Grand Canyon National Park was the second-most visited National Park in the US in 2022, and it consistently ranks in the top 10, receiving several million visitors each year. The landscapes here are so impressive and definitely justify the high visitor numbers. Here is my guide for how to get the most out of the Grand Canyon.
Budget
The US is an expensive country, and prices go up in the touristy areas. Unfortunately you will be subject to this at the Grand Canyon. Entry fees for one vehicle (or up to 4 people) costs $35 per day, but if you have the America the Beautiful pass, a flat fee of $80 gets four people into an unlimited number of National Parks and Monuments for a whole year. It is definitely worth investing in if you’ll be staying more than a few days or visiting more than one park on your trip. I only visited the Grand Canyon for one day, so I did not stay in any accommodation nearby, but the most budget-friendly hotels will cost around $60 a night for 2 people. The Visitor Centre offers a few places to get basic food such as sandwiches and snacks, so I would budget around $20 per day for food if you decide to go for this option.
Logistics
I drove to the Grand Canyon from Sedona, Arizona, which was about a 2.5 hour drive. Flagstaff is the nearest large town, 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Page, Arizona, was my next stop, and that was 2.5 hours away. If you are in Las Vegas, you will find several companies offering day tours of the Grand Canyon, which is 4-5 hours from the city. Grand Canyon National Park is also about 2.5 hours from St George, Utah, if you are coming from Zion National Park.
If you do not have your own car, your best option is getting a tour to the park from Las Vegas. This will sort you out with a bus or private vehicle for the whole day, and will take you to all the highlights. However, even if you do have a car, once you’re in the park, you have to use the park shuttle to get to each of the viewpoints and trailheads. There is abundant parking at the Visitor Centre. You also have the option of flying to Flagstaff or the Grand Canyon airstrip, however this is significantly more expensive.
The Visitor Centre has a wealth of information about the park and the viewpoints and trails, and you can pick up a map there too. I will highlight the best trails below.
I visited the Grand Canyon for one day, and I think this is enough time to see it and get an overview of the dramatic landscape. If you do stay more than one day, make sure you catch sunrise and sunset!
Hiking at the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park has two sides, the North Rim and the South Rim. Most of what you’ve probably seen or heard is from the South Rim, which is open year-round. This is where the main Visitor Centre is. The North Rim is open mid-May to mid-October. The Grand Canyon’s epic hike is called the Rim to Rim, a two-day adventure that takes you from the North Rim down to the Colorado River, and back up the other side to the South Rim. This is no easy feat and is not for the faint-hearted. Unfortunately I did not have the time to do this trail, and the North Rim was closed during my visit, but it looks like an incredible experience. Part of the second day of this hike is the Bright Angel Trail, which goes from the South Rim to the Colorado River. This and the South Kaibab Trail are the two most popular day hikes in the Grand Canyon. The beauty of any of the Grand Canyon hikes is that you can turn around and go back up if you get tired or have limited time.
Mules On the South Kaibab Trail
South Kaibab Trail
The South Kaibab Trail is one of the last stops on the park shuttle route (Yaki Point on the Kaibab Trail Route). It gets you to the famous Ooh Aah Point, as well as Cedar Ridge, and Skeleton Point, two other incredible viewpoints below the canyon’s rim. The trail is carved out into the canyon walls, and winds down all the way to the Colorado River. You might encounter donkeys along the way, so be careful that you stop against the walls and not close to the edge.
Ooh Aah Point
I stopped and turned to go back up at Cedar Ridge. It seemed to be a good mid-point, especially with not enough time to go all the way to the bottom and back up again in one day,and I also found the views were not changing much beyond this. The views were stunning from here and it was a great place for a rest. It is not recommended to go beyond this point if you are just doing a day hike, as it starts to get long and you’ll have to think about camping if you go all the way to the river (at Bright Angel Campground). It’s not a difficult hike down, but going back up is challenging, so take lots of water and snacks with you! If you only have time for one hike, I would definitely do this one to Cedar Ridge.
Cedar Ridge
Rim Trail
The Rim Trail is the paved trail from the Visitor Centre that goes along the top of the canyon. This is where most people stay for the day, and it is justified because the landscape changes around every corner. I would recommend walking at least some of this trail during your visit. You don’t need a shuttle bus to access it, and it is also an accessible trail.
The Best Viewpoints at the Grand Canyon (without hiking)
Some of the best viewpoints are along the Rim Trail. They are easily accessible and you will not be alone!
Hopi Point and Mather Point are two of the other most famous viewpoints in the Grand Canyon. To get to these, you’ll have to get on a shuttle that takes you in the opposite direction to the South Kaibab trail and Yaki Point. Again, you will not be alone at these points, but they are well worth the visit.
Sunrise and sunset are the best times to see the Grand Canyon, as the light makes the rocks even more red and striking. The Grand Canyon is also a great place for stargazing because of the low light pollution. If you’re into photography, I’d recommend staying even one night to experience this.
Grand Canyon National Park did not disappoint, and I hope you are as impressed by it as I was. I just kept thinking how amazing it is that water carved the whole thing! Let me know how your trip goes :)
Please remember when you visit any National Park (or anywhere for that matter) to Leave No Trace. Take all of your rubbish home with you and don’t take anything out of the park that belongs there.
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