
Grand Canyon National Park
More than five million people come to visit the Grand Canyon every year; most are satisfied to spend a few hours taking in the views from the South Rim, but that's just a tiny fraction of what Grand Canyon National Park has to offer.
Plan Around Grand Canyon National Park
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Grand Canyon National Park Details
More than five million people come to visit the Grand Canyon every year, and while most are satisfied to spend a few hours taking in the views from the South Rim, that is just a tiny fraction of what Grand Canyon National Park has to offer. Most visitors to this 1.2-million-acre park arrive in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim, where you will find the famous El Tovar Hotel, park headquarters, iconic rim overlooks (served by free shuttle buses), and the trailhead for the Bright Angel Trail, leading to the inner canyon, Indian Garden, and ultimately the canyon floor and the Colorado River. Far more remote, the North Rim rises 1,000 feet higher and has its own visitor center and lodge, but only about one in 10 Grand Canyon visitors ever get here. In addition to overlooks and scenic drives, the North Rim offers access to the Kaibab National Forest for hiking and camping. Venturing below the rim of the 277-mile-long Grand Canyon is no lark - the elevation change is dramatic (7,000 feet), and the desert environment can be extremely challenging. But well-prepared visitors who make the journey by pack mule or on foot are rewarded by some of the worlds most spectacular scenery in relative isolation, at least compared to the hubbub on the South Rim. Overnight accommodations are limited to the Phantom Ranch lodge alongside the river and camping (trying to hike to the river and back in a day is strongly discouraged). Raft trips on the Colorado River offer a unique way to view the canyon, although arranging a trip with an authorized outfitter requires a fair amount of planning, time (three days to three weeks), and cash.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Grand Canyon National Park
Compare nearby parks around Grand Canyon National Park when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Grand Canyon National Park
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Grand Canyon National Park while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Grand Canyon National Park
More than five million people come to visit the Grand Canyon every year; most are satisfied to spend a few hours taking in the views from the South Rim, but that's just a tiny fraction of what Grand Canyon National Park has to offer.
0.0 mi away
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
In sharp contrast to its namesake National Park, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is one of the least visited, most remote places in the continental U.S.
0.0 mi away
South Rim Visitor Center
Picnic area available at South Rim Visitor Center.
0.0 mi away
Grand Canyon Visitor Center
The best restroom in the park!
0.0 mi away
Grand Canyon Visitor Center
A "must stop" for any trip to the park.