Things to Do in Grand Canyon National Park

At the Grand Canyon's Yavapai Point, travelers can experience what many consider the best views along the South Rim, with unobstructed landscapes seen in both directions along the river gorge. From Yavapai Point, you can catch sight of Arizona's Colorado River, Plateau Point and Bright Angel Canyon.

The nearby visitor center here is also home to the Yavapai Museum of Geology, which features exhibits covering the canyon's history and how the various formations were shaped. The museum also has panoramic windows that provide another spot with spectacular views where visitors can enjoy the scenery in air-conditioned comfort. Yavapai Point is often included in day trips to the Grand Canyon from other Arizona cities like Sedona and Flagstaff.

This huge 1.6 million-acre National Forest park, divided into three distinct sections both north and south of the Grand Canyon, is more than just juniper, spruce and pine forest as the name implies—it is also comprised of grassland prairies, rocky riverbeds, scrubland and peaks like Kendrick Mountain at 10,418 feet. 

Popular for its Grand Canyon-esque ecosystems without the crowds, the first decision visitors will have to make is which section to visit. The Williams District in the far south is home to the park’s visitor, which carries maps and brochures of area activities, while the Tusayan District abutting the southern edge of Grand Canyon National Park has popular hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails through its varied elevation. The North Kaibab District—bisected by the Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Scenic Byway (State Highway 67), past sinkhole ponds and Ponderosa pines—is the largest area and stretches most of the way to Utah.

In total, the forest area boasts six campgrounds and more than 300 trail options affording chances to glimpse whitetail deer, elk, turkey or coyote. Three historic cabins—Hull Cabin in the Tusayan District, Jumpup Cabin in North Kaibab and Spring Valley Cabin in the Williams District—are available for rent. Several Grand Canyon helicopter and plane tours departing from the airport in Tusayan afford the chance to double-dip and take in the National Forest en route to the Grand Canyon’s grandeur.

From national monuments to parks and historical sites, the Navajo Reservation rewards visitors with one a kind scenery and history.

A variety of outdoor activities are available on the Navajo Reservation - from hiking to horseback riding, fishing and camping. Tours are offered to teach visitors about Navajo culture and history. There are also more than half a dozen museums.

You can easily spend more than just a day. Along with hotels, a bed and breakfast, camping and RV facilities you can also stay in a traditional eight sided one room home called a Hogan. It’s considered a sacred dwelling and furnishings are sparse. There’s no electricity, running water or flush toilet, so it’s not for everyone, but it is a one-of-a-kind authentic Navajo experience.

The Basics
Hikers, photographers, and nature lovers will want to spend as much time as possible among the Petrified Forest's natural wonders in areas such as the Crystal Forest, the Black Forest, and the Rainbow Forest. The Painted Desert, a national historic landmark, also offers a multitude of trails for visitors to explore the striated mounds of sedimentary rock. Many travelers opt to combine guided tours with visits to other attractions in Arizona, such as the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley.

• Bring layered clothing, as the desert temperature fluctuates wildly throughout the day.
  
• The Painted Desert Visitor Center and the Rainbow Forest Museum are good places to start for an orientation to the area.
  
• Seven maintained hiking trails allow pets on leash, but no bicycles (check out the off-the-beaten-path Jasper Forest hike).
  
• No overnight accommodations are available in the park, but nearby Holbrook has several options.
  

How to Get There
The park is located about two hours east of Flagstaff. Visitors can reach the park via I-40 by car, motorcycle, or organized tour. Both visitor centers have ample parking and turnouts for large recreational vehicles.

When to Get There
Temperatures top out in the 90°s Fahrenheit in the summer days but drop to the 40°s Fahrenheit at night; spring and fall are more popular times to visit. The park is open every day except Christmas, as are the Painted Desert Visitor Center, the Rainbow Forest Museum, and the Painted Desert Inn.

The More You Know

At six stories tall and 82 feet wide (25 meters), the screen of the Grand Canyon Imax is grand, perfect for a screening of Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets in the 487-person theater. The 34-minute show takes travelers into the canyon with historical commentary and incredible aerial views—a perfect introduction to the real thing.

 

The film screened within this Imax theater gives viewers the sensation of traveling through the 277 miles (446 kilometers) of the Grand Canyon, soaring over the canyon rim, white water rafting down the Colorado River, and going back in time to uncover the history of this natural wonder.

 

Visitors can upgrade their Imax experience to include a light meal and drink to enjoy during the screening. You can also grab a bite to eat after the movie at the Explorer’s Cafe, do some shopping at the Official National Geographic Store, or learn about the Inner Canyon from visitor center staff.

 

 

The Imax theater is located within the Official National Geographic Visitor Center at the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. The easiest way to get here is by car, and the nearest commercial airport is Flagstaff Pulliam Airport in Flagstaff, Arizona.

 

The Grand Canyon Imax film is shown every hour on the half-hour daily throughout the year (with shorter hours in winter). Plan to see the movie before you visit the Grand Canyon to get some context, and plan to book your tickets ahead of time, as the line can get long, especially during the summer.

 

The Imax screen at the Grand Canyon is 4,500 times bigger than an average TV screen, with 12,000 watts of digital surround sound to help you feel like you’re there. The cameras used to shoot Imax footage weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms) for 2D and 265 pounds (120 kilograms) for 3D. If you were to shine an Imax light projector from the moon, we could see it on earth with the naked eye.

The towns of Flagstaff and Sedona both sit within the Coconino National Forest, a 1.9-million acre area of protected land fringed by four additional national forests. Many of the natural attractions around Flagstaff can be found within Coconino National Forest, such as the San Francisco Peaks—including the 12,600-foot Humphreys Peak—and the Sunset Crater National Monument. Visitors can find ample outdoor adventures within the forest, from fishing and swimming holes along Wet Beaver Creek to hiking and biking on red rock trails like those around Carroll Canyon.

Cameron Trading Post is a Native American themed motel, restaurant and shop located 30 minutes from the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The trading post was established by the Richardson brothers shortly after a suspension bridge was built over the Little Colorado River in 1911. At that time, the only visitors were members of the local Navajo and Hopi tribes who came to barter their wool, blankets, and livestock for dry goods. Since the journey to the trading post took days, the Richardson brothers offered their hospitality by giving visitors food and a place to stay. Due to road improvement and proximity to the Grand Canyon, eventually tourists started coming to Cameron Trading Post as well to learn about the history of the southwest. 

Today visitors can stay in the motel and enjoy its southwest theme and views of the river. The restaurant serves local Native American dishes as well as American and Mexican food. In the trading post itself, you'll find Native American artwork. The heart of the trading post has always been Navajo rugs, Hopi pottery, Hopi kachinas and silver and turquoise jewelry, though today you'll find much more. It's a great place to learn about the southwest and Native American culture.

Combining the mystique of the Wild West with the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon Railway has been delighting riders since 1901. As you make the two-hour trip to the canyon from Williams, Arizona, to the South Rim, you’ll be entertained by authentic characters and musicians who bring the Old West to life, all the while soaking up the unforgettable scenery of Grand Canyon National Park. 

For many, a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona, to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is a quintessential Grand Canyon experience. It’s possible to ride the railway one way, or choose a round-trip ticket that allows for almost four hours to explore the national park. Most travelers ride the passenger train as part of a day trip to the canyon from Williams, though it’s also possible to spend a night at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel or Maswik Lodge for a more leisurely exploration.

The Grand Canyon Railways departs daily at 9:35am from Williams, Arizona. It makes the 65-mile (105-kilometer) trip to the Grand Canyon in a little over two hours, and once there, visitors have roughly four hours to explore before heading back toward Williams at 3:30pm. Expect to arrive at the Williams train depot around 5:45pm. The closest commercial airport to Williams is Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, about 45 minutes away by road. Phoenix Sky Harbor is about 2.5 hours away by road.

The best time to ride the Grand Canyon Railway is during spring and autumn, when temperatures at the Grand Canyon are cooler and crowds more sparse than in the peak summer season when the train operates two departures daily. Summer visitors can expect temperatures upwards of 85°F (30­°C). The first Saturday of each month from March through October is Steam Saturday, when a steam locomotive pulls the train to Grand Canyon National Park.

Depending on the season, passengers might be in for a special treat on this historic train. In fall, kids can put on their favorite Halloween costume and ride the Pumpkin Patch Train for a journey through the countryside to a secret pumpkin patch. During the holidays, the railway transforms into the Polar Express, complete with a nighttime ride to see Santa and his reindeer.

Bright Angel Point is the most popular viewpoint on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, offering views of Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim and Roaring Springs some 3,000 feet (914 meters) below. The easy paved Bright Angel Point trail leads to the spot, with panoramic views of Grand Canyon National Park unfolding along the way.

 

While the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is more easily accessible, the North Rim affords much better views, as it’s more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) higher in elevation. According to the National Park Service, only 10 percent of Grand Canyon visitors make it to this less-traveled area. Even though Bright Angel Point isn’t on the well-trodden South Rim route, it still features in some longer tours of the national park. Many day tours depart from Sedona and Flagstaff.

 

 

The quarter-mile (0.4 kilometer) paved trail to Bright Angel Point begins just behind the Grand Canyon Lodge near the North Rim parking area.

 

Due to its higher elevation, the North Rim (and Bright Angel Point) have a shorter season than the rest of the park; the entire North Rim area closes for the winter (December 2 to May 14). Plan to visit around sunrise or sunset for the best photos of the canyon below.

 

Although in the same national park, the two rims of the Grand Canyon aren’t the easiest to travel between. Hikers can make the 21-mile (34-kilometer) trek, while the drive covers 220 miles (354 kilometers).