2021-08-19 22:39:04
The Grand Canyon has been amazing humans for as long as humans have been around to lay eyes on it. The Hopi revere the Grand Canyon as the place of their emergence. Explorer John Wesley Powell declared that its beauty could not be adequately represented by speech or art. The astronaut Harrison Schmitt, trying to describe what it was like to set foot on the moon, compared the feeling to three things: falling in love for the first time, the birth of his first child and “standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon.” At 277 miles long, as much as 18 miles wide and a full mile deep, the Grand Canyon is the second-largest canyon on the planet, and its colorful walls contain rock layers—the oldest of those layers being 1.8 billion years old—that reveal a timeline of Earth’s history. In 1919, the Grand Canyon was designated a national park, and since then, the National Park Service has been preserving the culture, history and natural beauty of this immortal destination, as well as welcoming generations of visitors to experience its wonder. Been There? Do This FIRST TIME NEXT TIME HIKING Regarded as the safest trail in Grand Canyon National Park, the family-friendly Bright Angel Trail offers beautiful views and convenient amenities such as potable water stations, restrooms and covered shelters along the way. The first switchback is an ideal spot for turning around if you have small children in tow, and the 1.5-Mile Resthouse is a popular stop for first-time canyon hikers and late starters. Boasting stunning canyon views the entire way, as well as glimpses of the Colorado River farther down, the steep and strenuous South Kaibab Trail offers three turnaround points for day-hikes: Ooh-Aah Point (1.8 mi. RT), Cedar Ridge (3 mi. RT) and Skeleton Point (6 mi. RT). Just remember, the hike back up takes approximately twice as long than the way down, so plan accordingly. SCENIC VIEWPOINT Go for a scenic drive along the 22-mile Desert View Drive and pull over at the many overlooks along the way, such as Grandview Point, Moran Point, Tusayan Pueblo, Lipan Point, Navajo Point and Desert View, where you’ll find the Mary Colter-designed Desert View Watchtower, built in 1932 in the style of Ancestral Puebloan towers, with historic murals by famous Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. Climb aboard the free shuttle bus to follow the 7-mile Hermit Road (open to private vehicles December–February) to explore the west end of the Grand Canyon Village. Nine overlooks dot the way, and some of the most popular stops include Hopi Point, Mohave Point and Hermits Rest. Whether you come for sunrise or sunset, it’s sure to be spectacular. SIGHTSEEING Stroll the mostly paved Rim Trail to explore local history: the Yavapai Museum of Geology, with its educational exhibits; Verkamp’s Visitor Center, one of the oldest buildings in the Village; Hopi House, a 1905 Mary Colter-designed Hopi pueblo-style structure; Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio, a gift shop with books on the Grand Canyon; and Kolb Studio, showcasing art and history exhibits. Perk up to the welcoming aroma of freshly brewed coffee as you walk through the doors of Bright Angel Bicycles & Café at Mather Point, where you can start your morning with a latte and a bike ride. Rent a cruiser and pedal approximately 7 miles round trip along the paved Greenway Trail and a traffic-restricted road (shuttle buses only) to the panoramic Yaki Point. GUIDED TOUR Hop in a custom Hummer with Buck Wild Hummer Tours for a two-hour open-air adventure led by a knowledgeable tour guide who will stop at some of the Grand Canyon’s most popular overlooks. Or ride in a bright pink, safari-style Jeep with Pink Adventure Tours, which pairs a guided tour of three Grand Canyon viewpoints with tickets to the IMAX film Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets. Get a bird’s-eye view of the deepest and widest part of the South Rim on the 30-minute North Canyon helicopter tour by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters. Depart near the Grand Canyon Village and soar over the Kaibab National Forest, the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, taking in sky-high views of spectacular rock formations, cliffs and canyon depths along the way. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Practical Planning Tips PEAK SEASON May → October BEST TIME TO VISIT January → February With the kids out of school, summertime is undoubtedly the busiest time of year, as visitors from all over the world come to the Grand Canyon to enjoy camping, outdoor adventures and family vacations. If you’re staying during this time, be sure to book your lodging early, as reservations start filling up nine months to a year in advance. For cooler weather, lighter crowds and better lodging availability, plan your trip during winter months. WHERE TO STAY Bring your tent or RV to enjoy the great outdoors at one of the many campsites in the park. Two of the three National Park Service campgrounds accept reservations: Mather Campground on the South Rim and North Rim Campground. On the South Rim, Desert View Campground is first-come, first-serve, and Trailer Village RV Park is a concessioner-run RV park with full hook-ups. If roughing it isn’t quite your style, choose from numerous hotels, both inside and outside the park. Located at the top of Bright Angel Trailhead, the historic Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins provides rustic accommodations close to outdoor adventure. Take your pick from budget-friendly lodge rooms with shared bathrooms, standard lodge rooms with private bathrooms or private cabins (one of which was home to one of President Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders”). Thunderbird Lodge and Kachina Lodge are popular choices for families, due to their convenient location within walking distance to many of the park’s attractions, while the newly opened Maswick Lodge is a freshly remodeled historic lodging option nearby. Perched on the edge of the South Rim, the European chalet-style El Tovar Hotel, which opened in 1905, offers spectacular views, one-of-a-kind rooms and suites, and fine dining in the famous El Tovar Dining Room. Just a mile from the entrance of the park in nearby Tusayan, The Grand Hotel at The Grand Canyon is the area’s only AAA Three Diamond hotel. The rustic chalet-style hotel offers an indoor swimming pool, plus a steakhouse and saloon. On the North Rim (open mid-May to mid-October, weather dependent), book one of the cozy cabins at the historic Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim to stay amid towering pine trees and just steps away from the Bright Angel Point Trail. This landmark lodge boasts cliffside views and an on-site restaurant serving up hearty, regionally inspired dishes. GETTING AROUND Take advantage of the Grand Canyon National Park’s free shuttle buses that operate on set routes* throughout the park, including the new Visitor Center Plaza to Hermit Road Express Bus; Kaibab Rim (Orange) Eastbound Route, connecting the visitor center to three scenic stops; the Hermit Road (Red) Route, connecting Grand Canyon Village and Hermits Rest, with scenic overlook stops along the way; and the early-morning Hikers’ Express, which transports hikers to the South Kaibab Trailhead from the Backcountry Information Center. For a $90 fee (one way), the Trans-Canyon Shuttle takes visitors between the North and South Rims. *Be sure to check routes before arriving, as schedules and routes are subject to change. GET THE NPS APP: Scan with your mobile device to download the new National Park Service app for interactive maps, helpful planning tools and up-to-date information. SOUTH RIM Most easily accessible from Phoenix, Sedona or Flagstaff, the South Rim welcomes more visitors than the North Rim and offers the most amenities and attractions in terms of lodging, dining, tours, transportation, viewpoints and family-friendly experiences. It is also open year-round. As this area tends to be much busier—particularly during peak season—be sure to book reservations well in advance. NORTH RIM Quieter, more remote and offering fewer services, this rugged portion of Grand Canyon National Park receives fewer visitors and offers a more outdoor-minded experience. Due to its higher elevation, the North Rim is also cooler in temperature and experiences heavy snowfall in winter, resulting in a shorter season. (It’s open from mid-May through mid-October.)
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