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Grand Canyon National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most incredible places on Earth. Imagine gazing upon a vast canyon that’s up to a mile deep and 18 miles wide.
Sections
Grand Canyon National Park is split into two different sections. The South Rim is open year-round while the North Rim is typically open from May through October. Despite being right across the canyon from each other, these two sections require about a four hour drive from one section to the other.
I spent one full day at the North Rim and another two at the South Rim. The South Rim is the more easily accessible, more developed, and more crowded. If you despise crowds, the North Rim can give you a somewhat quieter experience. I didn’t plan to hike into the Grand Canyon but hope to do so on a future trip.
Entrance Fees
The entrance fee to Grand Canyon is US$35 per vehicle (as of September 2023). It’s good for seven days to access both the North and South Rims. Entrance is also covered by all of the interagency passes.
Visitor Centers
The Grand Canyon Visitor Center at the South Rim is open year-round. There’s a good 20 minute film about the park, exhibits, a huge relief map, and gift shop. A shuttle provides transportation to the rest of the attractions along the South Rim.
The North Rim Visitor Center is generally open from May through October. A handful of other visitor centers and museums are located throughout Grand Canyon Village.
Camping
North Rim Campground is the only developed campground at the North Rim. There are 87 total sites, and it’s typically open from June to the end of October. It costs US$18 per night (as of September 2023) and reservations are required.
Mather Campground, where we stayed for two nights, is a popular campground at the South Rim with 327 total sites. It’s open year-round but reservations are recommended from March through November. The rest of the year, it’s first-come, first served. It costs US$18 for the night (as of September 2023).
Nearby is Trailer Village, which is specifically for RVs. Check the official website for more info and prices.
Desert View Campground is typically open from mid-April to mid-October. It’s located at Desert View Point, about 25 miles east of Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. It has 49 reservable sites costing US$18 (as of September 2023).
If those campgrounds don’t work for you, a few more are located outside the park serving both the North and South Rims.
North Rim Lodge
The Grand Canyon Lodge is the only lodge at the North Rim. It’s located at Bright Angel Point and typically open between mid-May and mid-October. Cabins are also available for rent.
The beautiful Main Lodge was built by Gilbert Stanley Underwood between 1927 and 1928. 23 deluxe cabins and 91 standard cabins are also part of the complex.
South Rim Lodges
Five different lodges are located in Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim. They include the Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, Maswik Lodge. The Yavapai Lodge is between Grand Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
Each lodge in the park has a restaurant or food court except the Kachina and Thunderbird Lodges.
South Rim Shuttles
The South Rim has a free shuttle service to take visitors to different parts of the park with less hassle. It’s also a big help for hikers not wanting to hike the entire Rim Trail.
There are three routes. The Village Route (blue) connects the visitor center with Grand Canyon Village, all the lodges and Mather Campground. The Kaibab Rim Route (orange) connects the visitor center to viewpoints between Yaki Point and Yavapai Point. Finally, the Hermit Road Route (red) connects Grand Canyon Village with nine overlooks to the west.
The blue and orange shuttles run year-round while the red shuttle is in service from March through November. When the red shuttle is in service, no private vehicles are allowed on Hermit Road.
Activities
Hiking, photography, biking, horseback riding, boating, and other outdoor activities are available. Check the official website for more information on these activities. Information about ranger guided programs can be found at the visitor centers and on the official website.
Safety
My best advice is to stay away from the edge of the canyon. It’s a long way down. And please don’t throw anything down the canyon. It could injure a hiker or animal down below.
Also, seek shelter in the event of lightning. Lightning strikes are a common occurrence in the park. Read the park’s page on lightning danger for more info.
Of course, take plenty of water and use sunscreen. Fill up your water bottles at the visitor centers and make sure you have enough with you before hiking.
