Grand Canyon
A mile deep, 277 miles long, and nearly two billion years of Earth’s history laid bare.
Photo: Lennart Sikkema · CC BY 3.0
Arizona’s Grand Canyon guide: best viewpoints on the South Rim, sunrise spots, rim and inner-canyon hikes, the shuttle system and when to visit.
No photo prepares you for the first look over the rim. The Colorado River has cut through layer after layer of rock here, exposing a cross-section of the planet that starts with stone nearly two billion years old at the bottom. The scale plays tricks on your eyes: the far rim is more than 15 kilometers away, and the river is a thin green thread over a kilometer and a half below.
Most visitors come to the South Rim, open all year and home to Grand Canyon Village. Mather Point and Yavapai Point are classic sunrise spots, Hermit Road (served by free shuttles for most of the year) strings together nine viewpoints, and the Desert View Drive leads east to the 1932 Desert View Watchtower designed by Mary Colter. The quieter, higher North Rim opens only from mid-May to mid-October.
To really feel the canyon, walk below the rim. Even an hour down the Bright Angel or South Kaibab trail changes your perspective completely. Just remember the rule rangers repeat every day: going down is optional, coming back up is mandatory, and the climb out takes twice as long.
Don’t miss
- 1Sunrise at Mather Point or Yavapai Point
- 2Sunset along Hermit Road at Hopi Point
- 3The Desert View Watchtower and its painted interior
- 4A short hike to Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail
Insider tips
- Park once and use the free shuttle buses; parking near the village fills by mid-morning.
- Never try to hike to the river and back in one day, especially in summer.
- In-park lodges sell out months ahead; Tusayan, just outside the gate, is the backup.
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