Been There? Do This. FIRST TIME HIKING Regarded as the safest trail in Grand Canyon National Park, the family-friendly Bright Angel Trail offers beautiful views and convenient ame-nities 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. NEXT TIME Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, Grand Canyon 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 , show-casing 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 ap-proximately 7 miles round trip along the paved Greenway Trail and a traffic-restricted road (shuttle buses only) to the panoramic Yaki Point . Buck Wild Hummer Tours, Grand Canyon THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: PAPILLON HELICOPTERS (2 PHOTOS); FACING PAGE: DENNIS SWENA 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. GUIDED TOUR Hop in a custom Hummer with Buck Wild Hummer Tours for a two-hour open-air adven-ture led by a knowledgeable tour guide who will stop at some of the Grand Canyon’s most popu-lar 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. 7
Arizona Official State Travel Guide Arizona 2021-22: Page 7
