Arizona Official State Travel Guide - Arizona 2025-26
Experience the Grand Canyon
2025-08-25 05:58:08
Vast, magnificent and inarguably beautiful, the Grand Canyon is easily Arizona’s most distinguishable landmark and is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. At 277 miles long, as much as 18 miles wide and a full mile deep, the Grand Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. 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.
Its dramatic beauty and staggering magnitude have astounded centuries of ancient civilizations, early explorers, scientists, artists and, today, nearly 5 million annual visitors.
Ever since the Grand Canyon was designated a national park in 1919, 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.
ADVENTURE YOUR WAY
FAMILIES
The Bright Angel Trail offers sweeping views and convenient amenities such as water stations, restrooms and shelters along the way. At Canyon Adventures Bike Tours & Café at Mather Point, rent a cruiser or e-bike to pedal along the paved Greenway Trail. Or ride in a pink, safari-style Jeep with Pink Adventure Tours, pairing scenic viewpoints with tickets to the award-winning IMAX film, “Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time.”
HISTORY BUFFS
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 and Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio, a gift shop with books about the Grand Canyon.
SIGHTSEERS
Book the Observation Dome on the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams for panoramic views from a glass-enclosed streamliner all the way to the Grand Canyon. For visitors with limited mobility, the Scenic Drive Accessibility Permit allows personal vehicles on Hermit and Yaki Point roads (closed to public traffic), and the 1.3-mile wheelchair-accessible Trail of Time and Mather Point offer even more to see.
CREATIVE MINDS
Explore art and history exhibits on display at the Victorian-era Kolb Studio, the restored home and studio of early adventure photographers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb. Or attend one of the tribal cultural programs at the Desert View Watchtower to experience traditional dance, storytelling sessions and artistic demonstrations in pottery, beading and weaving.
ADVENTURES
For water fun, take a rip-roaring rafting trip with Advantage Grand Canyon. Hikers wanting stunning views will find them on the strenuous South Kaibab Trail, which offers numerous turnaround points for day-hikes. The 24-mile (one-way) Rim-to-Rim Hike begins from the North Kaibab Trail before connecting with the Bright Angel Trail for an unforgettable journey. (Hop on the Trans-Canyon Shuttle for a 4.5-hour transit between rims.)
3 RIMS TO EXPLORE AND THE CANYON FLOOR
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 of Grand Canyon National Park. It is also open year-round. As this area tends to be more popular, book reservations well in advance.
NORTH RIM
Quieter, more remote and offering fewer services, this rugged section 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 (mid-May to mid-October, weather dependent).
WEST RIM
Activities abound at this portion of the Grand Canyon, located outside of the national park on Hualapai Tribal Land. Walk on the Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge cantilevered 70 feet over the Grand Canyon; ride the rapids with Hualapai River Runners; soar 40 miles per hour on the zipline and learn about tribal culture in Eagle Point’s authentic village.
CANYON FLOOR
Venture to the bottom of the Grand Canyon by mule, on foot or by rafting the Colorado River to make your way to Phantom Ranch, a historic lodge with dormitories and private cabins (available for reservation by a lottery system). Backpackers also can camp at the Bright Angel Campground (permit required). Or drive along Diamond Creek Road, the only vehicle-accessible road into the West-Rim side of the canyon. The road begins in Peach Springs. Obtain the required permit at Hualapai Lodge.
Scan the QR code for an insider’s guide on how to do the 24-mile Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike the “right way.”
WHERE TO STAY
HOTELS & LODGING
Choose from numerous hotels and lodging options, 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 Maswik Lodge is a remodeled historical 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.
In Williams, about 60 miles south of the South Rim, stay in historical luxury at the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel, a 2024 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winner with an indoor pool and hot tub. At the train depot next door, hop aboard a classic railway passenger car for a scenic day trip to the Grand Canyon.
CAMPING, GLAMPING & RVS
Just a mile from the entrance of Grand Canyon West at Grand Canyon Glamping Resort, stay close to nature — though quite comfortably — when you sleep in a glamping tent, tipi, covered wagon or even a geodesic stargazer dome.
Want to bring your tent or RV? Enjoy the great outdoors at one of the many campsites in the park. Plan ahead and make a reservation at one of the National Park Service campgrounds on the South Rim: Mather Campground or Desert View Campground. For full RV hook-ups, Trailer Village is a concessioner-run RV park.
For backpackers and rafters looking to camp in the park anywhere other than in designated campgrounds (or any site in Tuweep Campground), a backcountry permit is required. Permits must be obtained prior to the start of the trip, and travelers must have a printed permit in their possession.
Learn more at nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry-permit.htm.
GETTING HERE & AROUND
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) is the closest commercial airport to Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim, though Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) offers more frequent flights and route options. (The airport near the entrance of the park is for scenic tours and charter flights only.) Once you’re here, enjoy free shuttle buses that operate on set routes throughout the park. For a $120 fee (per person, one way), the Trans-Canyon Shuttle takes visitors between the North and South rims in under five hours.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: PRACTICAL PLANNING TIPS
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.
STAY SAFE IN THE WILD
A safe trip is a fun trip! During summer months, beat the heat by using free water-refilling stations, wearing sunscreen and utilizing shade shelters. In winter, wear over-the-shoe traction devices on icy trails. If you hear thunder, seek shelter in a building or vehicle. Plan ahead with necessary permits, reservations and printed maps.
Get more ideas for being prepared at VisitArizona.com/like-a-local/plan-ahead-prepare.
GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY PROGRAMS
As the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon Conservancy offers a range of educational and inspiring programming, including rim walks, backpacking trips, art workshops and stargazing. See more experiences at GrandCanyon.org
7 LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES OF APPRECIATE AZ
1. Plan ahead and prepare. (See left to get some ideas.)
2. Stick to trails to help preserve the ecosystem.
3. Trash your trash. Also known as: Pack it in and pack it out.
4. Leave what you find. Take only pictures.
5. Be careful with fire and use only designated fire pits.
6. Respect wildlife. Keep your distance, and no feeding!
7. Share the outdoors by respecting others and the land.
Learn more at VisitArizona.com/plan/sustainable-travel.
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