In a nutshell
- The Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular national parks in the western US — an absolute must-see on any US West Coast trip.
- We break down all three sections of the Grand Canyon and help you decide whether the South, West, or North Rim is the right fit for your trip.
- For each rim, we cover the best viewpoints, hikes, and things to see in detail — plus practical tips so you don’t waste time.
- We’ve also rounded up our favorite hotel recommendations at the Grand Canyon and the tours we think are genuinely worth booking.
Grand Canyon on the Map
The Grand Canyon is one of the most famous attractions in the world. It’s a massive canyon in the state of Arizona: 280 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and 5,900 feet deep! At the bottom, the Colorado River winds its way through the canyon.
The Grand Canyon is divided into three areas: North, South, and West Rim. The catch is that you can’t simply drive from one rim to another.
Between the North Rim and South Rim lies the gorge, and there’s no bridge connecting the two. So if you want to see both, you’ll have to drive all the way around the national park — about a four-hour drive.
The West Rim is a bit off to the side, as it’s no longer part of the Grand Canyon National Park. From the South Rim to the West Rim, you’re looking at a four-hour drive. Connecting the North Rim and West Rim makes no practical sense as a road trip.
Grand Canyon Admission
Admission to Grand Canyon National Park costs $35 per vehicle, including all passengers. If you’re entering as an individual (e.g., on a guided tour), you’ll pay $20.
Our tip: We recommend the America the Beautiful Pass. The pass costs $80 and gives you twelve months of free admission to almost all national parks in the USA. It pays for itself if you visit just two other national parks besides the Grand Canyon.
Important: Since the West Rim is not part of the national park, you’ll need to pay a separate admission fee. The America the Beautiful Pass is not valid here either. For the West Rim, you can only purchase so-called packages starting at $49.
Grand Canyon: North, South, or West Rim?
Let’s get to the most important question: which Grand Canyon rim should you visit? Here’s a quick rundown of your three options.
South Rim: For Your First Visit to the Grand Canyon
The vast majority of tourists visit the South Rim first — and for good reason. It’s home to some of the most famous viewpoints in the Grand Canyon, and you get that jaw-dropping sense of vastness that the West Rim, for example, doesn’t quite match.
The tourist infrastructure here is excellent: there’s a real village with restaurants, hotels, and shops. The roads and viewpoints are easily accessible, and everything is close together, so you can reach most highlights on foot.
West Rim: As a Day Trip from Las Vegas
The West Rim has one famous attraction: the Skywalk. Otherwise, we find the South Rim far more impressive. The West Rim is not part of Grand Canyon National Park, and you can only visit it on a guided bus tour.
A visit does make sense, though, if you’re doing a road trip through the American West, as the West Rim fits nicely into a route. Or if you’re in Las Vegas and only have time for a day trip to the Grand Canyon — the West Rim is just a two-hour drive from Las Vegas.
Book a full-day tour from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon
North Rim: For Peace Seekers and Adventurers
The North Rim is far less touristy and quieter than the South Rim. It also offers a much wider variety of hiking trails.
On the other hand, the road network at the North Rim isn’t as well developed, and the viewpoints are spread far apart. The park is also only open in summer, as it gets considerably colder up there.
Visiting the Grand Canyon in One Day
If you only have one day at the Grand Canyon, we strongly recommend heading to the South Rim. As mentioned above, this is where you’ll find the best infrastructure — that saves you a lot of time and lets you get the most out of a single day.
Here’s our itinerary for one day at the Grand Canyon:
- Hike the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point (about two hours)
- Lunch in Grand Canyon Village
- Ride the shuttle bus along Hermit Road to hit all the top viewpoints
- Watch the sunset at Mather Point
- Exit the park via Desert View Drive
Highlights at the Grand Canyon South Rim
The South Rim is the most popular part of the Grand Canyon and the ideal starting point if you’re visiting the Grand Canyon for the first time.
We’ve put together a dedicated map of this rim with all the key viewpoints and must-sees. More details below.
Hermit Road
Hermit Road is the absolute highlight of the South Rim. It’s a 7.5-mile scenic drive lined with most of the viewpoints overlooking the Grand Canyon. Here’s a quick list of the most important stops:
- Pima Point
- Hopi Point
- Trail View Overlook
Important: Private vehicles are not allowed on Hermit Road. There are free shuttles departing from Grand Canyon Village, though. Alternatively, the Rim Trail for pedestrians runs right alongside it.
Rim Trail
The Rim Trail is a hiking path that runs from the Hermits Rest viewpoint all the way to the Visitor Center right at the rim.
The trail is mostly paved and has a very gentle incline. Walking the full length takes about four hours one way. You can then take the park shuttles back to your starting point.
If that sounds like too much, here’s what we’d suggest: take the free shuttle along Hermit Road, then walk a stretch of the Rim Trail toward Mather Point for as long as you feel like it.
Mather Point and Yaki Point
Mather Point and Yaki Point are two more viewpoints, though they’re not located along Hermit Road.
Mather Point is the ultimate classic. It’s right next to the Visitor Center and you can reach it from the parking lot in just one minute.
Yaki Point is a bit more out of the way and is a great local favorite for sunset. While the other viewpoints tend to be packed with tourists at that time, Yaki Point is noticeably less crowded.
Desert View Drive
Desert View Drive is really just a section of AZ-64. If you’re coming from the east entrance, you’ll be driving along it anyway.
Along the way, there are some great vantage points. The most famous is Desert View Point. There’s also a 70-foot watchtower here — standing at the top puts you at the highest point on the entire South Rim.
Hikes at the Grand Canyon South Rim
At the South Rim, there are two well-known trails that take you down into the Grand Canyon:
- the Bright Angel Trail
- and the South Kaibab Trail.
Both trails lead all the way down to the Colorado River. Each trail has suitable turnaround points, though, so you can hike just a portion. We really recommend doing at least part of them — the view from inside the canyon is a whole different experience from peering in from the top.
We hiked all the way down to the Colorado River and spent a night there. Reaching the river is seriously incredible, and the scenery along the way is incredibly varied.
That said, you’ll be covering up to 5,200 feet of elevation change going down in one day — and then back up the next! And that’s in temperatures that can hit 95°F. You should only attempt this hike if you’re in excellent physical shape and have experience with multi-day hikes.
We recommend taking the South Kaibab Trail on the way down and the Bright Angel Trail on the way up. The Bright Angel Trail has drinking water stations and emergency phones. It’s also longer, but less steep than the South Kaibab Trail.
You can spend the night down at Phantom Ranch, a real lodge with meals and showers. It’s quite pricey, though, and you need to book about a year in advance. There’s also the Bright Angel Campground.
Note that you need to apply for a permit for the campground. Spots go incredibly fast, so start working on it two or three months ahead of time. We got lucky and snagged one of the very few walk-in permits, which you can get on the same day very early in the morning at the Visitor Center.
Fun fact: There’s a guided tour where you ride a mule down to Phantom Ranch and spend the night there.
Our tip: Before your hike, be sure to stop by the Visitor Center. You can pick up maps and get really important information. For example, we were told that all the drinking water stations at the campground and the ranch were out of service on our day.
Practical Tips for the South Rim
There are two entrances to the South Rim — the south entrance and the east entrance — both accessible via AZ-64. The nearest larger city to the South Rim is Flagstaff.
The South Rim is open year-round. You’ll find genuinely great infrastructure here, with plenty of hotels, restaurants, and a large Visitor Center where you can pick up maps and get trail advice.
One practical pointer: stock up on groceries outside the park. The stores inside the national park are quite expensive.
Highlights at the Grand Canyon West Rim
Grand Canyon Skywalk
The Skywalk is the absolute top attraction at the Grand Canyon West Rim. For many visitors, it’s the only reason to come here.
It’s a U-shaped observation platform that extends out over the canyon’s edge, putting you 4,000 feet above the canyon floor. The floor is made of glass, and looking straight down can genuinely make you dizzy.
One thing we find a real shame: you’re not allowed to take photos on the Skywalk.
Important: The Skywalk is not included in the admission price. If you want to combine admission and the Skywalk, you’ll need the Grand Package, which costs $15 more than admission alone. You can also buy a separate Skywalk ticket, but at $26 it’s actually more expensive than the package.
Eagle Point and Guano Point
Besides the Skywalk, there are two more viewpoints at the Grand Canyon West Rim: Eagle Point and Guano Point. These are standard overlooks without a glass platform, where you simply stand at the edge of the rim.
The views are naturally very impressive, though not quite as breathtaking as at the South Rim. If the Skywalk doesn’t appeal to you, we’d honestly recommend visiting the South Rim instead.
Zipline
The zipline is a Grand Canyon experience for adrenaline junkies.
You fly at speeds of up to 45 mph at 1,000 feet above the canyon.
Important: You need to purchase a separate ticket for the zipline at $45.
Practical Tips for the West Rim
The West Rim is not part of Grand Canyon National Park — it belongs to the Hualapai Indian Reservation. So neither your Grand Canyon National Park ticket nor the America the Beautiful Pass is valid here.
You can’t explore the West Rim independently with your rental car; it’s only accessible on a hop-on/hop-off bus tour.
The park is open year-round. Unlike the North and South Rim, however, there are set opening hours: until 6 PM in summer and until 5 PM in winter.
The West Rim is just a two-hour drive from Las Vegas — perfect if you only have time for a day trip.
Highlights at the Grand Canyon North Rim
Bright Angel Point
Bright Angel Point is the most famous viewpoint at the Grand Canyon North Rim.
It’s easy to reach — it sits at the end of the main road near the Visitor Center and the Grand Canyon Lodge. You only need to walk a very short distance to get there.
Our tip: The Grand Canyon Lodge is built right on the edge of the canyon. The view from the restaurant is absolutely incredible — very similar to the panorama from Bright Angel Point itself.
Cape Royal Road
Cape Royal Road is where most of the North Rim’s viewpoints are located. The scenic drive runs right along the rim.
Make sure you stop at Point Imperial, Roosevelt Point, and Cape Royal — all seriously worth it.
One slightly annoying thing: to reach the start of the road, you first have to backtrack a good stretch along the main road. The drive itself takes considerably longer than Hermit Road at the South Rim — budget about two hours of pure driving time.
Hikes at the North Rim
At the North Rim, hiking is a must! There are far more trails here than at the South Rim, and many don’t take very long. Here’s a quick overview:
- Transept Trail and Bridle Path (two hours): Loop trail starting from the Visitor Center
- Bright Angel Point Trail (30 minutes): More of a stroll than a hike
- Cape Final Trail (1.5 hours): Short hike on the way to Cape Royal
- Uncle Jim Trail (three hours): Lovely loop through the forest to a viewpoint
- Widforss Trail (six hours): A more challenging hike that doesn’t require an overnight stay in the canyon
- North Kaibab Trail (eight hours one way): The counterpart to the South Kaibab Trail at the South Rim. You can hike down to the Colorado River on the North Kaibab Trail, spend the night at Phantom Ranch, and then climb up to the South Rim on the South Kaibab Trail. Shuttles are available to bring you back to the North Rim.
Practical Tips for the North Rim
There is only one road into the North Rim: AZ 67. It’s a dead end, and it’s quite a long drive before you actually reach the rim.
The North Rim sits considerably higher than the South Rim, making it significantly colder. You can expect snow well into spring. Because of the weather, the park is open only from mid-May to mid-October.
The nearest town is Page, about 2.5 hours from the North Rim.
There’s also a small grocery store inside the park.
Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon: Our Hotel Recommendations
Now comes the question of where to stay at the Grand Canyon. Here are our picks for all three rims.
Hotel Recommendations for the South Rim
Hotel Recommendations for the West Rim
Hotel Recommendations for the North Rim
Tours and Activities at the Grand Canyon
Most tours are offered at the West and South Rim. The two classics are rafting tours on the Colorado River and helicopter flights.
A helicopter flight isn’t something you’d normally splurge on. But if there’s one place where a helicopter ride is truly worth every cent, it’s the Grand Canyon.
Here are our tour recommendations at the Grand Canyon:
West Rim: Helicopter flight with landing at the Colorado River
South Rim: Helicopter flight with optional Jeep tour
West Rim: Guided whitewater rafting on the Colorado River
Frequently Asked Questions about the Grand Canyon
How many days should you plan for the Grand Canyon?
We recommend spending at least two to three days at the Grand Canyon. The park is enormous, there’s so much to see, and there are all kinds of activities — from hiking and rafting to helicopter tours.
When is the best time to visit the Grand Canyon?
We find the spring and fall months of April through May and September through October to be especially ideal.
The weather is pleasantly warm then, but not as scorching hot as it gets in summer — which can make hiking really exhausting.
Plus, during these shoulder months, the crowds are much thinner. In summer, the South Rim in particular gets seriously packed.
What do you need to pack for hikes in the Grand Canyon?
Hikes in the Grand Canyon can get seriously hot, you often have no cell service, and the terrain is pretty rugged. Make sure you bring:
- Plenty of water
- Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses
- Lightweight clothing
- Hiking boots
- Flashlight
- Trail map
- Phone for emergencies
Is hiking at the Grand Canyon dangerous?
Generally, no — as long as you accurately assess your fitness level and research your hike thoroughly beforehand.
The trail down to the Colorado River is very long, you’ll need to cover a significant elevation change, there are stretches with no drinking water, and temperatures can hit 95°F.
Every year, dozens of tourists have to be rescued from the Grand Canyon because they overestimate their own abilities. Be honest with yourself before you set off.
Are there wild animals in the Grand Canyon?
Yes — though you’re very unlikely to encounter any at the typical tourist spots.
That changes when you hike into more remote areas. On our hike to the Colorado River, we were greeted by a rattlesnake right at the campsite. At the campgrounds, you also need to store your food in metal boxes to avoid attracting animals.
Please don’t feed the rock squirrels, either. Animals lose their ability to find food on their own when people feed them — and on top of that, they can transmit diseases.
