Silver Bridge pedestrian bridge, Black Suspension Bridge is the only one for hundreds of miles. It’s popular with rim-to-rim hikers, visitors to Phantom Ranch, and guests on inner canyon mule rides. The bridge view of the canyon from 65 feet above the Colorado River is impressive.
Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim, AZ, Phone: 928-638-7888
Unique Attractions
4. Bright Angel History Room
Bright Angel History Room is dedicated to genius Grand Canyon architect Mary Colter. The History Room is located inside Bright Angel Lodge in Grand Canyon Village. The rock fireplace is reflective of Colter’s architectural style. Visitors may notice that the geological sequence of the rocks in the fireplace reflect the same sequence as from river to rim along the Bright Angel Trail. The fireplace’s base uses granite-veined rock that is 800 million to over one billion years old. It’s a scientifically accurate representation of the geological natural environment of the Grand Canyon and is reflective of the painstaking perfectionism of Colter’s architectural choices.
9 Village Loop Drive, Grand Canyon Village, AZ, Phone: 928-638-2631
5. Canyon Trail Rides
Canyon Trail Rides guides riders on mule rides along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This is the lesser visited side of the canyon, one which many visitors find more fascinating. Canyon Trail Rides has 1-hour and 3-hour mule ride trips. The 1-hour trips traverse the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Riders must be at least 7 years old to participate. The 3-hour rim ride to Uncle Jim’s Point follows the remote Ken Patrick Trail through woods and meadows. Riders must be 10 years old on this trip. The 3-hour mule ride to Supai Tunnel is the only one to descend partially into the Grand Canyon, and this trip requires riders to be at least 10 years old, too.
280 Bryce Way, Tropic, UT, Phone: 435-679-8665
Recommended Attractions
6. Desert View Drive
Desert View Drive is the name for Arizona Highway 64, which runs between Grand Canyon Village and the settlement of Desert View on the Canyon’s eastern edge. Those visiting the Grand Canyon coming from the east will get their first glimpse of the canyon along this scenic drive, including views of the Colorado River cutting through it. Other highlights along the drive are Mary Colton’s Watchtower, which is a must-do, and the Tusayan Ruin and Museum, which commemorates the remains of an Ancestral Puebloan village. At the Watchtower, visitors can expect a visitor station, bookstore, gift shop, general store, and seasonal campground. There are six well-developed viewpoints of the canyon, four picnic areas, and five unmarked pullouts.
Arizona Highway 64, Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim, AZ, Phone: 928-638-7888
7. Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel
The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel has a storied past that began in 1901. It was instrumental in bringing construction materials to build Grand Canyon Village in the early 1900s as well as delivering water to the village until 1926. Passenger service to the canyon stopped in 1968 with the popularity of automobiles, and resumed in 1989. It now brings over 50,000 people sans their cars to the Grand Canyon, helping to preserve the site. Numerous specialty rides throughout the year include Halloween and Christmas.
233 North Grand Canyon Boulevard, Williams, AZ, Phone: 928-635-4010
8. Grand Canyon Skywalk
Grand Canyon Skywalk provides a premier Grand Canyon West travel experience. The glass floor of the Skywalk juts out over the cliffside 4,000 feet above the canyon floor at Eagle Point. The Skywalk is 10 feet wide, and the horseshoe-shaped attraction extends 70 feet out from the rim of the canyon. Visitors first purchase a Hualapai Legacy Day Pass, which allows entry to tribal land and includes shuttle services to Eagle Point, Guano Point, and Hualapai Ranch. The Skywalk glass bridge is an add-on. VIP tickets include shuttle services, the Skywalk, a Hualapai tour guide, a Native American gift, a meal, a visitation certificate, and a photo opportunity with Hualapai members.
Eagle Point Road, Peach Springs, AZ, Phone: 888-868-9378
Attractions for Couples
9. Tusayan Ruin and Museum
Tusayan Ruin and Museum is an Ancestral Puebloan Indian site that is 800 years old. It is one of Grand Canyon National Park’s major archeological sites and comprises a small U-shaped pueblo with a kiva, living area, and storage rooms. It sits at the end of a flat trail that runs from the museum. Visitors can learn about the ruins at the museum and take a self-guided tour or opt for a ranger-led tour. In the museum, guests will find 2,000 to 4,000-year-old artifacts that tell the story of the prehistoric people who lived there. There is also a museum bookstore for more in-depth learning.
Arizona Highway 64, Grand Canyon, AZ, Phone: 928-638-2305
10. Desert View Watchtower
The genius Grand Canyon architect Mary Colter designed the Ancestral Puebloan-style Desert View Watchtower. The 70-foot-high stone building, also known as Indian Watchtower, was built in 1932. Murals inside the Watchtower were done by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. Visitors will first want to look up from the bottom of the stairs in the Watchtower at the spectacular mural on the ceiling. Climbing the 85 steps to the top of the tower rewards visitors with a 360-degree view. Guests will be able to see a portion of the Colorado River as well as the Painted Desert. In the Kiva Room, visitors will have expansive views of the canyon through large windows; it is also a book and gift shop. This National Historic Landmark is a must-do.
Grand Canyon Village, AZ, Phone: 928-638-8960
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